Chapter 30
Harriett got to her feet and leaned over his bed brushing the hair from his forehead and told him, "That must have been some dream you had."
"Not a dream, talked to Daddy," persisted the eight-year-old boy.
"Well what did Daddy say?" asked Harriett.
"He made me come back."
"What do you mean AJ?"
"My head hurt and I wanted to go with Daddy so it would stop, but he said you needed me and that I should come back."
"Do you think this could be true?" she asked Victor.
Little AJ turned to look at Victor and said, "Daddy is glad you're taking care of Mommy, just like Daddy is watching over baby Sarah."
"Your Daddy was right AJ, I needed you here with me," Harriett told him
"I know Mommy, Angels are always right, and in Heaven, Daddy has two legs."
Tears were running down Harriett's face as the nurses came running in. Victor with tears in his eyes took Harriett's hand and held her to him as the doctor came in and asked them to leave. Walking out the door was one of the hardest things that Harriett had ever done until she heard her son call out, "I'll be okay Mommy."
Several minutes later the doctor came out and told them that the danger for AJ was passed and that if he remained conscious and be able to eat, he would more than likely be able to go home tomorrow. "Within the next few minutes we'll be moving him to pediatrics. Mrs. Galindez would you like for me to arrange for him to be in the same room as his step-sister?"
Startled for a moment Harriett smiled and said, "Yes, I think AJ would like that."
"I'm sure your ex-husband will too."
"Oh, you mean Admiral AJ Chegwidden?"
"I didn't realize that they were both AJ's."
AJ and Allison had been alone in the semi-private room since that morning until the door opened up late that afternoon and a stretcher was wheeled in. The nurse from ICU smiled at AJ and said, "We've brought your son in Sir. He regained consciousness a bit ago and we thought that you might like the children together."
Allison was not awake so didn't react to the mistake, but young AJ was awake and said, "He's not my daddy, my daddy is dead. That's my Uncle AJ."
The nurse looked at AJ with sympathy wondering just how messed up this family really was. Knowing that the jig was up, AJ said, "I'm afraid that is true. With his mother out of town I thought that you might not let me stay with him if I wasn't 'family' so I let everyone believe that I was his father."
"I see," the nurse said, and then looking at Allison she asked, "And her mother?"
AJ sadly admitted, "I'm a widower."
"Oh," the nurse said sympathetically, and then with a gleam in her eye, added, "Does that mean that you're back on the market?"
Feeling like a piece of meat in a butcher's case AJ responded, "No it doesn't!"
"Oh," was all she said before turning to leave the room.
Minutes later Harriett and Victor came into the room and Harriett asked, "How is Allison doing?"
"They have her on pain killers and she is sleeping most of the time. The nurse said that AJ had regained consciousness, do you know what his prognosis is?" AJ asked.
"If he remains conscious and is able to eat he will go home tomorrow," smiled Harriett.
"That is wonderful news. I have no idea how long we'll be here. I have called the SECNAV and explained the situation and as of now I am on leave until Allison is better."
"I'll hold down the fort until you're able to return," Harriett smiled.
"Harriett, if you need another week off to take care of the children I'm sure the office wouldn't suffer that much."
"No Sir, as long as AJ is out of the hospital by then I'll be in to work on Monday. Why don't you and Victor take some time off and get some rest. Then you can come back and relieve me this evening if you want to spend the night with her, but I think we should relieve Mac and Clay of the other children."
Knowing that she was right and that he needed some rest, AJ reluctantly agreed to leave the hospital and get some. "You will call me if there's any change in her condition, won't you Harriett?" he asked.
"Of course I will AJ. Just make sure that you all eat well and get some sleep. I will see you later tonight," she told him as she shooed them out of the room.
To be continued….
