Chapter 68

"I'm sure she didn't keep anything from Tom, that it's all a misunderstanding. Just leave them alone and let them work it out. Things will be fine in a little while, now sit down and drink your tea!" AJ ordered.

"Don't order me around, Albert! I'm not in your military!" she snapped loud enough for the two on the patio to hear her.

"Forgive me, Krista, I didn't mean it to sound that way. I only wanted you to calm down, Darlin', think of the twins," he reminded her of their unborn children. "Can I get you anything to help, do anything for you?"

"No, just stop treating me like you're my father…or I'm someone under your command!" she shouted, still backing away from him.

Out on the patio, Tom replied, "Of course not! Krystal, I won't try and stop you from doing this, I know how much it means to you and AJ and to Krista and the babies. It's just hard for me to face that after waiting all this time to have you in my life that it could be over all to soon."

"It won't be Tom, have a little faith," she said reaching out to him to take him in her arms. Tom stiffened, but allowed her to hold him, although he didn't turn to face her. He still needed time to get his face under control so she wouldn't see the fear and hurt there.

"Tom, I love you and never meant to hurt you. Tell me not to have this done and I won't," she promised sobbing. "I'll leave though Tom, because I can't stand by and watch her die a slow painful death. I thought if anyone could understand it would be you. Apparently I was wrong. Tell me Tom what will it be?"

"I understand, and I won't stop you. Don't you see? I am just so afraid of losing you now that I have you in my life at last, but I'll stand by you, darling, I promise you that!" he said and turned to take her into his arms as the second shout could be heard inside the house. "What is going on in there?" he asked Krystal.

"Krista, I didn't know I sounded like I was ordering you around, I love you and only wanted to be of help," AJ was surprised at her reaction and worried she would throw herself into premature labor.

Krista had wrapped her arms around herself and was standing staring out a window; she was rocking herself back and forth as if she no longer knew where she was. She was in fact miles and years away, reliving some of the horrifying things in her past.

"My guess is that Kris is blaming herself for us being out here arguing," she replied leaning against Tom wanting to cry until there were no more tears left. But she was Navy and you didn't cry you handled the situation. "Guess I'd better go in and try to talk to her. I'll understand if you want to stay out awhile longer."

"No, I'll come in with you, if she's that upset, then AJ might need some help." He placed his hand on her arm before she could go very far, "Krystal, I love you and will support you in whatever you do, please know that!"

"Darlin', are you alright?" AJ asked having seen this kind of thing from men coming back from Vietnam. Something had happened to send her back to a terrifying period in her life.

He got no answer from her.

"I love you, Tom and don't want to lose what we finally have but Kris is my twin and I'm the only one
who can help her. Please my love I beg you to understand, I really have no choice," she said
turning to go back into the house.

"I do understand, my love." He went with her, to find AJ pleading with Krista to answer him and her lost in her own past.

Seeing her sister in what appeared some kind of shock she went to her, "Kris, it's Krystal. Everything's all right. I'm here and I won't let anything happen to you. Come back Kris. Come back to me, I need you sweetheart."

"He's just like daddy!" Krista whispered to her sister.

To be continued…