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Chapter 40: THE POUNDING OF FEET ON A TREADMILL
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Beast Chapter 41: DOWN HOME
Ashleigh got out of her car Sunday afternoon. She had roamed around Christopher's house missing him and had a desire to do something that would make her feel even closer to him. Now she was wondering what in the hell she had been thinking. She lingered there for a moment and considered getting back in though she said she wouldn't do that. But she considered it. Then one of the kids called her name. "Miss Ashleigh!"She plastered on a smile and headed to the little girl; Rachel. "Hi Miss Ashleigh! Where's Uncle Chris?" The other kids surrounded her in curiosity. "Your uncle is still on his mission.""Aww." They began to disburse. Rachel stuck with her and slipped her little hand into Ashleigh's. "I don't like when he goes away for a long time," she said. Ashleigh gave her small hand a gentle squeeze. "I don't either." The two of them headed for the side door and Ashleigh took a deep breath, knocking briefly before poking her head in. "Hello?"Five sets of heads turned to he
Beast Chapter 42: HIGH-SIDDITY
On Sunday Ashleigh sat in Mrs. Jameson's kitchen with the other ladies. She'd come every single weekend since that first time she'd shown up hesitantly on the doorstep like a little stray kitten. Surprisingly, it wasn't out of a sense of duty. This family made her feel closer to Christopher in the sound of their accented voices, the stories they told about him, and the resemblance that they all bore to each other. And in turn, she began to learn and understand them. For instance, she found that they weren't just regulated to the kitchen to cook for the men. The kitchen was their gathering place. They drank their coffee or soda, had a slice of cake or pie and they talked about the happenings of the past week. They were funny, sweet and entertaining, and best of all they loved having a new person to tell their old stories to.Ashleigh was making the meatloaf as she listened to tales about the wildcats that sound like women screaming and ghost stories about people who had died but then b
Beast Chapter 43: HOMECOMING
Doubt crossed Alma's face. She opened her mouth and closed it. "I have a four hundred and twenty-five dollar leather Louboutin purse." She twisted her fingers in distress. "I couldn't tell anybody. Nobody would understand. My family can't see why I'd pay that much for 'things'. I mean, what's wrong with wanting to get my nails and hair done?! I don't have to be a fashion model! But so what if I spend my money on things that I like?"Ashleigh took another look at the woman. Jealous? Alma had been jealous of her? Her heart softened. "Alma, you have to do what it takes to make you feel good about yourself. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone about that."Alma nodded. "But…I don't have anybody that I can…do those things with…" She blushed red and looked so expectant that Ashleigh further warmed up to her. "Louboutin? For under six hundred? How?""QVC.""Then it's not a knock-off…Can I see it?""Can I see your Manolo Blahniks?" "Are you crazy?! I couldn't afford them." She
Beast Chapter 44: MIA
Lance and Kendra called but understood when she explained that she didn't want company. They each told her that they loved her and after she hung up she finished the entire pizza that she had ordered. She intended to purge but didn't have to. Her system, unaccustomed to the deluge of junk food, made her sick on it's on. Afterwards Ashleigh climbed on the treadmill. She stared forward, not seeing the mounted television or the wall, only picturing the man that she had grown to love so much. She began to run and to think about Christopher. As soon as the alarm clock sounded on Wednesday morning, the first thing she did was to check her cell phone for messages. Nothing. She buried her head into her hands knowing that at some point soon an officer would go to Mrs. Jameson's house and inform her that her son had died in the line of duty. They would give her a letter signed by the President of the United States and then at his military funeral they would offer her a folded American flag…
Beast Chapter 45: THE MAD DASH
Two of the Marines stood outside of the lockers as Ashleigh got dressed just in case Tom Kardel should return. She hadn't asked them to do it, but was happy because that man had been totally unhinged. Ashleigh saw that she had a message from the guard at The Homeland Security Office so she got dressed and quickly thanked the men standing guard for her. She went upstairs to the lobby and knocked anxiously on the door to the security office. She then got the official notification. Christopher Henry Jameson was officially missing.Ashleigh sat down in a chair and shook like a leaf until the kind man explained that it wasn't the same as being missing in action. The reason Christopher was missing was because he was taken off all active duty rosters. In layman terms; Christopher wasn't on a mission. Then she remembered his long sent message. It said something about him not being active…Ashleigh was put into contact with her ombudsman through the Department of Homeland Security and then
Beast Chapter 46: REUNITED
Was she in a diabetic coma still? He paced, half scaring people in the terminal. Yeah, if it wasn't one thing then it was another; scars or bandages…When he boarded the next flight, he wished he'd taken the painkillers that Dr. Weitz had tried to give him. His face felt like someone had taken him by the back of his head and slammed him against a brick wall repeatedly. He'd eaten chicken soup as his in flight dinner since it didn't require him to move his sore jaw by chewing. He finally drifted off to sleep filled with guilt that something had happened to the woman he loved and he hadn't been there…again.Christopher called his mother as soon as he got to The Greater Cincinnati Airport terminal. "How's Ashleigh?""Son, she's awake and alert and waiting anxiously for you to get to her. The hospital has already released her. Her blood sugar level was good and her parents have taken her back to her house. You wait there and I'll send Butch over to get you-""No, I'm going to catch a
Beast Chapter 47: WRAPPED UP LIKE A MUMMY
She smiled and giggled. "It wasn't that hard either, was it?""I don't know about you but I was working pretty hard."She stared into his bandaged face. "I'm all yours, Christopher Jameson. I'll be yours for as long as you want me. I want to be your wife more than anything in the world, and the mother to your children." He stood slowly."Your…mom is still out there?""Well, she's probably listening at the door." He took her hand and led her to the bed."Get back in bed, sweetheart. I want you to rest." Ashleigh pouted. Her body was already slick and ready for him."By myself?" she asked."Get some rest," was his answer as he tucked the covers around her, "because I intend to wear you out as soon as you wake up." Her lips tugged upward at the corners in pleasure. "Okay."His hand lingered on her shoulder. "I wish I could kiss you." He allowed his hand to stroke her cheek. Her skin was so soft. "I have to call and find out when I can get these bandages removed!" And he needed t
Beast Chapter 48: ASHLEIGH'S SECRET
Christopher was anxious to get home. Besides, Ashleigh had no food in her house. He learned that she had pretty much moved into his place, a fact that he planned to make official just as soon as possible. Later they could decide about a bigger place in a nice neighborhood. He smiled at the thought of that. Seven months ago he had been sitting in his lonely home with not even the slightest inclination that he could know so much joy. Christopher unlocked the door and Maggie came rushing across the room. He laughed when she walked figure eights around his feet. "You missed me, girl?" He picked her up, not sure if she would be alarmed with his bandages. Evidently she recognized him by scent and sound and not by sight. He loved on her for a few minutes while Ashleigh watched. She knew that he was going to be the best dad. "I'm going to feed her," he announced. "Get changed and we'll go out for something to eat.""Alright, babe." She headed for the bedroom and quickly made the bed. Sh
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Beast Chapter 60: FRIENDS, FAMILY AND HOME
"Daddy daddy daddy!" yelled the little girl as she dashed on tiny legs through the cemetery. Christopher Jameson looked up from where he was playing his guitar. A smile fell across his face, replacing the look of sadness that had been there a moment before. He carefully moved the guitar behind his back just in time to catch his little girl as she flung herself into his arms. "Hey Princess. Where's Mommy?"The three year old pointed behind her. "Mommy's there!" she said in the highest pitched voice imaginable. Christopher grinned wider. One day his little girl might be an opera singer and break wine glasses with that voice.Ashleigh waddled toward them. Her stomach was swollen and so were her ankles. She was ready to pop. The baby was due in less than two weeks but if she managed two more days it would be a miracle. Still, she had the biggest grin on her face as she ambled towards them. Christopher stood and sat the little girl on her feet. "Go say hi to everybody and then we got
Beast Chapter 59: FAMILY REUNION, Part 3
The next morning Ashleigh was up well before Christopher, her grumbling belly sending her into the kitchen for something to snack on before breakfast.Several ladies were already awake, including Mrs. Jameson. They were slicing potatoes and onions for home fries. Uncle Ray gave her a quick good morning before heading out to supervise the whole pig that was going into the ground to roast. Yum, a pig roast. "What can I help with?""Good morning dear." Mrs. Jameson gave her a broad smile. "Here have a danish." She said while passing her a fresh baked danish still warm from the oven. She accepted it gratefully. Aww, why couldn't Mrs. Jameson be her mom? Well…then Christopher would have been her brother. She decided that having her as a mother-in-law was the next best thing."Thank you Mrs. Jameson.""Honey, you are going to have to call me Edith if you don't want to call me mom."She blushed and bit into her delicious pastry. "This is good mom. Did you bake it?""No Barbara Annette
Beast Chapter 58: FAMILY REUNION, Part 2
Ashleigh met Christopher's other two siblings who lived out of state; a brother Gregory and his wife and children and another sister. She was nothing like Alma and she immediately hugged Ashleigh and exclaimed that mom and dad loved her. Her name was Beverly, she was single, spirited and had more freckles on her face than anybody she'd ever seen. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson arrived later that evening. Butch had driven and he gave her a hug that made her feel more welcomed than anything else. Mr. Jameson was tired from the trip so they got him fed and he lay down to rest in one of the bedrooms designated for him and Mrs. Jameson.They had a fish fry with corn on the cob from a neighboring farm. There was corn pudding and corn fritters. Christopher explained that corn and potatoes would play a huge part in their meals since Uncle Ray could get them free. But in addition there would be all kinds of farm fresh vegetables. Everything was delicious and Christopher didn't bat an eye when she pile
Beast Chapter 57: FAMILY REUNION, Part 1
Christopher stood and reached in his back pocket for his wallet while everyone stopped eating and talking to look at him. "Please excuse us but Ashleigh's not feeling well. The food just isn't sitting well with her." He tossed two hundred dollars on the table. "Please have desert on us." Ashleigh stood up and waved because she didn't trust herself to open her mouth. Everyone rushed to tell her goodbye and to make false promises to call and to get together soon."Pleasure meeting you," Christopher lied, and then they left. He put his arm around her when they were outside and felt her relax."I understand. I understand everything completely. Do we have to invite them to our wedding?" he asked, half joking.She shook her head. "Hell no. I don't owe them anything." She thought about how her sister, Darlene, hadn't even thought to invite her to her party. "Besides, they are probably sitting in there already talking about me like a dog." And they were.They were halfway home when Ashleig
Beast Chapter 56: INLAWS
The family reunion had been pushed back to allow Christopher's bandages time to be removed. But Uncle Ray was anxious to get it underway while all of the school age children were off for summer break, so the weekend after next was designated family reunion time. But before Ashleigh could even think about joining Christopher at his family gathering she knew that she had to rectify her own wrong in not formally introducing Christopher to her family. So on Saturday Ashleigh made plans for her own mini-family gathering. Her father wasn't able to fly back up so soon after returning to Florida but invited them down to spend a few days, an invitation that they readily accepted. Ashleigh's mom, having just made the trip, was unable to come back up but promised to return at Christmas, which just left her two sisters and their families. Ashleigh decided on Buca di Beppos for a family style dinner. Christopher didn't understand why she didn't want to have dinner at the house. He was willing to
Beast Chapter 55: NEW FACE, Part 2
Sharing his face with his family was like watching each of them open a valued present at Christmas. Christopher never realized how much his scars had so profoundly affected everyone until every single person that had come to his mom and dad's house cried tears of joy for him. His mother was shaking and she kept touching his face. His father shed tears as well, but mostly because he thought Chris was Walt. And he kept saying that he knew Walt wasn't dead, that his boy had come back. Christopher just buried his head against his father's chest and let him think that he was Walt.By the time they got home later in the evening, Christopher was emotionally drained. He dragged himself into bed but Ashleigh wasn't ready for sleep. She changed into shorts and a sports bra and then went into the workout room. Maggie yawned and hopped up on the weight bench and watched as Ashleigh got on the treadmill. It had been days since she had run but once the endorphins released into her system, she got l
Beast Chapter 54: NEW FACE, Part 1
Ashleigh slipped her hand in his as they walked out of the medical facility. She glanced at him and considered how wrong it was that she so desperately wanted to make love. Why did it feel a little bit like she was cheating on him? Would he be jealous if she…liked his face?Two women walked past them as they walked hand and hand to the car and both began squealing and giggling. They looked behind them and Ashleigh saw that the two grown women were almost tripping over their feet craning their necks to look at Christopher."He is so hot!" They were whispering and giggling. Ashleigh rolled her eyes and Christopher looked at her in surprise."Did you hear that? They said I was hot?""Baby," she heard herself whine. "Didn't I always make you feel like you were hot?" Crap, she hated the sound of insecurity in her voice. This was not a repeat of DeAngelo. Christopher wasn't waiting to bang every good-looking girl that passed him by. Christopher didn't want her to be his fluffy girl and s
Beast Chapter 53: UNWRAPPED
Several days later, as they drove down to Ft. Campbell Kentucky to have the last of the bandages removed, Ashleigh intertwined her fingers with his. She was scared, she didn't know what to expect. All she knew was that no matter what she would love him.They held hands as they headed for Dr. Singh's office and Ashleigh felt his grip tighten a bit. She knew that Chris was nervous and she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Dr. Singh didn't make them wait and they were surprised that a webcam was set up directly to Dr. Weitz's office. There were also several other doctors in attendance and Christopher was informed that he would be the subject of an article on severe cleft palates in adults.His response was an embarrassed shrug. "I never liked getting my picture taken but if it'll help others." Ashleigh noted that his country drawl was more pronounced and she had to fight not to run up to him and throw herself into his arms. Maybe she was a perv but she had grown accustomed to seeing h
Beast Chapter 52: SURPRISE VISIT
?Christopher surprised everyone when he entered the room a few hours later, totally unannounced. There were several offices in one room and when one of the ladies saw the giant bandaged man she shrieked and dropped the file that she was carrying and sent papers scattering along the floor.Christopher bent to help her pick them up and she gave him an embarrassed chuckle and apology. "Not a problem, ma'am." He said politely while handing her the papers. "Can you tell me where Miss Dalton's office is?"The woman pointed down a short corridor. He nodded and headed for Ashleigh's office. He passed Lance's first. He was leaned back in his chair and talking on the phone. He gasped when he saw Christopher and a big smile spread across his face. "Let me call you back, Gloria. Yeah, promise." He hung up the phone and hurried to greet Christopher, who held up his finger to indicate he not mention his presence. Lance nodded and followed him to Ashleigh's office. They passed Kendra's office. Sh
