Blossoms of Love (43 page)

Barbara thought she had convinced him but his answer told her differently. She got up from the bench. She had one more thing to say, “Alright Monty, I’ll do as you say. I love you that much. There is one more thing you should know. We—have a son.” Lamont looked at her. Barbara said, “The day your mother got the telegram you were missing is the day I wrote to you about our baby. Of course I didn’t mail it. He’s a beautiful little boy. He has my hair and eyes but otherwise, he is just like you. He has that lovely smile and he’s full of life. His name is Robert Dean. He needs you Monty, even more than I do. I will keep in touch and if you ever want to see him, you’ll know where we are.” She turned to walk away.

Lamont looked defeated. He grabbed her arm. He said, “This changes everything. A son. I thought I’d never be a father. I thought I would be cheating you by not being able to give you a child I have given you a child.” He grabbed her to him. For the first time in months, Lamont had a future to think about. He said, “We will get married just as soon as I get out of here. There is one condition. If you find you can’t be happy with me, you’ve got to promise me you will get out.” Barbara said, “I promise.”

It was then she felt his lips on hers. The kiss was long and sweet. She silently prayed to God, “Thank you dear Father in Heaven.” Lamont saw a nurse coming toward them. He sighed, “Oh no, it must be rest time.” Barbara said, “I’ll walk back with you.” The nurse called to Lamont, “Rest time Captain Ellman.” He waved and pointed towards the hospital. The nurse smiled and went over to another patient. Lamont took his time walking. He had a slight limp. Lamont said, “I’m sorry I put you through so much. If I had only known.” Barbara smiled, “You’re forgiven.” Lamont asked, “What do we call our son?” Barbara said, “Robbie. Oh Monty, he is so much like you. Mom Ellman said he has your stubbornness and is forever into something. He’s a tough little guy to be just a little over a year old.” Lamont smiled, “He sounds like the son I’ve always thought I’d have. He and I will be real pals.” They had reached the steps to the building. Lamont said “I’ll find out how long I’m gonna be here. We can plan the wedding then. Thank you Barbara, for giving me a place in society again. I love you Barbara. I’ll always love you.” He kissed her again. He said, “Kiss our son for me.” She said, “I will. I’ve already told him about his father. Of course, he is still a little too young to really know what a wonderful man his father really is. Hurry up darling and come home to us.”

As she walked away, he stood watching her. Once she looked back her heart sank for he looked so beaten. She waved and then was out of sight.

As Barbara was packing her clothes in her motel room, Dr. Lennon called her, “Are you leaving soon?” Barbara answered, “Yes. The plane leaves in three and a half hours.” He asked, “Could you come by the hospital on your way to the airport?” Barbara said, “Yes. Is anything wrong?” Dr. Lennon said, “No, no. I just want to talk with you.” Barbara said, “I’ll be there within an hour.”

Barbara was a little worried as she went to Dr. Lennon’s office. She tapped lightly on the door. He told her to come in. He said, “Sit down Miss Edmonds.” She obeyed. He looked at her, “I talked with your captain about an hour ago. You’ve helped him a great deal. Know about his son has given him a future he thought he could never have. I plan to let him go home in three weeks if he keeps improving.” Barbara smiled, “That’s wonderful.” Dr. Lennon said, “You are going to have to be a very patient person Miss Edmonds. Captain Ellman is far from being out of the woods yet. He has jungle fever and it could come on him any time. I think in time he will have that whipped. I have medicine for him to take for it. What I’m more concerned about is his mental attitude. To be frank, what he thinks about having sex with a woman. I have tried in every way to tell him he can have a normal sex life. He just doesn’t believe me.” Barbara asked, “I don’t understand. Could you explain it to me?” Dr. Lennon said, “I’ll try. He will have the same feelings. He can build himself up to a pleasant climax but there just won’t be one. Yet he will feel as though he did. This is why I said you have got to be very patient.” Barbara said, “I will be doctor.” He smiled at her, “You are the right person for the captain. I wish you both a very happy life. I took a special interest in Captain Ellman. Any man that can live what he has is a hero in my eyes.” Dr. Lennon was being called over the PA system. He said, “Good luck and may God bless you both.”

Barbara thanked him and left the hospital. On her way home she kept thinking, only three weeks and Lamont will be home to stay.

At the hospital, Lamont couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about Barbara and his son. The next morning he went to Dr. Lennon’s office. Dr. Lennon smiled, “Come in captain. You’re looking good this morning.” Lamont sat down on the chair in front of the desk, “I need to talk to you Dr. Lennon.” The doctor said, “Okay, I’m listening.” Lamont said, “I’m sure you met Barbara.” He said, “Yes, I met her. She is a very nice person.” Lamont continued, “Doctor I want you to level with me. Am I gonna be able to leave this hospital soon?” Dr. Lennon said, “I see no reason why you couldn’t leave in three weeks if you continue to do as well as you are now.” Lamont said, “I need to get home as soon as possible. I just learned I have a son by Barbara and we aren’t married. We need to get married right away.” Dr. Lennon said, “That is great. So what is your problem?” Lamont just sat looking down at his hands. Finally he said, “I feel like a heel marrying Barbara and not being able to—Doctor is there really a chance for me to really make love to her normally?” Dr. Lennon said, “Yes. I explained it to you.” Lamont said, “What if I failed. Doc I don’t think I could take that.” Dr. Lennon said, “You won’t. Just go home and relax and stop doubting yourself.”

The three weeks passed off slowly for the Ellman family. Then, on Monday, Lamont called and said he would be on the seven-forty flight. Barbara wanted to meet him at the airport alone, so they let her. As the plane landed, her heart did flip flops. Then she saw him getting off the plane. He still limped, but only slightly. She waited at the gate. He gently took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. He said, “I’m not promising anything Barbara. I’m still confused. I can’t believe we can have a normal marriage but for Robbie’s sake we have to try.” Barbara said, “Darling, marriage is not based on one thing.” Lamont said, “Making love is a big damn part of it.” Barbara and Lamont walked to the car. She said, “I’m not worried about our lovemaking.” Lamont looked down at her, “I am baby.”

She got in the car and when he was beside her she said, “We’ll just take things as they come. Our lovemaking will come naturally.” She started the car. He kept looking at her then he said, “You’re wonderful and I love you.” She said, “That is why I’m wonderful, because you love me.” Lamont said, “I want to say this to you before we get home. When you told me we had a son, I felt like a hardened mask of sadness had left me. Before you came as I walked in the woods, I tried to think of a reason for me to live. I knew I was going to let you go and all there was for me was Mom and my brothers and their families. That didn’t seem like enough. I really wished I would have died when my plane went down. You and God have saved my life. You’ve given me a son and that was why I wasn’t going to marry you, because I couldn’t give you a child. I just want you to know I love you and I’ll try hard to make you happy.” Barbara said, “I know you will darling. I’m happy now.”

As they turned the curve to the big Ellman house Lamont said, “I didn’t think I’d ever see this old place again. It hasn’t changed a damn bit.” The house was decorated with a big sign saying “WELCOME HOME MONTY.” Of course, everyone hugged and kissed him. He looked around then he asked, “Where is my son?” Barbara went upstairs to get him. He was playing with the other children. Lamont watched them as Barbara carried the little boy down. He met them at the foot of the steps. Tears came to everyone’s eyes. It was a very touching picture. Barbara said, “Robbie, this is your daddy.” The child looked at him. Lamont said, “Hello Robbie. Do you think you’re too big to give me a big hug and kiss?” Robbie smiled and slowly put his little arms around Lamont’s neck. Lamont held him in his arms. He didn’t care if the family did see tears in his eyes, “Robbie, I love you.” Robbie asked, “Do you love Mommy too?” Lamont said, “Yes. I love Mommy too.” His little arms tightened around Lamont’s neck, “I love you Daddy.”

Lamont didn’t want his son to see him cry so he kept his face away from him. Barbara said, “Okay Robbie run back upstairs and play. You can see Daddy again later.” Robbie got half way up the stairs and asked, “Will Daddy go away?” Mrs. Ellman said, “No child. Daddy will be here.”

The family left Barbara and Lamont alone in the hall. They thought it best for them to be alone. Barbara put her arms around Lamont. He got his handkerchief and blew his nose, “I guess I got carried away.” Barbara said, “We all did.” Lamont said, “He’s a fine boy.” Barbara said, “Of course he is. He’s an Ellman.”

All evening Lamont tried to join in with his brothers like he use to but his heart wasn’t in it. Late that night, Barbara was asleep, when a noise from across the hall woke her. She opened the door to her bedroom and listened. She heard mumbling from Lamont’s room. She went to his door and quietly opened it. He was lying on the floor, turning to one side then the other. She went over to him, “Monty what’s wrong?” She felt his body. It burned her hand. She breathed, “Oh God, it’s the jungle fever.” She ran to the phone in the hall and called David, “It’s Monty. A siege of the fever. Come quickly. He’s on the floor and I can’t get him up by myself.” David said, “Get his green and yellow capsules, get one down him somehow.” She did what David said.

She was trying to get the medicine in his mouth when David got there. By then, Mrs. Ellman was upstairs. None of them paid any attention to Lamont’s nude, scared body. David got the medicine down him and he and the two women got Lamont back on the bed. Mrs. Ellman covered his feverish body with a sheet. He was lying so still now. David said, “Mom Ellman, you’d better call Dr. Morris. He knows all about Monty. Dr. Lennon sent him all his x-rays and medical papers.” Barbara got a wet cloth and laid it on Lamont’s forehead. She said, ‘He is so still now.” David said, “He’s in a coma his fever is so high.”

It was less than an hour when Dr. Morris got there. He stayed with him the rest of the night. Dr. Morris packed Lamont’s body in ice to bring the fever down.

By morning his fever dropped slightly. Barbara stood at the bedroom window looking out toward Lamont’s house. She started to cry. David went over to her, “He will make it. He has something to live for.” Barbara cried, “There’s a limit to what a person can take. How long can he fight?”

Everyone was there now. Johnny said, “Monty will fight as long as he has breath.” Barbara went back over to his bed. Allen was quietly saying a prayer. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. He was still hot enough to burn her lips. Barbara knelt down beside Allen at Lamont’s bedside and began to pray, “Please God, don’t take him away from us now. Give him time to enjoy his son. I know Lord, in your eyes we have sinned. Forgive us, but our child was conceived with love, not a lust for each other. Look down on this man that has already suffered so much. Give him the strength to fight. Help him—Please God, help him.”

Barbara looked at David. She could see he was afraid this time. Johnny sat by the window. He silently said, “Please Lord, let my brother live.” David sat down by Allen. He also said a silent prayer. Berry couldn’t sit still. He was in and out. Leon sat next to Barbara just watching Lamont praying he would come out of the coma. Mrs. Ellman quietly sat at the foot of the bed praying. Once, Lamont cried out, “Oh! Oh! God in Heaven help me. Don’t let them do this to me.” Then he screamed and his face showed very much pain. Dr. Morris said, “It is the fever. He thinks he is still a prisoner.” Then Lamont began moving his hands as though he was fighting someone. He even tried to get up. It took Johnny and David to hold him on the bed. Lamont yelled, “Go ahead you damn yellow bellied apes. You won’t get any information out of me.” Johnny said, “He is in agony.” Leon asked, “Isn’t there something we can do?” Dr. Morris said, “We just have to wait for the fever to go back to normal.” Barbara said, “Monty, darling you’re home. Nobody is going to hurt you.” Of course, he didn’t hear her.

Over and over the rest of the night he would cry out in pain or he would curse the enemy. As the sun came up over the mountain in the east, Lamont’s fever broke. He was really wild for about thirty minutes, then he went into a deep, natural sleep. Dr. Morris gave him a shot and said, “Let him sleep all he can. He needs all the rest he can have. He will be weak for a few days but he will be alright. Give him the medicine Dr. Lennon prescribed for him. I’ll be back after office hours.”

It was late afternoon when Lamont woke. He looked around. At first he wasn’t sure where he was. Then he saw Barbara standing by the window looking out. He said, “Fever again?” Barbara came over to the bed, “Yes.” When he saw all of his brothers and his mother he said, “This must have been a bad one.” Barbara said, “Yes darling, it was.” David said, “You’re okay now.” Lamont sighed, “Yea now I am but for how long?” Johnny said, “Why think about it? It is just something we have to live with.” Lamont said, “It doesn’t have to be ‘we’. I could spare all of you from this.” Leon said, “If you were somewhere else, we’d just have to come to you so stay around brother.”

That night as Barbara brought Lamont some soup to eat she said, “You’re looking better darling.” Lamont said, “I feel like hell. I’m as weak as a kitten and I’ve got the damnedest headache.” She said, “Eat some of this soup, it will make you feel better.”

Lamont slept most of the next two days. Then he and Barbara began planning their wedding.

One afternoon when they had got all their plans made, Lamont took Barbara’s hand in his and said, “I haven’t forgotten how beautiful you are in bed. You loved it just as I did. Damn it! Baby you deserve more than what you getting. It bugs the hell out of me.” Barbara said, “Monty, I was beautiful in bed because it was you loving me. Do you remember me telling you I tried sleeping with two other men after you left Japan? They bored the hell out of me. Only you can make me come alive?” Lamont said, “About Robbie. Did he see me with the fever?” She answered, “No. He thinks you have a bad cold.” Lamont said, “I don’t ever want him to see me like that. I want Robbie and I to have a close friendship. As a boy grows, he needs a man to talk to. I want him to feel free to talk to me about anything.”