THE GREAT WAR || T. SHELBY (3)

SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: an Item on a List

TWO DAYS LATER

IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE CHARLIE HAD BEEN RUNNING A FEVER.

Tabitha followed all of Thomas' directions, putting the Black Madonna around her son's neck herself. She waited outside with Maggie and a much healthier Charlie to greet their father. His car pulled into the driveway and Margaret and Charlie ran towards it excitedly. Tabitha followed behind.

The car stopped, allowing Thomas to get out of the passenger seat. A smile was on his lips and her swept both his children up in his arms. He hugged them both tightly.

"Hello, my darlings," he greeted them before pulling away. "Let me see you. I missed you both." He looked at both children noticing the Black Madonna around Charlie's neck. "There's the Black Madonna."

"What presents did you get us, papa?" Maggie asked, running up to her father.

"Too many to count, Maggie."

"Charlie's all better, Tommy. It worked," Tabitha assured as her husband and children met her.

"Hello, Tab," he greeted, pulling her into a hug. However, the hug was short and Thomas wrapped his arms around the children. "Before we do anything else, we're all going out for a drive."

"A drive where, dad?" Maggie asked.

"I've asked the driver to take us to see Dr Robert," Thomas told Tabitha. "I want him to have a look at Charlie."

"Why, love? He's feeling much better," Tabitha questioned.

"The appointment is in one hour, you can stay here or you can come." The tone of his voice exposed that his patience was slim on the matter.

Tabitha exhaled, knowing when to admit defeat. "Right."

"Right, let's go."

Tabitha sat in the between Charlie and Maggie. Thomas sat up front with the driver. The trip to the doctor was a quiet one. Tension grew thick between Thomas and Tabitha, none of them spoke. It had always been that way when he'd return from his business trips. He didn't talk to her like he use to...and it broke more of her heart over time.

Even in the doctors office, they didn't speak to one another. They waited with Maggie while they ran tests on Charlie. After a couple moments, Thomas walked out to take a quick smoke.

Once The tests were finished, Tabitha walked out to find her husband. She found him on the front steps of the doctor's office. A cigarette was in between his fingers but by the look on his face, he was suffering from nausea.

"Tommy?" Tabitha called.

"Yeah?" Tommy said, composing himself before walking to his wife

"It was all good. Everything was clear," she assured, cupping her husband's cheeks.

"That is a relief. That's a relief."

"Yeah. Driver's bringing the car round."

"Papa," Maggie called from inside. Her and Charlie waved through the glass at both their parents.