The Homecoming Bride

Chapter Eight: Skyfall

CHAPTER SONG: "Skyfall" by Adele

*Lyrics by Adele Laurie Blue Adkins Blue Adkins and Paul Epworth

Joseph Blake awoke to the piercing shriek of the telephone ringing downstairs, his eyelids forcing themselves open almost against his will. He sat up from his bed in a panic, his vision slightly blurred and he felt a groggy Charlotte stir as she lay against his chest, dressed in a sparking nightgown just barely concealing the lingerie she wore underneath, her tangled chocolate hair around her head.

As the phone continued to chime, Joe carefully adjusted his lover to lie against the pillows without waking her. He quickly checked that she was comfortable where he left her, looking back as he exited the room that she was still asleep.

He buttoned his night tunic up to the final button, not wanting to appear indecent in case Molly or the children were awake. Going down the stairs, he saw the dark blue illumination of the sky outside with the pink streak of dawning sunrise.

The lieutenant rubbed his eyes, trying to rouse himself to focus, a sudden pit of worry forming in his stomach that the shrill telephone call interrupting his sleep was of urgency... Why else would anyone be calling him as the sun was just emerging from the horizon?

Something was wrong... very wrong.

He heard the worried whine of Myrtle as the female canine approached him, sitting by his feet as he made his way to the telephone stand and picked up the receiver before its continued ringing could awaken the entire household of women under his roof.

"Hello... Blake residence." Joe cleared his throat, working to sound alert as he wiped the remaining sleep from his eyes, Myrtle's furred head brushing against his leg.

For the first few seconds, all he heard was static on the other end, reminding him of the feigning quality of the telephones used to send messages in the trenches. Joe listened closely, pressing the receiver closer to his ear so he could hear, holding his breath and the vibrating pump of his heartbeat reverberating throughout his chest.

As he opened his mouth to speak again, he heard a familiar male voice that simultaneously concerned and relieved him.

"Joseph... I'm sorry to call so early, but..." William Schofield's voice waved through Joseph's ears, his normally calm and soft tone shaking and almost too quiet for the older man to hear, like he was on the verge of tears.

The corporal was unable to finish his sentence, and Joe immediately recognized the manner with which his friend was speaking, hearing the exhausted devastation and underlying fear in his pitch. Joe hadn't heard his comrade talk in such a way since...

Since he had told him about Tom's death... almost feeling the cold bloodstained metal of the Blake family rings being placed once again in his palm.

Since Will had returned from France to be at Emmanuelle's bedside as she had laid comatose at death's door, trapped in a "sleeping beauty" spell...

Trying to keep himself from collapsing on his knees as the memories threatened to overwhelm him, he spoke again, urging Will to inform him of what had happened. "Will...say something. Has someone been hurt? Is Emmy...?"

He struggled not to sound angry or accusatory, remembering how he had made Will swear to ensure the safety of the woman soon to be his bride. And a swell of guilt swam through his veins, knowing he had overstepped his bounds as prospective best man at the upcoming wedding.

Who was he to demand a man protect his own fiancée, like he didn't believe William himself was capable of keeping her safe?

Thankfully, before Joe could submerge further into internal shame, Will regained his voice, the younger soldier's tone slightly louder above the interfering static. "Emmy... she hasn't been harmed but... something horrible has happened."