You Promised

Chapter Eleven

I cannot breathe. I start to shake from the sobs that rack my chest.
'A-Adam.' I choke out amid gasps.
'Yes, yes I know dear. Isn't it wonderful?' She replies happily.
In my confused state I ask her to repeat herself and she does. Word for word. I stand up. Outraged that his mother should take any such delight in his death. My heart is shattering and I feel it piercing my lungs afresh at this betrayal.
'How could you.' I growl at her. 'How can you betray his memory?'
It's her turn to look confused now. 'What do you mean child? His memory?' She suddenly laughs. 'Oh Amelia. The letter was not claiming him missing in action. The letter was from him. He's on his way home for his leave.' She chuckles to herself.
I sit dumbfounded. 'But in the paper it said Allan Green. It's a misprint for Adam surely?'
She shakes her head. 'No dear, Allan Green was my husband's nephew. He stayed here for a while and we were his foster parents. He moved away to Derbyshire years ago. I suppose that his last address must have been our own. I should contact someone about him.' She then bumbles inside leaving me feeling relieved. Then I think. Why didn't I get a letter from him? Why doesn't he want me to know he's coming home?
Mrs. Green asks me to stay and when Lily joins in, I agree to stay for tea. Lily tells me that I'm having lemon tea before pouring a full glass of lemon juice into the kettle.
'Why did Allan go to Derbyshire?' I ask, stirring my tea.
'He wanted to visit an American friend, Colton something I think.'

I feel a little upset at his not telling me, so I decide to go home. I kick the dirty ground as I walk. I drag my coat on the road behind me, not caring that it is becoming filthy. I feel as though there is a little rain cloud over my head. I cannot make sense of this. It makes no sense. I trudge to my door and step inside. What has happened that he doesn't want me to know? Did I say something in my last letter?
The house is eerily quiet. I place my coat quietly on the floor then creep into the kitchen. Seeing no one is there, I grab a frying pan then search the rooms. Soon, I come to my own door. Behind me, I hear floors creaking then a hand on my shoulder. I spin around and hit the intruder in the chest with the pan. He lets out a groan and grabs the pan.
'No!' I grunt struggling to hold onto my weapon. His arm muscles bulge and yank it from my grasp. I instantly kick out at his shins to knock him out, the way Adam taught me. He is prepared for it and dodges. I then hit him with my knee in the groin. He lets out a winded moan and falls to the floor. I step away and catch my breath. Something about the intruder is familiar.
'Ami.' He gasps at me, he looks up and I see the depth in his eyes that is present in only one person I know. I run to him and he staggers to his feet. He pulls me into his embrace.
'Adam.' I say into his chest, sobbing with delight that he is home. I squeeze him tighter and he winces. I step back alarmed that I have hurt him with the pan but he shakes his head then pulls me towards him. His lips meet mine and I melt into him. My heart pounds and I feel the warmth that exists between us explode into fiery pangs around my body where he touches me. I close my eyes. He is home.