His Best Girl: Her Secret Legacy-Part 1

Mother's Day

Setting: May 14, 2010; Carter is now 10 years old and visiting her mother for the first time since she last saw her fifty-six years ago in 1954...

"R-Ricky..." I mumble

"..." he looks at me

We're standing outside the building where my mother is-she has altimeters-I feel frozen in my place before the building-I've never liked hospitals. I didn't like them in the fifties, and I certainly don't like them anymore now; I have few fears:hospitals, being forgotten, disappointing my mother, meeting...Him...and...I guess I can add Stark machinery to my list now. I stand petrified before the building, holding a bouquet in my one hand and Ricky's hand in my other, I squeeze his hand out of nervousness...

"I see you fear of hospitals hasn't changed," he says quietly

"Yes..." I mumble quietly as I squeeze his hand, "but I fear seeing her more right now."

"You shouldn't Carter; she's your mom," he tells me, "she'll be over joyed to see you again."

"Whose strong and brave here to save the American way?" I sing trying to rid my fears, "who vows to fight for what's right night and day?"

"Who will campaign door to door for America," Ricky joins in as he starts to walk towards the front doors, "carry the flag shore to shore for America?"

"From Hoboken to Spokane," we sing together, "the star spangle man with a plan."

"Okay you ready?" He asks as we reach the door

"No..." I breathe, "but, I probably never will be so..."

"Here we go then," he says opening the door

My heart beat quickens as it opens slowly and feels as though it flatlined as my eyes fall upon my elderly, aged, frail looking mother that lay in the hospital bed. She looked well for a woman of ninety years; I can feel the lump in my throats make my mouth go dry and throats tighten. Her eyes are closed, but the nurse says that she's awake; I watch her silently-my short life with her flashes before my eyes-now, god only knows how much time we'll have left together now...

"..." Ricky glances at me as I stare over to my mother

"..." my heart aches seeing one of my heroes like this

"Director Carter," Ricky calls out slowly as he walks towards her bedside, "director...Ms. Carter."

I stand frozen as my mother's eyes open and she looks at him, a smile on her face as she does so; he's grown close to her in my absence. I've changed so much, yet I haven't aged but a year thanks to uncle Howard's machine...will she even recognize me? What if she's in a state where she doesn't remember me?

"Richard Thomas," my mother's voice reaches my ear as she speaks Richard...it's just as beautiful as I remember

"Hey," he says quietly with a smile

"You'll make a great agent," mother says

"I already am thanks to you Ms. Carter," he says

I stand there quietly watching them-just indulging in the sound of my mother's voice-tears prickle my eyes just at the sight before me...

"Richard Thomas," mother says, "is that really you? Look at how dashing you've become."

"..." Ricky falls silent, "Ms. Carter..."

"Call me Peggy," mother says

"Peggy..." Ricky says slowly, "I've brought someone with me. A friend."