Shattered Hearts

Chapter 44

Louis rested his hand on Charlotte's stomach as she snuggled against him whilst they watched Here's Lucy. Well, she was watching and he was humouring her. Now and again he felt the baby move and he couldn't decide if he was excited or terrified by the prospect of becoming a father.

"You can stay tonight if you want," Charlotte said turning to look at him. "Jamie's grandparents aren't dropping him off until tomorrow evening."

"Okay," he said. "Do they know that you're with someone? That you're pregnant?"

"Possibly, but I stand behind the door when they drop Jamie off, and anyway, we never did have personal conversations."

"Right," he said thinking that the more he heard about Nick and his parents, the stranger they sounded. "It's probably best if you keep it that way."

"I suppose some things are better not mentioned," she said and he was almost certain there was an edge to her voice.

"Well, your life is none of their business," he said cautiously. "Oh, my mom was asking if you'd come around for dinner one evening?"

She smiled softly. "That would be nice, I feel so much better now we've cleared the air. I didn't know how anxious I was about the situation until it was resolved if that makes sense?"

"Yeah, it's best not to keep things bottled up."

"Do you really think that?" she asked meeting his eyes. "It's just your mom said some things..."

He groaned, "Now what?"

"Nothing like that," she said hastily. "She was very complimentary but I felt like a fraud. She was giving me credit for you turning your life around, and I barely knew what she was talking about."

He raised his eyebrows. "I'm sure you did."

"Well, I was putting the pieces together but..." She shook her head. "Forget it, it doesn't matter."

He took a deep breath, "It's not a secret Lottie, I don't know why I haven't told you." He paused, knowing that wasn't entirely the truth. "I guess, I don't want what happened in the past to be a part of us."

She twisted further around to properly look at him. "But if it's a part of you?"

"You're right, as usual, but I'm not sure I know where to start." He took a deep breath. "Have you heard of Operation Buffalo?"

B Company had been walking along highway 561 for hours, the sun blazing down and the humidity making it hard to breathe. They'd achieved their first objective, securing a crossroad along the way.

"Not long now Jones," Louis said to his younger comrade. "Keep your head down, and another month of this and you'll be back home on your ranch."

The younger man chuckled. "How many times do I have to tell you I live in the city?"

"Don't spoil my illusions, you're from Texas, you live on a ranch and ride horses okay."

Jones smiled at the long-running joke Louis made, in an attempt to keep his spirits up. "Well, in that case, I'm gonna ride a buffalo as well, and get a cowgirl-" He halted as sniper fire broke out.

"Take cover!"

They dived behind hedges along the roadside. They provided no protection against the bullets but at least the enemy wouldn't be able to pick them out so easily. The company commander tried to get them into some sort of order but flame throwers set the hedges on fire forcing them back into the open space. There they came under heavy fire from artillery and mortar bombs. Louis fired wildly into the direction the attack was coming from and felt a searing pain tear through his leg knocking him off his feet.