Promises Not Kept

30

            Charlie was elated to be back at Arrow House. He leaped out of the car and dashed across the lawn. "Mumma!" He beckoned Leah, pointing at the stables. The entire drive back he'd chattered nonstop about seeing the horses again. Listing them all off one by one by name. Reminding Leah which one was which. Although Toffee and Honey were the exact same color, Toffee had a white blaze and Honey had three white socks.

Leah smiled; I was so nice to see the little boy able to run about. She didn't have to worry if he was outside. He could roam the large space as long as she had him in eyesight.

Tommy opened the passenger side door for her and helped her out. "Glad he'll be able to tire himself out."

She hummed in agreement. "I suppose we should walk with him to the stables though. He'll never stop pestering us." She began to walk but his fingers slipped from hers.

"There's one last thing I need to do." The fall in her face was unmistakable. Things were supposed to be perfect once everything was settled. But there was still one loose end Tommy needed to take care of.

"Tom..."

"I'll be back later tonight with a bouquet of flowers that'll be too heavy to carry." He promised with an endearing look.

Leah pouted but sighed. "Be quick then."

He kissed her cheek and waited until she was off with Charlie to the stables. Then, he got back in the car and headed for Margate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tommy returned just after Leah and Charlie finished dinner. He wasn't lugging along the purported bouquet. Instead, he was holding his side and leading a massive dog.

Mary was the first to spot him from the window. The man stumbling up to the front steps. The older woman hurried out to help him.

"Is Johnny here?" Tommy wheezed and tossed the dog leash to Mary who looked bewildered.

"He's in the dining room with your wife and son. Mr. Shelby..."

He waved her off. "Take Cyril inside, he'll be needing water. Maybe some food as well."

Mary awkwardly held the lead and looked at the slobbering dog. The beast was huge but seemed very docile despite the circumstances they'd just come from.

Tommy managed to get inside and to the dining room. The room was starting to spin from the pain he'd been in for the long drive back home. He burst through the doors of the dining room where Leah was talking with Johnny; Charlie was sitting on her lap nearly half-asleep.

Leah jumped up when she saw her husband doubled over in pain. Blood was seeping through the fingers that were pressed to his side. The white shirt he'd left in, had been stained deep red. "Tommy!"

"Johnny, I need you to take a bullet out for me."

"Daddy?" Charlie's eyes widened and he clung to Leah. Weighing the consequences, she swept the little boy out of the room so he wouldn't have to see his father bleeding. "Dog!" Charlie's attention quickly turned when she brought him into the foyer.

Leah jolted to a halt when she saw Mary standing there with a bull mastiff. "What on Earth is going on?" She exclaimed by the maid seemed just as dumbfounded as she was.

Charlie squirmed out of Leah's arms and rushed over to greet the four-legged visitor. "Hi!" Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around the dog to give him a great big hug.