His Last Request (Slow Uploads)

From Chapter 7

            “Mamba, I have no doubt about your priorities or your loyalty. If you think that you can do it, then go for it! I’m not about to tell you that I don’t think you’re capable. Just let us know what you need and we’ll help you succeed however we can,” Tiernan assured his friend and they talked over ideas for decorating and securing the new wing the rest of the way home.

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Chapter 8

            The flight to New York was uneventful, as was the drive from there to New Jersey and the flight to Ohio. The drive around Ohio was a bit tedious as they lost the last of their tail, and then the flight to Nebraska was full of anxiety. Garrett pulled the disposable phone from his pocket and charged it in mid-flight, and he waited nervously for the other end to pick up the moment they landed on the private airstrip near North Platte.

            The phone rang twice and Tiernan answered, “Who is this and how did you get my wife’s number?”

            “Hey, Wrench! How is she?” Garrett asked and he heard stunned silence for a moment.

            Finally Tiernan asked, “Is everything alright? Are you coming home? Has something happened?”

            “It’s her new birthday and I wanted to talk to her, if you think she’d want to…we’re still working on the last guy, the kingpin, and I hope that we’ll be able to be there sooner than later. Could I talk to her?” Garrett asked, worried and nervous that she wouldn’t want to speak to him.

            “Oh! Oh, of course! I’m sorry, Mac, you just startled me-” Tiernan began, but he was cut off by an excited scream.

            Garrett’s fears were washed away when he heard, “Ah! Oh, please, am Famhair! Please may I speak with him? Is it really him? Does he…does he want to talk to me? He doesn’t, does he?”

            His heart broke that she thought that he wouldn’t want to talk with her, but he smiled when he heard Tiernan say, “Of course he wants to talk to you! He loves you and you shouldn’t ever doubt that. Arms up and I’ll help you get settled. Just a second, Mac. She can’t move very well on her own right now, and it’s only seven, so she’s not out of bed just yet.”

            “I can wait. I have a thousand minutes on this thing,” Garrett said, dismissing the momentary delay.

            Tiernan put the phone down, and Garrett heard, “Sweetheart, you can’t…No, don’t move so quickly or you’ll have to wait to talk to him until you’re done getting sick. Damn. It’s okay. It’s okay, Princess. I’ve got you. Be right back, Garrett!”

            The line was quiet for a few minutes and Garrett began to worry. He was nearly ready to hang up and call the house phone when he heard, “Shh. Don’t cry, Baby. Don’t cry. He’s not going to be mad at you for getting sick. Calm down. Here – I’ll just put him on speaker and he can talk while we get you changed.”

            Garrett could tell that she’d been crying as she asked, “But he’s been waiting for so long and…and what if he gets angry because you’re helping me get dressed? What if he’s calling to tell me that he doesn’t want me anymore? What if-”

            There was a “smack” and a gasp and then, “What did I tell you about worrying and panicking?”

            “I am not to borrow trouble. I am not to assume the worst. I am to breathe and tell you what is bothering me and trust you to fix it. I am sorry, am Famhair. I forgot,” Leanna recited and Tiernan sighed.

            There was shuffling and Tiernan said, “I don’t want you throwing up again and neither does Mac. You can’t let yourself get worked up like that. Now then, you sit on the bench and I’ll put the phone on speaker.”