My Son: The Guardian Angel

MY SON the GUARDIAN ANGEL

By LORI FITZHUGH

Copyright 2017 Lori Fitzhugh

Smashwords Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Prologue

Morning Son, what’s up? I asked half awake. I had been in a deep sleep and struggled to come awake as I answered the phone. It was my son Colby.

I have some bad news. He said.

If my son says its bad news then it is going to be bad. My mind raced with immediate fear.

Anthony was in a bad accident this morning, Colby said.

What happened? I said sitting up fully awake.

He was in a wreck and there was a fatality. Now Mom, don’t flip out, okay. He is okay, but there are legal issues we have to deal with. The girl’s name is Beth and she was driving Anthony’s rock crawler. The cops stated the vehicle is not street legal. They interrogated him for hours, so let him rest. He is okay right, but it’s bad.

Son, I have to go. I said hanging up the phone. I immediately called Anthony. Little did I know this was now all over the media of Nampa, Idaho. My father found out about the accident just a few minutes after I did via the televised news.

My head was racing with thoughts and I waited for Anthony to answer his phone.

I did not recognize his voice, Hi, Ma.

Son, what is going on? What happened? Are you okay? Who is Beth? Who else was with you? I had massive questions and felt like I needed all the answers immediately.

Her name was Beth Wendell. I am okay. I’m really upset right now, but I’m okay. Ma, I kept asking her to slow down and she would not. She flipped the rock crawler going around a corner. We were all thrown out. The crawler landed on top of her. Derrick and I tried to lift it off of her, but we couldn’t budge it. I ran across the field to find the Suburban to push it off. She died with Derrick holding her. It folded her in half Ma. I could not save her. He began sobbing.

Through sobs of my own I stated, I am on my way.

No, Ma, please. Just wait a few days. Anthony asked.

I hesitantly agreed.

I called later that evening and asked Lacy, Anthony’s wife, if I should come immediately or wait as Anthony had requested. She advised me to not come stating, It makes it more real.

More real, I thought. What the hell is more real than life and death? Out of respect for both of them and what they were going through personally - I waited but I have never lived with so much regret.

Chapter One

It is possible that days exist in our lives when hell is only a step away from heaven. It was May 26th, 2007 when I woke late in the morning. The sun was dancing above the horizon into clear blue sky, pulsating warmth across the fresh air of Idaho’s mountain country. I awoke peaceful; and laid there allowing my limbs to luxuriate in the ambiance of this late spring morning. Soon full blown summer would be at hand.

I had no pressing business to attend to today and no serious issue tearing away at my brain matter. The only enticement to rise was to find a good cup of coffee, and drink it outside on my sister's deck while enjoying the smell of fresh blooming flowers.

I was at my sister’s in Pocatello, Idaho for a next few day a mini vacation from the ranch where I am living in southwestern Montana that sits in a wide open valley in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

I was unemployed and in a relationship. The relationship was beginning to spring leaks which left me wondering from day to day what would become of me. Who I had been and what lay before me were on my mind.

I had planned my retirement from my job as a travel agent. I loved my job with SatoTravel but the local office had been closed due to acquisition by another company. I had taken a job with another travel agency telling the manager in no uncertain terms I was gone after my oldest son Anthony was in a car wreck. Anthony was pretty banged up and his friend Beth was killed. My new boss wouldn’t give me the time off to go to my son, so I just took it, and now I had no job.

My sister and her husband, Damon, were in San Francisco for the week on business. I was excited to spend time with my niece Kaitlin, a head strong independent sixteen year old with a razor sharp tongue. She was to be my charge for my time here. Her mother had warned, Keep an eagle’s eye on her. I was happy to watch over the petite five foot two inch teen with large brown eyes and hair color that changed week to week and sometimes daily. This was the very same teen who had woken her parents in the middle of the night looking for a razor blade, a cheese grater and sand paper to age her jeans. I was secure in the knowledge that my time looking after Kaitlin will not be dull! The night before she introduced me to a wonderful new indulgence as we were watching the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, At the World’s End, by setting a bowl of fresh made popcorn with peanut M&M’s splashed over it between us. I was hooked immediately on the soft fluffy corn that had melted the chocolate covering of the peanuts giving just the right mix of salt. It was heavenly.

My instinct to find a cup of coffee had me searching the kitchen for anything resembling coffee equipment. I ended up with a tepid cup of tea which I took to the porch. Flopping into a porch swing I muse over the fact that my mother hasn’t contacted me. The day before she’d flown into Phoenix, Arizona by herself, concerned I had drilled it into her that she must lock all the doors of the rental vehicle and follow all the road signs out of the airport. I was worried and had tried to make sure that she would be safe. I was not pleased that she hadn’t gotten back to me.

The twinge of worry dissipated in as a breeze filled my nose with a lingering smell of the purple delphiniums nearby. My sister had out done herself planting a beautiful array of flowers on her patio in an array of bright colors. She had warned me that if Kaitlin and I let her numerous baskets of petunia’s and geraniums die for lack of water we would be in big trouble.

I wasn't even halfway through the cup of tea when I knew I had to go find a decent cup of coffee. Throwing on a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt I drove down to a local convenience store. Inside the store I was so enamored with the smell of rich brewed coffee coming from the machines against a wall I nearly knocked down a man standing near the door.

Lori? He said surprised.

Josh? I asked surveying his face, What have you been up to? I had not seen Josh for a very long time.

I had a leg amputated just below my knee. I had an infection in my foot and to make a long story short it spread to the bone. Anyway, I am trying out my new Harley today. You know getting back into the swing of things. Care to go for a ride? He asked cocking his head and smiling.

"You okay to ride with a prosthetic?

Sure, this isn’t going to stop me living my life.

That’s great. You're right, life goes on and you have to make the best of it. I would love to go for a ride. I am, however, babysitting my sixteen year old niece, need I say more? We laughed. Sixteen was the key word, we’d all been there. I will have to be home early.

Not a problem, I’ll pick you up at around five this afternoon.

Back at the house Kaitlin was just crawling out of bed. I tease her about rising before noon and how proud of her I am and then I invited her to have dinner with Josh and I after I get back from my Harley ride. Let’s have a girl day! I said turning to her. How about it? I only own business suits and I need something comfortable and fun to wear. Let’s go shopping.

Our first stop was at a tanning booth. After drenching our skin in sunlight we went for espresso. While sipping on the hot tasty brew we stopped at the beauty shop. Kaitlin began looking for her next hair color wandering through numerous shades of brown, auburn, bright purples and reds. I notice that it was almost three thirty in the afternoon. I needed to make another stop and gently nudged her out of the beauty shop. We chatted on the ride home.

Aunt Lori, everyone keeps telling that I should date other people, somebody other than Sal.

Do you want to date other people? I asked.

Not really. I mean, Sal and I have a lot in common and we have gone through a lot. He makes me mad. He doesn’t take care of himself but I don’t want to tell him what to do. It makes me freaking nuts.

Her question spark a series of stories from me on the ride home, stories I had forgotten about, regarding Anthony, my oldest son and his wife Lacy. As a couple they were the epitome of true love in my book. I decided to give an example to Kaitlin.

Your cousin Anthony and his wife have been together since they were eleven years of age, a total of fifteen years. It is a love story, Kaitlin; they had lived it all and stayed together. I would have loved to have a daughter like Lacy. As I was telling Kaitlin about the two of them I realized that my son and his wife had something I had longed for all my life.

Kaitlin and I pulled into the driveway of her parent’s home around four thirty in the afternoon. Kate, I have to go change because Josh is picking me up around five. Let’s get the car unloaded. I need to check to see if your Grandmother has called from Phoenix.

I let, Ruger, my dog outside for a potty break and glanced at the clock, it was near four forty-five. Grabbing my cell phone I began to listen to my voice mails keeping an eye on the dog as he runs the yard.

You better get your ass on the next freaking flight and get here now! Your son is being life flighted to St. Alphonsus. It took me a few seconds to realize who was talking. The intensity of Lacy's voice shocked me. It didn't sound like her at all, yet I knew who it was. Panic washed over me and I looked down at the phone as it rang in my hand.

Are you ready? It was Josh.

Josh, get here quick. You have to get me to Boise. My son is being life flighted to a hospital. I hung up without waiting for his answer.

Inside the house I grabbed hold of Kaitlin, Help me! Get me some clothes in a bag? Call Jasper, your brother, to come and stay with you. Anthony has been in an accident and I have to get to Boise. You will have to take care of Ruger. Please don’t let anything happen to him. I don’t know how long I will be gone.

Kaitlin was grabbing clothes for me when Josh pulled up. I ran outside throwing some clothes through the sunroof of the vehicle before running back into the house. The phone in the house was ringing.

Kaitlin answered it. I don’t know Grandma, Lori is running around here crazy and screaming. Something has happened to Anthony. Then she turned to me, Aunt Lori Grandma wants to talk to you.

I grabbed the phone, Mom, I can’t talk. Something has happened to Anthony. I have to go. I hung up the phone and dashed for Josh’s car.

The distance from Pocatello, Idaho to Boise is approximately two hundred and thirty four miles, a trip that would take at least three hours. I leaped into the passenger seat and commanded, Head to Boise, fast!

Josh threw the car into gear and we headed for the interstate. My cell phone was in my hand and I dialed Lacy’s number. She answered and I could tell she was crying. I’m on my way, I said.I can drive faster than I can fly. There are no direct flights. I would have to go to Salt Lake or Portland to get to Boise. We are just leaving Pocatello. Calm down honey, they will have him stabilized by the time I get there. Hang on baby, I’m on my way.

Lacy started to speak, her words breaking up as the call was dropped.

Rats, I lost her, I said suddenly looking out on the interstate. Josh, you are headed the wrong way; you’re heading to Salt Lake City.

Josh slowed down long enough to flip a U turn in the meridian of the interstate. I busied myself with dialing Lacy’s phone. Damn it, I can’t freaking get back to her. Josh drive faster!

We just passed a cop, Lori; we are going past the speed limit already.

My ear was glued to the phone as the call finally went through. I rang over and over again anticipation rising in my stomach as I wait for her to answer. Finally she answered. She was sobbing. Honey I am on my way. I will be there as fast as I can.

He didn’t make it. She cries as the phone once again goes dead.

Oh, God, no! There is no way God would take one of my babies. Something is wrong. I dial her number again and she answers in a weak voice.

Where is my son? What is going on?

I’m sorry, he is gone.

My legs flew out kicking into the dashboard of Josh’s car as I scream, NO!!! There is no damn way! Someone is lying to me.

I pick the phone up again and search it for my younger son Colby’s number. Dialing it I wait for him to answer. Colby, its Mom. I just called Lacy. Anthony is dead.

Mom, don’t joke about something like that, he said in a rattled voice.

I’m not joking son. I would never joke about that but they have to be wrong.

A numbness began to spread over me from disbelief coupled with fear. It becomes a searing pain as my heart overtakes my brain. I can’t think. I hear a voice in my head but feel as if someone else is in my head talking to me. Suddenly nothing seems real. I get a grip for the moment, Colby, please get to Boise. We have to help him.

The phone