House Guest

by

Daisy Nishino

The family anxiously waited at the train station.

"Horace is the clock right? The train was due in 10 minutes ago." Sully asked.

It wasn’t like Sully to worry but it had been a long time since the whole family had seen Colleen and Andrew.

"Don’t worry Sully the train is probably a little late is all." Horace assured Sully.

Michaela and Matthew looked at one another and laughed at the nervousness is Sully’s face, the last time Sully was this nervous was on Colleen and Andrew’s wedding day. Michaela walked over to Sully looped her arm through his. "Don’t worry they’ll be here."

Colleen stared out the window of the train. "Andrew what time is it?"

Andrew pulled out his pocket watch. "It’s only 2:10 We are slightly late but don’t worry we’ll be there sooner or later." Andrew went back to reading his newspaper.

"It’s been so long since I’ve seen everyone. I’m a little nervous." Colleen said as she stared blankly ahead.

"Everyone is going to be thrilled to see you Colleen." Andrew assured.

"Us, there going to be thrilled to see us." Colleen corrected.

"Next stop Denver." The conductor announced.

At Denver the once empty train was boarded by lots of travelers. The once empty seats facing Colleen and Andrew was now filled with a young man and his large bag.

The young man sat and nodded to Andrew, who did the same. Andrew glanced over to see his nervous wife. He took her hand and squeezed it slightly. "We’ll be there soon, beautiful" Andrew whispered.

The young man across from Andrew kept staring at Colleen making her slightly uncomfortable, but she tried to ignore it.

"Colleen, Colleen Cooper is that you?" the young man called out. Colleen looked at the man, quite startled.

"It’s me, Jarrod from Colorado Springs!"

Colleen took in the news. "Oh my, Jarrod how are you? What are you doin’ back in town, I thought you and your folks moved out to Ohio!"

Jarrod answered "I’m on my back to see you…I mean all of you."

Colleen didn’t pick up on Jarrod’s forwardness but Andrew did. He put down his paper and cleared his throat trying to get Colleen's attention. She looked at Andrew. "Jarrod, this is my husband Dr. Andrew Cook. Andrew, this is an old friend from back home, Jarrod."

"A pleasure to meet the man who caught Colleen" Jarrod said as he shook Andrew’s hand.

"The pleasure is all mine." Andrew replied.

"Colleen, I always thought you were going to be a doctor, not marry one." Jarrod commented jokingly.

"Well I’m almost done with medical school, as for getting married, I married Andrew because we didn’t want to be apart for two years." Colleen said lovingly looking at her husband.

"Next stop Colorado Springs!" the conductor called out.

The train pulled into the station to the awaiting family. Andrew stepped off the train first and offered his hand to Colleen.

"Look there’s Colleen and Andrew!" Matthew shouted in excitement.

Sully was the first to rush over. He hugged Colleen "welcome home!" Sully said. He shook Andrew’s hand and gave him a friendly hug also.

The family all gathered and said their hellos. The men of the family went to the luggage cart to grab their bags. Michaela saw Jarrod.

"Isn’t that Jarrod?" she asked.

"Yup, it sure is. Andrew and I met up with him on the train." He made his way over.

"Hello Dr. Mike" he said with a smile on his still boyish face. "Jarrod what a pleasure to see you again. Where are you staying?"

"Oh I don’t know, I’ll find somewhere." Jarrod said.

"Nonsense! Why you can stay with us." The rest of the family overheard and were shocked at Michaela’s forward hospitality.

At dinner the family caught up with Colleen and Andrew. Sully asked Colleen what seemed to be a million questions. "If you haven’t noticed Colleen, Sully’s missed you." Michaela joked.

"Just happy to have my daughter and son-in-law home is all."

Colleen and Andrew blushed as they looked at one another. This was the first time Sully called Colleen a daughter and Andrew a son-in-law.

"So Jarrod, what are you going to do now that you're back in town?" Brain asked.

"Oh I don’t know. I figured on getting a job so I could send money back home to Ohio." Jarrod said while shyly looking down at his plate.

"They're hiring down at the Chateau, I’m sure you can get a job down there." Matthew suggested.

"Perhaps Colleen and I could take you down there tomorrow." Andrew offered.

"That’s mighty kind of you."

Colleen stood up and motioned Andrew to go upstairs. "Well if you’ll excuse us, Andrew and I have some unpacking to do." Colleen and Andrew headed upstairs. Jarrod followed Colleen with his eyes till she was out of sight.

Jarrod walked to the mantel above the fire place and looked at the pictures. Brian followed. "That’s a picture of all of us on Colleen and Andrew’s weddin’ day."

"It’s a nice picture Brian." Jarrod spoke humbly.

Colleen and Andrew returned back downstairs. Colleen went to help Michaela wash dishes and Andrew sat on a chair across from Sully and Jarrod. Matthew and Brian sat on a rug by the fireplace playing with Katie and her dolls.

"So how’s your practice doin’ in Philadelphia?" Sully asked.

"Oh, it’s really busy I don’t have as much free time to spend with Colleen as I would like." Andrew answered sadly.

"But all the free time Colleen has, she comes by the clinic and either studies there or she helps me". Andrew smiled as he glanced over at Colleen.

"It’s getting late. I better get home." Matthew announced." With that he headed out the door.

Sully, Michaela, Brian, and Katie also headed up after saying their goodnights. Colleen went to turn off all the lamps. "Shall we go to bed too?" Andrew asked as he offered Colleen his hand.

"I am pretty tired." Colleen agreed. "I’ll show you to your room Jarrod." Colleen offered.

She took Andrew's hand and headed up the stairs. Colleen’s room was the first door at the top of the stairs. Andrew opened the door. "I’ll be in, in a minute.

Colleen let go of Andrew’s hand and headed to the next room. She opened the door and headed to the other side of the room, to turn on a lamp. When she turned around Jarrod was standing directly behind her, making Colleen feel slightly uncomfortable.

"I'd better go. Andrew’s waiting for me." Colleen excused herself as she quickly walked away.

"It sure is nice seeing you again, Colleen." Jarrod smiled.

"You too Jarrod."

Colleen closed the door and headed into her room. When she opened the door Andrew was changing into his nightclothes. He noticed the bewildered look on Colleen’s face.

"Is everything all right" Andrew asked in concern for his wife.

Colleen went to the dresser and got out a nightgown. "Everything is fine, It’s just a little strange seeing Jarrod and all."

Colleen sat at her beauty table undoing the pins in her hair and brushing it out with the silver backed brush set she received from her grandmother. Andrew sat on the bench at the foot of the bed and rubbed Colleen’s shoulders.

"Andrew, there’s something I haven’t told you, I never had a chance today. Before, Jarrod and I, well, we were sweet on each other." Colleen said.

"Colleen." Andrew spoke softly as he pulled Colleen onto his lap. "We all have old sweethearts, it’s just strange that he is sleeping in the next room."

Colleen smiled as she gently kissed Andrew. "I think I’m the luckiest person alive." Colleen said as she rubbed Andrew’s face.

Andrew and Colleen climbed into bed. Andrew lay down and Colleen rested her head on his chest. "I was really happy to hear Sully call me his daughter, and you his son in-law." Colleen told her half asleep husband.

"Me too." Andrew muttered.

The next morning Andrew awoke early but lay still so as not to awaken Colleen who still lay her head on Andrew’s chest.

The sun peered in through the window, shining onto Colleen’s face waking her up.

"Good morning, beautiful." Andrew said as he did every morning since they first woke up together.

Colleen looked up to see Andrew’s deep green eyes looking back at her. "Good morning, my sweet." She reached up to kiss Andrew and got up to dress.

The two made their way downstairs. Everybody had left to do their daily routine.

Jarrod sat at the breakfast table eating some oatmeal.

"Good Morning." Andrew spoke out first.

"Morning." he replied. "How did you sleep Colleen, seeing as it was your first night back?" Jarrod asked.

"Andrew and I slept wonderfully." she replied as she scooped out some oatmeal for herself and Andrew.

Andrew poured coffee for the both of them next to her. "I had forgotten how quiet it is out here. In Philadelphia all you hear is the hooves of horses on the cobblestone." Andrew replied.

After breakfast the three were off to the chateau. Jarrod headed in through the front and Andrew and Colleen walked around to see the changes.

They visited the clinic and came around to the front coincidentally they stopped at the exact place where Colleen was assaulted by Patrick Collins.

Colleen looked at the ground and the memories filled her mind. Andrew noticed Colleen’s expression and held her close. "Colleen, nobody will hurt you like that again, I promise." Andrew assured his wife.

She looked at his concerned face and smiled. Andrew motioned to keep walking. They ended up in front of the garden and noticed a bench.

"Andrew…do you remember that bench?" Colleen asked.

"Of course I do" Andrew holding Colleen’s hand sat her down on the bench. "I do believe this is where we first kissed." Andrew leaned in and kissed Colleen.

Jarrod who just left the chateau, saw the two kiss and hurriedly interrupted. "I got a job, and I have a room to stay in!" He yelled.

"I start tomorrow!" Jarrod called out in excitement.

"That’s great!" Colleen said genuinely excited for her friend.

The next morning Colleen and Andrew woke up to an empty house again. A note was left on the table reading:

Gone to the reservation with Sully. Katie is with Brian and Dorothy. Be back tonight.
Dr. Mike.

Colleen decided to make breakfast. Andrew was at the fireplace starting a fire. "I’m going to get some eggs from the coop." Colleen called out.

She walked towards the coop when she was stopped by Jarrod. He pulled her arm a bit hard to stop her.

Colleen, frightened dropped the basket. "Jarrod, you scared me!" Colleen said.

Inside, Andrew needed more firewood. He went out the back door and accidentally locked himself out. "Colleen, I lied to you. I didn’t come out to Colorado Springs to get a job, I came for you." He smiled lovingly at Colleen.

"Jarrod!" Colleen said slightly scared. "I’m married…to Andrew!"

Jarrod’s expression turned from loving to upset. "Colleen, don’t you think I thought about that? When we get to Ohio, we’ll get divorce papers and send them to Andrew." Jarrod still held Colleen’s arm tightly.

"But I don’t love you. I love Andrew!"

Andrew just turned the corner and stopped Colleen’s back was to him and Jarrod held her arm tightly.

"You can learn to love me Colleen, you're real smart, you learn fast." Jarrod said as he leaned in to kiss her.

Andrew dropped the pile of wood and rushed to the struggling Colleen, knocking Jarrod down. "What do you think you're doing?" Andrew asked in a tone similar to the one he used with Patrick.

Colleen rushed behind Andrew holding on the his arm and hiding her face in his back. Jarrod ran towards town.

"Pack your bags Colleen, I’ll be back for you tonight!" Jarrod said as he ran. Andrew turned around and wrapped his strong arm around Colleen.

"It was horrible, Andrew! It was like Patrick all over again. Only this time it was with one of my oldest friends!" Colleen was frozen in fear.

Andrew scooped Colleen into his arms and carried her inside. "What if he comes back Andrew? What if he does something crazy?" Colleen asked in fear.

Andrew sat down and pulled Colleen gently to sit on his lap, he pulled her chin in to face him.

"Colleen, I promise you nobody will ever take you away from me. I will go to the ends of the earth for you."

That night Andrew and Colleen waited for Dr. Mike and Sully to return home.

"Colleen! Colleen!" A voice called form outside. Colleen became scared.

"Stay here!" Andrew ordered. Andrew stepped outside to confront Jarrod. "What do you want, Jarrod?" Andrew asked in a stiff tone.

"I’m here for Colleen. She’s leaving you and coming home to marry me!" Jarrod said in a happy tone.

Colleen stepped outside. "No I’m not, Jarrod. I think you should leave." Colleen insisted.

"But, Colleen I’m the man for you. You don’t love him, you love me!" Jarrod walked forward.

Colleen still stood behind Andrew. "Jarrod, just please leave!" Colleen asked as her voice began to quiver.

Jarrod ran away in tears. Screaming "You love me!"

The next week Jarrod had not been seen. "Dr. Mike wired Jarrod’s parents in Ohio telling them what happened. They wired back saying that Jarrod had joined the army and was a part of a mass murder of Indians. He was never the same again."

Colleen told Andrew. "That’s unfortunate."

Michaela returned home early that day to spend time with Colleen and Andrew. She had been so busy she couldn’t spend as much time with them as she would have liked. They spent the afternoon talking about new advances in the medical field, work and different medicines Andrew learned about at a medical convention he recently attended.

Colleen had been feeling slightly under the weather, so Andrew took her up to bed early that night. Colleen changed and lay in bed.

"Colleen, if you're sick, perhaps I should examine you." Andrew asked out of concern for his wife.

"I’m fine Andrew, I just need to sleep." Colleen assured.

"Humor me…Colleen. You married a doctor, you should take advantage of the free examinations." Andrew joked trying to lighten the mood.

"Fine. You can examine me, but if you don’t find anything then that’ll be the end of this conversation."

Andrew agreed and washed his hands to examine Colleen.

Colleen was slightly embarrassed, Andrew never examined her before as a doctor. She was now a patient, not a wife. After a few moments Andrew looked up and saw the picture of him as a child with his parents on the nightstand.

"What, what is it Andrew?" Colleen began to get scared.

"Nothing…I mean something…I mean your going to have a baby…my baby." Andrew said as he walked over to the picture on the nightstand. He raised the picture to eye level. Andrew was a small boy with his front teeth missing.

Andrew’s mother was a light haired lady with piercing eyes. His father a dark haired man with a mustache.

"Andrew your mother was beautiful." Colleen commented. "Was she pregnant there?"

Colleen asked as she noticed the round belly. Andrew sat at a chair.

"I never told you or anyone else this Colleen. My mother died while giving birth to her second child. I was little and I remember she told me she would never leave, I believed her." Andrew’s voice began to quiver.

"I went to live with my uncle because my father was never home. My Uncle told me he drank himself to death."

Colleen did not know what to do she combed through his hair with her fingers to comfort him like she did when Andrew lost a patient.

"Andrew, the bad things that happen to us, aren’t going to effect the kind of parents we are." Colleen moved in front of Andrew, he placed his hands on her hips and leaned his head against her stomach.

"I hope you're right Colleen…I hope you're right."

At dinner the next night Andrew stood. "If we can have your attention!" Andrew called out.

"Andrew and I are going to have a baby!" Colleen said with a smile on her face.

The family was excited and said their congratulations.

"You're going to be a great pa, Andrew!" Sully said

"Thanks, Grandpa!" Andrew replied jokingly.

The two week vacation was now at an end. Andrew and Colleen said their goodbyes at the train station and boarded the train.

Andrew purchased a compartment for their ride home since it would be private. Colleen sat with her hands folded in her lap.

Andrew took her hand and slightly squeezed it. He fiddled with his wedding ring.

"What are you thinking about?" Colleen asked

"Remember the other day when you told me you were the luckiest person alive?" Andrew began "I think you're wrong. I’m the luckiest person alive. Every time I look at my ring I think of my wife, how much she loves me and how much I love her."

A tear formed in Colleen’s eye as it streamed down her cheek, Andrew wiped it away.

"Everything is so perfect. Our life together, our wedding, our house, my practice, my wife, and our baby." Andrew reached down to rub Colleen’s stomach.

"I love you, beautiful!" Andrew said as he kissed Colleen’s temple.

Colleen looked at Andrew’s loving eyes. "I love you my sweet."

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