Chapter 31

Asher got the coffee after he left the chapel and he saw Dean and Lyle in the ICU waiting room when he was on his way back to Axel’s room. Dean told him there were a few of Axel’s good friend’s downstairs in the main lobby too and he had promised to keep them posted. Asher explained Axel’s injuries to them and thanked them for being there.

“Where else would we be man?” was Dean’s reply. He hugged his friend and Lyle and then headed back in. He passed James’s room again, noticing that one of the uniformed officers was still there. Randall glared at him as he went by. The fury Asher had felt since the night before was wearing on him. His whole body hurt from it. He was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally.

He shook it off before he went back into the room. Mia didn’t need to see him fall apart. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, handed her her water and then gave Frank his coffee. Eventually they urged Frank to go home and Asher and Mia both fell asleep in chairs on either side of the bed. After about twelve hours, the doctor came in and removed the breathing tube. They were told that the fact he was able to breathe on his own was a good sign and that they’d stopped giving him the meds to keep him in the coma so he should wake up soon.

Asher went back out at about the sixteen hour mark to get Mia a coffee and insisted she drink it. When he got back to the door of Axel’s room and saw Mia crying again, he wasn’t sure he could take whatever it was she had to say. He felt like one more thing might just put him over the edge once and for all.

She looked up and saw him. Through her tears she smiled. “He’s awake!”

Asher nearly dropped the coffee as he raced to the bedside. He set the cups down on the bedside table and looked down at his son. “Hey Buddy!” Axel tried to smile, but it looked painful. Asher reached out and stroked the side of his son’s face. “I’m so happy to see you. I love you so much.”

Just when Asher had been ready to give up, just when he didn’t think he had an ounce of fight left in him, the dark blanket that smothered him was lifted and replaced by bursts of light. Mia’s smile. Axel’s eyes. His heart was so full right at that moment that it physically hurt, but it was a good hurt. His son was awake. He would be okay. Waves of relief and happiness washed through him. He felt it soak deep into his bones. He was almost dizzy with it and for a second he closed his eyes and savoured the moment, thanking God while he was at it. Axel was going to be okay, he could handle anything else the world threw his way.

**

About a week after Axel got out of the hospital, Asher went over to Frank’s house to see him and Mia. Mia smiled and stepped up on her toes to kiss him as he came inside. God, he loved that. He loved the way she greeted him so warm and lovingly. “Hey baby, how is the boy?”

“The boy is almost a man. You’re going to have to think of a new name for me.” Asher looked over and saw Axel in the doorway. He still had spots on his head where it had been shaved for surgery. He had a black eye and his bottom lip was still swollen. His right arm was in a sling, but the only thing that Asher saw at that moment was the smile. His boy was happy and healthy and he loved him so much that he was overwhelmed by it.

“I will call you whatever you like, if you promise never to step in front of a moving vehicle again.”

Axel laughed. “I’ll do my best,” he said. “Did you bring my ice cream?” Asher handed him the bag that he held in his hand. Mia laughed.

“You asked him for ice cream?”

Axel shrugged. “He texted and asked if I needed anything.”

She laughed. “Spoiled.” Axel winked at his mother and turned around and carried his ice cream towards the kitchen. She was shaking her head, but she was smiling. When Axel was gone Asher pulled her against his chest and dipped his head down. She brought her lips back up to meet his and this time the kiss was long and sweet. When they came up for air he said, “So. What would you say about you and Axel moving in with me?”

“Like live, with you?”

“Yeah, that’s what ‘moving in’ means.”

She laughed. “I would love nothing more. but you will have to ask your son yourself.”

“Not a problem. I’ll hit him up as soon as he has a mouthful of mint chocolate chip.”

Giggling, Mia took his hand and led him into the kitchen. They sat down with Axel and Mia said, “Your Dad has something he wants to ask you.”

Axel looked up and with a mouthful of ice cream asked, “What’s up?”

Asher smiled at his son. “So, I asked your mother if the two of you would consider moving in with me. She informed me that I should ask you directly. ”

Axel swallowed the ice cream, and smiled. “Move in? Like living with you?”

Asher laughed. “What is it with you two? Yes, would you like to live with me?”

Axel grinned. “Sure. Can I have Grandpa’s old room?”

Mia laughed. “You are pushing this sympathy status Mr. No; you cannot have the master bedroom.”

Axel grinned again. “It was worth a shot. Thanks for the ice cream, Dad. It’s amazing.”

Asher was about to say something else when his phone rang. It was Andrew. “Hey buddy, what’s up?”

“James Proctor woke up this morning. He’s currently being placed under arrest for attempted murder.”

“That is music to my ears. I’ll bet his father is livid.”

“That’s my next bit of news. The FBI is on their way to his office now. From there, they will go to the mayor’s office and then the school district office. Vince and Michael are both being arrested as well.”

“God, I’d love to be there.”

“They’re all public offices.” Asher grinned. That was a damned good point.

“Thank you, man. Sincerely, thank you.”

“Ah, I didn’t do much,” he said, “Good luck, Sarge.”

“Thanks Buddy, you too.”

Asher hung up with a smile and told Mia and Axel what was going on. Axel looked relieved to hear that James was being arrested, but he looked worried too. “Hey,” Asher said, noticing the look on his face, “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be happy.”

“I am,” he said, “I really am, but before I got discharged from the hospital I saw James.”

Shit! Asher had hoped Axel would never find out what he had done, as richly as James deserved the beat-down, it wasn’t something he was proud of. “I was completely overwhelmed with grief and rage over what he had just done to you, son. I was so scared.”

Axel raised the palm of his good hand. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m really not judging you. I would have done the same thing, if I was a bad ass like you.” He grinned and winked. “It’s just that Randall Proctor talked to me that day.”

Asher tensed and stood up. He wanted to kill Randall now too. “What did he say to you?”

“He said you did that to James and he was going to have you arrested for attempted murder. He said you would have to go to prison for a long time.”

Asher went over and placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’m sorry that I worried you. I should have stopped before I beat him so badly. Learning how to control my rage is a part of being treated for my PTSD. I promise you, I will keep working at it. In this case, I got lucky. James didn’t die and this community, our neighbours and friends, all had my back. They stood up to the Proctors to protect us. That’s a huge step for them and it was huge for us because it means I’m not going anywhere.”

Axel grinned. “Good,” he said, “Thanks for having my back, Dad.”

“Always,” he said, “I have to go see some Proctors in cuffs and then I’ll be back to help you two move.”

Mia laughed. “We’re moving today?”

“Did I say it wrong again?”

Mia looked at Axel. He was smiling. “No sir, we’ll be ready,” she said with a smile.

**

Half an hour later Asher was sitting in the lobby of Randall Proctor’s office. The secretary was giving him the stink eye. She had told him Randall wasn’t available. Asher had insisted on waiting. He got to see a sight that filled him with joy several minutes later. The door to Randall’s office opened and he was led out, in handcuffs, by two FBI agents. Asher didn’t say a word. He just stood up and smiled at him as he went by. Randall Proctor was smart enough to know when to keep his mouth shut, but if looks could kill, Asher would have dropped dead.

From there, he headed to the mayor’s office. He took the elevator to the fifth floor and when he stepped off, Vince was just being brought out in cuffs. Asher stepped aside as they loaded him onto the elevator. “Mr. Mayor,” Asher said with a smile, “How is your day going?” Vince narrowed his eyes at Asher and said, “Fuck you.”

“That’s some language for a public official. Can I quote you on that?” The elevator doors slid shut as Vince spewed his venom in Asher’s direction. It was a great feeling to know this was all coming to an end. He had one more stop to make, this time he got there in time to actually hear the charges. Michael Proctor was being placed in cuffs just outside of the school board office and the FBI agent cuffing him was saying, “Michael Proctor you are under arrest for conspiracy to take a bribe, conspiracy to make a bribe, money laundering, arson, attempted murder, sale and distribution of illegal substances, racketeering, and just for good measure we’re going to throw in solicitation for that prostitute you took back to your hotel room last night.”

Asher couldn’t help it, he smiled. “Why the fuck are you here?” Michael asked him. “You should be in jail for what you did to my brother.”

Asher made eye contact with the FBI agent. Andrew must have told them to expect him. The agent stepped back and Asher stepped forward. “I hope that you and your father and all of your brothers rot in jail. Just remember, even if it takes twenty or more years for you to get out of prison, do not ever come back here. I intend to die here an old man, surrounded by my grandchildren, my wife and my son. If you or any of your family comes back here, I will make you very, very sorry.” Michael didn’t say anything, but Asher could tell by the look on his face that he believed him. “Thanks,” Asher told the FBI agent. He turned then and went home to move Mia and Axel in with him, where they belonged.

**

From where Asher and Mia sat on the swing on the front porch a week later, they had a perfect view of the sun as it dipped behind the crests of the mountains off in the distance. The sky was awash with the colours that could be found at the heart of a fire. Mia watched them and thought about how well they meshed with the colours of the fire that burned in her core with love for Asher.

She took a drink of her beer and looked over at Asher. Taking a hold of his hand she said, “I love you.”

He squeezed her hand and smiled. “I love you too.”

“I’m so happy. This is the way that things were supposed to be all along. Your parents would be so proud of you.”

He looked back at the sunset and took a drink of his beer. “I hope so,” he said.

“They would be. Look at me. You stepped up to your responsibility for your son. You stepped up to your responsibility to the community. You’re strong and loving and smart. You’ve overcome so much. They would be so proud. I know I am.”

He slipped his arm around her. “I’m glad that you are. All I live for is you and Axel now. Your opinions are all that matter.”

“Axel is crazy about you, you know.”

Asher nodded. It was easy to tell with Axel. He was like his mother and he didn’t hold his feelings back. “I can’t even describe how happy that makes me. I’m overwhelmed by it.”

Mia was nodding. “You don’t have to explain it to me. I feel the same.”

“You did an amazing job with him. I’m proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself.”

She giggled and said, “I am.” Asher loved to hear her laugh. It was truly music to his ears.

He pulled her in against his chest then and leaned down to kiss her. Axel walked out just in time to see their lips touch. “Really guys! Get a room, will you.”

Asher and Mia looked up at him and laughed. Axel came over and hip chucked his dad and sat down in between them. “Hey Dad, I was wondering. Maybe you could teach me your moves?” He threw out a couple of air punches to make his point.

Asher put his arm around his son and pulled him against his chest. Kissing him on the side of his head he said, “I’ll teach you anything. I love you so much, Axel.”

“I love you too, Dad.”