Page 34 of The Champion
She paused and right then I knew what it was. “Andrea...please don’t...”
“I’msorrySway. I’m...I...” she hesitated as her tears broke through.“I’m sorry sweetie.”
I stared at my feet, frozen with shock, my mind resistingher words.
Without collecting my thoughts, or gathering my composure,I called Jameson, while simultaneously throwing up.
I felt the rush of adrenaline course through my body,waiting for him to answer. The burning started in the pit of my stomach, bubblingto the point where it felt as though it was acid, destroying me, and cripplingme where I stood. My arms and legs were tingling, trembling with a nervousenergy and pain.
I tried to speak when he finally answered but all Imanaged to say was his name as Emma held me.
Blister – Jameson
“Jameson...please...”
“Sway?”
All I could hear on the other end was crying, hystericalcrying. Instantly I was thinking something was wrong with Axel or maybe she washurt somehow. “Sway? What’s going on?”
Still nothing, just crying and Emma’s soothing tonecomforting her.
“Jameson?” Emma took the phone.
“Emma,” I sighed in relief that someone was there withher. “What’s going on? Is something wrong with Axel?”
Emma let out a strangled sob. “It’s Charlie.”
Oh god!
Dad was still standing beside me, though he was now onthe phone with Wes lining up flights for us.
“All right, we’ll meet you there. Thanks Wes.” He hung upand motioned for me to follow him.
“Emma is Charlie...?”my voice failed me. I couldn’t bring myself to speak over the lump lodged in mythroat. “Did he...?”
“Yes.” She managed to squeak out and continued crying.“He’s...”
She didn’t need to say it, I knew.
Before I left three weeks ago, he was fading fast. I knewit was only a matter of weeks but I wanted to be there for Sway when ithappened.
I finally had to hang up with Emma. Her and Sway weren’tmaking any sense.
I called Andrea to make certain she was all right.
“Jameson?” Andrea answered meekly on the first ring. “Areyou okay?”
Am I okay? Seriously? How could she be worried aboutme right now?
“Andrea, Emma just called.”
“I know...I calledSway.” She told me in a hushed voice. “It’s Charlie. He’s gone—I’m sorry.”
I felt as though my heart broke into a million pieces andsomeone punched me at the same time.
Oh god how I wanted to be with my wife right now.
Dad sensed what had happened and started franticallyrubbing my back assuring me we’d be their shortly as I leaned against the sideof the hauler for support. I couldn’t walk.
