Page 18 of Rush

“I love you, too.”

CHAPTER NINE

“I am very glad you finally decided to tell Caroline how you feel,” said Noah to his son.

“You knew?” he asked with a surprised look on his face.

“Rush, you may share many of my characteristics and traits, my appearance, size. But you share your mother’s ability to show love and affection in your eyes, on your face, without even trying. I saw it when you were a senior in high school.”

“A senior? But I didn’t even ask her out,” he said.

“No. But you wanted to. Your mother was asking why you were not going to senior prom. Your last big dance of your youth. You said there was no one you were interested in taking except someone who would not be able to go. I followed your eyes straight to the beautiful Caroline, walking across the grove. I knew.”

“I can’t believe you remembered that. I wanted so badly to ask her, but she was just fourteen, and I was seventeen. It seemed wrong.” Noah nodded at his son’s wisdom.

“Perhaps in another setting, yes. But knowing her parents so well, and her, we would have all been okay with it,” said Noah.

“I’ve wasted so much time, Dad. I remember you saying that you told Mom almost immediately that you loved her, and I thought, there’s no way I can do that. But it would have made these last few years more bearable for me, knowing she was mine.”

“She was always yours, Rush. She has loved you for a very long time. We all saw it,” smiled Noah, pushing past the people on the street. “I do not like all the crowds. It makes me very uncomfortable.”

“I know, but it’s how Istanbul always is. Let’s move toward Hagia Sophia. If he’s here, he’d be looking for young men who are gathered around the mosque.”

Ahead of them, they could see the magnificent towers surrounding the massive domed building. Not just a center of faith but a center for arts, culture, and much more. The image was renowned. Noah noticed scaffolding being placed around the building, most likely checking for damage from the earthquake.

What both men saw shook them. Thousands of men, women, and children begging for shelter and food. Stations were set up to help people, but the lines were long. On the far side of the square, two men were grabbing young boys, speaking to them. They watched as two little ones ran away, then two teenagers nodded and walked with one of the men to a truck.

The boys took their seats and were handed food and water while the men went back to the lines, searching for what they needed.

“That looks like a good place to start,” said Rush. His father nodded, pulling his cap further down. It didn’t help that everyone stared and pointed at their size and height.

“We need to find a way to be lower, like the rest of the crowds,” said Noah.

Rush looked around the plaza, finding what he needed. Near the medical tent were long rows of wheelchairs. He pointed, looking at his father.

“It feels wrong,” said Noah.

“I know. It is wrong, but it’s the only thing that will put us low and out of sight. Who’s going to think two guys in a wheelchair are anything special?” Reluctantly, Noah nodded at his son, and they took two of the chairs. Despite being seated, it was difficult to not notice that their knees were nearly to their chests.

Rush wheeled up to one of the vendor carts and bought two blankets, giving one to his father and placing them over their knees. As they wheeled closer and closer to the line where the men were, they noticed someone else.

Joseph and Caroline were walking, arm in arm, toward the vendor carts, slowly getting closer to the two men near the line of boys.

“I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m incredibly jealous right now,” said Rush.

“No, you should not be. Joseph loves his wife. He is doing this to ensure Caroline is safe. Look, he has placed a scarf over her head. He simply looks like a Muslim man with a European wife.”

Rush watched as they casually strolled by all the carts, reaching close enough to the men that they could hear their conversations. Joseph tapped the comms device, effectively allowing everyone to hear what the men were saying.

“We need at least fifty more boys for Grigoryan. Most of these are children. They will do us no good,” said the man.

“Have there been any signs of the big American we shot?” asked the other.

“No. We think he’s dead somewhere. Grigoryan said to leave it alone. He needs men to meet him by Friday in order to attack Istanbul while there is chaos. If he controls this city, he controls the gateway between the West and the East.”

Rush stared at his father, realizing now why he truly wanted the men here. But that meant that he was close. He would want to see the men, see to their training.

“What are you men doing here?” yelled a police officer. The two men stared at one another, shrugging their shoulders.

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