Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Thought you could sneak off, didn’t you?” James asked.
I smiled, and gave each of them a shake and clap on the back. Yea, right. I knew they would be here, no matter what. They didn’t like that I was being called back, and they were none too happy that I would have no one to watch out for me. We’re all a team.
“You’ll call us as soon as you know something.” Sam informed.
That was our Captain. He looked out for us, even when he wasn’t in charge anymore.
“Sure thing, Cap. Y’all will watch over Bubbles, here, won’t you?” I asked while hooking Payton around the neck with the crook of my arm, pulling her into my side.
“Bubbles?” Elliott asked with a cheeky grin.
“Well, I discovered tonight that she wears these Angry- oof.” I groaned as a pointy little elbow jammed its way into my sternum.
“Isn’t Bubbles what Janie calls that blue Angry Bird?” James asked questioningly.
“Sure is.” I stated.
Payton gave me her best shut-up-before-I-rip-your-balls-off look, and I snapped my mouth shut without saying anything that would put my future kids in any danger.
“I’ve got to get to the airport. Watch over my sister. Keep an eye on Bubbles.” I said, giving each man a handshake, before leading Payton to her car. A thought suddenly entered my mind, and I felt like a complete dumbass that I was about to leave without the most important piece of my life.
Turning, I ran back into the house. Inside my closet was my trusty M-4. I’d cleaned it and kept it honed over this last year even though I didn’t use it the same as I used to. Although, that was about to change. Thinking ahead, I grabbed four magazines, and headed back out the front door. Payton was standing in front of the boys; all of them were watching her curiously, listening to her talk about her brother’s latest football game.
“He scored twice! He’s got recruiters from A&M and UT coming to watch his game on Friday. He hasn’t told them yet he’s going into the Navy, though.” She chattered excitedly.
“Navy?” Elliott spat outraged.
The boys echoed his oath, and hooahed. I joined them from my position behind them. The boys remained passive, while Payton jumped a foot, and ducked her body into a ball at the ground before realizing what she’d done. My heart sank. Six months we’d been at this, trying to overcome the fear, and it didn’t look like she’d made any progress at all.
Knowing that the way to handle this was to play it down, I said, “Let’s go, Bubbles. Unless you want me to miss my plane, be court martialed, and then tell everyone about your Angry Bird underwear in retaliation.”
Chuckles filled the night, and I held out my hands to her, raising from her crouch in a flurry. I’d pissed her off, which was good since I didn’t want her thinking about anything that had to do with her attack.
Payton dropped the keys into my hand before walking to the passenger side. Payton drove a sweet little Mazda R-6, and it looked cute and spunky, which fit her personality perfectly. I dropped my bag into the trunk, and slammed it down. Payton was already in the passenger seat, and I pressed the button on the side of the seat, moving the seat back as far as it could go before I got inside the car.
I’d learned my lesson already. Short people sit about two inches from the steering wheel. I’d tried to drop in, as I would do a normal car, once, and only once. I promptly knocked my chin on the steering wheel and banged my knees on the dash.
“It’s only at the Gregg County Airport. I’m catching a flight with a troop who is shipping out on a C-130. You can be back in bed by six if you hustle.” I said as I pulled out into the deserted street.
“I’ll stay with you until your flight leaves.” Payton whispered.
I hated that she was so upset. It might not have been the best idea to sleep with her before I went off to places unknown. If I had a caring bone in my body, I would’ve never even started this, but I was a selfish bastard. I wanted her. I had her. I was keeping her. Simple as that.
The ride to the airport was a silent one. If I was honest with myself, I didn’t want to say anything that would make her cry any harder than what she was already doing. Albeit quietly. She was trying to keep it concealed, but I grew up with a little sister who cried all the damn time. I knew what crying looked like, let alone sounded like.
I reached over and held her hand for the entire trip. A few sniffles escaped here and there, but other than that, she was strong, and didn’t try to make me feel bad about leaving her like some of the men I’d known had had done to them. When you leave, having a hysterical woman on your hands doesn’t make it any easier. Going away to war doesn’t sit well with any man; we need our women to be strong, to be the one person we can lean on when we need someone to support us.
The mammoth C-130 dominated the runway as we walked up to the gates. There were women saying their final goodbyes to their men, children weeping as they waved their moms or dad’s goodbye, as well as parents, giving their babies one last hug before they sent them off to war. If you’ve never been to a deployment send-off, it’s a chilling sight to witness.
Realistically, you know that at least one of these boys won’t make it home again. Will it be the one kissing his very pregnant wife? Or will it be the one being hugged by his dad? Possibly it could be the one that left his girlfriend in tears. One just prayed. All you could do was have hope.