by Dinah McLeod
“Thank you, Jay. At ease, Soldier.” I waited until I was past him to show my grin. Hopefully he’d relax in a week or so. When I rounded the bend, I saw Major Wilkinson, who I’d helped a few weeks before. Instantly, seeing a man in uniform changed my demeanor. I stood taller, walked straighter, pulling my shoulders tight. It was so second nature that I hardly noticed it until I was out of the Army.
“Davies,” he greeted me as I approached, extending a hand.
“Major,” I returned, shaking his hand. “What can I do for you? Did your wife send you for more furniture?”
“Nothing like that,” he laughed. “She liked the couch very much, thank you. You’ve got a good eye.”
“Thank you.” I couldn’t help but wonder why he was there. About three weeks ago he’d come looking for furniture and hadn’t been pleased with any we were showing on the floor. He’d been directed to me and I’d shown him some pieces that had just arrived. He’d been very grateful, and recognizing me as former military we’d talked longer, trading the names of our last stations and our divisions. He’d been a nice guy, but I certainly hadn’t ever expected to see him again.
Major Wilkinson didn’t wait long to get to the point. “I’m glad you’re here. The post I’m working at is looking for civilian leaders to come in and teach about adjusting from the Army to civilian lifestyle, and I immediately thought of you.”
I kept my face neutral as I took it in. “How soon is this?”
“Starting immediately. The pay isn’t quite what you were used to as a Colonel, but I guarantee it’s better than…” he trailed off, not needing to say it.
“It’s full time?”
“Yes, Sir.”
I was about to answer him when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I turned my head and saw that Mike, Caleb and Tim had come out and were watching the exchange. I took in each of them: Tim with his gangly arms and legs, Caleb with his military haircut and black glasses, Mike with his dreads and quick, easy smile. I’d come to know them well and care about them as though they were my own. We had formed together into our own little unit, forming a bond that I hadn’t known with a group of men since the Army. Each of them was listening and trying to pretend they weren’t. Mike, right on cue, burst out laughing as though Caleb had said something hilariously funny. I turned away from them and looked back at Major Wilkinson.
“Thank you for thinking of me, Sir, but I’m going to stay where I’m at.”
“Excuse me?” He was looking at me as if he could hardly believe what I’d just said. “You’d rather be here…”
I grinned at him. “It’s not as bad as you think.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t think you understand, Davies. You’d be in the Army again, serving your country.”
I took in his beady eyes, the sinewy neck tinged pink, the graying military-issue haircut. I’d known many guys like him: proud to a fault, quick to anger. But I realized then and there that I didn’t have to be around guys like him ever again. I didn’t have to play the game anymore; I only had to please my family and myself.
The realization freed me from all the guilt and woulda-shouldas of the past in a way that nothing else ever had. It allowed me to nod my head at him and say, “Thank you for your consideration, but I am happy where I am.” Once the words left my lips, I realized how true they really were.
Not long after, Major Wilkinson left and I turned to my guys. There they were, all three of them grinning ear-to-ear. “What are you punks looking at?” I barked.
“So, you’re staying then?” Caleb asked.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily! Not on your life! Now get back to work!”
“Aye, aye, Sir!” the three of them chorused before dissolving into laughter. They knew it drove me crazy—in a weird way, I’d become fond of the military-mixed banter they used.
“And for God’s sake, can someone please tell Jay that he doesn’t have to ask me to go pee?”
Epilogue
“She’s beautiful,” Cara said wistfully, caressing my daughter’s fingers. “What name did you decide on again?”
“Christina Lauren,” I replied with a smile. I couldn’t seem to stop smiling. She truly was perfect in every way. She was perfectly plump, being born at nine pounds, one ounce. She had a full head of soft, downy blond hair, just like her father and brother. Her eyes were mine, though, the only one of my children to inherit my brown eyes.
“I bet Morgan was happy.”
“Yes, he is, in his way, at least partly,” I said with a laugh.
“She’s really perfect, Shelby.”
“Isn’t she?” I agreed happily. Bouncing her a little on my knee.
“When are you going home?”
“Dean is signing our discharge papers now.”
“I know you’re ready to get her home. Where did you get the cute bunny pajamas? And that adorable pink bow?”
“Morgan and Chloe brought it the day she was born.” I beamed down at my little princess, who had so many people in her life that loved her.
“That’s Morgan’s girlfriend?”
“Yes,” I nodded. “She’s good for him. And she’s the only woman who’s ever been able to challenge Dean on politics!”
“Until now!” Cara exclaimed. “Pretty sure this one is going to keep him on his toes!”
“You should have a baby,” I said, deliriously happy. “I can tell you want one.”
Cara’s face went still and solemn and she shook her head, moving her strawberry-blond curls. “No, I don’t think so.”
“What does your husband say?”
“Ah, well…Kevin isn’t ready…that is, I don’t know if he’ll ever—" Right then, her cell phone rang. She glanced down at the phone and said, “Speak of the Devil. Excuse me.”
She turned her back to me, but I was sitting in a wheelchair with Christina on my lap, so I couldn’t go anywhere until Dean came back for us. He was busy signing the paperwork to get us released. I averted my eyes but I couldn’t help but overhear her conversation.
“Hello? No, I’ll be working late again…well, I’ll try, but…I know, but Kevin, I can’t just not show up. Honey, please—no, just listen. I’ll do better, I promise—But—okay. Goodbye.”
Cara’s voice had dropped to a whisper by the end of the conversation. When she turned back to me, I saw the tears in her eyes. “Hey, are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine, it’s just…” she trailed off before smiling tightly and shaking her head, making her curls jiggle. “Never mind. I’m fine.”
I wanted to say more, but just then Dean came strolling in, a huge smile on his face. I felt terribly for Cara, but seeing him I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Are my girls ready to get home? Morgan’s out front.”
“We’re ready, aren’t we, Christina?” I cooed to my baby girl.
“Are you, Lauren?” Dean mimicked my coo.
I laughed at him and rolled my eyes. “We’re still trying to decide what to call her,” I told Cara, who nodded and tried to smile. I could tell her heart wasn’t in it. Her mind was somewhere else now—on the phone call with her husband, if I had to guess.
“Listen,” I rifled through my purse. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me, Cara. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, and I want to get together soon, okay? You could come help me with the baby.”
“That’d be nice,” she said, sniffling as she took the piece of paper I’d slipped her across the counter. “Thanks, Mrs. D.”
“Shelby,” I reminded her gently.
“We’ve got to go now,” Dean told her, getting behind my chair. “Goodbye, Cara. Thanks for everything.” As soon as she’d bid us goodbye, Dean began pushing us toward the doors. “Still trying to fix people?” he asked gently.
“I do not!” I exclaimed. It was a familiar debate we used to have when he was in the Army. He’d always accused me of trying to fix everyone and everything I came into contact with. This time, th
ere was no reproof in his words.
“There he is.” He pointed and I followed his finger. Sure enough, Morgan was waving to us, grinning from the driver’s side of his green Honda Civic. A few weeks ago Dean had sold his silver Spider and with the money from the sale he and Morgan had bought two decent used cars. We’d used the rest of the money to rebuild our savings account and Morgan and Dean still hadn’t talked about all the fun they’d had car shopping.
“I love you,” I said, suddenly overcome with emotion.
“Are you okay, honey?”
The concern in his voice brought tears to my eyes. “Oh, yes. I’m better than okay, Dean: I’m perfect. Everything is just perfect.” I looked down at my daughter, who’d closed her eyes and fallen asleep. Then I looked at my son, who would be leaving for college soon, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was the luckiest woman in the world.
The End.
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Dinah McLeod
My name is Dinah. I enjoy a CDD relationship with my husband Jim and freely admit to love all things spanking--reading about it, writing about it, daydreaming about it...you get the idea! As long as I am not in trouble, that is! I hope you will enjoy my books, and feel free to let me know what you think!
Visit her blog here:
http://980875189741781282.weebly.com
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Dinah McLeod and Blushing Books!
The Errant Bride
Mona’s Second Chance
A Husband’s Duty
Answering to Him, Old-Fashioned Husbands Book One
Swept Off Her Feet, Swift Justice Book One
Love Hurts
Sir, Yes Sir, Old-Fashioned Husbands Book Two
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