by Lili Tufel
Dallas stared at her round breasts while gliding his thumb from top to bottom along her foot. “I gotta leave in a few hours. I hate sleeping on the plane.”
“Can’t you stay an extra day?”
He took a deep breath holding on to her toes. “You have nice feet.” He changed the subject.
“You have great hands.” She smiled playing along.
Switching off the remaining backyard lights, Dallas and Abby made their way towards the house, and before walking inside, Dallas surveyed the violently crashing waves. “Is that the Colonel out there by the water?”
Abby peered out, “Oh my God, my dad is out there making out with Chelsea. Maybe we should leave a light on for them.”
“I’m sure the Colonel can find his way in the moonlight.” He gave her a pat on her round butt. “Come on.”
Inside the small guest bedroom, Abby struggled to remove her wedding dress. “I think I need help getting out of this gown.” Raising an eyebrow to Dallas, “Uh…are you ok over there?” she asked.
Piece by piece Dallas worked his way removing the layers of his uniform. “I’m fine, I got this…” Getting the button through the hole, he looked at his watch. “Let’s time it. Who can get out of their clothes first?”
“No way, I’m totally stuck over here. You think my belly grew in the course of the day?” She rubbed.
Barefoot and wearing only his pants, he leapt across the room. “Let’s have a look.” He wrapped his arms around her then gently helped loosen her gown while stealing slow lingering kisses on her neck. “I couldn’t stop staring at your beautiful breasts,” he whispered cupping them in his hands.
She moved naked towards the bed and slowly opened herself to her husband. As he kissed her navel, his soul filled with delight. “You’re so beautiful,” was all he could say. After he made love to her, he brought her into the shower and he looked at her standing, dripping wet. As he lathered her body and fondled her breasts, he stared taking mental pictures for those blistering desert days and cold wretched nights. His soul wanted to posses her, so he could make love to her every night while he was miles away, shooting at the enemy and while being shot at, these images of her would remain vividly in his mind.
He sat on the bed leaning against the headboard and once he saw that she was fast asleep, he took his notebook out of the rucksack and wrote her a note. He pictured her finding it under her pillow in the morning and he hoped it would bring her some joy. He wanted to, somehow, make up for having to leave her again and he struggled with his words. He thought, if she reads between the lines, she’ll know it’s pure love, sweet, delicious love that I feel for her. I have to tell her how much she inspires me.
Abby,
In your dress of fine pearls and your bare feet, you do not know what you do to my heart, woman. Dance with me all night my love with no crowd, no musicians. The humming of your heart sets the rhythm and my awkward feet will follow. We’ll undress and your bare back is the strophe upon which my fingers espouse the ballad of our love.
Whom am I kidding? I’m no poet…
I’m just a man lovesick for his wife, the keeper of his heart.
Your husband,
Dallas
He tore out the page from his notebook and while folding it in half and sliding it underneath her pillow he remembered how moments before she fell asleep, she had closed her eyes and told him that he had brought her such peace. He ached inside knowing that he had to leave and he longed to bring her to that peaceful state every night.
* * * * *
Chapter Eleven
In full combat uniform and tactical gear and with weapons in hand, Dallas and his platoon marched up the slope on their return from patrol. After pulling an all-nighter and making it up the steep hike carrying their full rucks, some of the guys dropped on their cot, passing out, without so much as undoing a shoelace from their boots.
Sgt. Granados was serving his third tour in Afghanistan and this time around, the soldier with the square-like frame was paired up with Dallas. He was tough and well liked by his men. During their down time, he would entertain his guys by letting them bet on who could take him down. The boys would take turns punching and kicking him in the abdomen but he was unmovable. Some of the punier kids on the squad would take a running head start in an attempt to drop kick the Sergeant to no avail. When he was not being pummeled his second favorite pass-time was bad-mouthing fobbits—the personnel in the forward Operating Base—who never crossed the wire. “Get off your asses you damn fobbits and get a real damn job. Why don’t you come out here with us where it’s actually dangerous?”
Dallas didn’t care too much for Sgt. Granados’ big mouth. He would shake his head knowing that inside, the burly Sergeant really couldn’t be so tough when, one time, he noticed the Sergeant had been keeping soft cuddly beanie babies on his cot to help him sleep at night. As much as Dallas disliked the Sergeant’s pompous trash talk, he was convinced that Sgt. Granados was the guy to have with you in a firefight.
“Lieutenant Star,” a soldier trotted over to greet Dallas who was standing with Sgt. Granados by the B-huts. “Lieutenant Star, General Brown got here last night and I was told to come tell you as soon as you got back.”
“Alright, thanks for the heads up.” Dallas opened the wooden door of his B-hut.
“I think he wanted to see you sir.”
Dallas, drenched in sweat, filled with grit and dirt, his hands stiff, his knees trembling and his patience wearing thin, “Ok, did he ask for me?”
“Well not exactly sir, I was only told to inform you that he’s here sir.”
“Alright…well…I got it. Elvis is in the building.” He shut the door on the kid, unloaded his gear and sat on his cot burying his face on his folded arms filled with soot.
A knock on the wood plank door woke him from having dosed off while still sitting in the same position. It was the baby face soldier again.
“What now?”
“The General is asking to see you now sir.”
He sighed, “Alright, thanks man,” and he rubbed his eyes.
The General, catching sight of Dallas marching up to the makeshift office, stood at attention. “You look like shit, Lieutenant.”
“Good to see you too, General.”
“Come on in son.”
“You feel any different now that you’re a married man?”
Dallas chuckled, “A little bit, sir.”
“Let me cut to the chase, Dallas, I got the feds so far up my ass I can taste Grecian Formula. You want to know why?”
Dallas stood at attention, silent.
“I’ll tell you why…” He raised a finger. “I let one of my best soldiers go on leave and he wreaks havoc in Dubai. Now off the record, I’m damn happy you pulverized that son-of-a-bitch drug dealer,” then pausing to put his hands on his hips and shake his head, “Lieutenant, you acted like a damn vigilante and it didn’t go over well with the locals.”
“I did what I had to do, General.”
“You got the President of the United States having to step in so there wouldn’t be a ripple on US relations with Dubai.”
Dallas remained at attention and while his pulse raced, he controlled the twitch in his aching knees. He watched the General pace back and forth in the small wooden office.
“You got the base IG’s nose in your file, Dallas.”
“The Inspector General’s a pretty nice guy, sir.”
“Not when he has to answer directly to DC regarding your case.”
“So now I’m the one being investigated, for what? For…for…dismantling an opium organization that supplies our enemy? They almost killed my wife, General.”
“Dallas, I’m on your side, son. But you have to understand one thing. You didn’t dismantle them. They recouped faster than green grass through a goose. They’re still out there and we’re still fighting them.”
“I understand sir.”
“Your tour ends in forty days and I want you completi
ng it without a hiccup.”
“Yes sir.”
Walking back to his B-hut room Dallas hung his head and thought, forty days in hell. He looked forward only to the privacy of the undersized room and its timber walls so he could turn on his laptop and contact his wife. He used nails hammered into the wall to hang his helmet and his rifle. He checked email while untying his bootlaces.
He picked up his satellite phone and while sitting on the bed he made the call. He pictured Abby naked with him on the cot grinding her round curvaceous butt and he could almost feel his hands gripping her hips and the softness of her skin on his fingertips.
“Hello?” She shouted over loud drilling noises in the background.
“Sounds like your guys are having a party over there.”
“Oh no, it’s just Javi building a bookcase for Samantha. Hold on, let me tell him you’re on the phone so he could stop for a bit.”
“That’s ok. Don’t worry about it. Look, I’m really tired tonight. I’ll call you again tomorrow.”
“No Dallas, wait. I have to tell you something, don’t hang up, ok?”
“Just tell me tomorrow.”
“Please, Dallas.”
He stayed quiet.
The noise stopped. “Dallas, are you still there?”
“I’m here.”
“We’re having a girl.”
His eyes reddened. “I’m speechless.”
“Are you happy?”
“I’m more than happy, Abby.”
“Me too…I love you Dallas.”
After having fallen asleep to Abby’s melodic voice, and with only three hours of rest, he could hear the Apaches flying above his hut and each thunderous sound elevated the adrenalin levels in his body. Still dazed from the euphoria of the news that he would be having a little girl calling him daddy, he walked out towards the showers. He caught sight of Sgt. Granados smoking the guys in his platoon. The Sergeant had his men on the dirt doing two hundred sit-ups. From the shower, Dallas could hear the loud-mouthed Sergeant calling out, “Front…back…front…back…go.” Dallas was assured that whatever reason Sgt. Granados might have for disciplining the men, they were all up for the challenge. The men had professed their fondness of Sgt. Granados in the past and they had admitted that his smoke sessions bonded the team. While he shaved, he could hear the men laughing and joking after the rigorous discipline, and he was reminded of the Colonel and Javi. How similar it had been for him, when the Colonel and Javi forced him to discover, inside of himself, abilities far beyond any he thought he might possess.
“How you doin’ Lieutenant?” The men greeted Dallas as they filled the tiny makeshift bathroom.
“What’d you boys do to get smoked?” Dallas splashed the razor with water.
“Just a prank gone wrong, sir.” Nineteen year-old Private Smith from Kansas answered.
One of Private Smith’s B-hut roommates put his arm around him and added. “Lieutenant, it was a hilarious prank gone bad, we deserved every last push up. It was hilarious sir.”
A voice cried out, “Damn it…who Saran-wrapped the damn shitter?”
They all bolted tripping over one another on their way out.
Dallas looked into the shabby mirror grazing a razor over his chin and thought I’m not ready for a boy. Thank God, it’s a girl.
* * * * *
From behind the gossamer clouds, an early morning sun illuminated the fifty-seven foot sport fisher that made its way across the deep blue Gulf Stream waters. The Colonel had decided he was going to fish for marlin and insisted his two sons-in-law accompany him. Dallas had returned from tour and this time, it had been an easier adjustment mainly because Javi and the Colonel were a constant source of support. He and Abby were staying in Javi’s house, and the Colonel had come to visit mostly to spend time with Chelsea, but being close to Javi and the Colonel made a world of difference.
Dallas emerged from under the mezzanine deck with a couple of beers. He walked up to Javi, who had been standing on the teak deck struggling to angle and wire a fish.
“Yo…Jav…want another beer?”
“I’m a little busy here. Why don’t you go see if El Capitan can slow this vessel down to bait speed?”
“You think he’ll let me call him El Capitan?” Dallas sipped his beer.
“Better yet, why don’t you see if he lets you call him dad?” Javi wiped the sweat from his brow with his forearm.
Colonel Johnston stood with both hands on the wheel steering his fishing boat with professional ease. He kept one eye on Dallas who staggered into the cockpit.
“Colonel,” Dallas cleared his throat. “Javi and I want to know if we can call you dad.”
Javi jumped into the cockpit and took the second beer from Dallas’s hand. “You leave me out of that one.”
The Colonel rested his elbow on the wheel and studied the two drunks. “You two pansies call me dad and I’ll answer you the way I’m answering you now—pansies.” He turned back to steering. “And sober up. Fishing marlin is serious business.”
“Si Capitan.” Javi saluted the Colonel.
“You think you’re funny, son?”
Dallas put a hand on Javi’s shoulder as they quickly made their way out of the cockpit. “See, why does he get to call you son?”
“Quick, go get us one last beer.” Javi said.
With his head deep under the mezzanine deck, Dallas’s satellite phone buzzed in his pocket. He juggled the cold beers ignoring the call. Back on deck, he could hear Javi stammering on the phone.
“Dallas,” Javi brought his cell phone to his chest and called out again, “Dallas!”
“Hey man, I was getting you one last beer, what’s up?”
“Jasmine wants to know why you’re not answering your phone.” He grabbed the beer. “I think your wife’s having the baby.”
“What? Give me the phone.” He grabbed the cell phone and pressed it to his ear, “Hello, Jasmine what’s going on?” He could hear Jasmine mumbling as she passed the phone to Abby.
“Dallas,” Abby shrieked. “My water broke, it’s time.”
“Alright…uh…ok…you know what to do. Don’t worry about taking anything to the hospital just have Jasmine take you and I’ll be there as soon as possible. I’ll get the list and bring your bag with me. Uh…” He grazed his crew cut with his hand. “I gotta get the Colonel to turn the boat around.” He exhaled into the phone and listened to her labored breathing. “You’ll do just fine, I know you will.”
“Just get here as soon as possible, please. Dallas…I need you here with me.”
Dallas leaped over the railing into the cockpit. “Colonel, you have to turn around. Your daughter’s having a baby. Turn this boat around.”
“B.O.H.I.C.A.” The Colonel called out as he turned the wheel. The old pro gave the vessel an impressive spin then cut a clean path leaving a dissipating bubble trail.
* * * * *
Placing a hand underneath the wrapped blanket, Dallas leaned over the hospital crib and held his breath. “This is harder than I thought.” He took a step back and exhaled.
A stout nurse slid her hand behind the baby’s head and gripped the pink blanket like a football. “You’ll be surprised how resilient babies are. Don’t be afraid.” She pressed the bundled baby at his chest. “There you go, dad. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”
Dallas cooed and slowly approached the window for a closer look in the light. “Hey there, baby girl. Open your eyes for daddy.”
Abby sat up on the bed and combed her hair. “You’re frighteningly accurate with grenade launchers and all kinds of weapons. I’ve seen you wield a knife as if you were tossing around a piece of candy. And look at you. You’re so stiff.” She laughed.
“Cut me some slack ok. It’s my first time holding a newborn.” Dallas continued his cooing. “Did you see that? She smiled in her sleep. I wonder what she’s dreaming.”
“Did you see her dimples?” Abby looked up as she tightened her ponyta
il. “Just like her daddy.”
Holding his daughter in his arms, he felt so underprepared. He saw her as being so helpless and so susceptible to harm. Her sleeping smiles somehow eased his anxiety bringing him almost a mystical experience. A tear ran down the tip of his nose and onto the pink blanket. “You’re everything that is right with this world.” He gave her a gentle kiss.
Cheers from a noisy group entering the hospital room startled the newborn. Samantha emerged from the crowd and leaped onto the edge of the bed. Jasmine went for the crying infant and took her into her arms as Javi snapped random pictures. The Colonel tied a hand full of balloons to a chair then pulled out a hidden bottle of champagne. Javi set the camera aside to pass around his private collection of the finest handmade cigars. Two saber bearers from the wedding smothered Jasmine and the baby.
Susan stormed into the room frazzled. “What is this ruckus? You all are scaring the poor darling. You really ought to know better, James.”
Dallas put an arm around the old bird. “Awe, come on Susan, how’s it the Colonel’s fault? He’s just acting like a proud grandpa.”
“The boy’s right. Here, have some champagne and celebrate with us. You’re a grandmother now.” The Colonel handed his ex-wife a glass.
Susan gave her blow-dried blond highlighted hair a flip over the shoulder and puckered her lips. “James, I am way too young to be called grandma. I’m telling you now I will not be called grandma.”
Samantha tugged at the Colonel’s jacket. “Grandpa, how do you say grandma in Spanish?”
“Abuela.”
Samantha looked at Susan. “The baby can call you abuela.”
Jasmine glanced over at Samantha and raised an eyebrow.
Susan gave the little girl a half smile and sipped her drink.
The stout nurse walked in and raised her voice. “I hate to break up this lovely party but mom has to feed her baby in private.”