“Only a half hour early. I thought I taught you better than that,” said Gich, sticking out his hand. “Christ, I was two hours early on my first day at BUD/S.”
“Yeah, and you probably weren’t getting any either. Those of us with wives have other duties, you know.” Declan laughed before he swatted away the hand and leaned down to hug the man. “Good to see you, Commander. What brings you here?”
Gich spread his arms wide. “I’ve had three different offices in this place, and I’ve got to say, this one is the best.” Then he resettled in the chair. “Besides, if I’m going to have you following in my footsteps, I have to make sure you do it right.” Gich’s bullshitting was a great way to begin this new journey.
He’d play along. “What’s your advice, Commander? Tie the tads up and throw them in the ocean or stick with the pool?”
“That’s stage one, my boy, you know that. No, I’m talking about when you’re in the mountains. I know this place that has the best pie. Before the stage begins, you need to stock up, and then there is this little pub with darling waitresses—not that you’re looking anymore—but you can bring a few of your Teammates who are single…”
Sitting down in his chair, Declan pulled closer to the desk. He’d thought that being behind a desk would mean the end of his time in SEAL Team. Instead it was a phase of his career he was eager to experience. If he could be anything like the man sitting in front of him, he would consider his life well lived, because Gich had saved lives with his actions in combat and at home, and his teaching in the Teams was legendary. He was a role model to everyone, but to himself, he was just an ordinary guy. That was a SEAL, someone who didn’t need to be recognized for the glory.
Yeah, he’d be happy to be just like the most outstanding man he knew, Gich. With a wife like Maura at his side too—a woman who was independent, passionate, honest, and the perfect swim buddy—the possibilities really were endless.
“I brought you a present,” said Gich, handing him a package wrapped in newspaper. “It was given to me by a brother, before we lost him in battle about a decade back.”
Declan unwrapped the package. He looked at the framed print. It was the Navy SEAL Ethos. He read through it, saying the last line aloud: “…the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail.”
Gich stood and the two men shook hands. “I know they’re in good hands.” And then he walked out of the office.
Picking up the pile of files, Declan opened the first one. He gave the candidate his full attention, making notes on a separate piece of paper on how to push him, teach him, and make him the best SEAL he could be. Because being the best meant pushing oneself every day and living up to the promise of success, courage, commitment, innovation, and achievement.
Epilogue
Sitting in a C-130, wearing Leaper’s coveralls because they were the smallest set of winter coveralls that could be located, Maura bit her lip pensively. What on earth possessed me to agree to this?
She had bunny boots on her feet, guaranteed to keep her toes from freezing, and giant gloves with warming inserts over her hands. The temperature inside the plane was dropping and her nose was already running. Peeking out from under a neck scarf, there was small gold shiny trident on a thin gold chain around her neck and a glove covered her wedding band. There was no doubt whom she belonged to or who belonged to her.
She pried the handkerchief stuffed into her right glove out of its tight-fitting hidey-hole and wiped her nose and then stuffed it into a pocket in the coverall for easier access.
Declan waited until she was done, then strapped her into the plane and put a set of noise-canceling headphones over her ears. He tapped a switch and a sharp noise sounded briefly. He doted on her.
She shook her head and frowned at him.
He placed a mouthpiece in front of her lips. “You can talk to me.”
“Why should I? I look like a polar bear.”
“Shhhhhh,” he whispered, pointing to the giant cages. “Polar bears eat sea lions.”
Maura rolled her eyes and laughed. “Tell me why I agreed to this again. Why am I traveling on a plane full of creatures with a below-normal temperature?”
He sat down next to her and strapped in. “This is prime time. Everyone is off right now and traveling. Space ‘A’ flying is optimal when you’re active duty or retired, so most people catch a flight. As you know, all the domestic flights we tried to Oahu were full. So I asked a favor of the Marine Mammal guys and they agreed to allow us to hitch a ride. Keeping these warrior creatures cool is a priority. We just have to bundle up.”
The C-130 shook as the engines revved. It began moving as it taxied to the runway. When it reached its correct position, the engines revved again—this time longer and higher—until it took off like a flash.
She didn’t want to imagine it going out over the Pacific. She knew she should probably make peace with it, as they would be out over the ocean for a while.
“I guess I can handle it for a few hours,” she acquiesced, though the animals secretly intrigued her. Perhaps while they were in the air, she might get a chance to ask the Marine Mammal staff some questions. Being around these creatures all the time had to be interesting.
“Uh.” He paused. “It’s going to be longer than that.”
“What?” she asked, turning her face to his. “How long?”
“Over seven hours, maybe longer.”
Her jaw dropped open. “How cold will it be in here?”
“Under fifty degrees.” He looked at her sheepishly. “It will be fun. Really.”
Maura laughed. She couldn’t stop herself.
The sea lions joined in. Arrrrrgh. Arrrrgh. Arrrrgh.
One of them, the largest of the bunch, kept making moon eyes at her. He nuzzled the bars of his cage and pushed his nose out, sniffing at her.
Three female trainers visited the cages, attempting to distract and calm the creature, but he was obviously smitten. Finally, the short blond trainer walked over to Declan and Maura, who pushed off their headsets to hear her. “Hi, I’m Rocky.”
“Maura. Declan. Thanks again for allowing us to join you on the flight.” Declan motioned with his gloved hands. “You’ve got a full crew. Training or Op?”
“Both.” She smiled. “Um, I don’t mean to intrude, but Gigor has this thing for women when they are, uh, in the family way. Are you by any chance pregnant?”
Maura’s eyes went wide. Mentally, she counted the days. It was possible. “I don’t know.”
“Well, he, uh, acted this way when I had all of mine,” said Rocky. “I’ve been pregnant four times, and the youngest is nine months. Gigor knew before either my husband or me. He’s, uh, never been wrong.”
Putting her hand over her belly, Maura wondered, Am I with child? Closing her eyes, she thought about how her energy had been waning, her stomach had been queasy, and her breasts, specifically her nipples, ached.
Declan put his hand over hers. “Maura, are you okay?”
She opened her eyes and smiled. She nodded her head. “I could be.”
He kept his hand over hers and put his other around her shoulders, snuggling in close.
“Sorry to intrude,” said Rocky.
“No intrusion,” said Maura. “I appreciate the info. I can hardly wait until we land now.”
“What’s your full name?” asked Declan. “Is it Roxanne?”
“Yeah,” said the trainer. “Everyone calls me Rocky. Talk to you later.” She went back to her posse to chat with them some more. A tall, muscular man, the guy in charge of the transport and the entire group, joined the women. They opened their packs and drew out food, settling in for the long flight.
They put their headsets back on.
“My mother was named Roxanne. Do you think it’s a sign?”
“Do you believe
in signs?” she asked.
“I believe in energy, that life rarely unfolds as a coincidence, and that we decide on what makes us happy.” He was silent for a long time.
She entwined her fingers with his as they held it on her stomach. “I like the name.”
“Me too.” Declan cleared his throat. “Are you hungry? I have all of your favorites. Pretty much this whole pack is full of food and drink, and the DVD player is in there with a few our favorite movies.”
She couldn’t believe it. They’d just agreed upon the name of their first girl. She adored the name, and the look on Declan’s face was one she’d remember for the rest of her life. “I’m not hungry per se.”
“What?” He looked at her and one of his eyebrows rose. “Here? You want to do it in here?”
“I had visions of the mile-high club, though given the situation, I’m not sure I want to get out of this coverall unless it’s really necessary.”
“How about I whisper dirty things in your ear?” he suggested, waggling his eyebrows up and down.
“Oh God, you and Leaper didn’t exchange personalities before we left, did you?”
He switched off his mic, then hers, and leaning over, he gave her a long, deep, and satisfying kiss. Then he turned everything back on. “Did that feel like Leaper? And don’t say yes, because I’ll be jealous if you’ve been kissing him.”
She smiled. “No one kisses like you do.”
“That wasn’t a response,” he said, looking disgruntled.
“Ah, a woman rarely kisses and tells,” she teased.
He laughed. “Life together is never going to be boring, is it?”
“No,” she said. “I just wonder…if we’re ready for this.”
“A baby. Sure,” Declan said nonchalantly.
She opened her mouth and then closed it.
“What?” he asked.
“Remember in my family there are multiples, so it’s likely that…”
Declan paled. “I forgot about that.” He swallowed and there was an audible sound to it over the mic. “I wonder if they’d hurry up and land.”
Maura put her hand on his arm. “We wouldn’t find out for a little while now. I can’t be that far along.”
He took his hand off her stomach and reached into the pack. He popped open the top of the near beer and drank the bottle down in one gulp. When he finished, he stowed the bottle and secured the top of the pack. “Let me tell you the story of a guy from Team THREE. His name is JC, and they thought they were going to have twins, but they ended up having triplets…”
* * *
The vacation in Oahu was glorious. This was their honeymoon, for all intents and purposes. Since Declan had started a new duty assignment so quickly after their marriage and all the busyness that happens in life, relaxing in Hawaii was amazing.
They visited the Big Island and sipped Kona coffee, sent back twelve pounds of coffee beans for Miller, and a bought a grass skirt for Leaper. They also found shells and bought gifts for the rest of the Team and a few of the people at the gym.
Lying together in a hammock tied between two palm trees, they watched the waves lap at the sand. Cuddling together, they relished the knowledge of each other and the new life growing in her belly.
“It reminds me of home,” she said, falling asleep in his arms.
“Whenever I’m with you, wherever we are, my Maura, I am home.” He kissed the top of her head as the hammock swayed gently in the breeze. “My love, this is forever.”
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Author’s Note
“Everyone who is alive has challenges.” My grandfather, Dr. H.G.B., wrote this to me in a letter when I was an undergraduate at Boston University. He was a minister, a missionary, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. He was trapped in a concentration camp in Japan during World War II, and when he was released after the war and had regained what he could of his health, he went to Manzanar to help the Japanese-Americans interned there. “Some of us speak of our hurdles and others do not. We make our homes out of what we believe to be the heart of our focused emotions; that can be our families and our love of one another, or it can be the house we build of pain, horrific memory, and torture. It is not our place to judge either way. Rather it is our duty—for those of us that can—to give freely of our joys and to share our personal bounty in a manner that can provide dignity to another. When you think of giving, remember this—it is not for the self we act but for the greater good of man and for the honor of those who have walked before us and sacrificed so that we may have freedom of life, the power of faith, and the willingness to keep living.”
I take these words to heart, as does my husband, who is retired from the Teams and a disabled veteran. We both have sought out many opportunities to give. We find the greatest gifts are those that come from generosity of heart or kindness: a smile or a shared laugh, the time spent talking and listening, and/or being a positive presence in someone’s life. Making a difference matters.
We want to thank you for joining me—and us—on these journeys. Writing Navy SEAL fiction is a wonderful experience that allows me to incorporate parts of our life and the community’s into my stories as well as stretch my own imagination. I am grateful to my husband, friends, and family; to my publishing house, the fine editors at Sourcebooks and the entire staff for believing in me and the value of these books; to RT Book Reviews for giving me time away from my Comic Column to craft these stories; to my author friends for their humor and pointers; and to all of the military folks—retired, former, and active duty—who have invited us into their lives. HOOYAH!
May your seas be gentle, your experiences wondrous, and the people you meet have a lasting effect.
* * *
If you would like more information on several organizations that support our veterans, they are listed below. And to those that have served and your families—thank you for your service!
SuperFROG Triathlon
http://superfrogtriathlon.com
Navy SEAL Foundation
http://www.navysealfoundation.org
From their website: “Our mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.”
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
http://www.specialops.org
From their website: “The Special Operations Warrior Foundation ensures full scholarship grants as well as educational and family counseling to the surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps special operations personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty and immediate financial assistance for severely wounded special operations personnel and their families.”
Phone number: (813) 805-9400
Mailing address: PO Box 89367, Tampa FL 33689
Physical location: 1137 Marbella Plaza Drive, Tampa FL
DAV—Disabled American Veterans
http://www.dav.org/learn-more/about-dav/mission-statement
From their website: “Providing free, professional assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits and services earned through military service and provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies of government. Providing outreach concerning its program services to the American people generally, and to disabled veterans and their families specifically. Representing the interests of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses, and their orphans before Congress, the White House, and the Judicial Branch, as well as state and local government. Extending DAV’s mission of hope into the communities where these veterans and their families live through a network of state-level departments and local chapters. Providing a structure through which disabled veterans can express their compassion for their fellow vete
rans through a variety of volunteer programs.”
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
http://www.va.gov
From their website: “Federal benefits for veterans, dependents, and survivors.”
Acknowledgments
My cherished husband—retired Navy SEAL, EOD, and PRU Advisor—Carl Swepston; the outstanding retired Navy SEAL Thomas Rancich and his remarkable Liz; the incredible Rear Admiral and #1 Bullfrog Dick Lyons and his fabulous wife Cindy; old goat roper John T. Curtis and his marvelous Miranda; inspiring retired Navy SEAL Moki Martin and his family; Greg McPartlin, Navy SEAL Corpsman and the owner of McP’s, and his family; retired Navy SEAL Hal Kuykendall and his lovely wife Denise; retired Navy SEAL Jerry Todd and his terrific Pete; Frank Toms (UDT 11/ST1) and his wonderful family; our dear friend Medal of Honor Recipient John Baca; Medal of Honor Recipient Mike Thornton; the Vietnam Era “Old Frogs & SEALs” who contributed comments and stories; and HOOYAH! to all of our operational friends.
To—Suzanne Brockmann and Christine Feehan, thank you for being such great inspirations!
To—Marjorie Liu—For brilliant insights!
To—Joanne Fluke and John Fluke—Wonderfully talented souls!
To—DC and Charles DeVane—YOU ROCK! There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude.
To—Cathy Maxwell and Kim Adams Lowe—Thanks for being such good friends!
To—Tamara Worlton and Liz LeCoy—Thanks for the friendship and med pointers!
To—Renee, Fiona, and Morgan—Thanks for sharing a precious experience at the ice cream store!
Cheers to my brilliant friends: Laurie DeSalvo a.k.a. Lia DeAngelo; Jan Albertie; Alisa Kwitney; Christina Skye; Angela Knight; Leslie Wainger; Dianna Love; Andrew and Megan Bamford; R. Garland Gray; Mary Beth Bass; Maura Troy; Sheila and Ed English; Domini and Chris Walker; Brian Feehan; Sam, Diego, and Zavier; Maria R. and Joao; Maria M. and Frank; Maria N. and Emanuel; Jessica and Ryan; Kim and Paul K.; Jill and Carl H.; the Lynches; Brenda; Mary H.; Anne M.; Stephanie H.; Rose S.; Mic; Ginger D.; Nonny; Erika; Amy; Katheryn; Kat; Cindy; Lynn; Robyn; Lora; Traci; Trudy; Stacey; Kristy; Simone; Laura L.; the entire BB crew; Sara and Lindsey Stillman, who are marvelous; a shout-out to my cousins, aunts, and uncles; to Kathryn Falk, Kenneth Rubin, and Carol Stacy; and to my agent, Eric Ruben.
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