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Plot Generator—Phrase Catch: Postpone the inevitable.

Plot Generator—Phrase Catch: Postpone the inevitable.

"Hey, Dad, are you ready?" I called up the stairs just for him appear a few seconds later.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I had a phone call," he explained, and I nodded. I waved goodbye to my mom before we walked out and got into my dad's car. When I asked about lunch, I was happy to hear we could go out and spend some time together. Even I could see that Edward was taking up a fair bit of my time, and with my dad deploying too, I needed to do some one-on-one things with him before he left. This wasn't his first deployment, and I was sure it wasn't going to his last, but it was still difficult every time.

"I was thinking Longhorn's," I hinted, and my dad laughed.

"Like I'd take you anywhere else?" he teased, and I rolled my eyes. At every base, we always had 'our' restaurant. I wasn't sure if my dad ever took my mom to the places we'd go, but I doubted it. My mom and I had two different types of favorites, so I imagined they had their place too…I just never asked.

The drive took about thirty minutes, but we didn't chat on the way. Instead, we listened to the local radio station, and I caught my dad humming to some of the songs. That fact alone made me laugh.

Thankfully, the wait time was non-existent.

"So, how is school going?" my dad prompted, but I just shrugged.

"It's boring, but I'm getting A's so that is something," I replied uninterested in talking about school.

"Bella, you used to like school," he gently reminded me.

"I know," I explained. "But, that was when school was excited. I'm bored senseless in these classes now. Only a few more months until graduation, and then college."

"I'm still trying to make sure my R&R is for your graduation," he informed me, and I nodded. I knew it was a fifty-fifty chance he'd miss it, but it wouldn't be the first time he'd missed something important.

"If you're there, great. If not, I'm sure mom will videotape it." My mom truly had an unhealthy obsession with a camcorder. I guess that was the hazard of my dad being gone for more than half my life.

"Bella, I want to be there," he said a bit more sternly, and I understood his sentiment; however wanting didn't mean much to the Army.

"I understand," I replied back, as I took a sip of the coke the waitress just brought me. We ordered soon after, and were left alone for the most part.

"So, how are things going with Edward?" My dad coughed to clear his voice.

"They're good," I answered back briefly. "His family comes into town this weekend, so I'm going to dinner with them Saturday night."

"That seems a little serious for friends," my dad stated evenly, but I shrugged.

"That's all we are, but I'm excited to meet them. His dad got a new job down in Texas, so they're stopping here for a few days while they drive though. Edward has a sister a few years younger than me, so maybe I'll make another friend," I offered, and he nodded.

"Texas is a long way from Dartmouth, Bella," my dad announced, and I choked. "What? You are still going there, right?"

"I got my acceptance letter," I replied. "I also got a few more, so I'm weighing my options."

"Bella, Dartmouth is all you've talked about for the last few years; please tell me this isn't about…"

"This isn't about Edward," I answered seriously. "This is about me figuring out what school I want to go to. I want to teach English, and I want to go to college, I'm just not completely sure where. I'll figure it out soon."

"As long as you're happy," my dad said back, but his tone didn't match his words. I knew he had always wanted me to go to his Alma Matter, but the more I'd thought about it in the past few weeks, the more I wondered if it was the right place for me. Clarksville had a good campus with Austin Peay, and I could stay local with my mom while my dad was gone. I'd be lying if I said Edward didn't factor in at all, but he was probably five percent to the ninety-five percent telling me Dartmouth was the wrong choice.

I hadn't even thought about it until my mom asked what we needed to do next for admission, and I froze. She could sense my distress and sat me down to talk about it. It was her that pushed me to change my mind if I thought it was in my best interest, but she remained neutral.

"So, are you ready to go again?" I tried to joke in order to lighten the mood, but my dad's face clouded over.

"Yes, I'm ready," he answered back a little too robotically. "It should be my last tour, so…"

"Last tour?" I questioned because that could only mean…

"Your mom really likes it here, and we're not getting any younger. After this tour, I'm thinking about retiring," he explained, and I nodded. "Everyone comes to their end, you can't postpone the inevitable."

I gulped and nodded as a flood of emotions took over at the thought of my dad leaving the Army. He was in long before my birth, and I was sure he was going to be one of the ones they had to force out. Now, I was left to question even more about my future and where I should end up.

Alright, back to couponing I go...again :) See ya tomorrow!