Duke sat in his favorite chair in the den. The barbecue was over, everything cleaned up and put away. The guest were gone. He'd packed his bags and set his class A's out for the morning. Everyone had gone to bed hours ago. Duke mused that he should be in bed; a full night's sleep was probably better, since he knew he'd be hit with some emergency or catastrophe as soon as he got back on base. But there was too much going on in his head. He'd watched everyone climb the stairs, said goodnight. He'd even gone around switching off all the lamps. But when it came time to retire himself, he couldn't do it. So he'd lowered himself back into his easy chair and stared at his father's portrait in the dark, letting his mind wander where it wanted.
Somehow, the phone got into his hands. He picked up the receiver, then put it back in the cradle, drumming his fingers absent-mindedly on the plastic. Duke sighed, and looked around the room, the fireplace, over several family portraits, Jack's medals, his official Army portrait, a painting Jennifer had done of the pasture that wasn't half bad, Mamma's family tree, the front windows, then back to Papa. He snatched the receiver back off the phone and dialed a complicated series of numbers before he could come to his senses and stop himself.
Sparks picked up the phone, stuck on red eye comm duty. "Duke?" Duke heard him yawn. It was earlier than Missouri, but not much. Most of the Joes would be asleep or getting there. "That you?"
"Yeah, Sparks, checking in before I get back tomorrow. Giving you fair warning to clean up any messes you don't want me seeing."
Sparks chuckled. "Don't worry. Flint, Stalker and Scarlett's been on everyone's ass about it all day. Last three weeks, really. Everything's tight and spit polished, just like you like it."
Duke sighed. "Good."
"Have a nice leave?"
The question took Duke by surprise. It spoke of a level of familiarity most NCO's would frown on. But it was too late at night, and Duke just didn't feel like being a hardass, so he let it pass. "Sure. Say, Sparks..."
"Yeah, Top?"
"Scarlett still up?" Duke knew she would be. She was a night owl. Mornings were a different matter. Most evenings she was up-reading, usually. He often saw her light on when he finally shut down his office and headed back to his own quarters.
"Sure. She was just in here to check up on me and kiss me goodnight." Sparks laughed again.
Cocky, isn't he? Then again,he and I both know he's not planning on re-upping next time. Maybe he's already letting go.
"Buzz me over to the women's quarters, will you?"
"Sure, hang on."
A series of clicks and then a soft burr announced the transfer. The call was answered in three rings.
"Hello?"
Duke felt a strange tingle in his chest. It's only been three weeks...it's not like she'd miss me.
"Hello?" The soft voice sounded mildly annoyed. "Clutch, I told you, this isn't funny anymore."
"Hey, Red."
"Duke!" The annoyance was replaced with happiness.
She's smiling. She heard my voice and she's smiling, I can tell. She's always smiling when she sounds that way.
"Clutch been bothering you?" He'd have to quash that.
"Oh, no. Nothing bad. Nothing worth you bothering with." It was like her to brush things like that off. She'd rather deal with it herself than get a team mate in trouble. Duke mused that her solutions were often nastier than anything he could have thought up. "It's got to be late there, Duke. It's already..." She paused, and Duke imagined her searching out a clock, since she preferred not to wear a watch unless necessary. "My God! It is late for you. Why are you still up?"
"Dunno. There was a big party. It ran late, they usually do. We just got it all stowed away." It was only a little lie. "Thought I'd call and check in now that everything's quiet."
"It's quiet over here, too." She laughed. "Not that they didn't try, but the three of us kept them in line for you."
"Good." Duke looked out the window at the moon. He wondered if she was doing the same. "Good..." He could hear her breathing at the other end. "I figured you'd have it under control."
"Sure, not much of a problem at all. So..." It sounded like she was sipping something. Tea, Duke assumed. "How was your leave? Are you relaxed?"
He scratched his head. "Oh yeah. I guess you could say that. I can see what you like about sleeping in." Her soft laughter trickled down the line. Duke smiled to himself. "It was good to catch up with family and friends. But I'm eager to get back to base."
"Really?" She sounded surprised. "What on Earth could you prefer here to being home?"
"Well, see, I've been away from it for three weeks. I really miss...uhh...I miss...everyone." You coward.
She laughed again. "Well, we all missed you, too."
"Oh sure." He quietly joined in with her laughter.
"No, really, Duke. I heard more than a few people grumbling that things are different when you're not around to keep on top of it." She cleared her throat, her voice dropping to a more serious timbre. "Breakfast was pretty lonely."
His ears perked up. "Was it? I bet there were lots of guys willing to share your table, Red."
"Maybe. But none of them were you."
His heart skipped a beat. "I'll be back soon enough, Scarlett. We'll have breakfast again Tuesday." He tried to sound nonchalant.
"That sounds nice."
Duke felt himself responding to the tone of her voice. He thought for a bit. "It will be. We'll catch up over coffee."
"Yeah..."
Duke chuckled softly into the receiver, but couldn't think of the right thing to say. All of a sudden, he felt sixteen again. It wasn't unpleasant.
"Duke?" Scarlett spoke at barely above a whisper.
"Mmmm?"
"It's good to hear your voice."
He wanted to be there. He wanted to be there in the room with her. The night would blacken the windows. The base would be quiet; Jaye and Cover girl would have graveyard duty or maybe would have already gone to bed. Duke wasn't sure whether he cursed or embraced the distance between them, because if she were in front of him this very second he'd take her into his arms and there'd be no going back.
Soon. I'm not denying this any more. Everyone's happy, everyone's moved on, except for me. It's my turn.
"Red..." He took a deep breath that he felt to his toes. "Shana-There's no one else I'd rather be talking to right now but you."
The line was quiet again. For several minutes, all he could hear was her calm, even breathing. It stretched on long enough for Duke to worry that he'd said too much. They were both playing with fire. Sparks might be listening, if just for a diversion in a long, boring night on comm duty. She broke the silence.
"I'm going to bed now, Duke. You should too. It's so late there."
"Sure, you're right." He nodded, although she couldn't see him.
"It'll make tomorrow come faster. Besides," Her voice rose with amusement, "I need my beauty sleep."
"No room for improvement, there." He chuckled softly again. "See you tomorrow, then, Red. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Duke, sleep well."
"You too. 'Night." He forced himself to set the receiver down softly, then looked back out the window at the moon. It was half an hour before he could make himself go to bed.
For the first time in many days, the alarm and not a tackle brought Duke to consciousness in a dark room.
Back to early mornings. I'll be dressing in the dark from here on out. Until next time.
Duke pulled himself to sitting and rubbed the back of his head, wishing he'd been able to sleep a little longer. But he wanted to get to the kitchen before the kids got up to make breakfast. It had become a tradition. On the last day of his leave, he made breakfast for everyone. Mamma thought it odd, but she'd learned to stop complaining years ago. Now, she made sure the kitchen was stocked with everything he needed. He made the same thing every time; pumpkin pancakes-huge stacks of them, and thick cut bacon. He'd started it long ago, the first time he left after re-upping post Vietnam. Mamma had been in agony. Vince and Jenn were confused, and Jack was proud, but worried. Duke just wanted to ease the sting of his departure. Mamma had stayed in bed, unwilling to face the truth of his re-enlistment. Jack was doing his best to comfort her. It took hours. The kids were starving. So Duke had broken down, searched the pantry for inspiration. He'd found flour, eggs, sugar, oil and a huge can of pumpkin. There had been a bulk pack of bacon in the fridge. He made do to feed his brother and sister. Jack and Mamma came down when they smelled the bacon, and everyone had eaten together, trying to comfort each other.
From then on, it had been tradition for him to make breakfast before he left. He'd even learned to make mouse-eared pancakes when Drew was old enough to appreciate them.
Duke looked at his class A's, hanging in the garment bag on the outside of his closet.
This is it. Time to go. No more Mamma coddling you. No more horsing around. Back to it.
He swung his legs to the edge of the bed and stretched. Per Mamma, it would be strictly robe an pajamas for breakfast. Duke stood and padded his way to the closet to pull out his flannel robe. He preferred just his sweats, but Mamma sometimes balked at him dining bare-chested. Especially if Laura managed to worm her way to breakfast. Duke figured she might just do it today. He didn't mind; he liked Laura, but he thought Mamma might. He slipped his arms into his robe and made his way through the basement, up the stairs and into the kitchen. It was dark and empty. He flipped on the light and went about gathering what he needed.
First things first; he prepped the coffee machine and set it to go. Carefully, he gathered his ingredients and whipped up a batter, setting the oven to a low temperature and putting a platter in to make sure it all stayed warm. The coffee machine was purring in due course. Duke pulled out his mother's griddle and prepped it for the bacon. He was ready to ladle on the "first cake" when Jack pushed through the kitchen door.
"Thought you'd be in here, Champ."
Duke grinned. "Yeah, you know me. Creature of habit."
Jack had the paper under one arm. He tossed it on the table and glanced at the coffee maker. "Sure. It keeps you going." Jack lowered himself into a chair. "Your mother just got to sleep a few hours ago."
Duke sighed. "Really?"
Jack grimaced. "You'll never get her to stop worrying, Champ."
Duke set the spatula against the edge of the pan and crossed his arms over his chest. "I know...I know. She wanted me to be a history professor. Or a play pro ball. Or...something."
"She wanted you to be safe. That's all she ever wanted. She never cared what you did, just as long as you were happy and safe." Jack stood, went to the cabinet and pulled down a mug. "You have to understand...for the longest time, you're all she had. She...she loves you so much."
Duke turned back to the pancake batter and gave it a halfhearted whisk. "I know...but, when it comes right down to it...I'm good at this. This is the best thing I've ever done." He felt that in his heart.
"Son...everything you do, you've done well." Duke felt a hand on his shoulder. "I've never seen you fail yet."
"After 'Nam..."
"That was nothing. That was a blip. That woman tossed you a screwball. Frankly, to be honest, if you were going to do it, you did it all the way. Got it out of your system. But you got yourself cleaned up and back on track. You went right back in. Your Mamma will never understand; but I do." Jack snapped the carafe out of the now finished machine and poured himself a mug full. "Coffee, Champ?"
"Sure." Duke dropped a bit of grease onto the cast iron pan and ladled on some batter. Both he and Jack watched the bubbles break for a minute.
"Rough? Seeing her again last night?" Jack sipped his coffee, staring ahead at the cooking pancake.
"Yeah. No...I don't know." Duke slid the spatula and lifted the cake to check underneath. "I suppose it had to happen sometime." He let the cake cook a little more, then flipped it. This one's not going to the dog. Not that we have a dog anymore. "Better done and over with. She's married. Has kids." He shrugged.
"I agree with your brother on that one. Your Mamma did, too."
"You never said anything, at the time."
Jack's smile was tight. "Maybe I'm seeing things better in hindsight. Maybe you should, too."
Duke flipped the cake and put the spatula on the counter. "I thought I had." He glanced to the side. "I sure have now."
"Mmmmm." Jack went quiet. They stood for a while, in companionable silence, until both had finished a mug of coffee each. The stack of pancakes grew.
Jack poured them both a second cup. "These terrorists are no laughing matter."
"No." Duke ladled another puddle of batter onto the hot iron. "Not at all."
"They've captured you." Jack put a hand on the counter.
"Yeah, A few times." Duke flipped the cake and kept his voice light. "I always get out."
"Did they hurt you much? Beyond that hypnosis shit..."
Duke smiled tersely, but didn't answer. His stepfather knew. He knew the training. He had a good idea of how long his stepson could hold out. But Duke would rather not let him know how much he'd had to.
Jack turned to him, his face a mask of pain. "Why do they want you so badly?"
"You know, Jack." Duke sighed. "I'm the key." It wasn't ego, it wasn't pride; it was fact. Every powerful storm needed its calm core. Remove that, and it would all fall apart. Duke wasn't about to crow, but he knew his value.
"Be careful, Champ. Don't let them take you down."
"No." Duke set up another pancake. "No. I don't plan on it. Things are growing. The roster's going to double in a few years. Planning's already starting now."
"You're still on the front lines of this thing."
"Of course." Duke reached for his coffee and took a slow sip.
"Well then-"
Jack was cut off by the thunder of little feet across the linoleum. He just had time to put down his coffee before Drew flung herself into his arms.
"Morning, Pop!"
Jack blew a raspberry on her right cheek, making her laugh. "Good morning, Baby. First up?"
She reached for Duke. He grabbed her with one arm and raspberried her other cheek. "Not anymore. I got Jenn up. She was mad, but she's up. Vincent pretended I wasn't there. His room is stinky, so I left. Mamma said she was coming."
Duke put his forehead against hers. "You woke Mamma up, Rabbit? You shouldn't have done that."
"She was already up when I went in." Drew glared into his eyes, pressing her nose against his. Her two eyes merged into one in Duke's vision. "She was looking at her albums again. She made me come down here."
Pictures. She's already getting herself in that mood. Duke cringed inside. His mother would look at pictures until breakfast was ready, working herself up with memories and worry. He let Drew back down to the floor, flipped the cake and sighed.
"Let me take her some coffee." Jack filled a third mug, added sugar and milk, and went out to give Mamma what comfort he could.
"You want mouse ears, Rabbit?" Duke held up a ladle full of batter and raised his eyebrows.
"Why not Rabbit ears?"
He thought about it. "Why not? Strange that never occurred to me before." He poured one round of batter, and did his best to add two long ears. It turned out OK. They both stared into the pan as bubbles began to break on the surface. "It's going to be a tricky flip."
"Can you make it blue?"
Duke thought back to their French dinner and smirked at the memory of dancing frog legs. Mamma probably had the food coloring to do it. "Not without coloring the entire bowl of batter, Rabbit. I'm pretty sure blue pumpkin pancakes won't go over so well. Here, get your eyes."
"Oh." She reached for the bag of chocolate chips. He held her up so she could drop two chips into the cooking cake, then used his steady hand to add a chain of them for a smiling mouth. It took a little finesse, but he managed to flip the pancake without losing an ear.
Jennifer came through the door, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "That smells good, Con. I haven't had pumpkin pancakes in a long time." She came up next to him and peered into the skillet. "Cute bunny. Can you make me one?"
"It's not that hard, Jenn." He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in so he could kiss the top of her head.
"Mamma won't have them any other time." She wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him in return.
"The last time we tried it was last Easter." Drew ate a handful of chocolate chips. "She took a bite of one and cried."
"Drew!" Jennifer scolded. "You weren't supposed to tell him that." She turned sheepish eyes to her big brother. "You weren't supposed to know that, Con."
Duke looked at her, then down at Drew, who looked ready to cry herself. "It's OK, Jenn. She didn't think, is all." He nudged Drew. "It's all right, Rabbit. Sometimes, people cry."
"You don't." Drew reached for the chocolate chips again.
I'm not allowed to.
Duke managed to secure the bag and move it out of her reach. "You've never seen me cry, no. It's not a man thing."
"Your friend Sandy says there's nothing wrong with a man crying." Jennifer poured herself a cup of coffee, sipped it, made a face, and dumped three spoonfuls of sugar in quick succession.
"Mmmmm. Sandy says a lot of things." Duke doubted he could ever let anyone see him cry. Not that he hadn't, when he was alone and it all got too much. "She's probably right. She usually is."
"Huh."
"Jenn, get the bacon open for me." Duke transferred a stack of pancakes to the platter in the oven to keep warm. "Rabbit, pour some syrup into the pitcher and put it in the microwave. We'll heat it up right before everyone sits down. Get out the butter, when you're done with that." He trusted that not too much syrup would find it's way to the counter or floor.
Both girls went to their tasks, Jennifer going so far as to peel the bacon strips free and put them in the heated frying pan. All three worked together in companionable silence for several minutes. Jennifer gave bacon duty back to Duke and wordlessly started pulling down plates and getting out cutlery to set the table. Drew helped without being asked.
The sound of the kitchen door swinging open made Duke turn. Vincent padded through in slippered feet, wrapped in a flannel robe. Jack was close behind.
Duke peered behind them, but Mamma was nowhere to be seen. He shot a questioning look at his stepfather.
"She said she'd be down soon. I'm not sure she's ready to face it quite yet, Champ."
Vincent shook his head. "She won't let anyone but Pop in. I can hear her through the door, but she didn't want me in. She tried to pretend it was all OK, but...No..." His eyes were ringed with worry. "She's worse than usual. I tried to go help her..."
"It's not you, Sport." Jack re-filled his mug. "It's just hitting her a little hard this time, is all. She doesn't want to worry you, and she gets a bit embarrassed about it, to tell the truth."
Duke put the last pancake onto a plate in the oven. The bacon was done. The table was set. Jennifer and Drew had already sat down. "Here, sit down, yeah?" He carried a platter of pancakes to the table and went back for the bacon. He went to the sink and washed his hands, drying them on the dishtowel.
Mamma.
He hung the dishtowel on it's rack and turned to the table. "Go ahead and start, OK? I'll be right back." Before anyone could say a word, Duke left the kitchen and climbed the stairs to his mother's room. He listened at the door, but he needn't have. The soft sobs were familiar enough. He didn't knock or wait for an invitation; turning the handle, he stepped into the room.
She sat on the edge of the bed in her robe, back to him, album in her lap. A few spent tissues were piled next to her. She knew he was there. He heard her sigh.
"You never were good at knocking, Kleiner."
"I guess not, Mamma. I pretty much just go where I want."
She laughed softly. "Yes, you do."
Duke walked around to sit next to her on the bed, brushing the damp tissues aside. "Mamma..." He took her hand, looking down at the slight web of wrinkles that were beginning to form. He played with her rings with his thumb, spinning them around and around her finger, as he had when he was little. "I hate that I do this to you." He looked up into her face.
Duke could see her eyes were red, and there was a shadow underneath each of them. Her smile, though, was as big as she could force it. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue in her free hand. "No. Don't be silly. You're not doing anything to me. I'm fine. I'm just looking at pictures." She nodded down at the album.
Duke followed her gaze. The page was opened to pictures of the day Jennifer came home for the first time. In one, everyone was gathered around Mamma and baby Jenn in a big arm chair. In another, a young Duke was changing her diaper, safety pin clenched in his teeth, look of intense concentration on his face.
"Do you remember that day? We were in Colorado, then."
"Of course. Fort Carson. You came home right before lunch. I'd watched the Kid all morning. Taught him how to eat Oreos the right way." It had taken Vincent's little fingers a while to get the hang of twisting the wafers apart to reveal the white filling. Once he'd gotten the hang of it, Duke had a hard time stopping him, and the whole box was sacrificed to a sweet teachable moment.
"You'd also cleaned the whole house. It was nice to come home to. You liked Carson, better than Eglin and Campbell."
"Not as much as I like Fort Bragg. It was good to be near Poppy and Omi." It was a blessing, really. Mamma had been pregnant with or caring for Vince. Having someone nearby to escape to for a little break and attention had made being away from home so much easier.
Mamma flipped a few pages to a blown up print of a seventeen year old Duke walking across grassy turf on the field at Musicks Ferry High in his football jersey, cleats and pants. Behind him, Vincent was doing his best to lug his shoulder pads. Behind Vincent, Jennifer toddled along, arms full of helmet. Mamma laughed. "Coming home was better than all three, I'll bet." She caressed the print. "Oh, how they worshipped you." She squeezed his hand and turned to the last page. There were three new pictures,Duke hadn't seen before. They were from the evening Duke came home, three weeks ago. Jack had posted him on the porch and gone in through the back door, as was his habit, and managed to herd the family into the den. Duke had listened to them through the door.
"But Pop, I was doing my homework."
"I just thought we'd sit together for a little bit before dinner, isn't this nice?"
"You couldn't have waited till I was done talking to Laura on the phone?"
"You saw her all day at school. She's coming over tomorrow. You don't need to talk to her tonight."
"Speaking of dinner, dear...I thought you said we might have company."
"Yeah, well, maybe."
"Maybe? I bought extra chicken."
Duke had chuckled to himself.
"Why is the camera out, Pop?"
"I need to, uh, clean the lenses. Why don't you all sit down and relax. Let's relax before dinner. This sure is nice."
"Yeah, great Pop."
"Can I watch TV?"
"No, baby, no TV. We're sitting. As a family. Boy, the front porch looks dark. Jane, could you go turn on the light?"
"No one's out there, dear."
"But it's a nice porch. I just repainted the swing."
"Yes, you did, but do you really need to see it now?"
"I sure do, go flip on the light for me."
"Jack, are you feeling well?"
"I'll be feeling better if I could see my beautiful porch swing through the window."
"Fine, if it makes you happy..."
"You're weird, Pop."
The light flipped on, and Duke walked in through the front door. Jack had caught the shock on Mamma's face, and the instant, seconds later, when Duke was swallowed by his happily surprised family. In the final picture, Mamma held him tight, Drew clung to his leg, Jennifer hugged his back, and Vince wasgiving the camera a thumbs up.
"Oh, how they still worship you."
Duke barked a short laugh. "Mamma. Seriously."
"You think they don't? All three of them, Klenier...they worship the ground you walk on. You're their hero. You're Big Brother." She flipped back a few pages to a picture of him cradling baby Drew, Vincent and Jennifer on either side. "You're a good man...such a good man, Conrad. You're someone for them to look up to."
"Mamma..." Duke couldn't figure out what to say, and so he let himself trail off. He slid the album off of her lap and gently pulled her against him. He held her close, smelling her skin lotion and shampoo-a comforting aroma. She held him, then sat up straight.
"Oh, look at me. I must look terrible." Mamma scrubbed at her face with a near-shredded tissue. "I must look so old." She laughed.
"No Mamma," Duke kissed her forehead. "You're beautiful. You'll always be beautiful." He pulled her back to him and they sat there quietly. Duke remembered...the first night...after. The first night back at the house. They'd held each other for comfort then.
Mamma had been allowed to sleep with him in the Hospital. They'd given him a room alone, out of deference to the situation, and she took the spare bed. His arm was sore, bulky and awkward in the heavy cast. The pills made him sleepy. His head spun. Nothing made sense. Faces and voices came and went and came again. But he knew Mamma was there. He could smell her flowery lotion as she stroked his hair. He could hear her comforting voice, even if he couldn't follow the words. He strained to hear Papa, strained for the smooth low voice...but Papa was never there.
Eventually, Grampy came to pick them up. Mamma followed as the pretty nurse, the one Duke liked best, wheeled him to the car in a huge wheelchair. Mr. Schnupfnase was waiting for him in the back seat. Grampy helped him in the back, then helped Mamma into the passenger seat. When he shut the door, she started crying. She cried all the way home. Grammy was waiting for them on the porch, and she came to help Mamma, embracing her and holding her close, as soon as the car stopped. Grampy hefted Duke into his big arms and strode after them into the house.
It was dark. The living room was full of flowers. Every table was covered. Duke looked for Papa, but he wasn't waiting for them in the den. Grampy set him down, and Duke padded from room to room, looking for his father. He opened the door to the basement and called down the dark stairs. "Papa? Papa?"
He went through the den to climb the stairs. "Where's Papa?" Mamma started crying again.
"Oh, Conrad..."
Duke pulled himself carefully up each step, and went to their bedroom. He pushed open the door, and it came to him with a sharp shock that Papa had been hurt. The boom of the shotgun and the memory of the look on Papa's face made him stop to suck in his breath. He rubbed his eyes and opened his parent's bedroom door, thinking perhaps Papa was in bed; like when he'd been sick last month. Papa was hardly ever sick, but something like being shot would surely mean he'd have to go to bed, wouldn't it?
The room was dark and the bed empty.
Another memory smashed it's way through. The ambulance men had loaded Papa in, too. Duke had seen him lying there on the other side of the cramped van, a man in white pushing on his chest again and again. The man's arms were red to the elbows, and he was yelling at everyone. He was yelling at Papa.
Duke slowly climbed back down the stairs. Grammy and Mamma were watching him with tear-filled eyes. Grampy stared angrily out the front window.
"Mamma?" He looked at her from the landing. "Mamma, where's Papa?"
Mamma opened her mouth twice, but nothing came out. Grammy rubbed Mamma's shoulder and whispered in her ear. Mamma nodded.
"Mamma? Is he still at the hospital?" Duke tried to smile, but his chest was aching in a way he didn't understand. "He is, isn't he? The men hurt Papa, too. When's he coming back? When's he coming home?"
Mamma shook her head, her eyes closed. Grampy snorted at whatever he was glaring at through the window. Abruptly, he turned and stalked to Mamma. He went from brusque to tender in a moment, and carefully put his hands on Mamma's shoulders. His voice stayed gruff. "Boy's got to be told, Jane. Sooner the better. He's got to be told."
Duke climbed down the last set of stairs from the landing and over to her. "Mamma? When's he coming home?"
She scooped him up without warning and carried him to the couch. It wasn't easy for her, he was getting big and the cast got in the way. Mamma sat with Duke in her lap, squeezing him so tightly it hurt. He could hear her heart, hear her sobs through her chest. Her hand held his head to her. Duke's stomach joined his chest in aching. He wanted to hug her tight, but the cast prevented him.
She took a few deep breaths, then a few more.
"He's not going to, Conrad."
"But..." Duke looked out under her arm to Grampy, who was once again glaring out the front window. Grammy came and embraced them both. "But..."
"Oh, Kleiner...Papa's never coming home again." Sobs overtook her again, and Mamma couldn't say any more.
"Mamma? But...but Papa...and I...Why?"
Grampy looked at him, and the glare melted. "He's gone, boy. He's gone. That piece of shit shot him. Those bastards took your Papa."
"Took?"
"He's dead, boy." Grampy's voice was gentle, because his words couldn't be. "Your Papa's dead."
The doctor had told Mamma he should get to normal routines, back to bed, said it was the best thing. Despite the pill that made him woozy, Duke had fussed, screeched and clung, terrified of being left alone for even a second, scared the bad men would come back to shoot him dead, too. Grampy had eventually set him in bed, pulled the covers to his chin, commanded him to stay there and firmly shut the door. He stared at the sliver of light underneath it, fighting sleep and holding his breath to listen to every footstep. It seemed like forever, but eventually the light went out, and the house was quiet.
Duke slid out of bed and managed to stumble dizzily to Papa and Mamma's room. He pushed open the door. The lights were off and Mamma lay in bed, but she was awake. Duke could hear the sobs from where she lay. He could see her in the moonlight, clutching something to her. Duke ran to the bed and climbed in.
"Oh! Conrad!" She sat up, rubbing at her eyes.
"Mamma...I'm scared. I don't want to be alone." He could see she was holding one of Papa's flannel shirts. "I want Papa." He reached for the shirt. "I want Papa back."
"Conrad..." She sighed. "Me too. I want him back too." She did her best to slip his arms into the shirtsleeves, but the bulky cast thwarted her. She managed to slip his good arm in, and halfway button it up. It was soft. It must have come from the hamper, because it didn't smell of the laundry soap or of hanging on the line in the sun. It smelled of Papa.
Mamma wrapped Duke in Papa's shirt and helped him lie on his back. Then she lay down beside him, holding him to her. "Maybe together we can find a little sleep?"
Duke did his best to snuggle into her. Eventually, the pills took hold and he drifted off to sleep in his mother's arms. It was the first night of the world never being the same again.
Mamma sat up. "Come on. You made breakfast. I shouldn't let it get cold. Besides, you need something in your stomach for the flight back."
Duke thought of Bill's penchant for showing off in the air. "That's not always a good idea."
Mamma laughed as she stood and gave her eyes a final dabbing. "Either way, if we don't get down there soon, there'll be no more bacon. Your brother's appetite is catching up to yours."
Duke nodded and rose to his feet. "I noticed."
There was bacon left. There were pancakes left. Jack managed to save some of each and put it back into the still-warm oven for them. Mamma took her seat with a smile. Jack waved to Duke's and brought the food to both of them. Jennifer came around with the coffee pot.
"I slowed everyone down so we could all eat together." Jack nodded as he took his chair again.
Looking around as he buttered his stack of pancakes, Duke could see everyone had a good amount of food left. He reached for the syrup pitcher and drowned his plate. Syrup on bacon was a good thing. "How is it, gang?"
"Great, Duke!" Drew shot him a thumb's up, her mouth full of rabbit-shaped pancake.
Jennifer held up her orange juice glass. "Tasty cakes, Con."
Vincent grunted and nodded. He swallowed and chased it with coffee. "Good. Always good."
Mamma cut a tiny chunk of pancake and brought it to her lips. "Conrad, did you add cinnamon?"
Duke scratched his head. "Uh. Yeah. A little more than usual. Some brown sugar, too. Roadblock does it with waffles some mornings. Figured I'd give it a try." Secretly, in his head, he was perfecting the one breakfast he could make well in the hopes that one day, he'd be making it for someone special who'd spent the night.
"Well, they're delicious. A special treat." She smiled and cut another bite. "We only have them when you make them."
"Except that one time-ow!" Vince had kicked Drew under the table.
"Vincent Reginald, why did you kick your sister?" Mamma put down her knife and fork.
"Sorry Mamma, leg spasm." He took a bite of bacon. "It wasn't that hard."
"That hurt!" Drew pouted. "That really hurt, dickwad!"
"Young lady!" Jack's voice was sharp, but Duke could see a smile threatening to break through his stern look. "Apologize"
"Sorry, Richardwad."
Duke laughed.
"That's not really going to work." Jack hid behind the paper before the smile escaped. "You should apologize for kicking your sister, Sport."
"Sorry you can't keep your mouth shut, Squirt."
Mamma sighed. "That's not really what your father meant."
"So, Con. You're not going commercial, right? How you getting back?" Jennifer deftly changed the subject.
Duke had polished off half of his pancakes and all of his bacon. "I worked that out before I even left base. They're sending a ride for me."
"Are they sending a Skystriker? Can I have a ride?" Drew was excited. "I want a ride!"
"Oh, dang, that'd be cool. I wouldn't mind one myself." Vincent rubbed his chin.
"No, Rabbit." Duke chuckled. "There isn't room in the budget to fuel a 'striker just to come and ferry me home. It'll be a chopper."
"Can we have a ride in that?"
Duke sighed, hating to let her down. "No, Rabbit. I have to justify every drop of fuel. I'd catch hell if my CO found I was spending taxpayer dollars on giving you a joyride." He watched her face fall. "I'm sorry, Rabbit, Vince. But you're not even going out to Leonard Wood, anyhow."
"Why not?"
"Because...well...you never have?" Duke hadn't given it any thought. They'd never come to see him off before. Not to the airport when he'd gone on commercial airlines, or to Leonard Wood when he'd caught a c-130, or chopper back to wherever he was stationed. Usually, Mamma drove him. Goodbyes were said at home.
"I want to go!" Drew banged her fork on the table. She stopped in the face of Jack's glare over the top of the paper. "Can I, Pop?"
"I don't see why not, Jack. We should all go." Mamma sounded definite. "It would be a good thing for everyone."
"You can't just bring random people onto an army base. You know that, honey. I'd have to call, and there's not much warning. It would require massive string pulling."
Duke looked down at Drew. "You really want to go, Rabbit?"
"I really do."
Duke looked to Vincent. "Kid?"
"Sure, I'd like that."
He raised an eyebrow at Jennifer. "Jenn?"
"Heck, yeah. I'd love to see what picks you up."
Duke stood and went to the kitchen phone. He snatched the receiver and dialed another set of complicated numbers. The voice on the other end didn't identify itself by a given name. It never did.
"Yeah?"
"I need clearance for five at Leonard Wood. I need it yesterday." Duke rubbed the back of his head.
"Sure, and I want a goose that shits out golden eggs."
"Shut up, motherfucker, and put it through. Do I need to recite the clearance code?" Duke glanced back at his mother, wincing at the slipped profanity. He mouthed an apology.
"Might as well, for posterity's sake. This is Hauser, right? Fire it at me."
Duke stepped quickly through the swinging door and into the den, thankful the kitchen phone had such a long cord. "Robash six eighty two. That high enough for you, fucker?"
"It'll do."
Duke slid back into the kitchen. "Great. Ready for names?"
"Fire away."
"Falcone, Jane Lilly. Falcone, Major Johnathan Riley, retired. Falcone, Vincent Reginald. Falcone, Jennifer Iris. Falcone, Drew Gretchen. You get all that?" Duke tapped his index finger on the message pad by the phone.
"Got it. You're good to go. They'll roll out the red carpet for all of them."
"Thanks." Duke hung up the phone and tuned back to the table. "Right, we're all set."
They stared at him in amazement. Jack let the paper drop to the table. Vince sat with his fork halfway to his mouth. Jennifer's eyes were wide. Mamma had a hand over her mouth. Drew laughed.
"You said 'motherfucker'. At breakfast!"
"Sorry about that, Mamma. Forgot myself there." Duke sat back down. No one moved. He picked up his knife and fork and went back to work on his pancakes, smiling. "Yeah. I have some pretty good strings to pull, huh?"
Duke once again was in the midst of dressing in his Class A's. Drew had come through his door when he was halfway through. To Duke's surprise, Vincent was on her heels.
"An audience, huh?" Duke laughed softly as he buckled his belt.
"I dunno. I used to watch Pop when I was little." Vincent sat on the bed and pulled Drew into his lap.
"Not really different, Kid." Duke put his foot on his chair and gave the toe of his shoe a buffing with an old pair of Mamma's hose. "This just adds a little last minute shine. You could use it for your buckle, too." He went put down the hose and went to get his tie, stepping into his bathroom to be sure the knot was perfect.
When he walked out, Vincent was on his feet again, looking at the ribbons on Duke's jacket, which hung outside the garment bag from the hook on the back of the closet door. He reached up to touch the nameplate.
"It's all perfect. All lined up."
"It damn well better be. I don't like looking sloppy." Duke held up a small flexible plastic ruler. "I checked it over just this morning. Polished my belt, shoes and buttons. Spit and polish, Kid." Duke took his jacket off the hanger and carefully slipped into it, one sleeve at a time. Drew, still sitting on the bed, clapped.
Duke reached into the garment bag for his beret, which was lying in the bottom. He walked over and set it on her head. It was too big, and slipped down over one eye.
"Do I look like a soldier?"
"Perfectly, Rabbit." Duke buttoned his jacket, glancing at the sleeves for any speck of lint.
Drew stood on the bed, bounced to where she was behind Vincent, pulled off the beret, and dropped it on his head. "Does Vince look like a soldier?"
Duke glanced up from his sleeve. Vincent tried to stand straighter. Duke stepped right up to his brother.
"Toes apart, kid, shoulders back."
Vincent slid his toes to a forty five degree angle. Duke looked at his brother's hands.
"Curl your fingers, and put your thumb right at the first joint of your finger." Vincent complied. "That's it." Duke stepped back. His brother's eyes followed him. "Eyes front, Kid, you know that. Not on me." Vincent's gaze went over his shoulder. "That's it. Looking sharp." Vincent's lips curled into a grin. Duke let it slide.
Drew snatched the beret off his head, crammed it on her own, and jumped down from the bed. She stood straight and glared ahead. "What about me? What about now? Shoulders back, chest out, gut in!" She made her best effort.
"Heels together, toes out, Rabbit." Duke chuckled.
Drew did her best to separate her sneakered feet into opposite counties. She stuck her jaw out. "Now?"
"Perfect." Duke glared down at her. "Ready for inspection?"
"Yessir!" Drew tried to salute, knocking the beret off her forehead.
Duke went down on one knee to retrieve his cover, then snuck a hand to her belly and tickled. Drew fell back into him, giggling.
"I think she failed that one. With flying colors." Vincent picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. "Oh, no, Squirt! It's peeling potatoes for you!" He tickled her behind the knee.
"Nooo! Never!"
"To be fair, I don't usually tickle most of the troops I inspect." Duke smoothed his hair and set the beret on his head. He took down his garment bag and hung it back in the closet. Another one awaited his class A's in his quarters on base. He glanced around his room, making sure he'd missed nothing. His bags were packed, and waited for him next to his dresser.
That's it. End of leave.
"Right." He nodded slowly to himself. Duke glanced at his little brother. "As soon as everyone else is ready, I guess we'll go."
Vincent nodded slowly. "Yeah. Guess so." He pulled Drew back off his shoulder and into his arms. "You want to carry your bags, or our sister?"
There he is. Right on time.
The Dragonfly sat on the tarmac. Duke could see Bill chatting with a ramp rat in the nearby hangar. The texan laughed at some joke and slapped his hat against his leg. Duke hopped out of the jeep, nodding to the corporal, and hefted his kitbag and duffle. The others were slower climbing from their seats. Duke set down his bags and turned to help his Mamma, only to find her smiling at him, holding out a large brown paper sack.
"I packed you a meal, in case you got hungry on the trip, Kleiner." She held out the sack.
Duke took it carefully, unfolding the top to peer inside.
"There's two loaves of Grammy's zucchini bread, a few pieces peach pie-I wrapped that well, it should be OK-three steak sandwiches, two BLT's and I baked a double batch of biscuits this morning, so you've got the second dozen to hold you over. Your aunt sent along a few small pots of honey for you."
Duke could see several wax and foil wrapped bundles. The bag smelled amazing, like the kitchen at breakfast time. He reached a hand in to move a few sandwiches aside to see the honey. He felt a light touch on his cheek and looked up into his mother's eyes. She gently stroked his cheek with a soft hand. Mamma had protected her hands from hours washing up and working in the gardens; Duke had never seen her finish the dishes without rubbing a dollop of lavender scented lotion into her palms. He could smell it now. The corporal was watching, an amused look on his face, but Duke didn't care. He couldn't help but grin at Mamma. The eyes over her smile spoke of wistful sadness.
"Conrad...be careful. Please be careful. I can't lose you, Kleiner." Tears escaped from the light blue pools and rolled down to her chin. Her hand made it's way back to his hair. He'd snuck into town a few days ago to have it trimmed back and neatened, and her face had fallen when she noticed that night at dinner. She'd always loved his hair a bit longer; a forelock of two in his eyes. But it wouldn't do on duty.
Over her shoulder, Jack coughed. Mamma let her hand fall and turned to him. "He's leaving us again, Jack." She brushed an imaginary piece of lint from Duke's collar and fiddled with a ribbon or two.
"It has to happen, Sweetheart. Our country needs your boy." Jack's eyes glittered proudly. "Well, Champ...back to it." He slapped Duke's shoulder. "Get 'er done."
"Yessir." Duke took his hand and then grasped his arm firmly.
"Good boy." Jack slapped his shoulder again, and left his hand there. Duke met his eyes and saw something reflected in them he hadn't seen before. "Conrad..." Jack's voice dropped low, "be careful out there. Just..." Jack's face twitched as he struggled for the right thing to say. "Come home for Christmas this year. I never want to fill fewer then six seats at the table. You're...you be careful, son."
Duke looked down at their feet, nodding. "Yessir. Do my best."
"You always do."
The second jeep pulled up, and the kids spilled out, laughing. The corporal behind the wheel grinned as he put the vehicle in park.
Vincent came up to them, then started as he looked across the tarmac. He whistled low. "Heeey, a Dragonfly! Look at that nose gun! Are those sidewinders? That other cannon's laser-guided, right? Cool. That's you're ride, huh?"
"That's it." Duke laughed. "Flashy, maybe, but cramped as Hell." Duke saw that Bill had noticed him and had left the hangar to walk to the helicopter.
Drew chirped. "That's Wild Bill! It is, isn't it? There he is!" She started waving madly. Bill waved back, but kept walking. "He's not coming over..." Drew sounded disappointed.
"He won't, Rabbit. I've told him not to." Duke tucked the paper bag under his arm.
Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "Why'd you tell him that? What's wrong with us?"
"Nothing." He pulled her to him for a last hug. "Jennifer, I don't want my men knowing who you are or what you look like. He doesn't know any of your names. None of my men do. I lucked out you all have different last names."
"What? Why?" Vincent spun back to him. Jennifer crossed her arms over her chest and looked ready to argue.
"Because you're safe that way." Duke sighed. "I can't have anyone finding out who you are. Anyone. Cobra's already gone after family members. They'd just love to get their hands on my family. It would tear me apart if they hurt you." He shook his head and slashed his hand, palm down, in front of him. The images of his mother, Jack, of his brother and sisters-what Cobra would do to them ran through his head, not for the first time.
Jack tortured, Vincent beaten...Mamma and the girls tossed to Crimson Guardsmen for their entertainment...
"No. Never. Never." He growled. Duke looked at each of his siblings in turn. "Do you understand? Bill stays there."
"Isn't it in your file?" Mamma put her arm around Vincent.
"Yes. It is. And my file is locked up safe. My own troops can't see that part of it." He looked over to the Dragonfly. Wild Bill was leaning against it, twirling a revolver. Duke held up a hand, indicating he needed a little more time. Bill held up a fist with a raised thumb.
Duke turned back to his family. Mamma still had an arm around Vincent. Jennifer's were still crossed, and her anger hadn't cooled. Drew leaned against Jack's legs, her eyes wide behind her glasses. He sighed.
This is it. Time to go. Make it quick, it'll be easier that way. It always is.
"Mamma..." Her eyes began to flood again, and Duke realized he should have insisted she stay home. They should all have stayed home. The Dragonfly, Bill...they made it more real for them. Mamma couldn't put him on an airliner and pretend he was headed away somewhere safe. The tears ran freely down her cheeks. Duke pulled his kerchief out of his pocket and held it out to her. "Mamma, I have to go. Don't cry, Mamma. I'll be fine. I promise, I'm well looked after."
She took the folded linen cloth and dabbed at her face, laughing at herself. But the laughter was bitter. "Oh, I know. I just can never bear to see the back of you. I don't care how big you insist on getting, you're still my Kleiner."
Duke pulled her to him, dropping the bag and holding her tight. "Ich liebe dich, Mamma."
"Conrad." She whispered, and kissed him. Then she started. "Oh! The honey! The pie!"
Jack had already picked up the bag to peer inside. "They're fine." He handed it to Mamma so she could see for herself, wrapping an arm around her. He offered a hand again, and Duke took it firmly. "Get 'er done, Champ...and go get her, while you're at it." He winked. "Don't let her get away."
Duke caught his drift, and smiled. He pulled Jack to him and they slapped each other's back. Vincent was next. "Enjoy your summer, kid, and have a blast your senior year. Take your time to make up your mind about what comes after. Don't make any decisions you feel pushed into, huh?"
"Yeah, I won't. I will...I mean...you know what I mean, Con." He held out a hand, glancing at both corporals and then over at Bill. "Take care, Con."
Duke raised a brow at the manly gesture. Then he reached for his little brother's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Sure, kid." Duke pulled his brother to him for a big bear hug. Vincent was stiff at first, but soon relented and relaxed.
"I'll miss you, Big Brother. I liked having you home."
"It was good, kid. You're getting to be more than a handful. Soon you'll give me a run for my money." Duke let him go. Vincent's eyes were red but he was smiling.
Duke felt slim arms slide around him from behind. Jennifer was giving him a squeeze. He turned in her grasp and looked down into her light blue eyes. He reached down and caught the tip of her nose between his index and middle finger, then pulled them away, his thumb between them for her to see. "Got your nose. Should I take it with me?"
She laughed, then hiccuped. "Con...I..." She shook her head. "I'll write you every week. I'll make you videos. But you have to keep writing back. Please."
He dropped his hand, and kissed her forehead. "Of course. You know I will. As soon as I can. No one else's keeping a map for me." He hugged her tightly, letting her rest her head on his chest. "I expect I have to come back sometime to keep those boys at bay."
"I'll die an old maid, Con."
"Nah, I'll let one through, eventually. You just have to let me have my fun is all."
He let her go, and she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Bye for now, Con. I love you."
"Love you bunches, Jenn." He returned the kiss.
Duke turned to Drew. She stood in front of him, head tilted back to see up into his face. Her eyes were still wide. "Well, Rabbit. Saved the best for last. Come here." He opened his arms, expecting her to jump into them for a final hug.
She backed up two steps. "You're not going."
Duke took a step forward and crouched. "Come here, Rabbit. We have to say goodbye. I need a hug."
She shook her head. "You're not going."
Duke glanced at his watch. The sooner he got back to base, the more time he'd have for getting settled before hitting the mountain of paperwork he knew waited on his desk. Wild Bill wasn't happy about sitting on the tarmac for too long. "Rabbit, c'mere. You're not going to let me go without a hug, are you?"
She crossed her arms and shook her head. "No. You're not going."
"I'm going."
"You can't go." Her jaw stuck out.
"I have to go, Rabbit." He settled on one knee and looked into her eyes, then held his arms out again. "I have to. Come here to me."
Her eyes watered and her bottom lip twitched. "Duke you can't go. I don't want you to go."
"You don't have a choice." Duke let his voice slip into the calm tone he used on a frightened horse, or a terrified greenshirt. "I'm going. Please come say goodbye to me. I don't want to leave without a goodbye."
"If I don't, you won't go?"
"I'll still go, Rabbit. But it'd make me sad. Come give me a hug and a kiss."
"No." The tears began to roll. She took off her glasses to scrub at her eyes with the back of a hand. "You're not going. I'll hate you if you go."
"Drew..." Jack's voice held warning.
"I will. I'll hate you forever if you leave."
Duke put his arms down and cocked his head at her. "You can't mean that. You're my Rabbit."
Drew hugged herself and began to bawl in earnest. Duke stood, took two steps, and swept her up, holding her tightly. "Rabbit...you don't mean that, you don't." She clung to him, burying her face in his chest, drenching his shirt and tie, tucking herself almost under his jacket.
"They want to kill you. They want to make you die. You can't go."
"I swore an oath. It's my duty, Rabbit."
"They...want...to kill you." The words bubbled out between sobs. "And you want to go away...They want to kill you...I'll never see you again."
"I'm not that easy to kill, Rabbit. I'm not. I'm a mean bastard, when I have to be. You've never seen it..." He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. She started sobbing so hard, she couldn't get words past her lips.
This is taking too long. I can't let it go on...Rabbit...
Duke looked up at Jack. "I have to go. We have to take off."
"Let me take her." Jack stepped forward to gently take hold of his youngest. She tightened her fingers and clung to Duke's class A's like her life depended on it. "Drew...let your big brother go. He has to go now. Young lady..." He tried to pry her fingers loose, but as soon as he got a hand loose, she snaked it free and gripped on again.
"No...no. Don't go!"
Duke rubbed her back. "Rabbit, please. You can't stop me. I can't stay. I have to go. I have to do my job." Mamma came forward to help. Duke looked over Drew's head to see Vincent and Jennifer staring at them in awe and dismay. The corporals, not wanting to intrude on a personal moment, had retreated to their jeeps. "Let me go, Rabbit."
Jack and Mamma finally managed to pry her arms and legs off of him. Duke's dress uniform was rumpled and damp. He smoothed his jacket and straitened his tie, then grabbed his bags, tucking the food back under his arm and slinging the kitbag over his shoulder. Drew's sobs turned to wails.
"Don't go! Don't leave me! No! "
Jack held her, but she struggled. "Better go, Champ, this one's not going to cool off anytime soon."
"Rabbit..." He watched her fight for a few seconds, then tore his eyes from her and turned away to leave. Bill stood at the chopper, holding his glasses in one hand and stroking his mustache with the other. Duke turned back to his family. Drew was still wailing and struggling. "Goodbye, I'll call when I can. I'll write..." Everyone but Jack, who had his hands full, waved at him.
"Duke! Don't go! NO, NO!" Drew screamed.
"Geez! Squirt! She's flipping out!" Vincent marveled.
Duke did an about-face and began striding towards the chopper, a pain in his chest. He'd made it halfway before a screech and a yell echoed across the tarmac. A fast patter of tiny feet, and two small but determined arms encircled his waist.
"Duke. Don't go."
"Rabbit." Duke sighed, then let his voice slip back to that of a field commander. "Drew, let me go." He didn't have to yell or shout for the command to carry. She'd never heard that voice before. Her hands slipped away, and she stood, sobbing. He wanted to gather her up. He wanted to hold her to him and carry her to the Dragonfly. He wanted to keep her with him so he could snuggle her when she was sad, or when he felt tired and lonely. He wanted to keep her...all of them, by his side so they could brighten his darkest days. He wanted to make it easier for her. He wanted to fix it, make it all better, make her pain-and his, all go away. But he couldn't-he didn't know how, so he hid himself behind the shield of the man he had to be to survive. "Go back to Mamma and Jack...now."
She sobbed a few times more, then sniffled twice, confused. "Duke?"
"Go on, you heard me. Get back there."
She turned away, then turned back to him. "Duke? But...don't...Duke?"
"Go on." He knew what it looked like to her. She'd never seen him at work, not even when they'd visited him at his drill post at Fort Bragg, long ago when she was small. Her eyes still pleaded, but he couldn't give ground. He pointed over her head, back to where the rest of the family waited."You don't belong where I'm going. Go back to where you belong, Drew."
Her face fell, and she turned away and started to go back, feet dragging with each step. Duke's heart tore in two.
"Rabbit..." It was almost a whisper, but she caught it and turned back. Her little blue eyes sought his, and saw her Big Brother inside the sergeant. "I love you, Rabbit. Ich liebe dich, Kaninchen. Auf wiedersehen."
Before he could give more of himself away to her, he spun on his heel and strode quickly to the Dragonfly. By the time he got there, Bill had popped the canopy and climbed inside. Duke tossed his kitbag and duffle, then the bag of food up to the air cav man, and clambered up to the gunner's seat, fastening himself in, pulling off his cover and donning the radio headset.
"That little one's a firecracker, Duke." Bill chuckled, lowering the canopy
"Yep, she's a handful." Duke gazed out through the glass. She stood there, rooted to the spot, Jack and Mamma and the kids were coming up behind her, now. "She's a tough little kid, really. They all are." He watched Vincent pick Drew up and heft her in his arms.
She has two Big Brothers. She has two. Take over for me, Kid.
"Ready to get back to base, Top?"
No.
"Yes. Let's go." Duke rubbed his eyes and sighed.
"Problem, Duke?" There was a grin under that mustache, Duke could hear it, but he wasn't about to turn around to look and let Bill see his face.
"Nah. Damn dusty tarmac. Gave my Mamma my handkerchief."
"Oh."
The engine kicked up and the rotors began to whirl. Everyone's hair was blowing in the gusts from the chopper. Slowly, Drew raised a hand. Her wave picked up speed and strength. Bill's request for clearance to take off, was quickly granted. Drew started waving like a madwoman. She was mouthing something. Duke wasn't great at reading lips, but he didn't need to be. Three short words like that were easy to figure out when he shared what was in her heart.
Thanks for hanging with me through this one. Everyone's supportive comments really kept me going, and it's hard to write a final chapter. Going back over it, I have to run through the whole thing a few billion times to catch all the tiny errors that make me cringe, and I'll be doing so now and again.
From here, go to Night in India, or Scarlett's Night in India.