Chapter Twenty-Five

I decided to add a few more chapters about the Lincoln-Alister Family's time in California.

Walking with his daughter through the place waiting for Drew to bring home the pizza Rick showed Maddy her room. He was pleasantly relieved to see a case of diapers and other changing essentials there. They weren't sure if they bought enough to get to the morning. Rick would put the animal stickers on the wall tomorrow. Drew had to report to base first thing in the morning. Thankfully they only had to set up the beds and unpack their clothes, personal belongings and Maddy's toys. They were all sleeping in the living room tonight, Maddy in her pack-and-play and Rick and Drew on either of the couches.

Drew was thinking along the same lines before he got back. He called to see if diapers and wipes were needed. He was going to stop at the walmart to get the very basics for the morning; coffee, milk, sugar, bread, butter, peanut butter, eggs, cooking oil and pop-tarts.

"They seemed to have thought of everything but groceries," Rick told him "I found a box in the nursery."

Pillows and blankets were easy to find after pizza and pepsi. For now, Maddy was sleeping fitfully in her pack-and-play.

"Do me a favor when I'm gone tomorrow, will you?" Drew asked.

"Let me guess, babe. Leave the mattresses till you get home?"" Rick replied. "I suppose since there's so much else to do."

Really there was.

Outside of grocery shopping, packing away everything while looking after an infant who was adjusting to a new place Rick knew his day would be full–he probably wouldn't even get to the mattresses before the end of the day.

"We really got to get to that mattress," Rick murmured, seeing Drew in his uniform that morning. "I forgot how much the uniform suits you."

Drew smiled and kissed him. "Looking forward to that," he said.

"Drew!"

Drew heard his name before he stepped into the building to report. He turned around to see Javier Castro. Drew knew that Javier had been transferred here after he was promoted. But his wife and children weren't with him. They lived two hours away in another county and visited him once a week. Why the family had this arrangement when they could have got off-base house together Drew didn't ask. He figured that was in the "mind your own business" category.

"What's up, man?" Drew replied.

"Not much. Heard you were doin' your last stint out here but I haven't seen you in the barracks."

"Nah. I didn't come alone," Drew replied.

"Yeah, I heard you and Rick took the plunge and now you got a lil' one."

Drew smiled.

"Yep. I took 'em both with me. Maddy is five months old. You should drop by once we get settled."

After a night sleep Maddy was happier and calmer.

She definitely had her appetite back, Rick thought.

"This house isn't so we're all unpacked it'll be better. We get to see daddy at night, too," Rick said to her as she eagerly ate her baby food. "You didn't see him when he was leaving this morning. He looks so handsome in his uniform."

Maddy grinned, hitting a rattle off the high chair tray.

She already had two bottom teeth and had started to sit up by herself before they left Texas. She was growing up way too fast. After breakfast Rick put her in her activity saucer so he could unpack some boxes. They had mislabeled a few and some that were marked "toys" were actually bed sheets.

"That's hint for me and daddy. No couches tonight."

The mattress for Maddy's crib, though she probably wouldn't sleeping there he could handle it. But the other mattress was two person job. The next box he opened was the bedding for Maddy's crib. He would set that up when she took a nap. The third time was the charm.

"We got toy box number one, sweetie," Rick said to Maddy.

Two diaper changes and a nap later with the crib arranged with bedding, the duo finally went grocery shopping. Her new home wasn't familiar yet but walmart was. Their unit was one of the few in the building that had its own washer and dryer. A necessity with an infant. The number of smiles he got from other female customers amused him.

"Your wife is very lucky," the check-out clerk said.

"Husband actually," Rick replied. "But thanks."

Rick wasn't sure if Maddy would recognize Drew in his military uniform and she didn't seem to for a second. There was a momentary confused expression on her face but then she smiled and leaned towards him from Rick's arms.

"Yeah, you know I'm your daddy," he smiled taking her into his arms and kissing her. "I forgot you didn't see me like this before."

This only backed-up the couple's thought that the family being separated would have affected Drew and Maddy's connection. Plus as much he had loved the military, he was ready for civilian life.

"How'd it go, today?" Rick asked.

"It sucked. I'd love for us to get back on a plane home. I'm ready to be done with this whole thing. I'm so glad you two came with me," he said softly, kissing Rick and hugging their baby daughter. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Rick whispered back.