Chapter 34

Lory gave a compelling speech at her graduation ceremony. She gave a salute to her brother for joining the Army. "Without the brave men and women in the service, we wouldn't have the freedom that we take for granted. I'm proud of my brother for volunteering to serve our country. I love you, Curtis. Stay safe," she finished.

The graduating class gave her a standing ovation. I'm proud of my daughter.

The dean gave his speech. He thanked Lory for her heartfelt words and her shout-out to the military. "It's my great honour to announce this year's award recipients. The Biology Award goes to the top male and top female students in the department. In the history of Stanford, we have never presented the award to siblings. This year's recipients are Mallory Ramsey and Curtis Ramsey. Mallory, will you please accept the award on your brother's behalf?"

"Yes," she replied. "Thank you," Lory said as the dean placed both awards into her hand.

I was surprised how many of our friends arrived to watch Mallory receive her diploma. They hollered and whistled when she accepted her undergraduate diploma, then again when she received the Biology Award. Julie was hanging off Michael's arm as she cheered for Lory.

Tabitha, Tenessa and Celia were at Sophia's house watching the younger children. Hector was recording the ceremony so they could watch it later.

Lory was limited to the number of guests she could invite. Ranger made arrangements with campus security to offer additional coverage at no cost. His only stipulation was to have his men in the auditorium.

I laughed when campus security asked if they could return for the next ceremony. Campus security could arrange a security services contract for special events. "There's always military men looking for work," Binkie mentioned.

"Are you suggesting opening a remote office in San Mateo?" I asked.

"Yes. The men could use the distraction," he explained.

"Hm. I'll discuss it with Ranger when we return to Miami," I promised.

We rented Lory's favourite restaurant and invited the men to join us for dinner. It was loud, rowdy, and so much fun. Ranger paid the restaurant manager for the rental, food and loss of revenue for closing the restaurant. "Come back anytime," the portly man stated when he accepted the cash.

Later that night, I had nightmares. "Steph, Leon needs help," Jeremy told me. "His troop unknowingly passed the enemy camp. They are tracking Leon. If someone doesn't help him soon, he won't return from this tour."

"Who needs to go?" I asked.

"Ranger and his special team. He knows who I mean. They need to go now!" Jeremy warned before he left. I immediately woke up and jumped from my bed.

"Mom!" Lory screamed from her bed. I heard the cacophony of noise as the babies cried and the men stormed from their rooms.

"Report," Ranger barked when he entered my room.

"Jeremy said Leon and the troop are in danger," I started to tell him.

Lory added, "Dad said you need to take your special team."

"You have to go now," I finished.

"Where are they?" Ranger asked. I searched my memory to see if Jeremy provided a location, but I was coming up empty.

"Dad didn't say," Lory answered. "Where does the Army send men on their first 9-month tour?"

"Afghanistan," he replied. Ranger grabbed his phone to call Rangeman Miami. "I'm leaving immediately with Tank, Lester, Ram, Bobby and Cal. Call General Rogers," he said before ending the call.

Ranger left the room as he used his satellite phone to place a call. He was making arrangements for his team to travel.

Binkie was rocking on his heels. He wanted to rescue his brother, but he knew it wasn't possible. We need to let Ranger and his men save Leon.

"Anie, I need to go. I'm sorry," Michael stated before giving me a passionate kiss. "Stay with Binkie. He needs you and you need him. I love you."

"I love you too. Don't get shot," I whispered. I listened as Michael kissed our children and promised he'd return. Binkie hugged me as I silently cried.

Ranger kissed Tenessa, Julie and Ric, promising them he would return. "Was your mission approved?" Tenessa asked as I approached them.

"Not yet, but it will be. The Army should receive proof soon enough."

Lory wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head on my shoulder. "This was Leon's last tour. It's supposed to last until the beginning of August," she whispered. "What happens now?"

"The enemy camp has to be destroyed. We need to be sure they didn't relay the US troop's coordinates to another faction," Binkie replied. "Then Leon's troop continues their mission."

"That doesn't seem fair," Lory snapped.

I pulled from whatever inner strength I had left. "Sweetie, I know things don't seem fair or right. Leon has to complete his job and fulfill the terms of his contract," I said the words that I didn't want to say.

"I know, mom, but I still don't like it," she admitted. Tell me about it, I thought to myself. Michael completed his contract a few years ago. He was open to the occasional special op only if specifically selected by Ranger, but this was different.

The impromptu mission wasn't about Michael or me. It was about Leon's troop crossing the path of an enemy faction. The timing was critical. Ranger and his team need to intervene before more enemy factions become involved.

Tank approached to hug Lory and me. "We'll protect Leon," he promised before kissing my forehead and hugging Lory.

"Give Livie and Jace a kiss from me," Lester said. He gently kissed my lips. "Beautiful," he whispered. Lester hugged Lory and kissed her forehead.

Bobby hugged me tightly. "We've got this. Hug the babies for me," he whispered after kissing my cheek. He hugged Lory then kissed her cheek too.

Michael gave me a final kiss. "Tell our children daily how much I love them. I love you," he said as he hugged me again.

"I love you too," I whispered. Michael hugged Lory before kissing her forehead.

Ranger approached me. "Babe, stay with Tenessa, Julie and Ric. They need your strength," he whispered before hugging me. "Don't go crazy."

"Don't get shot," I replied. Ranger gave Lory, Julie, Tenessa, and Ric a final kiss before leaving.

Tenessa passed Ric to Celia before she wrapped her arms around me. "This feels different," she whispered.

"Only because it is different," I stated. Lory and Julie wiggled their way into our embrace. We pulled them against our bodies and held them tight.

"Binkie, who is Cal?" I randomly asked.

"Tall man, blond, blue eyes and has a flaming Fred tattoo on his forehead," he replied. "Navy SEAL and sharpshooter like Ram."

"Can we go home?" Julie asked.

"Sure. Our flights leave in a few hours," I replied. We packed our bags and thanked Sophia for her hospitality.

Ric and Livie celebrated their first birthday without their dads. I was hoping the men would be back already. Something else must have caused their extended timeline.

"Have you heard anything?" Tenessa asked as we cleaned the chocolate-covered high chairs.

"Not yet. Carlos only missed one checked in," I replied. "It isn't caused for concern until he misses another one."

"Waiting is difficult," she added. "Not hearing from Carlos is worse." I couldn't agree with her more.

"No news is good news," I reminded her. "Leon's safe. He sent a message when they arrived at camp last month. Carlos and his team debriefed for a week then left camp. Ness, Carlos is good at his job. They aren't in imminent danger, or Jeremy would have warned me."

"As he did in January?" she asked.

"Exactly like January," I answered.

"How are you calm?"

"Not my first rodeo," I replied. Little did Ness know, I was screaming on the inside. Not checking in meant only one thing, it wasn't safe enough to call.

Instead of worrying about our husbands, I concentrated on the children. Lory and Curt were instrumental in maintaining my sanity many years ago. "Maybe I should extend my leave of absence from the hospital," Ness stated.

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but you need to return to work. It would keep your mind off Ranger's absence. Trust me, going to work helps," I said.

"What about Ric?" she asked.

"I'll take him to Rangeman with the others. Ella and the men will tend to him," I replied. "Our Merry Men would appreciate the distraction." Ness nodded instead of vocalizing her response. I started signing, "Lean on me. When you're not strong."

Tenessa continued, "And I'll be your friend. I'll help you carry on." She laughed. "Thanks, Steph. I needed that."

"Anytime, my friend," I said when I hugged her.

I was living in my half of the house again. Tenessa and I lived in her home for a month before we decided to resume our usual routines.

Lory was working at Rangeman until she leaves for Harvard. She's helping me with payroll and accounts receivable. I was happy to have the extra help.

My daughter fit into the Rangeman crowd with ease. A few of the younger employees found Lory attractive, but Binkie reminded them she was engaged to his brother.

Leon's proposal was cute but unusual. Last night, he arranged to video chat with Lory. Binkie grabbed their mother's engagement ring from his safe. While Leon was proposing, Binkie went on one knee to give Lory the engagement ring. It was the strangest proposal I have witnessed.

I was happy for Lory and Leon. We were neck-deep in wedding plans when we weren't working. Weather permitting, we would have the ceremony and reception in our backyard.

It was a few more days before Ranger checked in. "Yo," I answered.

"Babe," he replied. "All is well."

"Are you nearly finished?" I asked.

"Another few weeks," he answered before hanging up.

I called Tenessa from the landline. "Hello, Steph," she answered.

"Hi, Ness. Carlos just called. Everything is fine, and they'll be away for another few weeks," I relayed the message.

"Thank God," she sighed. "I assume he kept the conversation short and to the point?"

"That he did," I replied. Ness didn't ask if I talked to Michael. I'm missing my husband. We've been nearly inseparable since he moved to Miami.

"Ma ma ma," I heard from the hallway. My little girl was almost running away from Hector. She squealed when she saw me inside my office.

I jumped from my chair and scooped her into my arms. "Are you playing with Tio Hector?" I asked.

She giggled before repeating, "Ma ma ma." Jace tore into the room when I sat in my chair with Livie.

"Tio Ranger called. Daddy's safe. He should be coming home soon," I told Jace.

"Dada come home soon?" Jace asked.

"Yes, baby. Daddy's coming home soon. Are you excited?"

"Ya." He hugged me then tore from my office, yelling, "Dada come home soon."

Lory entered my office carrying a squirming Jace. "Is Dad coming home soon?" she asked.

"Ranger said they needed a couple of weeks. I'm assuming they're hiking their way to the extraction site," I replied. Lory set Jace back on the floor. He tore from the office immediately.

"I'll feel better when they're all home safe and sound," she admitted.

"Me too, Lory, me too."

'Soon' ended up being 17 days later. I was cooking dinner when Michael entered the house. Jace, Livie and Lory were sitting in the living room assembling a large-pieced puzzle. "Anie," Michael said as he wrapped his arms around me.

I dropped the spatula before twisting in his arms. "You've lost weight," I whispered.

"I've missed you and our children," he whispered.

"We've missed you too." He hugged me so tight I could barely breathe. I didn't want to leave his arms. It's been too long since he held me.

Michael pulled back to kiss me. I melted into his arms. My hands moved up his back until my fingers threaded through his hair. I gently tugged at the long locks to deepen the kiss. I'm not sure how long we were kissing, but we stopped when Jace screamed, "Dada!"

Thick tears ran down Michael's face as he lifted Jace into his arms. "You're getting bigger, Jace," he said as Jace's arms wrapped around his neck.

"Me big," Jace parroted.

Lory carried Livie into the kitchen and placed her into Michael's other arm. "Ma ma ma," Livie cried. Livie surprised me by not making strange with her father. She was at the age where most children shy away from strangers.

Michael laughed before correcting her, "I'm dada."

She attempted to copy him but failed. "Ma is her favourite word," Lory stated. "Welcome home, dad." Lory wrapped her arms around the trio. "We missed you," she whispered into Jace's back.

"I've missed you too," he said as tears continued to stream down his face.

"Is everyone back?" I asked.

"Yes. I imagine Tenessa and Ric are having a similar reunion," Michael replied. "Do we have room for Cal to spend the night?"

"Of course. Cal can sleep in the basement bedroom," I answered. He wasn't surprised I said yes. "Invite him in for dinner," I quickly added.

Michael used his phone to send a text. Cal knocked on the door before letting himself in. "Hello," he called from the front door.

"Give me a second," Lory shouted. She squeezed Michael before running towards the front door. "Wow. I love the tattoo," Lory said as Cal followed her to the kitchen. "My name is Mallory, but everyone calls me Lory."

"I'm Calvin, but everyone calls me Cal," he reciprocated.

"Grab a plate and help yourself," I said as I grabbed the plastic plates for Jace and Livie. "I'm sorry it isn't anything fancy."

"Grilled chicken, macaroni and cheese are perfect," Cal said as he dished up a large serving for himself. Fortunately, I made extra.

"Did you save any for the rest of us?" Lory joked.

I laughed when Cal's face turned bright red, making his tattoo stand out more. "She's joking, Cal. I made more than enough to go around," I stated.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said before I cringed.

"Please call me Steph or Stephanie," I automatically replied. "The little boy next to Michael is Jace and this little girl is Olivia. You already met Mallory."

"Yes, ma'am. I mean, Steph," Cal stated. "Jace, you look like your mama. Olivia, you are a pretty little girl. She looks like you, Ram."

Lory shoved food into her mouth to stifle her laughter. She knows I hate people calling me ma'am. Cal said he thought Michael was cute. We didn't talk much during dinner. Cal practically inhaled his food and offered to feed Livie.

"Livie likes you," I stated as Livie opened her mouth wide for food. "She usually feeds herself."

We had a relaxing visit with Cal before he turned in for the night. I could see him becoming one of my favourite Merry Men.