Thursday, November 27, 1975

Al and I spent the morning in bed, cuddling and kissing, and telling each other (with words and otherwise) how thankful we were to be together.

"I wish we hadn't agreed to do the Thanksgiving thing now," I said, my head pillowed on his chest. With my fingertips, I gingerly traced a scar that originated beneath my cheek and ran diagonally towards his shoulder.

"It does put a bit of a crimp on the homecoming activities you'd planned for me," he grinned. He slid his hand along my back.

"Of course, you haven't fully regained your strength yet," I teased him. "My mother's cooking could be just the thing you need."

Al considered that. "Hmm. Yeah, I think that's definitely worth taking a break to eat for." He laughed and kissed my forehead. "What time are they coming over again?"

"Twelve-thirty, I think."

Al lifted my head to deliver a passionate kiss. "Plenty of time."

"Lord, we thank You for bringing us all together today to celebrate family, and the gifts You've given us. But most of all, we thank You for bringing Albert home, and for restoring him into our family. Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies, and bless those who prepared it. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen."

"Amen," we chorused, crossing ourselves.

I embraced my husband before we sat at the table. My sister and her husband, as well as my brother, were there, along with my parents. Mom had outdone herself on the meal, and Janie had fallen in line with Mom's admonition that I was not to concern myself with anything but Al. They'd refused to let me help in the kitchen, and banished me to the living room with the men...and the endless stream of Thanksgiving Day football games.

If it hadn't been for the sheer joy I got from being near Al, I would have been bored out of my mind. Still, spending time pressed against him was worth any number of football games. While Al laughed, talked, and joked with my father, brother, and brother-in-law, cheered the action on the gridiron along with them, he kept his arms around me. Rob didn't even tease me when I fell asleep on Al's chest, though in years past, such an action on my part would have been cause for torment from my older brother.

"So, Al, what's next for you?" Frank, my brother-in-law, asked as he passed the bowl of mashed potatoes to Janie.

"I've got a couple more weeks of leave, and then they're promoting me and reinstating me to active duty."

"Congratulations, Al!" Dad said. "To the new Lieutenant Commander."

"Commander," I gently corrected.

Frank nodded, "Yes, I would expect they would advance you after being...I mean, after what you..." He trailed off uncertainly.

"Thank you, Frank," Al quickly interjected. "Also, in a few months, I can expect a transfer."

"Oh, I do hope you two are going to be closer to home this time," said Mom.

I smiled and passed the bread to her.

"Aren't you going to miss Balboa, Beth?" Janie asked.

I paused, a forkful of potatoes halfway to my mouth. "A bit," I confessed, and set the fork down in my plate. "But wherever Al is transferred, that's where I'm going to go, too. And it's not like there's a shortage of naval hospitals."

Al rubbed my shoulder. "Besides, when the children start coming along, Beth's going to need to take a leave anyway."

I nodded, "I might even retire from the Navy."

Rob froze in midbite, Janie beamed, Frank gawked, and my parents' silverware clattered to their plates in unison.

"Beth, are you pregnant?"

I laughed. "No, not yet. But Al and I have been discussing it for weeks now, and we decided we want to start trying."

Frank regarded Al curiously. "I thought you didn't want to drag kids around the country."

"Can't a fella change his mind?" Al speared a piece of turkey and ate it. He winked at me and reached to squeeze my hand.

"Well, I'm just pleased as punch," my mother said. "It's about time one of you started giving me some grandchildren. No one at this table is getting any younger."

Janie and I exchanged rolled eyes as she carried on. When she finished with us, she turned on our brother.

"And, Rob, when are you going to settle down and get married? Who's going to carry on the family name?"

Mom was on a roll now.

"When I meet the right girl, Mom."

Before a full-on argument could start, Dad stood up and clinked his glass with his knife.

"I believe a toast is in order," he said, as if the intervening conversation had never taken place. "To Commander Calavicci." He grinned and raised his glass.

We all followed suit. Peace restored, we went back to the delicious meal, and safer avenues of conversation.

Al fed me a forkful of the leftover pumpkin pie we were sharing. Everyone had finally left—thankfully no more awkward conversations had come up—and Al and I were relaxing on the floor in front of the fire.

I leaned back against his chest and tilted my head up to see his face. "I should have known better. This is how we should have spent our Thanksgiving, just you and me."

Al shook his head and kissed me. "Thanksgiving is all about big family gatherings. Today was great."

"Even with the grandchildren speech?"

"Even with the grandchildren speech."

"Poor Rob."

Al nodded and chuckled. "Maybe when I get back in the swing of things, get to know who's who around here, I can take him out to meet some girls."

"You mean we can. Don't think you're going anywhere without me where other women are."

Fully serious, Al said, "Beth, I don't want to go anywhere without you. Anywhere." He lifted my hair and kissed the back of my neck. "I should never have gone back to Vietnam when you didn't want me to, Beth. I am so sorry."

I turned to face him and placed a finger over his lips. "How many times do I have to tell you? That's behind us now. You came home to me, that's all that matters."

"You're amazing, Elizabeth Calavicci. Absolutely amazing."

"What's amazing is that we managed to at least keep the space program a secret. I can't believe we told them we're going to be trying for a baby. Do you know the nagging phone calls we've just opened ourselves up to?"

"It made Lillian's day, didn't it?"

"I guess it did at that," I grinned. "Just remember when she calls for the fiftieth time to find out if I'm pregnant yet that you were the one who brought it up."

He laughed and took a sip of wine.

"So when do you think we'll have to move so you can start training? February?"

"I still have to pass the physical at the end of the year," Al reminded me.

"You'll pass it."

"After today, I think I'm well on my way toward the minimum weight, at least," he laughed, patting his stomach.

I kissed him, and then stood, stretching.

"I think I'm going to head for bed now."

"Already? Are you tired?"

I grinned seductively. "No, I'm not tired at all. Care to join me? We can work on building up your endurance."

Al scrambled to his feet, abandoning the empty pie plate on the rug.