All familiar characters belong to Janet. The mistakes are mine.
I have mixed emotions about Julie's fearlessness. On the one hand, I'm proud that I got to play a part in shaping this young woman into one who is intelligent, confident, and not the least bit afraid of the unknown. On the flip side, the fact that Julie is ready for anything - and is curious about everything - scares the fucking shit out me.
As she's stated, I'm innately protective. Having five siblings, and being the oldest male among them, made that inevitable. And being surrounded by women growing up, gave me a unique insight into them, which clued me in on how much protection they will likely need. During our school years, my brother and I got afternoon workouts by beating the shit out of anyone who dared say anything inappropriate within hearing-range of a Manoso woman. Some days, a too-long look was provocation enough. But what was different in our family versus others, is that our sisters would be getting into almost as many fights defending our honor.
The message was clear early on ... we take care of our own. That rule made a career in the military almost a no-brainer, and it also had the idea of creating Rangeman staying in the back of my mind as something I would accomplish one day. I accomplished that and more, I noted, as I drove by the Miami Rangeman building as Julie and I went in search of a little adventure, albeit a controlled version of it.
"Steph is going to be sooooo happy Olive needed a nap," my daughter told me.
"She'll be so happy she dodged this bullet, she might not have your sister try something green for another week. Stephanie can handle adrenaline, and is very familiar with over-exerting herself, but usually an FTA needs to be involved."
"Yeah, skydiving and rock climbing aren't her thing."
"But they work for us," I told her.
She rolled her eyes. "You're only letting me do both because it's inside and I'm in no real danger."
I didn't deny it. "Call it a perk of being a parent. I have the honor of watching over you for your entire life, so it has to be a long one."
"I'm legally an adult at eighteen."
"But you're my daughter forever. With that love comes what Steph says is an obsessive need to keep those I care about safe. And I love you more than you'll understand until you have children of your own one day."
She grimaced. "I don't know if I want to be a mom yet. It's too far in the future to think about."
"That's reassuring to hear. Focus on your immediate goals and don't let anyone stand in your way of achieving them until you're fully ready for the interruption."
"My immediate goal right now," she shared, "is to get to the top of the wall before you. I know you're an Army Ranger and all, but it has been years since boot camp."
I grinned at her teasing, and reached across the console to give her a quick hug before we went into the building that took outdoor sports and brought them inside.
"Let's see if your 'old man' still has some fight left in him."
"Uh-oh," she said. "I just accidentally challenged you, didn't I?"
"Of course you didn't."
She didn't believe me. As well she shouldn't. I may be older, but I'm in better mental and physical shape now than I was when I enlisted. Because I know the indoor sport center's owner - the brother of one of my Miami Rangemen, Solder - I know the place is safe, the equipment state-of-the-art, and all regulations surpass standard. I could've climbed the twenty-four-foot rock wall blindfolded and without a harness slowing me down, but I don't want Julie to think my 'no rules' approach to life applies to her, so I got suited up after she did. She's strong and athletic in her own right and I wanted her to realize that.
I purposely didn't set records getting to the top, instead ... I stayed right beside her the entire climb, but I couldn't resist showing her that boot camp may be more than a decade behind me, but I can still kick an objective's ass. While Julie carefully and patiently considered every one of her finger-and toeholds to ascend the twenty-four feet, I used only my fingertips and the strength in my arms for my climb. I let my legs hang, not needing the extra power or speed my lower body would have provided.
"Show-off," she said, when we reached the top together and stood looking down into the Rainforest cafe where visitors can get refueled in-between challenges.
"I wasn't showing off," I explained. "I was just enjoying more time with you."
She laughed, smiled, and finally accepted our finish as the tie I declared it. Even knowing there is very little risk involved in the indoor skydiving here, I still insisted on being the one inside the wind tunnel with my daughter after we were once again fitted with the appropriate safety gear. Watching Julie essentially fly, reminded me of when Cal was holding Olive back on the beach in the Caribbean. When I reached out both hands to Julie to return her to her feet, the feeling was even more intense. Wherever my girls are, there will always be someone ready to catch them and make sure their landings are smooth.
