Thank you for your reviews on the last few chapters – I'm really enjoying writing this story and reading your comments. I'm sorry to those of you who would like longer updates… I only have short snippets of time at the moment and know that long chapters will take me ages to write and I'll probably never actually publish anything! Hope you'll forgive me and stay with me.
FIVE YEARS
Chapter 8
They've parked up on the side of a countryside lane, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, after a short drive. She peers through the windscreen suspiciously.
"Is this it?"
"Yep."
"It doesn't look very memorable…."
"Well, I'm having to improvise slightly. We'd normally cycle here, bring a picnic, make a day of it, but in the circumstances I thought…"
"That might be a bit much…. It's ok, you're right. Don't worry, I'm not going to bite your head off again."
"Glad to hear it. We'll walk from here."
"Walk where? What is there around here?"
"You'll see!"
-OG-
He leads the way, very much the Officer in charge.
"Right, we follow this footpath for about 3km, we'll be heading in the right direction."
"Alright, this isn't some bleeding patrol, it is supposed to be a walk in the countryside."
He smirks, enjoying the familiarity of her protestations.
"It should take us about 20 minutes to get there …. at your pace….."
He knows his comment will get a reaction and speeds up his pace slightly to pull away from her.
She catches up with him.
"Oi, what do you mean my pace?"
He turns back to her, grinning.
"Well, you always complain that I walk too fast, on the account of my 'bleeding long legs'".
She grabs his arm and links hers through his.
"Sounds about right. I always had to walk two paces to one of yours when we were in patrol in Afghan!"
He's thrilled that she's taken his arm and wonders if she remembers that this has long been her tactic to control his pace. He winks at her.
"Exactly, crack-on then Dawesy."
She looks surprised.
"You called me Dawsey!"
He smiles. He's been careful to not call her by her nickname up until now. Although he loves calling her by it, he generally reserves it for when they're teasing each other. It's always been part of their special brand of flirting, a form of extended foreplay which drives him crazy and almost always ends with them making love.
"Yes, I did and I do, particularly when you're dragging your heels about something. Besides, you never changed your name, professionally at least."
"Really, I didn't take your name when we got married? Why not?"
"Well.. a couple of reasons. You've always wanted to be judged on your own merits, rather than because of your connection to me. Not that that was ever going to be an issue - you're a brilliant medic and soldier and I would never have dreamt of interfering in your career... besides, I like having my balls in-tact."
She looks slightly horrified.
"Please don't tell me I threatened that…"
"It might have been mentioned early on in our relationship… I think you were joking… but, the main reason you never changed your name is because Molly Dawes is a highly decorated soldier.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you know when you crawled through that minefield to rescue Smurf?"
"Yes, I'm not likely to forget that in a hurry…. or your face when I got back to the FOB."
"Well, it's true that I was furious with you when you disobeyed my direct order and went up in that winch... gave me my first heart attack of the tour, but you were also fucking awesome."
"When you gave me that talking to afterwards, I thought I was for it."
"Well you reminded me of someone. I wrote it up immediately afterwards, didn't really think much more of it. Anyway, the powers that be decided that you were a more than worthy recipient…. of the Military Cross."
She stops in her tracks, bringing him to a standstill. She releases his arm and turns to face him.
"What?"
"Yes ….. you went to the Palace, met the Queen and everything."
She looks absolutely incredulous.
"You're shitting me?"
"No, the Dawes clan made quite an impression on her Majesty from what I've heard."
"Stop."
"It's true. We can dig out the official photos later. The Army made a bit of a thing about it too – you were quite the poster soldier for a while…. a recruiters' dream."
She splutters out a laugh.
"No, way. I'm guessing I didn't actually tell them HOW I was recruited."
It is his turn to be surprised.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
She looks at him sheepishly and laughs, trying to deflect his interest.
"Nothing."
"Molly Dawes, what are you not telling me?"
"Have I really never told you how I came to join the Army?"
"You told me you went into an Army recruitment centre the day after your 18th birthday, did the BARB test and the rest is, as they say history."
He can tell by her reddening face that there is more to this story, a story he thought he already knew.
"That is true….. but… there's more ... it's a bit embarrassing actually."
"Oh, I have a feeling this is going to be good."
"Oh shit, well I don't suppose it matters… we are married, after all…."
He's been enjoying teasing her up until this point, but all of sudden realises he's not entirely sure where this is going. She doesn't seem particularly concerned about the direction of the conversation, but he can feel his old jealous streak raising its ugly head. He tries to keep his voice lighter than he feels.
"You didn't sleep with the recruiter did you?"
She looks a little taken aback at his question.
"No, I did not."
He doesn't mask his relief very well.
"Oh, thank God."
She looks pretty pissed off at him.
"What sort of question is that anyway?"
He hangs his head in shame, hoping he hasn't just cocked things up, just when they're getting on so well.
"A really stupid one….?"
"I know in Afghan I told you that I may have slept with a few people I regretted, but he wasn't one of them."
"I'm sorry."
She lets out a huge snort.
"Oh your face Charles. Don't worry. I'm teasing you. What actually happened was that …. well…. I might have thrown-up in the doorway of said recruitment centre on the night of my 18th birthday. As I was chucking up my guts, I noticed the "Join the Army" poster and went back the next day. The Sergeant was outside, sorting out the pile of vomit. We kind of got talking…. and as you say, the rest is history."
He lets out a relieved belly laugh.
"Oh Molly, that is fucking brilliant…"
"I never told you?"
"Nope."
She takes his arm again and starts walking.
"Really? Well, maybe you're not the only one who is going to be dishing out surprises then?"
He can tell from the tone of her voice and the smug grin on her face, that she is quite pleased with herself.
-OG-