Savannah
Even after two decades of riding the rollercoaster of Army life, experiencing so many emotions in one day overwhelmed Jackie Clarke. Kevin had been home a week, Sophie flew down, and the family of four had a chance to reconnect before Sophie went back to Phillips Exeter and Patrick shipped out to Ranger School. For a few days, the Clarkes looked like a typical family. They played cards and board games, playfully ribbed each other at the dinner table, and gossiped about extended family members. Kevin even made sure to cut off his work days at a reasonable time to maximize their time together. On the morning of the day both Patrick and Sophie were leaving, Jackie awoke with dread in her belly.
Kevin could sense her trepidation even before she completely came into consciousness. Instead of jumping out of bed and urging that they head out for their morning run, he nuzzled her neck and held her close as the sun rose and kissed their bedroom with a soft yellowish glow. The corners of her mouth twitched into a hint of a smile. Lately, there had been countless smiles. Kevin rarely felt guilty about all of the heart-wrenching goodbyes they had had to endure over the course of their lives together, but he felt terrible about this one. At least, he figured, Jackie would be visiting Sophie soon to take her on college tours. The relationship between mother and daughter continued to thaw and even strengthen which made sending her back to school even more difficult. Jackie did take some solace in knowing Kevin was at Fort Marshall for at least the next few months, but, oddly, having only him there seemed inadequate.
"Morning," he said when he saw her eyes flutter open.
"Hey." She turned onto her back and touched his face. "What time is it?"
"Early," he replied, "You running with me?" Jackie stretched and kicked off the covers. The hem of her silky night shirt crept up her thigh, and Kevin brushed her bare skin with the back of his hand.
Jackie leaned into his touch. "Yes, it'll be good to burn off...some of this, ugh," she groaned but quickly got back on script, "I want to make sure we have time for lunch together."
"Plenty of time," Kevin said.
"Alright," Jackie said in a wide-awake, resolute voice. "Let's go."
…..
By late evening, Patrick and Sophie were gone and Jackie and Kevin were sitting together on the porch, listening to the wind rustle the trees and crickets chirping in the distance. Jackie curled her legs under her body and rested her head against Kevin's shoulder. She thought about her son and daughter and her chest filled with both pride and melancholy, but when the gloom set in, Kevin would take a deep breath or the ice in his glass would clink, and just that little iota of noise would make her smile. He was there. She had to remember not to forget that.
"I'm going to go up soon," she murmured though she didn't move.
"We both should," Kevin said. There was a rare jauntiness in his voice.
Interest piqued, Jackie looked up at him. Whatever he had on his mind, she knew it was something more than flirtation. "Ready now?"
"Yeah. Hey, where are the suitcases?"
"The regular ones?"
"Yes."
"In the upstairs hall closet," Jackie tried to suppress her smile, "What's going on?"
"I stole your idea," Kevin replied, "We're going to Savannah for a long weekend. The golf, the hotel room overlooking the river. We leave in the morning. If you still want to go."
Jackie beamed and wrapped her arms around Kevin's neck. "Of course I do! Wow. What a nice surprise. Are you sure you can get away from work?"
"I'm sure. From what I hear, the Division can actually operate when I'm not around."
"That's the sign of a good leader," Jackie kissed him on the lips and hugged him again. "Thank you, Kevin."
"No, Jackie," he replied softly, "Thank you."
….
Late spring was the perfect time to visit Savannah. Flowers were in full bloom, lush trees and shrubbery lined the streets and yards of the historic homes, and Kevin couldn't stop commenting on the pristine shape of the fairways and greens. He and Jackie began each day with a short (for him) run from their riverfront hotel to Forsyth Park and back. They stopped for coffee and had just enough time to shower, dress, and make it to the course for a mid-morning tee time. One of their first dates had been of the golfing variety. Both Jackie and Kevin had grown up playing the game, and, during that initial match, both their competitive natures and their attraction for one another became glaringly obvious. Over two decades later, neither one lost their desire to win or their desire for each other.
One of Kevin's friends once asked him how many strokes he gave his wife and Kevin responded with a snicker. If anyone should have been offering an advantage to an opponent, it was Jackie. What she lacked in raw power, she made up for in precision. Her approach shots landed on the green more often than Kevin's, and she rarely needed more than two putts once there. She was steady and consistent, yet the determination never left her body. Jackie put her all into everything, including presumably leisurely rounds of golf with her husband.
"Nice putt," Kevin complimented after she sunk a ten-footer to save par on a particularly tough hole pockmarked with bunkers.
Jackie knocked the sand from her shoes and accepted her ball from Kevin who tapped in a gimme after she holed her shot. "Thank you."
He didn't let the ball go. A playful tug-of-war ensued and culminated with a kiss. "You're two up," he said.
"I know."
For what seemed like the millionth time that day, Kevin admired the way she looked in her white skirt which she'd managed to keep clean the whole round and her aquamarine sleeveless shirt. It had a zip collar which was almost totally open and a small diamond pendant necklace, her go to piece of jewelry, shimmered in the sun.
"Kevin?"
He was frozen, holding the pin with one hand, staring at her as she started for the cart.
"Come here," he said, a noticeable hitch in his voice.
"Kevin," Jackie glanced back toward the tee box of the hole they'd just finished, "There's a group behind us."
He shrugged, replaced the pin, and curled his fingers around the back of her neck. After a deep kiss he said, "I love you."
Thrilled and shocked at the uncharacteristic public display of affection, Jackie's breath caught in her throat. Their love, reverence, and admiration for one another was always evident, but rarely spoken. However, every once in a while, it was nice to hear it.
"I love you too," she said sweetly. "Should we head to the next tee?"
He reached up and straightened her visor. The foursome trailing them were now sitting in their carts and waiting. "Guess we better, huh?"
"Three holes left," Jackie said.
"Just enough time for me to finish one up."
….
They toasted Jackie's victory on the links with a cocktail on the clubhouse terrace before returning to the hotel for a shower and to relax a bit on the balcony before going out for oysters and chowder at a nearby pub. They were toweling off when a sudden jolt of dread pierced Jackie's heart. Kevin had planned the trip citing gaps in his schedule and a desire to soften the blow of Patrick's and Sophie's departures. That part made sense, but he had been extra attentive and hyperfocused on romance; she couldn't remember a time in their lives when he'd been in this type of mood. Logically, she started to wonder if this was all a prelude to some very bad news.
"Want a drink?" Kevin asked, holding up a bottle of chardonnay they'd opened the night before.
"Sure," Jackie replied, tightening the belt on the plush white robe embroidered with the hotel's insignia. She joined him on the balcony, sipped the wine, and closed her eyes, letting the breeze dry the lingering drops of water on her face. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Kevin staring out into the distance, his features placid and serene. "You didn't check in today," she remarked. They had spent almost every waking second with one another, so she was certain he'd been totally off the grid.
"Nah," he said, "I'll call tomorrow morning. I'm on emergency only status until Tuesday." Jackie must have made a subtle noise or otherwise indicated suspicion, because Kevin turned to her and asked if anything was wrong.
"Nothing," she forced a smile.
"Not nothing," he replied. "What is it?"
Jackie took a deep breath and said, "Is there...another deployment on the horizon? A move?"
"No. Why?"
Kevin appeared truthful and genuinely confused, but Jackie couldn't take back her questions. She had to press on. "Don't get me wrong, Kevin, I am so happy, elated, really, that we're here, that we found the time to do this, but...things have been different, good different, between the two of us, and-"
"-it's suspicious."
"A little, yes."
He turned to face her, his expression full of affection. "Jackie, I've had a lot of time to think in the past month."
"About what?"
"It started after the troops were recalled. Frank and I...got to talking the night before everyone shipped out, about the politics of it all, the guys we lost, and for what?"
Now Kevin was really starting to scare her. He never talked like this. Even as a young officer, he had never been motivated by ideals or waxed philosophical. He was driven by duty and commitment, operated on strategy and logic; the conversation he had had with Frank not only sounded wildly out of character but also dangerous.
"I love what I do," he continued, "And it almost being taken away from me, that thought, was devastating. But when I remembered how you looked at me after I'd brushed you off or was short with you, right after the accident, Jackie, I'm sorry."
He saw her start to put up her hand. After all, they had always agreed that apologies, even warranted, forced couples to dwell on the past. Kevin and Jackie Clarke moved on. They would fix mistakes and smooth out rough patches, but the path forward began by readjusting priorities or expectations, not with apologies.
"I'm sorry," he said again. "I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Kevin-"
"You are number one in my life, Jackie. I know it may not feel like it, I may not act like it, but I need you to know that's always been the case."
Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded. "Kevin, I know." She reached for his hand, "And I knew what I was getting into and what kind of man I was getting when I said yes all those years ago. And," her voice had been shaky but she spoke with much more conviction now, "I don't regret it. I would do it all over again. I am so proud of you, and I'm proud to be your wife."
"You don't feel like my career, like it's...hindered you?"
"Kevin, we're a team. I love what I do and I believe in why I do it. It might look different, but, at the end of the day, we're working toward the same objective." She scooted her chair closer so they could kiss.
Her hair was pulled back in a clip and Kevin wound a few loose strands around his fingers. "If only I'd known years ago how easy it was to get away for a weekend…"
Jackie chuckled softly.
Kevin leaned in for another kiss. "Can I take you to dinner, Mrs. Clarke?"
"Of course," she replied with a sly grin, "But let's not stay out too late. I don't want any excuses if I happen to win again tomorrow." She stood up and let the robe slide from her shoulders on her way inside.
"No ma'am," he said, following her, "Understood. No excuses."
….
Hello! I started watching Army Wives while on lock down and became a bit obsessed...hope you enjoyed the little oneshot!