Tip of the Spear

by Robsmyyummy Cabanaboy

The "tip of the spear" - in the military, they are the front line; the initial attack that draws first blood. As a CACO in the United States Marine Corps, Capt. Masen delivers that leading blow, too. He's often faced with handling the collateral damage this life can bring. He's accepted that love & commitment aren't for him…until she opens the door.

22. Chapter 22

So glad you all loved Pops. His story is the true one of my friend's grandparents who are still married to this day. :)

"Without You" by David Guetta featuring Usher is the perfect "Man on a Mission" song for this chapter. Listen and enjoy!

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^^TotS^^

EPOV

"Aloha! I hope you're having a great day. This is Bella Newton. Sorry I'm missing your call, but I'm having way too much fun in Hawaii right now to answer the phone, so please forgive me. Leave a message and I'll try to call you back when I can. Mahalo."

I chuff, shaking my head when I hear her voicemail pick up. Still in Hawaii? If only that were true. My palms are sweaty as I pace the lawn, waiting for the—

*BEEEEEEP*

Oh fuck.

"Bella, it's me. It's Edward." I pause, taking a deep breath and stumbling over what to say next. "I uhh— I know we haven't spoken in a few weeks. I stayed in Hawaii for Riley and Kalia longer than I'd originally planned, stayed with them, actually, for an extra week after TMO packed me up and shipped my stuff. I'm sorry I haven't picked up the phone…I know I should've picked up the phone, but I guess I didn't really know what to say." Intelligent talking points continue to fail me, but I push myself. "I— I still don't have the right words, but…I do need to talk to you. We need to talk to each other. I hate the way things ended when you left. There's still so mu—"

"If you are satisfied with your message, please press star. If you'd like to re-record your message, please press pound. If you—"

"MOTHERFUHHHHHH—"

"Uncle Edward?"

I spin around on the dewy grass to find Bailyn standing on the front porch in her Rapunzel nightgown. I came outside at the crack of dawn to make this call after tossing and turning all night long. I got absolutely no sleep— what else is new— and crept outside when it was at least a respectable hour on the east coast for someone who's on vacation and ready to fly around the world.

I clutch my chest, feeling like my heart's about to bust through my ribs. Between my message getting cut off and Bailyn scaring the shit out of me, my nerves are shot to hell and I need to get a fucking grip.

"What're you doing up so early, silly?" I ask, pocketing my phone and approaching her tentatively. She's kept her distance since I arrived yesterday morning. I know I still have a lot of groveling to do. You don't promise a princess and then not deliver. You just don't.

"I was in my bed, but then I felt pee-pees coming." She shifts on her feet. "When I was done on the potty, I came out and saw the front door open."

I chuckle at her candor and hold out my arms, hoping she'll jump into them as she's done so often in times past. Maybe she's forgotten her ire for the moment, but I'm so thankful when she stretches her little arms and allows me to scoop her up.

"It's still really early," I whisper as we sidle our way back into the house. "Wanna watch TV, and I'll make you some breakfast in a bit?"

She nods and takes charge of the situation once we enter the playroom. First she grabs a blanket off the back of the couch and takes a seat, patting the cushion next to her as I walk across the room. Then she grabs the silver remote, hits the big, green power button and the forty-two-inch screen comes to life in the middle of one of her Disney shows.

"Mommy always leaves the TV on my channel so all I have to do is turn it on. I don't know how to change channels yet," she confesses, spreading the pink and red ladybug blanket over our legs.

While Bailyn gets absorbed in the world of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I think about trying to call Bella again. I must've sounded like such a Class-A moron stammering through the rambling, half-message I left for her. I figure I'll try to call again when I step out to make Bailyn her breakfast.

After talking with Pops yesterday, I knew I couldn't let another day go by without at least trying to reach out. No, Bella hasn't made contact with me either, and it stings, but there will be a time to work through all of that. For now, I just need her to know how important she was to me— is to me. Distance or not, the pull I feel for her overshadows the pain she caused me. The paralyzing fear that my demons hold over my head is nothing compared to the agony I feel at the possibility that I might not have her in my life forever.

I have to start somewhere.

^^TotS^^

Two voicemails— five if you count the ones where I got cut off— and three texts later, and I still haven't heard back from Bella. Surely she can't be that mad at me, right? It's not like she dumped me for lying or cheating on her. I mean, if anyone has the right to be angry over the sudden ending of our relationship, it's me. No warning, no preamble…she just launched my heart into a wood chipper and took off with a "thanks-for-the-memories" wave.

Then I remember the sounds of silence I flooded her with for the days leading up to the break-up. Memories bombard me of how I avoided being alone with her at all costs because I was so distraught over Nalani's death, and in turn, terrified of ever losing Bella in such a way. Clarity comes back into full-focus, and I know that I'd shredded her heart, too, turning it into mulch long before she did it to mine.

At dinner, Bailyn pulls me from my thoughts and bats her baby blues, asking me to take her to Disneyland to see Fake-Belle.

"What do you mean, 'Fake-Belle', baby?" Lauren questions, wiping Bailyn's face free of spaghetti sauce.

"Like Fake-Santa, Mommy."

My mother, Lauren and I freeze instantly, our eyes wide in panic. Now, I may not know much about kids, but there's no freaking way a four year-old should not believe in Santa Claus. Before any of us has a chance to address her Fake-Santa accusation, Bailyn continues.

"You remember when we went to the mall to see Santa and then we went to the food store and he was there, too?" She purses her lips, making a silly face as her arms fly open. "He couldn't have been in the same place at the same time. I know he has helpers." She shrugs and takes a sip from her juice cup.

"OHHH!" The adults croon in relief.

"So, you mean that the princess you'll see in a yellow gown in Disneyland isn't the real Belle?" My mother— God bless her— always on the hunt for more answers.

"Right! Because we all know Uncle Edward was with the real Belle and he said she's somewhere else 'cause the stupid Beast locked her out of his castle." She punctuates her statement by crossing her little arms.

"Wait, Uncle Edward said what?"

"He told me the Beast locked her out of his castle when she tried to get inside. And she was LIVING there!" She stresses 'living' by smacking her palm on the table. "I better not see the Beast when we go," she snips with major four-year-old attitude, "'cause I'm gonna stomp on his foot for locking Belle out and making her not come here to see me."

I jump up and clap my hands together with one loud smack before Bailyn digs me any deeper into the murky trench I created all on my own.

"Okay, Bay, you got it! Disneyland on Tuesday, sound good?"

I look over, shaking my head at my mother and sister who are practically holding each other upright in the midst of convulsive, yet silent, laughter.

I swear, these women are gonna be the death of me. Now, I just have to figure out how to get back the one who holds my heart.

^^TotS^^

Later that night, I'm lying in bed frustrated and worried that Bella hasn't returned my calls or responded to my texts. Trying to bridge the gap would be so much easier if we could start with a phone call or even a simple text here in the states. Once we go overseas, it'll be impossible to communicate unless we know each other's email addresses as a jumping-off point.

I'd love to pull a Lloyd Dobler and stand outside her house with a boom box, but if she's not even speaking to me, the chances that I'll end up in a Korean prison for disturbing the peace are a lot greater than us running off into the sunset together with Peter Gabriel singing our love theme.

I roll over and punch the pillow, blaming myself, yet again, for my stupidity in not reaching out sooner. If she doesn't call me back in the next twenty-four hours, I'm fucked— because, by then, she'll be on a plane for Seoul and completely off the grid.

I glance at my iPhone for the eighty-seventh time today and stare at the date and time display.

August 13th, 11:22 p.m.

My wheels start turning and I realize that I'm already fucked. If she had to report to her school on the fifteenth, and you fucking have to cross the international fucking date line, then she doesn't leave on the fucking fourteenth, she left today.

Gone. Bella's long gone.

And the hits just keep ooooon coming.

Suddenly, I realize that a grand gesture involving me sailing down a flight of stairs might very well be in my not-too-distant future.

^^TotS^^

BPOV

"Ms. Newton?" the kind woman inquires. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm Maura Driscoll."

I stand with a grin and brush my hands down the front of my skirt. "You too, it's very nice to meet you."

I extend my hand and this slight five-foot-nothing woman grips my palm with the strength of a sumo wrestler. I swear my eyes almost pop out of my head, but I rein it in before I add any painful sound effects.

"Why don't you come back to my office, we have a few things to discuss."

I follow her into a shoebox of a space that has all the typical trappings of a DODDS principal's office: military-issue desk with a chair, multiple filing cabinets, desktop computer, an American Flag and a US Air Force flag. There's also one arm chair in front of her desk, but there's so little space to move, I have to wonder if she brought it in for today's meeting alone.

"How are you enjoying Korea thus far?"

"Well, I've only been here eighteen hours, but everyone's been very nice." I leave out the part where I was pushed and shoved by everyone on the flight as we stood to deplane. Apparently the South Koreans don't like to wait their turn to get off a plane. I also decide not to elaborate on what the Seoul airport smells like. I know one of their signature dishes is kimchi, but in my opinion, it smelled like an entire airport was desperately in need of some Bean-O. My nasal passages may have been permanently singed.

She smiles sweetly and then pulls her glasses, which dangle from a sparkly chain, from the bridge of her nose.

"Ms. Newton, I'll get right to the point. I know you came in today to get your classroom key and to familiarize yourself with our facility, but it seems we've run into a snafu with your teaching assignment."

"Oh?" Oh, fuck is more like it. I'm now perched on the edge of the chair, my knee bouncing like there's a spring attached to my heel.

"We ran our most recent enrollment numbers and compared them to our master list from the end of last year. It seems we over-estimated our faculty needs for the upcoming school year."

A hollow feeling forms in my stomach and my throat runs dry. This is it. She's telling me to pack my shit, which I have yet to unpack, and go.

"Umm," is the only brilliant response I can think of at the moment.

She twists her lips into a frown and continues. "I'm afraid we don't have a placement here at Osan Elementary."

My upper body droops as she confirms my fear. Out on my ear on the first day. This has to be some kind of record.

"I truly apologize this has all unfolded in this manner, but I took the liberty of making some calls on your behalf to the neighboring schools."

My ears perk up. Please, oh please let there be something available down the road. Pre-pubescent tweens, catty high-school mean girls…I'll take anything at this point, just please don't send me back home already.

"My good friend, Ian Kubrough, who's also a principal, said he had an unexpected influx of families arrive in the last month and they were about to put in their request for another kindergarten teacher. He said he'd be willing to bring you on board, though. I hope you don't mind, but we've already spoken with our supervisors at DODDS and they approved the change rather than bringing you home to the states," she explains.

"Oh, thank the Lord!" My heart rate begins to rise again as my dizziness dissipates. "Is it on this base? Or somewhere else on the island?"

Her eyes crinkle around the edges. "Not exactly. Come with me and I'll show you the DODEA map of the world."

^^TotS^^

As Bailyn wriggles on my lap, I readjust the computer screen so her face is fully visible.

"Is he gonna answer?" she squeaks, watching the green arrow swirl around in circles attempting to make the connection.

"I don't know, Bay, just give it a second."

At that same moment, I hear a bit of background noise and Emmett calls out for Rosalie.

"Uncle Emmett!"

"Hey sugar booger! What's goin' on?" Em's got a huge smile plastered on his face.

"Mommy's packing my bag for a special trip to Disneyland!"

"A trip to Disney? Who's taking you to Disney without me?"

"Uncle Edward is!"

"He is? Where's that crazy Uncle Edward?"

"Here I am." I reposition the monitor and pull our chair back so that I come into view on the screen.

"Well, hello there, Uncle Edward," Emmett chides.

"Hey, Uncle Emmett, how's life at the tip of the spear?"

He shrugs, unimpressed. "Psshhh, nothing new under the sun in Oki. How are you doing?"

"Trying to keep busy. Two days in Disneyland with this one will keep me occupied, I hope."

Emmett and I can't have the kind of conversation I know he wants to have right now. We spoke about two weeks ago after Bella left and I was still feeling very bitter. He handed my ass to me over the phone, just as Riley did in my living room a few days prior. Remorse has been kicking in with each passing day, knowing how many people were in my corner— are in my corner— and just want me to find some happiness.

"How's Rose adjusting?"

"She's good. Been in her classroom getting things prepared for the start of school. Have you uhhh— have you heard from Bella?"

"Bailyn, c'mere please," my sister shouts from the bedroom.

"I'll be right back, Uncle Emmett," she announces to the computer, hops off my lap and runs down the hall leaving me alone with my friends on Skype.

I shake my head. "No, nothing. It's driving me crazy. And I think I fucked up becau—"

"OH, ya think!" I suddenly see part of Rose's body standing behind Emmett. I take a deep breath, swallowing my pride because I know I'm going to need Rosalie's help to track Bella's work email.

"Hey, Rose," I murmur. She storms off without bending down to poke her head into the screen.

"Yeah, she's not really interested in talking to you just yet," Emmett says, apologetically.

"Not surprising."

I hear Rosalie say something off-camera but can't decipher her words.

"What'd she say?"

"She wants to know if you've relocated your head from your rectum."

I can't help but chuckle. I suppose I deserve that and more. I'm just not used to hearing it from Rosalie, who's usually pretty reserved.

"Tell her it's an ongoing process, but I'm working on it." I sit back in my chair hearing Bailyn bounding down the hall to get back to her dual-Uncle-Skyping session.

Life goes on, whether I want it to or not.

^^TotS^^

Two days in Disneyland, filled to the brim with Belle-this and Rapunzel-that, left Bailyn on a princess high. She loved every minute of our impromptu trip. My sister had offered to come with us on our adventure, but I declined, saying I wanted the time alone with Bailyn. I owed her that much after fucking up royally— no pun intended— with Bella.

Surprisingly, Bailyn didn't bring Bella's name up again after her little scene at the dinner table Monday night. I don't know if Lauren had a talk with her about it, or if, at four years old she's truly operating under the premise of "out of sight, out of mind." Whatever the case, I was happy I didn't have to deflect her questions or worse, come clean with the ugly truth.

The universe continues to mess with my head, though. Bailyn actually asked for a fluffernutter for lunch yesterday. I thought I was hallucinating.

"Where did you hear about fluffernutters?" I exclaim, completely flabbergasted. I can't escape her. Bella's everywhere.

"We always have fluffernutters at Pre-K," Bay says matter-of-factly, our clasped hands swinging between us as we wait to board the tea cup ride. "We help Miss Misty make them for snack. We need to have peanut butter, marshmallow fluff and circle crackers." She licks her rosebud lips and hums in satisfaction.

"And you like them." I can't help but smile through my words. I swear, if Bella ate fluffernutters at the age of four, she exuded the same level of excitement.

I crouch down so that we're eye-to-eye. "I don't know if they sell fluffernutters for lunch here at Disney, but we'll stop at a store when we leave tonight, and I promise to make you a fluffernutter for lunch tomorrow, 'kay?"

I'm rewarded with her million-dollar grin and dimples that don't quit.

"I love you, goofball."

"Love you too, Uncle Edward."

When we get back to Monterey late Wednesday night, I explain to my mom and sister that I'm going to change my ticket and fly to Seoul on Friday to try to find Bella. They're not upset that I'm cutting my visit with them short by a few days. They couldn't contain their smiles, but managed to stop short of bouncing up and down while clapping. Honestly, I think they're just thrilled that I haven't given up on trying to make things right with Bella.

There's a stirring in my gut. The same butterflies I had a couple months ago when we first started spending time together are back with a vengeance. Every time I was standing close to Bella, my senses were heightened and there was an inexplicable electric current surging through the air. The anticipation of what would come next always left me thrilled.

Now though, I'm half excited while the other half of me is petrified. Too many scenes from movies are running through my mind. Will she open her door, throw her arms around me and slam her lips against mine in a passionate kiss? Or will she open her door, throw her hands around my neck and try to strangle the life out of me?

I'm thinking it could go either way.

I'm going over there completely blind. There's no way to call her, I don't have her email address, and I don't know where she's living. My only hope at this point is that she'll still be at the temporary lodge on Osan Air Base, and I can stake out the lobby in the hopes that I'll catch her coming or going.

I know she was given a first-grade teaching position at Osan Elementary, so if I strike out at the hotel, maybe someone in the school office will take pity on me and steer me in the right direction.

I've got to try. If there's one running theme out of all the lectures I've gotten over the last few weeks, to include everything my therapist was pulling from me, it's that life's not worth living if I don't bother trying.

This doesn't come with a quick fix. And anything worth having and keeping is worth fighting for. Bella is worth fighting for…we are worth fighting for.

And my fight is only just beginning.

^^TotS^^

I pound my fist on the desk after running my hand over my head for the tenth time in so many minutes.

"Ma'am, please. I'm begging you. She had to have left a forwarding address, email…something!"

"I'm sorry, Major Masen. I have no further information on that guest's whereabouts."

"But you're at least confirming that she was here."

The clerk narrows her eyes, studying me in a calculating manner. She's probably trying to figure out if I'm going to land her on a 20/20 special with Barbara Walters as the person who leaked information that triggers the next international incident.

I'm quite sure I look like a man possessed. I have jet-lag like a motherfucker and haven't eaten anything decent in days because my stomach is in my throat. All I've consumed in the last twenty-four hours are a few bags of peanuts, two cans of Coke, a pack of Skittles and four Red Bulls. The food they tried to serve me on the airline wasn't at all appetizing to my unsettled stomach, so I stuck with junk I trusted. My teeth are probably rotting out of my head as I speak.

The lady leans across the desk and I excitedly do the same causing her to back up a bit. I think she thinks I've lost my mind.

There's a distinct possibility she's not entirely off the mark on that one.

"Yes," she hisses. "Ms. Newton checked into the lodge on Monday night and checked out two days ago, okay?"

I close my eyes and breathe deeply. At least I know she was here, she was safe and that she's somewhere on the island now. It's piss poor timing on my part that I arrived on a Saturday and won't be able to get into her school until Monday, but in the meantime I can scope out the base and the surrounding city. Maybe I can even find some realtors that contract with the military and see if any of them worked with Bella in helping her secure housing out in town.

The adrenaline I've been living off for the last two days is finally dissipating and the bottom is about to fall out. Knowing she's closer than she's been for the last four weeks has instantly calmed me, and I think I might actually be able to get some sleep tonight.

"Okay, may I get a room, please?"

^^TotS^^

The weekend passes and I'm no closer to finding Bella. I swear I've been running around the base showing her picture to people like she's a lost puppy. Something's gotta give eventually.

Monday morning arrives and I'm dressed and ready to go by quarter after six. I figure I'll make more of an impression if I'm in uniform rather than Joe Snuffy the civilian walking in off the street.

The sun has barely risen by the time I'm in the parking lot of the school. Thank goodness I ran into an old Air Force buddy yesterday who's letting me borrow his car. His wife is back in the States with their kids wrapping up their summer vacation. It was a stroke of luck that her car has been sitting in their driveway for several weeks. Thank God for military families. Doesn't matter where you are in the world, you can always track down somebody you know!

I'm cracking my knuckles while downing another Red Bull— because I don't have enough nervous energy coursing through my body at the moment— and waiting for the faculty and staff to trickle in for the day. It's no surprise that I'm hoping to see Bella, but by eight, she still hasn't appeared. I clear my throat and roll my neck, hoping to relax so as not to freak out the people who work in the front office. I need allies, not folks thinking I'm Creepy Stalker-Dude.

"May I help you, Major?"

I step up to the counter ready to turn on the charm. "I sure hope so. I'm looking for my friend who works here. I'm on my way to report to Okinawa, but I know she's been assigned to work at this school. I was just hoping I could visit her in her classroom?"

She gives me a tentative smile. "Umm, I don't know if—"

"It's okay Kelly, I'll handle this," I hear a voice before I see the woman it belongs to. She steps out from behind the large desk, extending her hand. "Principal Driscoll…Major…?"

"Masen. Edward Masen."

She quirks her eyebrow while sizing me up. I'm trying not to fidget or break eye contact with her, but my desperation is giving me away. Probably not the best idea to have had that second Red Bull this morning.

"Come on back with me, Major Masen."

I dutifully follow her into what I presume is her office. I find myself practically standing at attention in front of this woman. She's no-nonsense. Seems like a protective motherly-type. I might be in over my head, here.

"Who are you looking for, Major? I only heard the tail-end of your conversation with my assistant."

"Her name is Isabella Newton. She's a new faculty member this year. First grade."

"If you know Ms. Newton, and she's your friend as you stated, why would she tell you to come to her place of business? That doesn't seem like a very smart thing to do as a new employee trying to make a good impression. Why not tell you to meet her at her home? Or out in public somewhere?"

This isn't this lady's first rodeo. She's onto me.

"Yes ma'am. She's not necessarily expecting me. I was hoping to just…"

She cocks her head to the side, clicking a ball point pen incessantly and waiting for me to finish my thought.

"Just…?"

I swallow down the boulder in my throat knowing I need to come clean if I plan to get within five hundred feet of Bella today.

"Okay, look—"

"And I'm going to stop you right there, Major Masen," she states, holding her hand in the air. "I find it hard to believe that Ms. Newton would be interested in having you stop by. I'm sure she's busy in her room preparing for the first day of school next week."

My shoulders sag listening to her shoot me down.

"I can tell her you stopped by. Will you be here on Osan much longer?"

"Please ma'am," I whisper, stepping forward causing her to straighten up in her chair. "I just need to speak to her briefly." I pause, my eyes widening with a brilliant alternative. "You can even come to the classroom with me…I just…I promise I'm not a mental case. I just…please let me see her for two minutes to tell her I'm here looking for her."

"I don't think I'm comfortable with this. Clearly you seem more than a little eager, and I'm ultimately responsible for the safety of my staff. Aside from that, I have a day filled with meetings and I don't have the time to escort you around the building trying to see one of my teachers. I'm sorry."

My jaw tightens as she delivers the final blow. I nod and step back from her desk. Before I reach the door, I go in attempting a Hail Mary pass.

"Would I be able to come back tomorrow? Could you escort me then?" I put my hand on my chest, the month-long ache growing heavier by the second. "Please."

I watch her puff out her cheeks as she drums her red fingernails on her desk. Thinking I've lost my final chance with my pathetic plea, I turn back and walk out the door. I pass through the swinging half-door attached to the large desk and nod my thanks to the secretary who gives me a genuine "sorry-it-sucks-to-be-you" smile before I push on the heavy glass door.

"Major Masen!"

I turn on a dime and see the principal swiftly approaching me. She raises her arm, directing me to continue outside, but it seems she plans to come with me.

Marvelous. I'm being escorted from the premises.

We step out onto the sidewalk and she puts her hand on my arm to stop me from leaving.

"I'm going to level with you, sir. Ms. Newton isn't here." She crosses her arms over her chest and kicks a rock from beneath her feet.

"You mean she didn't come in today? Maybe she'll be in later?"

"No. I mean, she isn't a teacher at this school."

I hear her words, but they make no sense to me. I know Bella works here.

"Is there another school on base?"

She rolls her eyes, clearly bored of my ignorance. "No, sir. No other elementary schools on base. Ms. Newton was supposed to work here, but her position got cut."

My mouth falls open because, of all the scenarios I envisioned for today, finding out that Bella wasn't even an employee here was not on the list.

"So she got transferred back to the States? Was she sent back to North Carolina?" I mentally start calculating the time difference between here and the east coast and how long it might take till I can land in Raleigh.

"I'm not comfortable telling you where she is, sir. If Ms. Newton is as close to you as you seem to want to be to her, she would have, or will eventually let you know where she is. For security reasons, I can't tell you where she's been assigned. But she's there now. She arrived last week."

My head falls back in defeat. How am I ever going to find her now? A cell phone that's been turned off since last weekend. No contact information. Do I fly to New York and try to look up her parents? How insane would that be?

"I'm sorry I can't tell you any more than that, but I also didn't want to lie. I may not be a fool for love, but I certainly know a fool IN love when I see one."

I bob my head, understanding her position. "Thank you. I respect you wanting to keep Bella safe. I'm familiar with that same desire."

"Good luck, Major." She nods sharply and walks back into the school.

I trudge back to the car, remove my cover and throw it on the passenger seat. Gripping the steering wheel, I scream until my lungs run out of air and the burning tears threaten.

I feel like I've hit a dead end. I have to report to work in a week. I don't have time to gallivant all over the globe searching for her. The magnitude of this reality weighs on me like a fucking 7-ton.

And I feel helpless. The same helpless feeling I get standing on someone's doorstep delivering the news that their loved one is gone and never coming back.

Any hope that we'd have some fairy tale ending has evaporated. Game over.

^^TotS^^

"Major Masen?"

My head whips to the side and I focus on Colonel Briggs.

"Sir?"

My fellow officers chuckle knowing I got caught with my mind wandering.

"You didn't speak up, so I said you and Captain Simmons will head up the greenside's portion of the Fall Festival responsibilities and contributions. Clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. It's an annual event, well-attended from what I've been told. We've got two and a half weeks to get this function together. Your POC will be Amanda Clarkson from the Key Volunteers. Their first meeting is Wednesday at nineteen hundred in our conference room. You'll be there."

"Yes, sir."

"Anything else for the good of the order?" He looks around the table at the officers under his command. We all stay silent, knowing if we keep talking or asking questions, there's no chance of getting out of work in daylight.

"Dismissed."

Chairs scrape on the floor as I chastise myself for not staying focused during the staff meeting. I'm already up to my ears in work and now I've been voluntold to head up this festival. Fucking fantastic.

It's been a shitty couple of weeks ever since I lost my chances at trying to track down Bella. I've even begged Rosalie— who finally started talking to me— to do a global search of DODDS email addresses, but Bella's comes up with the Osan school's address. Wherever she is, they still haven't updated her email properly. Unless of course, that principal was lying to me, but by the end of our exchange, I got the feeling she was pulling for me to succeed.

Anyway, when Rosalie and I sent Bella a test email on the off-chance it would get forwarded to wherever she is now, it bounced back. Another fucking dead end.

I've Skyped with my family, Riley and Kalia several times since I arrived. There's not much to do in the evenings because I'm still waiting on my household shipment of goods; at least I have the basics to tide me over for now. The BOQ is fairly decent for a field grade officer. If I were still a captain, I'd end up sharing a bathroom and central living space. At least everything is private at this rank and the furnishings are in good condition.

Riley and Kalia will arrive a few weeks from now. Apparently they tracked down Kalia's dad in Fiji and took a trip to see him. I hope it's going well for Kalia's sake. Even though she's going to stay with Riley, and her dad never reached out to her since her and Nalani's mom died all those years ago, at least she'll know that she has a blood relative in the world who hopefully cares about her to some degree.

I can only hope that once they get to Okinawa, I can fill my time even more. All I do is think about Bella. I hope she's safe and I hope she's happy…well, maybe not too happy.

It guts me to fixate on what could've been, what I should have said or done, and how she hurt me by leaving so fast. I was so excited that I was going to find her in Korea and then had the wind knocked out of my sails by hitting road block after road block. I just move through my day as best I can. If I keep focusing on it, I'll become even more of a zombie than I already am.

I know it's not healthy. My therapist in Hawaii would remind me it's not healthy. The shrink I started seeing at the hospital on Camp Foster told me it isn't healthy. Right now, I need to keep working on me. But the demons intent on having me never commit and be vulnerable to love seem to vanish little by little, and for that I'm truly thankful.

I just can't help but wish that I'll get a second chance with Bella. This just can't be the end for us.

^^TotS^^

"Okay, let's just go around the room and introduce ourselves since we'll all be working together to make this festival a success for our Marine Corps families."

I tune out the roll call and continue to write down the things I know the greenside needs to provide: tents, tables, chairs, smokers and grills, vehicle support for the hayrides...

My head is buried in my papers, scribbling furiously while there's a knock on the door.

"Excuse me. I'm sorry for being late." My head snaps up and I get whiplash the instant I hear her undeniable voice.

It can't be.

Her face is down as she drops her keys in her bag before continuing to explain. "I still haven't quite figured out the buildings on... base…y—yet."

It can't be, but it is. It's Bella, my Clementine. And her captivating brown eyes just landed on mine for the first time in over six weeks.

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Military Terms:

DODDS- Department of Defense Dependents Schools; where the children and other dependents of the military members are eligible to attend school.

DODEA- Department of Defense Education Activity; a civilian agency of the United States, which oversees all oversea schools in military bases.

"tip of the spear"- Those stationed on Okinawa consider themselves to be "the tip of the spear," as they are frequently first to be mobilized when a conflict arises or there's humanitarian need around the globe.

Oki- Okinawa

"7-ton" - The Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) or 7-Ton, is an all-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle used by the USMC. It's the Marine Corps' prime mover for the M777 howitzer, fuel and water assets, troops and a wide variety of equipment. Its wide versatility and offroad capability make the MTVR an integral part of the Marine Corps logistical backbone.

"greenside"- Term referring to the Marines workload vs. what the civilians are responsible for. In this case, the greenside, aka Edward and his Marines will have to supply the festival with all the things he was jotting down on the list.

POC - point of contact

Key Volunteers - A family readiness program. The Key Volunteer Network consists of Marine spouses called Key Volunteers and they serve in both active duty and reserve units. KVs receive formal training either from classes on base or online and are appointed by the unit Commander. And yes, before you ask, I, Yummy, am a trained Key Volunteer.

"nineteen hundred" - 7:00 p.m.

"voluntold" - popular term used in the USMC. Basically, it's the opposite of volunteering and instead it refers to a task to which you have been assigned by your commanding officer.

BOQ - Bachelor Officer's Quarters - units on base where single Marine officers are eligible to live.

"Field-grade officers" - Majors, Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels.

Naval Hospital Okinawa - Naval hospital located on Camp Foster. Where all American military personnel and their families receive medical treatment when a hospital or specialist is required on Okinawa. There are small medical clinics on each base, but this facility would be considered the hub.

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A/N: Back to work, Spearward! New duty station, back to the military lingo!

Lots of love and thanks to LaMomo, Cejsmom, Born and Jules! Team Cabana rocks my world. The Major did his thang on this chapter as well. Love you, hubby!

If you'd like teasers or want to chit-chat, come on over to The Cabanaboy's Playground on Facebook. You can track me down using this same name. :)

My heartfelt thanks to all my readers, reviewers and lurkers alike. Thank you so much for being here.

xo, Jen