Chapter Three
"That was awesome," Rick murmured.
Drew chuckled.
Six months going without was it's own hell. Sure he could have "got some" over there to relieve the stress; it happened enough with married soldiers, male and female. While Drew tried not to judge, he was one of those who wouldn't and couldn't do that the man waiting for him at home. Plus when it was all said and done, sex didn't relieve the level of stress over there, Drew stroked Rick's head, the other man lay lazily on his bare chest.
"I hope I didn't hurt ya," Drew said.
Rick laughed. "I could have said the same to you last night. Face it. We have six months to make up for."
"Too bad our cherubs don't nap anymore."
"Those were the days."
IHOP with his children.
This was the first time Davey and Shaye were out with Drew without Rick. They were enjoying just the three of them. The kids moved on from sippy cups to cups with straws in the last months and were just a little bit messy when it came to eating but who cared? The three happily chatted while they ate French toast and bacon. They were going to the park after to feed ducks and then to the dollar store to get new sand buckets and shovels and sunglasses for their Galveston beach trip.
Rick was at the VA hospital this morning. Sometimes when the staff had a new amputee who was having an especially hard time adjusting to and accepting their injury they called Rick to have a chat with them. For most it helped to talk to a person who had been where they were and who was still able to live a full life. Even if active military service wasn't a part of it. Rick didn't make an immediate impact with the wounded soldiers, at times the conversation didn't help at all but for the times he could help anyone at all he wanted to.
At the park Drew happened to notice a group of teenage girls across the way. He, Davey and Shaye were laughing and feeding the family of ducks that appeared at ease with humans when Drew heard the voice of a teenage girl call out to him. He looked up and saw Riley Jennings running toward him. He returned the girl's tight hug when she reached him.
"Hey Riley!" He said. "I missed you!"
"I missed you, too. A lot. Mom said you were back. I'm glad to see you."
Riley had a father but he didn't like her athletic interests or her bond with her mother, his ex-wife. Drew hadn't met the man. He evidently loathed Syd and anything his daughter did to remind him of her. Since Syd Jennings left the army Riley was living with her mom full-time and was much happier. Riley had become extremely close to Drew and his family. The men started often attending Riley's sporting events to cheer her on and still tried to do so even though they now had their own children.
"Hi Wiley!" Davey said.
"Hey buddy. Hi Shaye," Riley said. "I bet you're glad to see daddy."
"Yeah!" The two said in unison.
Riley talked to the family for a few more minutes before going back to her group of friends but not before she said Drew should call her mom and the family should come to her house for dinner soon. The families often went back and forth doing this. Syd even had blocks, puzzles and crayons for the Alister-Lincoln kids so they wouldn't get bored.
In the week since his husband had returned from Afghanistan Rick hadn't got that much attention from his children. They stayed mostly by Drew's side and didn't want him out of their sights. Not that Rick could blame him; he didn't want Drew out of his sight either. Having got the double amount of hugs, kisses and 'I love you daddy"s in his husband's absence he knew it wasn't personal. Soon enough he would be getting his share of love again. The kids were excited to spend the morning out with Drew. The three were still laughing when they got home.
