As Robert settled in his seat on the plane that would take him on the trans-Atlantic flight, his mind wandered back to the last time he was home. While most of the memories of that time were unpleasant, there were shining moments as well, such as the first time he had met his nephew. Lee had been born shortly after he'd been assigned to Berlin. Yet, in spite of that fact, Lee had formed a close bond with his uncle. You could be sure where you would find the one; the other would not be far away.
Robert recalled the last time he had seen Lee; he was barely out of the toddler stage. Lee loved his "Uncle Bobber" as his name came out of the young child. He remembered with a smile, lifting him up and throwing him up in the air and catching him, and the squeals of delight that came from Lee. The two were nearly inseparable regardless of the tragic circumstances that brought them together. Robert nicknamed him Skip because Lee always appeared to be scampering after him. He had to chuckle looking back at the only time he offered to watch Lee so Matt and Jennie could have a night out. They looked at him skeptically, and with sidelong glances at each other, happily accepted his offer. The look of merriment in their eyes was lost on Robert when he said, "I deal with fifty to a hundred men each day. How hard could it be to look after one small boy?"
Before long, Robert realized he was in over his head. He was no match for the exuberance and boundless energy of a near three-year old; especially one who had wormed a bowl of ice cream out of him. It wasn't long before he had to concede defeat and call in reinforcements. Doris Johnson and her husband, Nathan, were long-time friends of the family who had three boys of their own; one of whom was close in age to Lee. When she arrived, Robert had been trying to coax Lee to go to bed. There were toys everywhere and dishes in the sink. In the no-nonsense manner of a mother, she had Lee settled in for the night following a warm bath and a bedtime story. She entered the kitchen just as Robert was washing the last dish in the sink. She quietly walked over, picked up a towel and began to dry and put away the dishes.
Sensing something was bothering him, Doris began speaking. "Nathan said he'd stay with Helen until Matt and Jennie get home and you can relieve him. Would you care for some coffee, and you can tell me what's on your mind?"
Robert, usually a reserved man, nodded as he sat at the kitchen table. Doris poured coffee for each of them and sat opposite of him. She waited patiently as he gathered his thoughts.
"I guess I'm feeling rather guilty. I'll only be here for a few more days and then I have to return to the base, leaving Matt and Jennie to deal with the aftermath and Mom's health. They have so much to handle along with caring for Skip. I feel like I'm shirking my duty here. That's part of the reason I wanted them to have a night out." He chuckled wryly, thinking of how quickly Lee had found the way to his heart. "Skip is quite a handful in and of himself."
Doris smiled. "That he is." She reached out and laid her hand on his arm. "But Matt and Jennie would not feel as if you were shirking you duty as you put it. You have a lot of responsibility; first, to your country, and then, to your men. And in an indirect way you are fulfilling your duty to your family by ensuring their safety. There may come a day when you may find you will be called upon to take a more direct, active role in that responsibility. Until then, be content in the knowledge that they are proud of you and want you to fulfill the destiny life has handed you."
Thinking on that conversation two summers ago, Robert wouldn't have believed that that day would come so soon.