Claudia Joy arrived at the Commissary to do her weekly grocery shopping. She went through the usual fruits, vegetable, and pharmacy sections to pick up prescriptions. She decided to also go through the snack aisle since Emmalin would be home in another week and the girl lived on Doritos she swore. To think Emmalin was a vegetarian. She turned the corner to find Kat in the same aisle. Claudia Joy figured it was best to be polite, "Good afternoon Colonel Young."
Kat turned her head and nodded, "Afternoon Mrs. Holden." The two women stayed silent for a few minutes longer before Kat spoke, "Mrs. Holden?"
Claudia Joy turned her head and asked, "Yes?"
"I, um, I wanted to apologize to you and General Holden. For you know getting off on the wrong foot," said Kat.
"There's no need to apologize," said Claudia Joy.
"Yes, there is," said Kat, "Listen, I'm sure you are well aware that the military is a male-dominated field," she began.
"Of course," said Claudia Joy.
"Well, I figure I told your husband, I should tell you. I was married, I have a daughter, but my husband passed in the plane wrecks at the Pentagon," she poured out with a few tears in her eyes.
Claudia Joy stood confusingly for a few moments until realizing Kat meant the September 11, 2001 attacks, "I am so sorry Colonel. I had no idea."
"No one does," said Kat, "Other than my parents, and daughter, and boyfriend, and now you both."
Claudia Joy said, "Well if you ever need to talk, I know how it feels to lose someone who means the world to you."
Kat scowled and said, "General Holden is still alive."
Claudia Joy nodded sadly and said, "Yeah, but um, our daughter Amanda passed away in 2008. She was eighteen."
Kat felt so much remorse. It was one thing to lose your husband, but she could never imagine losing Jordan. After all Steve and she had been through to conceive her, "I am so sorry Mrs. Holden. I could never imagine what it would feel like to lose Jordan."
"Thank you," said Claudia Joy walking away and turning back around, "Colonel would you like to come over to dinner sometime. You could bring your boyfriend and your daughter. My daughter will be back from college in another week so Jordan would at least have someone to talk to."
"Would you need to clear that with General Holden?" asked Kat, "We aren't exactly the best of friends."
"I'll clear it with him. But I think it might be best to start fresh," said Claudia Joy.
"Okay. I'll give Chris and Jordan a head's up," said Kat.
Patrick knocked on the door to the place that Gloria was staying. Another younger woman answered the door, "Um hello. Is Gloria Cruz here?"
"Yes, she's here," said Holly, "I'm Holly Truman by the way."
"2nd Lieutenant Patrick Clarke," he said.
Gloria came down the stairs and noticed Patrick in the living room, "Hey Pat, what's up?"
"We need to talk," said Patrick escorting her outside.
Gloria followed him outside and asked, "What's going on?"
Patrick said, "I haven't told anyone this, not even my Mom, but I deploy tomorrow."
"What?" asked Gloria, "When did you find out?"
"This morning," said Patrick, "I'm sorry, but I wanted you to know. Now, I have to go tell my Mom."
"What time?" asked Gloria.
"Noon," said Patrick calling from his car.
Patrick pulled up in front of the Clarke house where Jackie was on the front porch. He parked and walked up the stairs, "Mom?"
Jackie turned and smiled at her son, "Hi sweetheart? How was your day?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," said Patrick. Jackie's smile disappeared. She knew from both her father and from Kevin how this conversation went.
"Mom, I deploy tomorrow," said Patrick.
Jackie began to cry, though she had known what Patrick was going to say, "Aw, Patrick," she said embracing as he hugged her back. Patrick kissed the top of her head as Jackie cried into his chest. She couldn't believe her little boy was all grown up.
Joan was doing paperwork in her office when the phone rang, "Colonel Burton," she answered and listened to the voice on the other end, "what do you mean he's at the principal's office? Okay I'm on my way." Joan arrived at the elementary school and walked into the principal's office, where Maggie and Latasha were standing with Deuce and Tanner, "What happened?" asked Joan.
"Well these three boys were caught setting up smoke bombs on school property," informed the principal, "As a result, they will all have to serve detention for the next week." The principal talked a few more minutes before he said, "You ladies are free to go."
Maggie, Latasha, and Joan exited the school before Joan turned to the two women and said, "What the hell did Deuce and Tanner get my son into?"
"With all due respect Colonel, we had no idea about this," said Latasha.
"Yes, we are very sorry," said Maggie.
"Well I don't know how you've raised your kids, but I have raised David to think for himself and have the utmost respect. If I hear of another incident involving your two kids, we will be having another meeting. And I won't be as nice," said Joan and walked away from the other two wives.
Patrick had already kissed Jackie goodbye and had also called bidding his farewell to Sophie. He walked outwards the bus and noticed Gloria near the busses, "Hey you," he smiled kissing her, "I was hoping you'd show up."
"I just wanted to tell you to be safe," she smiled kissing him some more.
"Gloria?" asked a voice. A voice all too familiar to the both of them. Jackie walked over to the pair stunned.
"Mom, you okay?" asked Patrick.
"You. Two. Are…" stuttered Jackie.
"I take it you two know each other?" asked Patrick.
"Yeah we've met," said Gloria.
The soldiers were called to order and Patrick said, "Well I have to get going. I'll leave you two ladies alone. I love you Mom."
"Love you too," she said watching Patrick run from them leaving both Jackie and Gloria awkwardly standing there; Jackie knew what Patrick and Gloria had "done" together, Gloria now knowing why Patrick's mother was overprotective.
One Week Later…
Emmalin Holden walked into the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Tonya and her husband. Though Jeremy had passed about a year and a half ago, she had still talked to Tonya and they had become good friends, despite meeting under the worst of circumstances. She was at least happy that Tonya had found love again. Tonya was sitting at a table with another guy, which she assumed was the husband. She bounced over to the couple and said, "Nice to finally see you again Tonya."
"Same," said Tonya happily embracing her before Emmalin sat down, "Emmalin, this is my husband Blake, Blake this is Emmalin."
"So you're the Holden girl?" asked Blake shaking her hand.
"Yes, sir," said Emmalin, "Congrats on the marriage and the baby."
"Thank you," said Tonya.
"You nervous?" asked Emmalin sympathetically.
"Terrified," Tonya admitted honestly, "I mean we're only in our twenties and we're already facing parenthood."
"Aw come on, I'm sure you'll be great parents," said Emmalin, "How far along are you?"
"Fourteen weeks," said Tonya happily pulling out the sonogram. Emmalin gazed at it, amazed that the baby was already looking like a baby.
"So what do you think it is?" she asked.
"Boy," said Blake, just as Tonya said, "Girl." The couple looked at each other, "What makes you think it's a boy?" asked Tonya.
Blake shrugged and said, "Father's intuition."
Tonya shook her head and said, "Well based on my morning sickness and sweet cravings, I'm almost certain it's a girl inhabiting me."
"Oh don't tell me you believe that stuff?" joked Blake.
Emmalin chuckled lightly. She had never believed the old wives tales either, "Will you find in a few weeks?"
"No my dear husband here wants to wait until the birth," said Tonya.
"Well then you still have while to go then," said Emmalin, "How have you been feeling."
"Better now that I'm out of the first trimester," she said and stood up and smoothed out her blouse, "And here, since everyone wants to see it."
Emmalin smiled and shook her head, "I know how fussy people can get but since you're standing may I?" Tonya nodded and Emmalin laid her hand on Tonya's swell before Tonya sat back down.
"So when are you due?" asked Emmalin.
"End of December approximately," said Tonya a little nervously.
"Did I…?" asked Emmalin.
"She's just nervous about the birth that's all," said Blake.
Emmalin nodded understandingly. She'd be nervous if she had the pain of childbirth lingering in her future as well. Emmalin grabbed Tonya's hand and said, "You'll be fine."
"Thank you," said Tonya gratefully, "But can we talk only when it gets closer."
"No problem," said Emmalin, "And it was great seeing you but my parents actually have guests coming over and I have to be there. It was nice seeing you again Tonya, it was meeting you Blake."
"Nice meeting you too," he said.
"Good luck to you both," Emmalin said and left the couple.
Chris knocked on the door to the Holden house later that evening with Kat and Jordan in tow. Claudia Joy opened the door and smiled, "Good evening Colonel Young."
"Good evening Mrs. Holden," she responded.
"Please come in," said Claudia Joy, "Make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be ready shortly."
Michael slowly descended the stairs trying to put on his best impression. Though she seemed to be getting better, he still wasn't 100% sure about Kat, "Good evening Colonel Young."
"Sir," said Kat nodding to her superior, "General and Mrs. Holden, my boyfriend, Colonel Christopher Richardson, and my daughter, Jordan Young."
"Nice to meet you Jordan, Colonel Richardson," said Claudia Joy.
"Colonel Richardson, I had no idea, you two were, you know?" said Michael.
"An item?" asked Chris.
"Yeah," Michael chuckled lightly.
"We don't talk much about our lives together at work but we've been dating for two years," said Chris.
Emmalin joined the group dressed to the nines and Claudia Joy asked, "Hey sweetheart how was lunch with Tonya and Blake."
"It was good," said Emmalin.
"Honey, I'd like you to meet Colonel Richardson, Colonel Young, and Jordan," said Claudia Joy pointing to Chris, Kat, and Jordan respectively, "Emmalin is a sophomore at Woodsen University."
"What a coincidence, Jordan is also a sophomore," said Kat.
"I thought you were older than that?" asked Michael.
"No sir," said Jordan.
"Well, why don't we all sit down because dinner is basically ready," said Claudia Joy. The group of six sat down for dinner and began their conversations, "So how did you two meet?"
Chris put his fork down and said, "Well I grew up in Texas and went to the Air force Academy in Colorado. About three years ago I was stationed to the Air Force base here in Charleston and there she was, the cute female Wing Commander, acting like she wasn't interested in me when I know she was."
"I really wasn't at first," said Kat, "Only after he kept begging me to go on a date with him did I finally do a pity date. But after a few more times hanging out together, he kind of grew on me," she nudged him jokingly, "How about you two?"
"Well I was a senior at Harvard and Michael and a bunch of other West Pointers were there to give the political science majors a lecture on military related law," said Claudia Joy.
"Long story short, she paid attention to me and not the lecture," said Michael.
"So how about you Jordan, what are your plans upon graduation?" asked Emmalin.
Jordan looked at her mother. They hadn't really discussed much since their initial encounter in the library. Kat nodded and Jordan said, "I'm going Army when I graduate. How about you?"
"Sounds exciting! I was thinking of doing social work. Or maybe something in the arts," admitted Emmalin. When the evening was over, Chris, Kat, and Jordan gathered their belongings as the Holdens escorted them outside. Emmalin and Jordan bid their farewells and left the adults alone.
"Well it was a rather pleasant evening don't y'all think?" asked Chris. Kat shook her head at him. His southern twang was gone for the most part other than y'all.
"Yes it was nice to spend it with you all," said Michael, "I will see you both at work tomorrow and pretend like…"
"We don't do sleep together," smirked Chris.
Kat smacked his arm, "Christopher!" she said embarrassed.
"That's okay Colonel we'll pretend we didn't hear him," chuckled Claudia Joy.
"Have a good evening General, Mrs. Holden," said Kat and walked away with Chris hand in hand.
Claudia Joy looked at her husband, "I told you they weren't that bad."
Michael kissed his wife and said, "Yes, as always, you were right."