Jackie waited for Patrick to answer on the other end of Skype. She smiled when his face appeared on the screen, "Hi Mom. How are you?"
"I'm good," she answered, "Sophie's her usual self. How's your father?"
"He's doing pretty well," said Patrick.
Jackie wasn't going to stall any longer, "So, a couple weeks ago at the bus stop…"
"Yeah?" asked Patrick confusingly.
"I noticed you and Gloria Cruz you know…" Jackie stopped mid-sentence.
"You know she's getting a divorce Mom," said Patrick.
"Yes, I know that," said Jackie frustrated at the fact that her son didn't know what she was getting at, "The point is how did you two meet and why were you two kissing at the drop off?"
"Well I went to the Hump Bar to get a drink, she was the bartender, I asked her out, we went on a date, and then…"
"Don't think I don't know Pat," said Jackie, "I'm just saying the point is you're an officer. She's never been an officer's wife, and I love her but I don't really think she's necessarily cut out for that lifestyle."
"What do you mean?" asked Patrick crossing his arms.
"Come on Pat, you know what I've had to do with your father being an officer," said Jackie, "The parties, the formals, the speeches, the meetings with executives and politicians…"
"But she could learn," said Patrick, "I mean, you knew how to deal with that stuff because of Grandma and Grandpa."
"Yes, I know she could learn," shouted Jackie in frustration, "The point is, I don't want you seeing her again!" she shouted and signed off.
It had been a long month in Germany, but Charlie and Nicole had finally pulled up in front of their home in Charleston. Nicole was slowly getting better; she could at least remember who Charlie was on a day to day basis, thought she still couldn't remember their meeting and wedding. Charlie opened the front door and Nicole slowly followed behind her cautiously, "So this is our house?"
"Yep, this is where you and I live," said Charlie watching Nicole look around the house, she stopped at the coffee table and picked up the picture of the two of them on their wedding day.
Nicole smiled faintly at the picture and asked, "Is this our wedding?"
Charlie walked over and put her hands on Nicole's shoulders, "Yes. I know you don't remember it, but it was the best day of my life."
"Was it the best day of mine?" asked Nicole. She wanted to remember her own wedding for crying out loud, but she couldn't recall a single aspect of it."
"Well, I can't say for sure that it was the best day of your life, but I remember how happy you were. Seeing me in my wedding dress and me seeing you in your wedding dress, walking down the aisle, saying vows, exchanging rings, and kissing for the first time as married couple."
"Where did we get married?"
"We married in a nice banquet hall in Washington D.C.," answered Charlie. Then Charlie got an idea. She wasn't 100% sure it would work, but then again, it wouldn't hurt to try, "Come on, I want to take you somewhere."
"Take me where?" asked Nicole. She could barely remember this woman and didn't know a thing about where she lived.
"Let me just say it's someplace special to both you and me," said Charlie.
Kat finished putting on her earrings for the charity dinner. It was a big function where nearly every officer was going to be in attendance and many of them also had to speak on top of that. Kat put in her other earring and then just stared at it: the piece of jewelry that now resided on her left ring finger. She stared at it for a few moments thinking back to the proposal.
"Katherine Paige, will you marry me?"
It had taken her few moments to answer to be honest with you. She had been with Steve for five years before he had proposed. By then, she knew she was ready for marriage, even though she never thought she would get married at twenty years of age. She had only known Chris for two years. Was she actually ready to marry someone else? Would Steve approve? And goodness she hadn't gone into menopause yet and Jordan was almost ready to leave the house. What if there was some sort of slip up? What if she had to go through all of the treatments again? She had answered with the only answer she had felt was right at the time.
"Yes, totally."
But now she wasn't so sure that was the answer anymore. She put her ring on her dresser and headed out for the night.
Earlier that day…
Blake and Tonya stood at the bus stop. She wasn't ready for him to go, but she knew she had no say in the issue. Blake leaned down and kissed her tenderly, "I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too and I'll miss you," she said back barely holding back the tears in her eyes. Tonya suddenly felt movement within her and she smiled slightly and rubbed her abdomen lovingly, "I think someone else will miss you too."
Blake smiled and put his hand on his wife's abdomen. Tonya moved his hand to where the baby was kicking. He grinned from ear to ear and knelt down in front of Tonya, "Well Daddy's going to miss you too, Princess."
Tonya couldn't help but smile at her husband. Though the pregnancy hadn't been planned, he had been this way from the moment she had told him about the pregnancy.
They had both just finished eating dinner, though Tonya could barely stomach much of anything at that point. Blake had noticed and asked, "Is everything alright babe?"
"Yeah why do you ask?" she asked.
"You just didn't eat much," he responded.
"A little queasy, that's all," she said clearing the dishes and then turned back to face him, "So you said you wanted to be a pediatrician right?"
"Yeah," Blake answered confusingly, "But the Army needed E.R. doctors that's why I switched."
"Well could you imagine working with babies? "asked Tonya.
"I guess," Blake shrugged, "I never really thought about babies."
"Well if you found out we were having a baby, would you be excited?" asked Tonya.
"Depends on the circumstance I guess," he responded. Tonya stood there grinning from ear to ear, "No way!"
"Well I guess when the baby gets here we'll see," she laughed and kissed him.
"You're pregnant?" asked Blake. Tonya nodded happily, "You're pregnant right now!?"
"Surprise," she said excitedly and Blake hugged her, "I take it you're excited."
"You have no idea," he smiled happily and wiped the tears from his eyes.
And now here they were, eight weeks later. Baby girl Hanson had made her presence known. He was supposed to be back before the birth, but there was always that small possibility he would never make it home. The officer called everyone to order. He kissed both of his girls goodbye and said, "I love you Tonya. I love you Julia." He took the envelope from Tonya and boarded the bus. He opened it and found a picture of the latest ultrasound. He smiled at it lovingly wiping the tear that had escaped from his eye.
Michael and Claudia Joy took their places at the main table in the front. Jackie had already arrived and Denise was on her way. There were two more spots so everyone assumed that Chris and Kat would be seated there to represent the Air Force, "Nice to see you Jackie, you look beautiful tonight."
"Same to you," said Jackie, "General," she nodded towards Michael.
"Evening Jackie," he said.
"So how are Patrick and General Clarke?" asked Claudia Joy.
"Well, Kevin's doing okay, Pat's not too happy with me right now," Jackie admitted and sipped her wine. Denise took a seat along with Chris and Kat. The group talked until Jackie asked Kat, "Oh by the way I don't think I've ever asked, can I see your ring?"
"Um," Kat stuttered suddenly hiding her hand, the ring nowhere in sight.
"Where's your ring babe?" asked Chris.
"I just forgot to put it on," Kat lied, hoping to satisfy her fiancée and everyone else. At the end of the evening, everyone made their ways back home. Chris dropped Kat off at her house and they both went inside and Chris started kissing her, "What do you say Colonel. Want to have a little fun tonight?"
Kat pushed him away and said, "Chris, I don't think we should get married."