Story 30
All In A Day’s Work…
“So am I ever going to meet Roger? I mean, I can’t believe you’ve just agreed to this off the cuff without even discussing it with me first! What were you thinking? Hell, what am I even saying, you never think do you? You were always the same growing up.
You always just went right on ahead with whatever suited you, without even thinking of the consequences, didn’t you? You don’t even care about your poor mother, do you Kaitlyn?”
Kaitlyn’s mother sat at the kitchen table, perched like a lion ready to pounce on its prey from the long grass as her daughter walked relentlessly around the kitchen, packing the last of her things into a soft, black leather bag.
She tugged at her light brown hair with both hands, almost ripping it from the scalp before sealing it in a ponytail at the back and holding it in place with an emerald green hairband.
She removed her cell phone from the pocket of her light brown jacket and frantically began beating some digits into it, paying no attention to her distressed mother.
“You’re not even listening to me are you? You don’t even care.”
Kaitlyn continued to slam her thumb into the screen of her phone before she stared intently at the screen, her brow furrowed with a mixture of eagerness to send her message and determination to block out her mother’s constant ramblings of discontent.
“No, I don’t care mother! For the first time in my life I’m actually happy now. I’ve found someone who wants to love me for who I am. Someone who will look after me and cherish me and not order me around like a slave like you do here every day. For once in your life,
can you not just let me be happy?”
Her mother scowled at this belated response, seething with anger and resentment.
“I’ve given you everything a daughter could ask for here! A roof over your head, food on your table, a school to attend. What more could I have done? And what’s more, I did it all by myself Kaitlyn. You know it hasn’t been easy for me either! Don’t you walk away from me now, girl!”
In the middle of this all too familiar rant, Kaitlyn walked calmly from the kitchen and proceeded down the solid timber hall towards her bedroom.
She pushed the cream door through, listening to its familiar creak for what she prayed would be the last time.
She left her bag to one side as she mulled over her appearance, which she had changed every hour since she rose that morning.
She had bought her black dress especially for this day.
It was short, covering her breasts completely with a double strap around her shoulders, it hugged her body tightly, stopping half way to her knees.
She tugged it down at the bottom, her mind split between wanting to impress her husband to be, and not wanted to create the wrong impression of herself.
She wanted to maintain that touch of class which she had created through her messages.
“You’ve never even really met this man for crying out loud!”
Her mother bellowed her way up the hall again. Her unnecessary heels digging into the timber flooring, ripping away at its unmaintained surface like nails screeching against a blackboard.
“How can you agree to marry a man you’ve never even met before, can you answer me that?”
“He’s not just any man, he’s the most complete man I’ve ever met. He’s charming, sensitive and he cares about me. He takes an interest in me and what I do.”
“But why can’t you just find a man like that around here? What stopped you from going on dates with boys from school? You’ve never brought a man back to this house. Heck, have you ever even had a conversation with a man before?”
Kaitlyn’s eyes flashed with anger as they pierced a hole in her mother’s brain.
“Just drop it, okay mam? This is the guy for me. I’m sure of it. He’s just finished his basic military training and he’s finally getting a chance to return to his base camp. It’s the only chance I have to get to see him and to really get to know him for the next few months.
Why can’t you just be happy for me? I mean if it doesn’t work out it doesn’t work out but like you said yourself, it’s about time I tried to find a man now. I’ve just been waiting for the right one.”
Kaitlyn heard the thud of her mother’s heels as she stormed back down the hallway and out the back door.
“Fine! Leave me! Leave me like everyone else in my life has.”
She had heard this a million times. She removed her hair pieces and once again tightened it back until she was completely satisfied. She altered her netted leggings around until she was happy with everything about herself.
Right on cue, the doorbell rang. She jumped with nerves, even though she was expecting it.
She took a deep breath in and exhaled smoothly before stooping to snatch both handles of her bag in her right hand and walking confidently down the hall.
She opened the door with a smile to begin the next chapter of her life.
***
“Hello there. My name is Private Jackson. You must be Kaitlyn? I’m here to accompany you to base.”
Private Jackson held out a strong hand, warmly and respectfully embracing Kaitlyn’s light grip.
The Private was tall with short dark hair and warm brown eyes.
He wore the traditional khaki pants and a tight white tee shirt, barely holding his ripped body.
Kaitlyn allowed her eyes to wander up and down the handsome man’s body, taking him in from head to toe.
His teeth glistened as he continued his gentle introduction.
“My car is parked just outside here. Once we get to the airport and board, it shouldn’t be more than about an hour or so of a flight until we get there. The guys will be waiting to bring us the rest of the way then. Private Williams has told us a lot about you.”
Kaitlyn had yet to speak as they made their way down the cracked pavement which connected the sidewalk with Kaitlyn’s porch.
Private Jackson wasted no time in reaching for her bag, his bicep bulging as he hooked it under one arm and strode powerfully towards his car.
He had popped the trunk and loaded everything, still having time to open the door of the passenger side of the vehicle, granting Kaitlyn access.
She smiled and gently managed to utter her first words since she had opened the door for Private Jackson.
“Thank you.” She whispered as she carefully placed a delicate hand on the back of her black dress before assuming her position, sinking into the soft leather interior of the almost brand new vehicle.
***
Gradually, Kaitlyn began to come out of her shell as she started to feel comfortable in the presence of a man for the first time in her life. Private Jackson just had that way about him. She had never known a man to treat anyone with such dignity and respect before.
“I’ll have a packet of peanuts please and whatever the lady is having too.”
The flight was just as Jackson described it.
Almost an hour in duration and not much fuss about it.
Kaitlyn felt herself blushing almost the entire way over as Jackson continued to heap praise on her.
He complimented her appearance and how kind and easy to talk to she was.
She wondered was he being sincere as she had hardly uttered a word since they had met that afternoon.
He also talked in great detail about the man that Kaitlyn would soon meet for the first time, Private Roger Williams.
Jackson could not speak highly enough about him.
Although Kaitlyn began to think that this man did not have a bad word to say about anyone or anything.
She presumed that if she slapped him straight across the face he would say it was the greatest slap he had ever received.
She began to take everything that the Private said with a pinch of salt, praying in her subconscious that it would all be true.
Williams was described as one of the most mature young Privates that Jackson had ever met. He was thorough in his actions and would not rest until he had achieved what he had set out to accomplish.
“You are a very lucky woman Ma’am. But that is not to say that he is not a lucky man. I mean, sure, I don’t know you very well yet but you sure do seem awful nice. I just hope everything works out fine for you two and that you’ll be able to live happy lives with each other for many years to come.”
Kaitlyn blushed again as Jackson’s enthusiasm wafted around the aircraft.
“Can I have your attention please? We are beginning our descent. We are due to land in approximately ten minutes, could I ask all passengers to please return to your seats, fasten your belts and return your seats to the upright position. Thank you very much.”
The captain’s voice cut off as Jackson and Kaitlyn carried out these instructions before sitting back and remaining silent for the last few minutes of their journey.
It was the first period of prolonged silence that they had shared.
They sat, comfortable in each other’s company, as the tyres of the plane screeched against the smooth surface of the runway before finally slowing to a complete stop as the seatbelt light flashed off above their heads.
***
“Ah Kaitlyn. Nice to meet you. You’re very welcome. My name is Sergeant Smith and this here is my colleague, Sergeant Jones.”
The young woman reached out a tentative hand and lightly shook the firm grips of both Sergeants.
Her anxiety levels rose as she stared at the multitude of badges that adorned the chests of both men.
Smith and Jones stood as tall as they could, chests out and shoulders back as they revelled in their own importance.
Like Jackson, they both had short dark hair but they differed greatly in their physiques.
While Jackson was toned and well built, both Sergeants were far heavier, carrying some weight that suggested they had advanced from the ranks of heavily trained Privates to Sergeants, more accustomed to administration work behind desks.
Although they were heavier, their physiques still suggested that they had been in tremendous shape at some point in their lives.
Their bodies were strong and intimidating.
They both turned, stony faced to Jackson who stood straight and tall before them saluting both men.