Epilogue
Cliff was nervous as he came home. Just after Valentine’s Day, Dade had asked if he wanted to give up his on post apartment and move in with him.
Cliff had jumped at the chance. So, for the last eight months, they had lived together happily.
Their lives had melded together fairly seamlessly, and Cliff had never been happier.
Things with Dade’s parents had improved, and he and his father got along better and better, which was good for Dade and all of them.
But now, as Cliff pulled into the parking spot just in front, he turned off the engine and sat in the dark car, hands on the wheel.
Then he got out with a sigh and closed the door, the wind blowing the dry leaves around his feet.
“You got him just in time. The kids will be coming in fifteen minutes,” Dade said as he stepped out of the house dressed as a dog.
He was adorable in the costume. “I have some soup on the stove for you, and your costume is laid out on the bed.” He waited at the door, and Cliff kissed him before going inside.
He closed the door. “Okay, what’s going on? ”
Cliff sent down his bag and went to the bedroom, with Dade behind him. “There are some things I need to tell you, but I don’t know if now is exactly the time.” He stripped out of his work clothes and looked down at the pirate costume Dade had made for him, complete with poofy shirt and a huge hat.
“You don’t get to say that and then not tell me. What’s going on? Just tell me.” He could hear the frustration in Dade’s voice, and he hated it.
“I just thought we would have more time,” Cliff said softly.
Dade opened his mouth and closed it again, sitting on the side of the bed before removing his costume headpiece. “You’re being transferred.”
“No. But… there’s an opportunity. I’ve been approached, unofficially, about an opening that I’m told needs my skills.
Not just leadership, but my systems knowledge.
Apparently, there is a unit like the one here, but it isn’t working, and it’s causing trouble.
Since I fixed a number of these same issues here, they are feeling me out to learn if I’d be willing to leave my assignment early. ” He swallowed hard.
Dade took his hand. “And you want to do this—I can tell by the light in your eyes. What are they offering you? Or at least what’s the approach?”
“Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. I explained that I have a partner and that he’s a school teacher. They were thrilled. There is an opening for you, if you want it, starting in January. The posting would be in Germany.”
“And I’d be teaching on post?” Dade asked.
“Yes. They need primary school teachers, and they would be happy to have you.” He began undressing. “This isn’t official, so it wouldn’t affect my career otherwise. It’s one of those unofficial feel-outs.” He sighed. “What I’m saying is that I don’t have to take it.”
Dade’s mouth hung open and then he smiled. “I’ve been afraid of this moment for a year. Not that I didn’t know it was coming or what I was going to do. But how I was going to feel about it. I was always angry and sad as a kid.”
“Look, I don’t have to take it, and I can stay here.”
“For another year, and then we’ll be right back in the same position.
” Dade patted his hand. “Cliff, I’m not angry, and I don’t think I’m sad.
And yes, you’ll accept the position, and the promotion if they offer it to you, and when they offer me the position at the post school, I’ll accept that too.
” He smiled brightly. “You and I will move to Germany, and it will be an adventure. We’ll make the most of it together.
You and I will take advantage of the leave you have to see Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and everywhere else.
” His smile grew brighter, and Cliff kissed him hard.
“Is that what you really want to do?” Cliff asked.
“I’d be happier if I could see out the school year, but yes.
I’ll need to know as soon as possible, and I can’t leave before the holidays.
That isn’t going to be fair to the school.
But yes, I think it’s time we embarked on our own journey, and we’ll do it together.
” He hugged Cliff as the doorbell rang. “I can’t believe we’re doing this on Halloween.
” He jumped up and pulled on his headpiece.
“We’ll talk more later.” Then he hurried out to join the other tenants on the lawn, and as Cliff began to dress, happy cries of, “Trick or treat!” reached his ears.
They sat outside with their jack-o-lantern and a bowl of candy as the kids approached. Cliff spent the entire time talking like a pirate, much to the kids’ delight. Finally, the stream of trick-or-treaters dropped off, and they sat quietly. “I love seeing the kids.”
“Did you trick-or-treat when you were a kid?” Cliff asked.
“Yeah. Usually on post. If we lived off post, then Mom would take us there. It wasn’t as big a thing for me, I guess.”
“What was your favorite thing to get?”
Dade grinned. “Twizzlers and gummy bears,” he said brightly. “That’s why I bought other stuff. I’d eat them all before the kids had a chance if I got those. How about you?”
“I love Butterfingers,” Cliff answered, and reached into his pocket. “There’s something else I always wanted for Halloween.” He pulled out a small box and opened it.
“A husband?” Dade asked, looking at the ring.
“Yeah. I was planning to do this at a more opportune moment, and one when I wasn’t dressed as a pirate, but this is memorable. So, trick-or-treat, will you marry me?”
Dade stood and pulled Cliff to his feet.
Then he kissed him hard in the light from porch lamp.
“Yes. I’ll marry you.” Cliff slipped the simple ring on Dade’s finger and kissed him again before Dade pulled him inside with the promise of the treat of a lifetime.
Cliff figured he already had that, but who was he to argue?