Excerpt for Quinn
“Well, we’re no longer SEALs,” said River standing on the beach with his brothers.
“We’ll always be SEALs,” said Finnegan. “We’re just not active duty. Did anyone else think the reasons he gave were all bullshit? I mean, how do you say you have to leave the teams but you’ll get all your benefits, and we don’t get suspicious about it.”
“I agree,” said Quinn, “but I’m sure River doesn’t give a shit. He’s got a new life.”
“That’s not fair,” said River. “I do give a shit. Yes, I have a new life but she was content to let me be a SEAL and she’d move here. I wanted what was best for all of us, not just me.”
“I’m sorry,” said Quinn. “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. It just all feels wrong. I guess we know how all the others before us felt when this bullshit happened to them.”
“It makes you wonder why we even bother,” said Finnegan. His brothers looked at him, confused. “I mean, why serve our country when all they do is get pissed off when we actually go above and beyond.”
“I’m not sure we’re going to solve that issue,” said River. He looked at his watch and then at his brothers. “Priscilla’s gonna be worried we’re not back yet. I’m sure she’s anxious to hear what happened.”
“I’d like to hear what happened,” frowned Quinn. “I went numb after, ‘thank you gentlemen for your service’.”
“It will all work out,” said River slapping his brother’s back. He and Finnegan began walking toward the house then turned, waiting for Quinn. “Quinn?”
“Hold on,” he said staring off down the beach. “Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?”
Before they could answer, his shoes were off and he was running in full dress uniform, sans shoes, down the beach.
“Well, shit,” muttered Finnegan. “So much for retirement.”