Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Garrett
This Sunday dinner has been the best one yet.
Lindsey is sitting beside me with her fingers entwined in mine.
Tag doesn’t seem nearly as interested in my girl anymore, which is a damn good thing. And everyone is buzzing with excitement.
“So, Olivia wants to take The Mason Center and its mission nationwide,” Lindsey’s face lights up as fills everyone else in about her virtual meeting with Olivia and Jameson. “There are not very many places like The Mason Center available to children and adults. Plus they have this amazing program for Veterans and active duty service members to help them reintegrate into society and deal with all of the trauma that comes with serving in the military.”
Kevin shifts in his seat and looks at his wife, Fallon. “That sounds great, Linds. I’m…I’d love to know more about it.”
“They put together a very impressive portfolio to pitch their ideas. I have it in my office. I can show you later,” Lindsey smiles. “Maybe we can get some of your Army buddies out to the ranch after all,” she teases lightheartedly.
Her brother clears his throat. “Uhm. About that…”
Fallon squeezes his hand and nods, fighting back tears. I’ve seen that look a time or two over the years. I know what’s next.
“I’ve got orders. I…uh…I leave in two weeks.”
Harriett and Lindsey both gasp.
“But…but…I just got home,” Lindsey’s bottom lip quivers, a trait that she apparently hasn’t outgrown.
“I know,” Kevin sighs. “Not much I can do about it though baby sister. Duty calls.”
“I…I thought you were looking at going into the Reserves?” she asks.
That’s news to me, not that Kevin tells me all the details of his life. Last I knew, he was still pretty happy with active duty and was going to ride it out until his retirement.
“I did look into it. Even if I went into the Reserves, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t get called up. You know how this goes, Lindsey.”
“Oh, damnit,” Lindsey swipes at the tears rolling down her face now. “I was hoping you’d be here to help me with putting together this whole therapy center thing. I could really use my big brother’s help with this transition.”
“And I wish I could be here. But, you’ve got Fallon and you know everyone else here supports the hell out of you Linds. You’ll make it happen and I’ll be back to see it all launch,” Kevin promises.
“Ugh. Just be glad I can’t call up your Commander in Chief and give him an earful,” she teases and I give her hand a gentle squeeze.
I can’t imagine being in her shoes. We’re all used to Kevin being in and out with his deployments. Lindsey’s been gone for so long that this has got to be hitting her harder now that she’s home. Especially since she’s planning to finally settle down and stay here.
“Thank goodness for that, Linds. I’d end up with toilet duty for eternity,” Kevin winks.
“Well,” Harriett dabs her eyes with a napkin. “I guess I better activate the phone tree and get the see you again cookout going!”
“Let me know what you need me to do,” Fallon finally speaks up.
“You just keep that one organized and get him to invite his unit over with their families too. Neville and I will handle the rest,” Harriett tells her.
“Wait,” Lindsey holds up a hand, “are we sure that’s a good idea with everything else going on. We’re still supposed to be socially distancing and being careful.”
“Well, shoot. I guess you’re right. Maybe just a small gathering then. It’ll be outside and we’ll ask everyone to be safe about it. If they’re not feeling great, stay away,” Harriett taps her chin.
“Keep it small, Harriett,” Neville warns.
“Thanks Grams,” Kevin stands and walks over to give his grandmother a kiss on the cheek.
“Nonsense. Now, everyone finish eating so we can have some pineapple upside down cake for dessert,” Harriett shews Kevin back to his seat.
The mood in the room stays heavier than it was before but conversation resumes and we all enjoy the homemade fried chicken Harriett’s prepared this week.
After dessert, Lindsey and I both help clean up and then excuse ourselves. She takes my hand and asks me to take a walk with her.
Out past the barn, Lindsey paused and turned to me.
“I know I shouldn’t even put things like this out into the universe but, Garrett, I have a bad feeling about Kevin deploying,” she confesses.
I don’t bother to tell her that in the moment, I felt the same way and simply brushed it aside. Instead, I do my best to put her mind at ease. “I think that’s pretty much to be expected. Everyone gets nervous at the idea of being overseas or fighting in a war zone. But, baby, Kevin’s trained for this. Things are far safer now than they’ve ever been,” I lie, because the truth is, I don’t think things are any safer, but I certainly haven’t been keeping up with things either. “He’ll be home and getting on your nerves again before you know it.”
Lindsey gives me a sad laugh. “He gets on your nerves. I’ve spent too much time away. It’s still a novelty at the moment.”
I wink at her. “Fair enough.”
“That’s not all I wanted to talk to you about though…”
“I’m listening baby.”
“I…I…uhm…I know this probably sounds so crazy right now but, I want us to get married before Kevin deploys. I want Kevin to be there when we say I do. If something were to happen…,” her eyes fill with tears again.
“Well, shit,” I chuckle and run a hand over my face. “I certainly wasn’t expecting that. Lindsey, are you proposing to me right now?”
Fucking hell. It hasn’t even been a month and now my girl wants to get married.
I’ve got to admit…I never thought I was the marrying kind. But, with Lindsey, I’d do anything her pretty little mouth asked me to.
She pokes my chest and rolls her eyes at me. “I’m being serious.”
“I am too, Linds. If you really want to get married, we’ll get married. Today. Tomorrow. A year from now. Whatever you want.”
“I want to get married before Kevin leaves. I want to marry you,” she says with even more conviction.
“Then I guess I better get a ring and talk to your Dad and Granddad. We can’t get married without their blessing.”
“Garrett, I don’t need a ring. I just need…you.”
“That’s real sweet baby, but we’re not saying ‘I do’ without rings. You let me worry about all that. You talk with your Gran and start planning.”
“Thank you,” she sniffles and leans up on her tiptoes to kiss me. “I love you, Garrett.”
“I love you too, Linds.”
And I know without a shadow of a doubt I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving it.