Chapter 9 #2
“I’m just glad Ms. Merkel called. This is something I can do for both of you.
” She quickly added, “I’m sorry for your loss.
” She smiled then. “I’m excited to start transforming the room for Ian.
Jack and I wanted to wait until he was promoted to lieutenant before we started our family.
” On that, she disappeared out the front door.
Shortly afterward, four of his men wrangled the mattress and box springs down the steps and out the door, headed to one of the many pickups. Someone would deliver all the garbage to a base dumpster.
As Evan looked in on his ex-wife and Marta, the room was nearly bare.
Several of the wives were washing down the walls while two more were on their knees cleaning the baseboards.
Another had tackled the window. Two others had brought wardrobe shipping boxes, obviously from a recent move, and were emptying all the hanging clothes from the closet.
“Excuse me, sir,” a man in his mid-thirties said from behind him. “We haven’t met. I’m Commander Jake Burton, C.O. of Team 5. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”
Evan gave him a half-hearted grin. “Me, too,” he said as they shook hands.
The man next to him held out his hand. “Commander William Dennis, better known around here as Wild Bill. I’ve recently taken over Team 1.
” He glanced in the room. “Our wives are clearing out the closet. Thank goodness Susie always keeps boxes after every move. She was the one who thought about them when Ms. Merkel called her. That woman really is Ms. Miracle.”
“She’s one hell of a woman.” Vice Admiral Maddox’s booming voice echoed in the stairwell.
Marta Merkel stepped to the door. “I was just doing the unwritten part of my job description. Or maybe it comes under the clause, other duties as assigned.”
Vice Admiral Maddox smiled at the sassy woman who worked for him. “I didn’t ask you to do all this. I just asked you what you thought Evan and Genevieve needed.”
Marta raised her eyebrows. “They needed all this.”
Trevor Maddox put his hand over his heart. “Thank you.” He dropped his hand. “Now, what needs to be done next?”
“The two of you old men can move out of the way so Commander Dennis and Commander Burton can take these boxes out of here.” She turned to Genevieve. “Do you want those to go to Navy Relief, too?”
Genevieve didn’t say anything, just rolled her lips between her teeth and nodded her head up and down.
The two Team commanders slid into the room and grabbed boxes.
Evan watched as his ex-wife fought back tears. He couldn’t stand it. He went into the room that had been their daughter’s and pulled her out of the chair and into his arms.
“I know this is hard for you, but this is the best place for Ian.” His words were quiet, next to her ear, only for her.
“She hasn’t even been gone twenty-four hours and it’s as though I’m erasing her from my life.” Her tears started to flow once again.
He looked at the open box next to the rocker.
He recognized several things. Bare Bear, the now ragged teddy bear he’d given Kylie the first time he had to leave Vivi alone with their baby and head out for several weeks of training.
Their daughter had named him after Evan had read her the story of Winnie the Pooh who wore clothes, but her bear was bare. From that moment on, he was Bare Bear.
Grief suddenly hit Evan. He would never have moments like that with his daughter again.
His gaze swept the room that was now empty of people.
He remembered painting the walls a light pink before she was born.
At eight, Kylie had decided that pink was a baby color, so he and Genevieve had painted the walls lavender, Kylie’s new choice.
At ten, their daughter had announced that she wanted something more bold and held up a deep purple scarf.
The next morning, he took the scarf to the paint store, and they matched it perfectly.
By the time she came home from school, the wall was so dark purple, in low light it looked almost black.
The walls were now a pale yellow.
“How did you get rid of the deep purple wall?” he asked, wanting to redirect Genevieve’s attention as much as he wanted the answer to the question.
She leaned back and scowled at him. “We tried to paint over it with the yellow and it turned a terrible color. White didn’t work, either. I finally ended up hiring a painter who had to skim coat the wall to cover it before he could paint it the same as the others.”
“I take it that means I can’t paint the walls in here Navy blue?” He said jokingly.
“Hell, no.” Her words shocked him. Genevieve rarely ever swore out loud. She grinned at him. “A light green might be nice. It would go well with the frog theme.” She held up the crib bumpers filled with frogs leaping and sitting on lily pads.
Evan pulled her back into his arms. “Thank you. For a while, I was afraid you were going to buy those fucking Bambi things.” He kissed her on the forehead before he released her.
She stood staring at him, as though a little dazed.
“Time to eat.” Vice Admiral Maddox’s voice boomed from the bottom of the stairs.
“We need to go feed those boys.” She corrected herself, “I mean, young men, and their women. I hope nobody gives me a quiz. I don’t remember any of their names.”
Evan took her hand in his. “Nobody’s going to ask you anything. You’re not even expected to smile or carry on a conversation.”
They were greeted at the bottom of the stairs by Evan’s new boss and Marta Merkel.
“I know officers eat last, but you two go through the line first,” Marta ordered. “After we get some food into you, we’ll go through what’s left to be done. We’ll handle everything while you two are at the hospital feeding your grandson.”
“And changing diapers,” the vice admiral added with a grin.
“Hey, I changed Ian’s first diaper,” Evan said with pride as he picked up a plate and started through the buffet line they had set up on the kitchen counter.
Later, as one of the wives collected the paper plates, Evan stood and reached for Genevieve’s hand. When she took it and stood next to him, she squared her shoulders. Their silent communication from years of marriage turned the gear once again.
“Ladies, gentlemen, may I have your attention please.” Evan’s commanding voice brought the house to silence. He signaled to everyone in the other rooms. “Come on in. It might be a little tight for a few minutes, but I’ll make this quick.”
He squeezed Genevieve’s hand. “We can’t thank you enough for all the kindness you’ve shown us tonight.
We’re well-aware that you gave up your evening on a moment’s notice and came here to help us prepare for the arrival of our grandson.
We never could’ve accomplished this in such a short amount of time without your help.
Marta, you’ve earned the title of Ms. Miracle once again. ”
Genevieve held out her free hand and Marta stepped into a hug from both of them.
“The last twenty-four hours have been pretty tough for us.” He was slightly angry with himself that his voice broke.
“This is not the way I expected to start my new command. Most of you know why I was sent here to take over command of Group 1.” He nodded at a few familiar faces and gave a smile to Commander Reece Brenner as he scanned the room.
“I believe in leading by example. The fact that all of you showed up tonight to help us, virtual strangers, has proven to me that there is so much goodness in the leadership here in Coronado. Together, we’re going to make our SEALs proud to wear the Trident once again.
Proud to serve the Navy and our country, and proud of each other.
It hasn’t been the press that has trashed the good name of Navy SEALs lately, it’s been the men who work for us, and with us. ”
He squeezed Genevieve’s hand, and she squeezed back as though encouraging him to continue.
He looked at her. “We have a lot to get through this next week.” His gaze returned to the room. “You showing up here tonight, and helping us, has proven to me that Group 1 will be the Phoenix that rises from the ashes and becomes known only for its fierce fighting ability.”
The room erupted with clapping, whistles, and hooyah .
Marta stepped forward and everyone quieted down. “You two need to get the hell out of here and go feed that grandson of yours. We’ve got this handled.” She made shooing motions with her hands.
They headed toward the door. No one argued with Marta Merkel.
“Sir, your SUV is at the end of the driveway.” Lieutenant Commander Harrison tossed a set of keys.
Evan dug into his pocket and reciprocated.
“Thank you, again,” Genevieve called before she stepped outside.
“Thank you. Thank you all. I look forward to working with you, soon.” Evan left feeling much better about his future command than he had since receiving the call requesting him to take over Group 1.
But there was still so much to do before he got to that point.
To his surprise, Genevieve took his hand. “Quite the speech. Since we’re not married anymore, I know you can’t share details with me. Maybe you can give me the media soundbites on our way to the hospital.”