Max stared at the papers on his desk. He was supposed to be working, but couldn’t stop thinking about the phone conversation with KC last night. She had been a nervous wreck, and she called him. Him. Hope inspired him to send an email.
He wanted her. No, needed her. But her calling him told him she needed him too. What did that mean? Could he have it all? Could he have KC’s friendship, but also her love? Max wanted her for all those things, but he also wanted her as his lover. Lover.
Shaking his head, he turned to his computer. With no answers and none for the next three months at least, he’d best get an email sent. He could do that.
To: KCGilmore@gilmoreproducts.net
From: MaxMorrison@gilmoreproducts.net
Subject: Bent Rock Foundation Blow-out
Hello KC,
I’m happy you called me last night. I wish I could have held you as we talked, but I’ll take holding the phone. For now.
Thought you’d be interested to know, under General Emma’s command, we plan to auction off the puppies this weekend. She hoped to do so between Christmas and New Years, but in answer to your question, hit a paperwork snafu. I’m sure heads rolled for that. <grin>
Ryan and I will be there all day. We’re manning the camera, holding up puppies, helping out at the refreshment stand, and collecting money. Please don’t ask how that’s all going to be possible, because I don’t know, and I’m already tired. General Emma will manage to do all those things and be the announcer too.
We’re expecting a big turnout. Like I said, we had fifty offers on this new batch of puppies, and now the number is closer to one hundred. Thousands of dollars in donations have poured in already, and General Emma personally delivered a check to Corporal Lance James’ widow and children last week.
She said the man’s wife broke down on her, and Emma’s since arranged for her to receive additional grief counseling. The general has determined that grief counseling will be the most important aspect of the Bent Rock Foundation. Although she plans to help push military medical benefits through, faster and more efficiently, as well. And anything else the families need as those needs surface.
Fortunately, Corporal James’ wife has a superior family network, both on her side and his. But General Emma wants her to have formal counseling too. Although they’ve endured his funeral, the widow isn’t doing as well as she could be. General Emma to the rescue!
So far we’re keeping up with the requests for help from families, but Emma’s worried we’ll soon have too many. She’s pushing the foundation limits now. So, what does she do? Hires more people to get out there and raise funds and awareness, of course. I think the puppy auction will help tremendously too.
People have already donated other items to be auctioned off. Including a couple of cars, a range, dishwasher, and a washer and dryer set. Those are items I can think of off the top of my head. The Foundation kick-off will be an all day event. Most of the family will be there. We’ve had World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf War veterans who’ve all volunteered their time and sellable items. General Emma hasn’t turned anyone down who’s offered to help, either. (She’s having anyone who’s served in a war there to talk to folks with questions.)
Nor has she been shy about recruitment. Ryan and I are top of her list along with Mitch and Lainy. Well, all of my family, all of Ben’s, and many others are going to be working.
Bentley and Rocky will have seats of honor, of course. I think Emma got them ribbons to wear, but Mitch drew the line at crowns. He went toe to toe with the general and won! She thinks he hung the moon now. I’d NEVER go toe to toe with her, but he didn’t know any better. Course it helps that he was adamant about his cause. Emma likes that.
I’m sure there will be a Second Bent Rock Foundation Bonanza soon. I just want to get through the first one. Alive. And keep the kid alive. Did I mention how tired I am?
We’re holding it at a huge local place so they have plenty of parking and room. And food companies have donated so much. We’ll make money off the concession stand, for sure.
Many local companies have already called and pledged money to the foundation, so the general is pretty excited about that. I hope more will come. Pledging will probably plaster their names in all the right places so that’s excellent advertising. Gilmore Products has already pledged, but I believe we’ll be inclined, ahem... to pledge more. (I always follow orders!) <grin>
We continue to miss you and can’t wait until you’re home. I know you’ll only be gone for three more months, but that seems like such a long time. Ryan and I have a calendar where we mark each day off and then count the number of days until you’re home. (He knows his numbers pretty well now.)
With love,
Max and Ryan
*****
KC sniffed as she read to the end of Max’s note. They were counting down the days until she returned home. She wanted to bawl, but settled for being wholly touched by their wonderful gesture. This time apart zipped past, but not quickly enough. For her, or apparently, her men, either.
And Max’s first paragraph about wishing he could have held her, but would settle with holding the phone, for now. What did that mean? She couldn’t answer that question, but she did understand the lurch of her heart in response to his statement. Wanting to pursue that little for now immediately with one part of her while the other part chanted no, no, no, no would likely drive her to drink.
Which was unfortunate, since she was in the middle of the desert, thought alcohol smelled like horse pee, and could be called to duty at any time of the day, so drinking was out of the question. KC reached for her brownie stash. Fortunately, chocolate cured all ailments. Just in case, she also reached for the cookie container. Mixing her sugars might help too. Variety worked.
To: maxmorrison@gilmoreproducts.net
From: kcgilmore@gilmoreproducts.net
Subject: I want a video!
Hello Max and Ryan,
Of course you know that I want a copy of the video of the Bent Rock Foundation Blow-Out. As soon as possible! I must confess to being extremely interested in how you fellows will be able to do all General Emma has commanded. Since I know this general, I’m aware she has a plan, and therefore you will do all you’re commanded.
I’ve yet to see one of her plans fail. Well, the puppies not being old enough to auction off is one thing, but something she can control... Not that I doubt she’s probably tried to order Mother Nature about too. Likely the only time she’s ever been rebuffed.
Admiral O’Riley wants to see this video too. I imagine we’ll show it round the clock for a while, since this foundation has already raised morale here. Those fighting know their families will be taken care of in the event their lives are lost in battle. Each military person who comes through has already prepared himself or herself for the fact he or she could forfeit their life. They don’t take foolish risks. Sometimes even the wisest leave in a body bag, though.
I don’t want to be war hardened, but I’m fearful that could happen. We feel each one we can’t save. Yet in so doing, we can’t give that energy to the next man we might be able to save. It’s a vicious, stupid cycle. The dead deserve to be mourned, because they’ve given their lives valiantly. But the wounded also need our care and skills.
I’m weary of war. So are those who work shoulder to shoulder with me. As are our leaders. And those men and women who work on the front lines. War is ugly. Not glamorous. It does make a man, or breaks him, but it can easily kill him too.
Thank you for the Bent Rock Foundation. You give us hope in a hopeless world.
I like to think of Lainy. She offers hope because she carries a new life within her. Knowing she holds the key to the future helps. Birth renews the cycle of death. (Thinking of Mitch having been here, and now he’s helped to create that little life...) Such hope to encourage us.
I miss you and am moved you are marking the days to my return. I too miss you both and want to hold you. (I may not let you go once I have you in my arms.) <tired smile> The thought of both of you keeps me going. Keeps me aware of why I am here. If I can be here and work toward keeping you safe, I will work harder and smarter.
I love you.
KC
*****
“Ryan?” Max tugged the little boy from the cocoon of blankets and covers. Ryan weakly protested and squirmed, but Max managed to extract him from his bed.
“Dad,” he grumbled.
“We’re going to the Bent Rock Foundation today.” Max tried to sound cheerful. He could have enjoyed staying in bed today too.
The weather showed gray and when he let Spuds outside, cold air rushed in to send chills down his spine. Ryan shivered and wriggled closer. Max’s arm flexed automatically.
“Looks like we’ll need to dress warmly. But at least this will be inside.”
“Don’t wanna go.” Ryan snuggled closer.
“You don’t want to play with Bentley and Rocky’s puppies?”
“Well, maybe,” Ryan prevaricated.
Max nodded. “Yeah, I figured that might change your mind. This is the last time you’ll get to play with them.”
“Can we take Spuds?”
“No. Remember, we talked about this.”
“Dad, why do we have to work?”
“Because Aunt Emma asked us to. Because your mom expects us to. Because if we don’t, who will?”
“Will Mommy be thewe?”
Max’s heart twisted at the enthusiasm in Ryan’s voice. “No, Ryan, your mommy won’t be there. But she’s coming home in less than three months.” Not knowing if he could wait that long, Max didn’t know how to convince Ryan either. He set Ryan on his feet and stared at the cupboard.
“Like on ouw calendaw?”
“Like on our calendar. Once we get to the end of April, she’ll soon be home.”
“But Aprwil isn’t for lots more sleeps.”
“Yes, it’s still a lot of sleeps.”
“Why’s she thewe and not with us? She’s my mommy, she’s ‘possed to be hewe.”
“Not all moms can be home. Your mom is helping people who get hurt. She has to make them better.”
“Can’t someone else’s mom do it?”
Max couldn’t refute Ryan’s logic. He tugged down cereal bowls and found them spoons. “No. Yours got picked, buddy. So, she had to go. Not all moms can fix wounded people.”
“What about Aunt Tweeny? She’s not a mom, but she does.”
“Your Aunt Treeny isn’t in the military, your mom is. So, Aunt Treeny won’t get called.” Max found the milk hiding behind the ketchup bottle. He poured it into Ryan’s bowl.
“Uncle Ben’s in the militawy, but he doesn’t go fow so long.”
“No, Uncle Ben’s job is different than your mom’s. He gets to come home sometimes, but then he’s always called back. Once your mom comes home, she probably won’t get called back.”
“Oh,” Ryan said and dug into his cereal. Max couldn’t tell how much of their conversation he understood. The little guy simply knew his mommy was far away, and other mommy’s weren’t. He wanted her home. Max could commiserate.
*****
KC ripped open the package, excited because she was fairly certain of the contents. The box was slim, a red, white, and blue postal box, and the perfect size for a CD or DVD. She tore the tape off and stared at the DVD she worked loose from the packaging material.
The First Annual Bent Rock Foundation Blow-Out.
Grinning, KC grabbed her laptop and headed for the admiral’s tent, impatience beating at her. She wanted to view this alone, but had made a promise. As an afterthought, she yanked open the drawer where she stored the cookies and brownies and added them to the pile. Popcorn would go well with this DVD, but she didn’t have any.
Max had outdone himself copying and sending the video to her. Twelve days later and she was holding the DVD. She had difficulty suppressing her excitement as she trotted across the distance separating her and their leader’s office.
The same woman looked up when KC burst through the door.
“Is the admiral in?” she asked breathlessly.
“He is.” The woman’s voice sounded repressive.
“Please inform him LT Cmdr Gilmore is here, and has the Bent Rock Foundation video. He’ll want to see me,” KC said in the firmest tone she could produce. And she was a doctor, a military officer, and a mother. She had stock in the firm, no-nonsense voice business.
After a quick conference with the admiral, and some respect, the woman ushered her through the door behind her. KC smiled a superior doctor smile, something the woman’s snottiness didn’t even make her feel guilty about, and walked briskly to the door. After a sharp rap, she entered the room and saluted.
“Be at ease, LT Cmdr.” Admiral O’Riley pointed her to a seat.
“Thank you, sir.” KC sat and waved the DVD. “My partner came through and sent this.” She leaned across his desk to hand him the disc.
He accepted the video with the same reverence she felt.
“I see you brought your laptop,” he commented and she hastily nodded. She’d been so involved in watching the fascinating emotions cross his face, she forgot about the other things in her arms.
She dropped the laptop and treat containers on his desk and shoved the latter closer to him. The admiral pried the lid off the cookie container and selected a shortbread. He appeared to savor the treat as he watched her load the DVD.
“It should start momentarily,” she said and opted for a brownie.
A little tingle started in her heart when she realized she’d see Max and Ryan soon. She wondered if Max had worn one of the new sweaters she and Lainy bought for him. Leaning forward, she waited impatiently for the opening scene to unfold.