18

As Bill drove them to the airport the following day, it was still raining. “Shan’t miss the weather,” Lou said.

Staci mumbled something incoherently, scribbling in her notebook.

“You OK, kiddo?” Jim asked.

Staci mumbled in response.

“You won’t get a straight answer,” Lou told him. “She’s had her head buried in that all night. Writing her life story, I think.”

Jim nodded. “I got away with calling her kiddo, so I know she isn’t listening.”

Bill hugged Jim and Staci tightly as he dropped them off. “Be good. See you in a few weeks.”

Jim nodded. “I miss you already.”

Staci continued to write during the flight, and when she did sleep, she held the book so tightly that Jim couldn’t even pry it from her grasp to read it. It was a long, tiring flight, almost twenty hours in total, not including the brief refueling stop.

Lou looked at Jim. “Sleep,” she told him. “Or you’ll be too tired to even speak to Ailsa, never mind anything else.”

Jim shook his head. “I can’t sleep on a plane,” he insisted.

Lou grinned. “Your funeral,” she quipped. “Because by the time we land, you’ll have been awake for almost thirty-six hours straight and dead on your feet.”

At the airport in Guam, Jack and Ailsa were waiting for the plane. As the others came into the arrivals hall, Jack swept Mum off her feet into a bear hug and kissed her.

Lou looked at the others and grinned. “Yep. He missed her.”

Not to be outdone, Ailsa hugged them each in turn. “It’s been a long two weeks,” she said. “I’m glad you’re back.”

Jack put Mum down and hugged the others. “Welcome home,” he said. “How was England?”

“Wet,” Staci said decisively. “Wet and cold. Typical English summer really.”

“Be fair, Stace,” Lou grinned. “The rain was warm-ish.”

Jack took the luggage trolley from Jim. “This is heavy,” he said, pushing it. “You guys rob the Bank of England while you were there?”

Jim laughed. “Spent it, more like. It’s what comes of going on holiday with a bunch of women,” he told him. “They always take too much stuff and buy more while they are there.” He broke off with a cry of pain as Lou and Staci hit him.

“That’s enough,” Mum told them. “Wait until you get indoors.”

Jim looked at her in mock shock. “Don’t tell them that. I don’t want to be hit indoors either.”

Back at Jack’s place, Mum was surprised to see how tidy it was.

“All Jack’s own work,” Ailsa said as Jack carried in the last of the cases. “He wanted it looking nice for you.”

Jack shut the front door and put the last of the cases in the bedrooms. “That’s the lot,” he said. He went through to the kitchen and put the kettle on.

Mum wandered through on her way to the laundry with a pile of washing.

Jack grabbed hold of her. “Leave the washing, Nicky,” he told her.

Mum looked at him. “There’s masses of it.”

“Do it tomorrow. You look exhausted.”

“I am. It was a long flight.”

Lou grinned at them. “Can I give Jack his present now, Mum?”

“Present?” Jack asked. “Yes, you can give me my present now.”

Lou grabbed him. “Come on.”

Once the presents had been opened and admired and coffee drunk, Mum went upstairs to lie down for a while. Jack looked at Lou. “Can I have a word?” he asked. “Outside.”

“Sure.” Lou followed him outside onto the back porch. The early-afternoon sun blazed down strongly. She sat by the table and Jack sat next to her. “I need to ask you something,” he started awkwardly. “It’s kind of difficult to put into words, but...”

“It’s Mum, isn’t it?” Lou interrupted.

Jack nodded. “I love her, Lou. I have since I first met her. Not having her here for the last two weeks has made me realize just how much I love her. She has turned this house into a home. You all have, but your mom most of all. What I am trying to say here is”—he paused and took a deep breath—“may I marry your mom?”

“You’re asking the wrong person. Isn’t it Mum you should be asking?”

Jack smiled. “I know it’s traditional to ask the father for permission to marry his daughter, but in this case I thought I should ask you. Lou, it’s a decision that will affect you as well. For a start, your mom will become my wife. She will move out of the guest room and into my bedroom. She’ll take my name and become Mrs. Fitzgerald instead of Mrs. Benson. I hope I’ll become the most important thing in her life, after you, and she’ll be the center of mine. But I don’t want you to think I’m replacing your dad. Robert will always be your father. Nothing can change that or the seventeen years your mom spent with him. I would be honored for you to become my daughter, but if you don’t want me as a stepdad or sharing your mom, then I need to know...” His voice trailed off.

Lou smiled at him. “Jack, I would love to have you as my stepdad.” She threw her arms around his neck, taking him by surprise. “I couldn’t ask for anyone nicer. I owe you my life. Besides, anyone can see how much you and Mum love each other. She glows whenever you are in the room or someone mentions your name. Go for it.”

“Thank you. Not a word now, till I’ve spoken to your mom.”

The phone rang a couple of times. Mum answered it and called, “Jack? General Merrick on the phone for you.”

“Coming.” Jack got up and went inside and took the phone. “Yes, ma’am?” He listened for a few minutes and then said, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll bring him in now. Bye.” He put the phone down and turned to Jim. “General Merrick wants to see you now. I’ll drive you in and then bring you back.” He looked over at Nichola. “Don’t cook. I’ll bring something back with me. You still look tired.”

“I’m fine. Don’t be too long, otherwise we’ll all be asleep.”

Jack grinned and he and Jim left.

Staci was still writing in her notebook and mumbling.

Ailsa asked, “What’s with Staci?”

“Don’t know,” Lou replied. “She’s been at it for hours. Days even. Still, it takes her mind off food.”

****

Jim sat quietly during the drive to the base. He was tired and his eyes kept closing. It may only be 1400 here, but he was still on English time and it was 0500 this morning there. The drive to the base only took twenty-five minutes. He gave in and let his eyes stay shut.

Jim woke with a jump as the car stopped. “Lou,” he said.

“It’s OK,” Jack said. “We’ve arrived at the base.”

“I was dreaming about sharks,” Jim said. “I’ve been having a lot of those recently.”

Jack locked the car. “If you want to talk, I’m willing to listen,” he said. “Any time.”

“I might just take you up on that,” Jim said as they went into the main building.

Jack led the way to the general’s office. He knocked on the door. “Come in,” came the reply. Jack opened the door. He saluted.

General Merrick returned the salute. “Colonel,” she said. “Jim, how was your trip?”

“Good. Thank you, ma’am. Tiring though, but it was good to see places again.”

“Good. Have a seat, Jim.”

General Merrick nodded to Jack. He shut the door and, remaining in the office, stood just in front of the door.

Jim sat down, wondering what he had done.

General Merrick looked at him. “Colonel Fitzgerald told me some time ago of your desire to join the military.”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s all I ever wanted to do.”

“I understand you favor the Navy.”

“That was my original choice, yes, but being in charge of a ship isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“I see. So what would you rather do?”

Jim glanced across at Jack. Jack motioned with his hand and tilted his head towards General Merrick. Jim looked at her. “I’d like to join the Air Force.”

“The Royal Air Force, I assume?”

“I’d prefer the US Air Force, but I don’t suppose that’s possible, being British and all.”

“Why the US Air Force and not the RAF?”

“I want to give something back. We owe you our lives. Plus which, I’ve always wanted to be an astronaut, and you can’t do that from the Navy.”

General Merrick smiled. “There’s no guarantees of that from here either.” She picked up some papers from her desk. “Do you remember that exam you took two months back?”

“I haven’t had the results yet.”

“That’s because you took it here. The results were sent here. Ninety-eight percent—the best result out of all those who took it. Jim, how would you like to serve in the United States Air Force?”

Jim looked from General Merrick to Jack and back again, amazement and wonder on his face. “For real?”

General Merrick nodded. “Even though you’re British by birth, you can enlist as a path to full citizenship.”

“What about the entrance exams?”

“You’ve done the aptitude test,” she said, holding up the papers. “Ninety-eight percent. Do you need time to think about it?”

Jim looked at Jack. Surely he was dreaming. “No. I’d like to join please, ma’am.”

General Merrick smiled at his enthusiasm. “I’ll send a recruiter over tomorrow to get you signed up.”

Jim walked on air back to the car. “Woo-hooo,” he yelled, punching the air, as soon as they were in the car park. He looked at Jack. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”

Jack pinched him.

Jim rubbed his arm. “I guess I’m not.”

Jack grinned. “I guess not. We’ll stop off for food on the way home.”

“I might just stay in the car,” Jim said. “Let you handle that while I text Mum and Dad and tell them.”

They arrived back to find the house in darkness.

Jim yawned. “Maybe they are all asleep.”

“Maybe,” Jack replied.

They walked up to the door and Jack let Jim in first. “Hello?” Jim called.

Suddenly, the lights snapped on.

“Surprise.” Party poppers exploded over him. A banner hung from the stairs proclaimed, “Congratulations, Jim.”

Jack shut the door with a big grin on his face.

Staci hugged him. “Well done, bro. One day you may really be Captain Kirk.”

“Once I’m an American citizen, yes,” Jim told her.

She let go and Lou hugged him. Then Ailsa.

Nichola waited until the others had finished before giving him a hug too. “Well done. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks. All this, it’s...How did you know?”

“Black ops,” Lou grinned. “Plus a spy on the inside. Jack rang from the takeaway.”

“Dinner’s ready,” Jack called. “Come and eat while it’s hot.”

****

Lou was the last to leave the kitchen once she’d done the dishes. Jack and Mum were sitting on the swing seat. She turned off the kitchen light and looked back towards the window as Jack dropped to one knee. She turned away, not wanting to intrude on their privacy, and headed into the hall and up the stairs to the room she shared with Ailsa.

It seemed everyone’s life was finally falling into place. Except hers.