Page 6 of Point of Contact

Trevor stood along with the rest of the crowd in the bleachers, putting his hand over his heart as a tinny version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” started playing from the loudspeakers.

The afternoon sun was shining in a cloudless sky, and Pikes Peak soared majestically in the distance. Trevor lifted his face into the cool breeze that was blowing across the parade field and ruffling everyone’s hair.

It was a beautiful day for goodbye.

“O’er the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave!”

Cheers rang out at the conclusion of the song, the throng in the bleachers clapping and shouting. The soldiers stood at perfect attention on the field, ramrod straight, not moving a muscle. As the crowd settled down and took their seats, a uniformed man walked to a podium set off to the side and adjusted the microphone.

“Honored guests, family and friends, I’d like to welcome you to the Division’s deployment and color-casing ceremony. The casing of our colors and battle streamers symbolizes movement of the Division from our home here at Fort Carson, Colorado, to our new theater of operations in Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.”

A few babies cried as the man spoke, their mothers shushing them. Planes from nearby Peterson Air Force Base roared overhead, briefly drowning out the man’s next words. Next to Trevor a petite blonde girl gave a watery sniff, and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. What had Riley said her name was? Victoria? Tori.

“In times past, this ceremony was conducted to signify that a unit was being deactivated, the formal end of that particular command. However, since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the casing of the colors has taken on a different connotation.” The speaker paused. “Now, it is a sign that we are going to war.”

The words sent a chill up Trevor’s spine, and despite the warm, sunny day, he shivered.

“Once the flag is cased, it will remain so until it is unfurled during a transfer-of-authority ceremony conducted in Afghanistan with the outgoing unit there.”

Trevor swallowed hard, and he looked toward the field, unable to pick Riley out amongst all the other green-camouflaged soldiers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the United States is sending its very best.”

With that, the color bearer presented the colors. The speaker stepped down from the podium and wrapped the flag and battle streamers around the staff before slipping a leather case over it.

There was subdued, polite applause when he was done, the ramifications of what the whole thing meant hitting everyone hard. The mood was somber when the ceremony was over, and the soldiers were given thirty minutes of family time to say goodbye before they would board buses for the Air Force base and their plane to Italy.

The girl, Tori, followed Trevor as he made his way out of the bleachers onto the parade field to look for Riley. He felt a sudden, fierce resentment toward her for taking up part of the time that should be his. Trevor hadn’t even wanted Carl there. But when Riley had led her over before the ceremony started and asked Trevor to sit with her, how could he refuse?

Just then Riley strode up, tall and handsome in his BDUs, his cover set smartly on his head. Tori flung herself into his arms, and he hugged her for a minute before breaking away and walking up to Trevor.

Tori turned to wander a little ways off, her arms crossed over her middle, her head down. Trevor raised one eyebrow at his son and asked, his tone dry, “So. Does Tori know what Italy is for?” referring to the conversation he’d overheard about “rocking girls’ worlds.”

Riley shrugged. “I met her a few weeks ago,” he said. “We’ve had some good times. It’s not serious, but I like her. She asked if she could come say goodbye today, and who’s going to say no to a pretty girl crying over you?”

“You didn’t ask her to wait for you, did you?” Trevor asked cautiously, and he had to laugh at the horrified look that spread over Riley’s face.

“Fuck, no,” he exclaimed. “Do you think I’m an idiot, Dad?”

Trevor shook his head. “No, I don’t think you’re an idiot, Riles. In fact, I’m so damn proud of you I could burst.”

“Really?” A vulnerable look entered Riley’s pale green eyes. “I—I know you weren’t happy about me joining the Army, but—”

He put his hand on Riley’s shoulder. “I’m not happy about you being put in harm’s way. I’m not happy about not seeing you for a year. But son, wanting to serve your country? Doing something you believe in? How could I possibly be anything but proud?”

Riley took a giant step forward and grabbed him in a tight embrace, and Trevor wrapped his arms around his son, holding on to him for dear life.

“Thank you, Dad,” Riley whispered. “I think more than anything, that’s what I needed to hear.”

Trevor cupped the back of Riley’s neck and pressed their foreheads together. “No matter what you do, no matter where you go, I will always be proud of you, and I will always—always—love you. You hear me?”

“I’m so glad you have Carl,” Riley said, his tone fierce. “I was worried about leaving you all alone.”

Trevor pulled away, and cupped Riley’s cheeks in his hands, not caring who was watching. “Don’t spend one minute worrying about me, Riles, you hear me? I’ll be fine. I’m going to keep busy, and when you get home, we’ll take a trip anywhere you want, just you and me, okay? Japan, Australia, Hawaii. Hell, Antarctica, I don’t care. Wherever you want.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “Awesome. You and me, surfing in Hawaii? Hiking a volcano?”

“You got it, bud. As soon as you get home, we’re on a plane to Hawaii.”