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We’d been trained within an inch of our lives—screamed at, berated, worked to exhaustion, yet the Army hadn’t been able to smother Connor’s smile. It lived in his eyes as he nudged my arm with the slightest nod of his head toward the stands. Ma, Paul, my sisters, the Drakes, Ruby and Autumn sat in the front row.
After the drill sergeants were honored, the Lt. Colonel gave a welcome speech. Then the band began its march that would parade us in front of the stands. An officer named off the companies and battalions, and their DIs as we filed past the crowd.
“Bravo Company, led by Drill Sergeant John Denroy.”
“That’s my boy!” Ma cried out among the applause. “Proud of you, baby!”
We were instructed to keep our eyes forward, heads straight while marching in time, but I let my periphery—guided by Ma’s voice—steal a glance at Autumn.
She was on her feet with the rest of our people. Her hair fell over her shoulders in ribbons of red streaked with gold. It was like looking at a beautiful sunrise after ten weeks of Arctic ice and gray.
Before we were released to the field, Sarge addressed us one last time, with respect in his voice this time. He offered his congratulations before informing us our time as Reservists was over before it began.
“Your country needs you,” he said. “And I’m proud to say, you’re ready.”
We were Active Duty now, likely to be deployed straight out of specialty training. In two weeks, we’d fly to Fort Benning, Georgia for that training, then to the Al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar. All further information was classified until arrival.
Which meant combat zone.
“It’s all happening so fast,” Connor said, his smile slipping as we walked to meet our friends and family.
“We’re soldiers now. Soldiers go to war,” I said.
I could’ve wondered at the speed in which our lives had changed direction, if my stomach weren’t so heavy with dread. Connor’s face was pale, too. The pride he’d built in himself during Basic looked shaken.
I nudged his arm. “One weekend a month, my ass.”
He laughed and the tight fear in his eyes loosened.
That’s better, I thought. All my life, Connor’s happiness was my constant. It gave me hope I could find something like it one day. I’d take his fear like a second rucksack on my shoulders if I had to.
Our people drew nearer to us on the field.
“Here they come,” Connor said. “Look at Autumn.”
Like I needed the direction. She wore a cream-colored dress with little blue flowers on it. My heart stuttered at her smile and her sun-burnished hair.
“What do I say?” Connor murmured. “I need something special after being separated for so long. Something to sweep her off her feet.”
“You ask how it’s possible for her to be that beautiful,” I said. “Tell her you have to be dreaming, and if you are dreaming, you hope you never wake up.”
Connor’s heavy hand on my shoulder jolted me. “Exactly what I was thinking.”
He stepped up his pace and Autumn broke into a run. She threw her arms around Connor’s neck. He put his mouth to her ear and said what I’d told him to say. She pulled back to look up at him, then kissed him passionately. Deeply. As if the field weren’t filled with hundreds of people.
“Oh my God, I missed you. And here you are, and you’re perfect,” Autumn was saying as I drew near them. Her small hands held his square jaw, eyes devouring his face. “I can’t stop looking at you.”
“I second that,” Ma said to me. “Your soldier, they said. Go meet your soldier.” She dabbed her eyes and sniffed. “I’ve never been more proud. My God, have you ever seen a more handsome pair of boys in your life? Though I’m not a fan of the haircuts, to be honest.”
Ma’s hand ran over the back of my head and I let her. It was the first soft touch I’d felt in ten weeks.
The second was Autumn’s hug.
With a little whoop, she flung her arms around my shoulders. I hugged back loosely when really I wanted to grab her hard, lift her off her feet. I took a quick inhale of the apple-cinnamon scent of her hair, when I only wanted to bury my face and hands in it.
“Congratulations,” she whispered against my neck. “I’m glad you’re back.” Her lips brushed my cheek, then she let go of me. Moved back to slip under Connor’s arm and let him claim her.
Mrs. Drake hugged Connor and kissed his cheek and Mr. Drake shook his hand, then pulled him in for a hug. Connor’s wide eyes met mine over his dad’s shoulder and shone with unshed tears. In all the years I’d known the Drakes, Connor’s father had never hugged his son. Until today.
