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“Exactly.”
“Should we do it today? Not give him time for word to get around or prep for it?”
“Yep.”
Both Ian and Morrison stood up, shaking hands in silent solidarity… and hesitated as Mitchell stood up, looking at both men.
“Be open and honest with Captain Logan,” Mitchell said quietly. “He appreciates someone shooting straight with him and explaining why you are giving up your careers. Remember, no one understands why you’d do something like this until you are in that same position, same mindset.”
“Will do.”
Ian walked out of the barracks with Morrison beside him, both men on a mission. They walked across the sand, out into the blistering heat, and he took a deep breath to steady his nerves… and then smiled.
He was more nervous meeting June for the first time – and if he could do that? He could absolutely face Captain Logan’s wrath. It’s for a limited time, whereas his beloved June was his world, his forever. Going home to her never sounded so good, and he imagined what it would be like to wake up with June, to bring her coffee in bed, hold her hands, slip his arms around her and hug her when she was least expecting it… and toss up those gorgeous skirts to see those incredible stockings.
“What’s the first thing you want to do when you get home?” he asked Morrison curiously, wondering if he was the only guy so obsessed with his wife or if this was just ‘part of it’. Mitchell never talked about his wife and neither did Morrison, but he sure did. Ian blabbed about how wonderful his wife was, made no bones about how he felt about his girl, and seriously couldn’t get enough of his bride.
“Actually,” Morrison chuckled. “I want to hold my wife’s hand, hug my new son, and truthfully? I want to go to the courthouse.”
“I thought you were already married?”
“I am – but she’s got a nasty court case coming up, and I want to be at her side,” Morrison said quietly as they walked up to the building. “I want to be there to support her, to be Madison’s partner, and I think I want to show solidarity… adopting her boy as my own.”
He opened the door and allowed Morrison to go inside first – but the other man paused.
“And you? What’s the first thing you want to do?”
“Hug my wife,” Ian admitted, smiling openly. “I want to see her smile, hear her laugh, and just breathe her air.”
“I’ve got it just as bad, my friend,” Morrison laughed softly, and shook his head.
As they stepped inside, Morrison was at the desk signing in… and Ian went immediately to the small table in the distance that held a coffee pot with several Styrofoam cups. He filled three immediately and carried them in a triangle fashion, squished between his two hands.
“Morrison?” Captain Logan said, walking out of the office, and hesitated spotting Ian. “Selkirk? To what do I owe this honor?”
“We decided to come bend your ear and share a cup of coffee,” Ian volunteered brightly. “No beer, but coffee is safe… right?”
“Can we come in?” Morrison asked, and Logan nodded, stepping back and holding out his arm.
“C’mon in fellas.”
As Morrison and Logan sat down, Ian gingerly set down the three cups of coffee – taking one for himself. All three men were sitting there silently, sipping on the steaming, obviously strong cups of dark coffee… as Logan raised an eyebrow.
“Sooo?” Logan began.
“So,” Morrison hedged, and glanced at Ian, who smiled impishly.
“So,” Ian paused – and then chuckled easily, shaking his head. “So, so, so… yeah, I’m not re-enlisting, and need to know my date to go home. Other than that? How’s your day going? And your wife? How did she enjoy those candies you sent her? My, my it’s awfully sunny outside, but I think we are supposed to have a cool front tomorrow. It’s only gonna be ‘blistering’ instead of ‘broiling’. Morrison, do you think it’s gonna be ‘blistering’ tomorrow?”
“Definitely gonna be ‘blistering’ tomorrow with no rain in sight anytime soon, but that’s the desert-life, you know? You sent your wife candy? What kind? Maybe I should bring Madison some when I go home – oh, and I’ll need my departure date too,” Morrison finished, taking a big sip of the coffee while Logan sat there, staring at them in disbelief.
The two men glanced at each other quickly, before both took another sip… and Logan set down his cup without a word. Neither moved, and several uncomfortable moments passed.
“Did I mention I got married?” Ian blurted out, and saw Logan roll his eyes, causing Morrison’s to widen in surprise.
“Tell me it wasn’t your pen pal?”
“It was – and he married his pen pal too,” Ian volunteered, garnering a swift look of betrayal from Morrison that caused Logan to chuckle. “Yep. We are both happily married. Did you know, Mitchell is happily married to his pen pal too?”
