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"Perfect," shereplied.
Chapter Twelve
The Commodore
The baby was asleep.The gifts were tucked under the tree and the stockings filled. Will and Shannon were home from the party and settling down for the night. Not a creature was stirring…except mywife.
"I just don't know why she hasn't told us," Judy said, slapping the comforter. She'd uttered some iteration of that statement at least ten times per day for the past thirtydays.
"Haven't a clue," I said, closing my book but keeping my finger tucked between the pages. I didn't dare mention that she'd been hounding Lauren for a grandbaby since before her wedding day or that I sensed our youngest child was paying my wife back for theharanguing.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Judy asked. "She must be almost three months along and she hasn't said a thing. I just don't understandit."
I glanced at the ceiling, sending up a prayer for patience. Even after thirty-nine years of marriage, plus five years of courting, Judy still tested every shred of mypatience.
"She'll tell us in her time," I said. "Lolo has a plan for everything. I'm sure she has a plan forthis."
"You say that about Wesley," she replied with an edge in her voice that told me I was skating on thin ice. "Look where that's ledus."
"Wesley is private," I said. "It's his nature. He's always kept to himself, always taken his time to share things with us. When he was four, he went two days with a broken finger before mentioningit."
She huffed out a sigh that indicated she didn't care for my example. "I wasn't happy about thateither."
"Will is a leader, Lolo is a planner, and Wesley is a vault. That's why he's so valuable to the clandestineservices."
Judy shot out of bed to pace the length of the room. "Has it occurred to you that all of our children keep secrets from us? That they don't feel comfortable talking to us about the issues in theirlives?"
"They haven't been children for ten or fifteen years, JudithJane."
That earned me a sharp glare before she returned to wearing the rugs thin. I should've known better than to suggest our babies were all grown up or imply she was a heartbeat over twenty-eight.
"They don't keep secrets," I said, patting the empty spot beside me. She ignored the hint. "They work through challenges independently and come to us once they've reached decisions or require counsel. They're smart and capable, and I am proud of their independence. We did well with them.Youdidwell."
"If it's such a wonderful thing, then why does it bother me somuch?"
She propped her hands on her red satin pajamas. I couldn't imagine the menswear style was meant to be alluring, but I had to drag my eyes away from the curve of her full hips in order to form a singlethought.
"Up here, Bill." Judy snapped her fingers and pointed to her face. That coquettish smile. It was the death of me. From the first moment I spotted her after the Thanksgiving weekend University of Texas at Austin–Texas A&M game, that smile knocked me rightover.
I'd found her on the front lawn of my fraternity house with a group of her girlfriends. It was hot as hell that day. November—even in Texas—had no business running that warm and it forced everyone outside late into theevening.
She wore a long floral dress, the off-the-shoulder kind without straps or sleeves. The twenty-something version of me believed—hoped—it would fall at any moment. Her blonde hair was knife-straight and brushed her waist, and she had a dandelion tucked over her ear. She was a little sprite of a lady, short and generously curved, and she shot down every man who dared walk her way. She drank Heineken from the bottle and belted out a laugh when I asked if she'd take a walk withme.
She laughed, but then she saidyes.
I fell for her that night. Fell hard and fast, and all these years later, I hadn't stoppedfalling.
Back then, Judy had other things on her mind. She had big goals and bigger plans, and no time for boyfriends. Her brother's number came up in the draft, and she was determined to do her part, too. She was studying nursing, and intended to take her training to the armed services immediately after graduation. As far as she was concerned, her personal politics on Vietnam mattered less than the fact she was capable of lending a hand to those in need. By that logic, she couldn't get overseas quickenough.
I hated everything about that, and she didn't give a goodshit.
That was my last year at Austin. I was due in Virginia for the Navy's Special Forces training after accepting my diploma. I asked her to come with me, and then I begged. She had no interest in being a wife or setting up a home, not when she had another year of coursework to complete and then troops to aid, and there was no two ways aboutit.
I fought her on it, but that was as futile as begging her to marry me. Judy was a steamroller, and nothing was standing in her way. Not even me. As much as it drove me batty, I loved her conviction. The sense of purpose that went straight down to her marrow. It was that purpose that sent me to Virginia with the belief I'd get my ring on her fingersomeday.
It took nearly four years and the Fall of Saigon, but Isucceeded.
Austin was in a different conference now, and they didn't play A&M over Thanksgiving weekend anymore. It was a shame. It was a hearty rivalry. I hated how the best things changed and nothing stayed the sameanymore.
