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Prologue
10 years ago
The thunder sounded the exact moment the bat connected with the ball and I bolted.First base.Second base.Third base.Home run.“Out!”Deacon shouted.
“What?That’s bullshit!”
“Chill, man, it’s just a game.”
I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated, and let out a sigh.“Whatever.”
“Colt, you’re wound tighter than a two dollar watch tonight.What’s the matter with you?”Deacon asked.
Just because he was my older brother didn’t mean I wanted to talk feelings with him.“I take the ASVAB test tomorrow, remember?That’s going to make or break my future.”Even the acronym for the test, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, was tedious.
“Let’s not be so dramatic.Dad will be proud of you whatever happens.”
That was the problem.He didn’t care as long as I was enlisted and followed in his footsteps.“Not everyone’s as lucky as you, Deke.You scored high and got exactly what you wanted.The Army placed you in the aviation and aerial defense unit.”
Before Deacon could respond, it started to rain, I guessed it was only a matter of time after the thunder earlier.“Let’s just get the hell out of here,” I said, deciding to change the subject.I picked up my bat, he grabbed the ball, and we ran to the car as the rain started pelting us.However, the rain actually felt good, it was the refresher I didn’t even know I needed.If I could afford to get sick, I would just stand in the middle of the ball field and let the rain fall down on me.
Enlisting in the Army was my chance to make Dad happy.I knew that.
It was all he ever wanted, to see each of his sons serve in the Army.Follow in his footsteps.
The Army comes first.That’s what Dad always told us.Everything else falls in line after that.He’s been out of the Army for over two decades now and he still lived by that rule of thumb.It’s like it was engrained in him or something.
The car ride home felt like a lifetime and with the rain it took longer than usual to get home, it seemed like just because it was raining everyone had an excuse to drive at a snail’s pace.
“Whatever you do, hide your nerves from Mom, because you know she doesn’t do well with this.It’s a lot harder on her than it is on us.”
Deacon spoke the truth.I knew he did because I’d watched her send off Deacon and all the others.Each time my brothers broke her heart.She didn’t stop crying for days, probably another reason I didn’t really care to go.I didn’t want to be the reason for all that pain.And I had never uttered a word of my disdain for the entire thing to my mom or brothers.They wouldn’t understand, but I knew Deacon wasn’t like that.He’d seen shit he could never unsee and been through things he always said he’d never want anyone else to experience.When he got back, he was seriously messed up, but he went to counseling twice a week and it had really been helping.Of course, there would always be a chance he could be asked to go on another tour, but we didn’t talk about that.
“Can I ask you something?You’ve been out for almost a year, but you still haven’t really moved on.Why is that?”
“Look, you’ve got a visitor.”I looked out the car window at the front door and there she was.Christina.“Is she going to the drop-off?”Deacon inquired, clearly dodging my question.
I had to lighten the mood because it was clear Deacon didn’t want to talk about it.“Dude, you’re getting ahead of yourself.Let me take the damn test first, then we can talk drop-off,” I said sighing.“You’re such a planner it’s ridiculous.Can’t you ever just chill?”
Deacon laughed.“You do enough of that for the lot of us.”
I got out of the car, walked up to Christina, picked her up, and swung her in my arms.“Is it just me or do you look more beautiful tonight than ever before?”
Her blue eyes sparkled in the moonlight and I couldn’t help but kiss her.
She backed away and cleared her throat.“Colt, your brother is trying to get inside.”
We moved away from the door as Deacon whistled.I punched his arm as he passed by and went inside the house.
“It’s just us now,” I said, placing my hands on her waist.
She sighed cutely and tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.“Baby, I’ve been here for almost three hours.Your mom invited me to stay for dinner, your dad showed me the boat he’s been fixing up in the garage.It’s been quite an evening.Where were you?”
“Playing baseball with Deke.I didn’t know you were stopping by or I never would’ve gone.”
She grew serious.“What are you stressed about?”
I acted cool.“No stress here.”
