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1
KELSEY
“Iwon’t be coming home tonight, Kelsey. I need to stay for a few more days, just until these briefings are complete, and then I’ll be on the first plane home.”
“Are you kidding me?!” I screech.
Lieutenant Colonel Elias Mitchell is always a Marine first, a father second. I don’t know why I expected this time to be any different.
I haven’t been home in almost a year, since he has more important things to do than spend any time with his daughter. When my dad called last week, begging me to come home for a visit, I thought this time would be different. That for the first time since my mom passed away nine years ago, he was interested in something besides the military and my grades.
“I’m sorry, pumpkin,” Dad apologizes for the millionth time. “I promise to make it up to you.”
Dad always makes promises and never comes through. He promised we’d spend Christmas together last year and that he would buy me my first beer on my twenty-first birthday. But he broke that promise too.
I don’t know why I keep putting my faith in him. It only leads to more broken promises.
“You can’t keep the Secretary of the Navy waiting just because it’s my birthday.” I roll my eyes before flopping down on the couch and turning on the television.
What else can I do? My father is one of the most important people on the Eastern Seaboard. Being the commander of the most prestigious Marine Corps Recon Battalions in the world comes with responsibilities.
“I’ll promise to be home by Monday,” he sighs. “Why don’t you and Willow do something fun for your birthday? You only turn twenty-one once.”
“I’ll call her and see if she has plans for the weekend,” I mumble, finally settling on a rerun ofAmerica’s Next Top Model. “If not, I can always just order dinner from Sergio’s, grab a six-pack, and watch a movie.”
“Thanks for understanding, baby,” he responds as someone calls his name in the background. “I have to run, Kelsey. I’ll try to call you tomorrow between meetings.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” I mutter before ending the call, dropping the phone on the couch beside me.
I should’ve known when Dad said he had a meeting in DC this week that something would keep him, it always does. You would think he’d try to be home, especially after begging me to come home, but not him. He has aspirations, as he always reminds me, to go all the way to the top. Becoming Commandant of the Marine Corps has been his goal for as long as I could remember, and no one is going to stand in his way. He didn’t stop when my mother died of cancer. What made me think he’d take the time to celebrate my birthday?
“Wishful thinking,” I mumble as my phone rings beside me. I answer without even bothering to check who’s calling. “Hello?”
“What’s up, girlie?” Willow chirps into the line. “I’ll be at your house in twenty.”
Willow and I have been friends since I moved here. She was the only person who wasn’t afraid to be friends with the LTC’s daughter. I never had many friends, and the few I had disappeared once my dad no longer held their fate in his hands. But not Willow. She walked right up to me with a huge smile on her face and demanded I tell her where I found my shoes. After staring at her for a few moments, I laughed loudly. The rest is history. I haven’t been able to get rid of her since.
“Did you bring some Chubby Hubby?”
“Oh, he didn’t,” Willow sighs into the phone.
It sounds as if she hoped my dad would to come through this time too.
“He did,” I confirm, turning off the TV. “Apparently something went down in the sandbox and there are emergency briefs until Friday. The powers that be want answers, and my dad has them, or something like that.”
“Itisyour birthday that he begged you to come home and celebrate with him.”
“Yeah,” I sigh, pushing off the couch and pace in front of the television.
All I ever wanted was a little of my dad’s time. I know the work he does changes the world, but sometimes I just want my dad.
“Too bad you can’t choose your parents’ jobs.”
“True, but look at it this way. You can spend your birthday with me and your three favorite Marines,” Willow giggles softly. “I’ll see you in a few. Apparently, I’m stopping for Chubby Hubby for my bestie.”
“Your bestie says thank you.” I smile before ending the call and flopping back down on the couch.
My three favorite Marines: Spencer, Devon, and Reid. I’ve been in love with them since I laid eyes on them five years ago when my dad hosted a Fourth of July barbecue for his men. He always tried to keep these parties to the higher ups, the ones who can help his career the most, but the Company and Platoon Commanders wanted my dad to meet them.
