Chapter 156: Call Home
*Fourth General Order of the Navy: To report all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own*
“Hi, I’m here. Love you, bye.”
In the weeks before JD shipped out, the recruiter had met with his family, which had grown tremendously from when he signed up the summer before his senior year. During the meetings, Chief had explained what to expect.
Swearing in ceremony at MEPS – Military Entrance Processing Stations.
The flight to Chicago.
Bus trip to RTC Great Lakes.
A short call to tell them that he had arrived.
‘The Box’ which would have *all* of his personal effects.
Form letter from the commanding officer.
And then there had been all the lists that they had to go over. What to take. What *not* to take. What to wear. What *not* to wear. What to do before leaving. And an even longer list of what *not* to do before leaving.
“Make my life a little easier, son.” The Navy Chief pleaded. “Do not get drunk. Do not get arrested. And for the love of God, do not get arrested while you’re drunk.”
Reese couldn’t help but laugh as the other man looked exasperated. There was certainly a story there, but no one was brave enough to ask. Dean might have been, but with the look that her uncle gave her, she decided not to.
Even with Reese telling them how it was when he went through boot camp, sometime in the last century, Helen and Dean had not been prepared for the five second phone call. Before either of them could respond, the call ended, and JD was gone.
He now belonged to the Navy.
Reese sat on the couch with Helen on one side and Dean on the other. Holding them close to his sides, they both cried over the young man that they loved.
“I promise, he’s going to be okay.” Reese assured them before pressing a kiss to each of their heads.
“Mine is all hormones.” Helen assured him and he simply agreed.
“I just miss him.” Dean quietly admitted.
“It’s fine, tears are good.” Reese said pulling on the advice that Bunny had given him. “Tears are just the way the soul cleans itself.”
With their heads resting on his chest, Dean and Helen grinned at each other. The small laugh bubbled out of the younger woman which triggered Helen’s laughter. Reese sat in the middle, looking from one to the other. Bunny had not told him about this. He was lost.
Dean sat up and looked at her uncle. “Did you talk to Bunny?”
“Maybe??” he replied in a confused voice.
“Are you asking us or telling us?” Helen grinned at him.
“Okay, yes, I did.”
“O, you’re the best.” Dean told him as she kissed her cheek.
“I’m lost.” He admitted.
“Finally, something that tips you off kilter.” Helen squeezed his waist and kissed his other cheek.
“Kitten, you kick me off kilter all the damned time.”
“Ugh!” Dean complained. “Don’t have sex talk in front of me!”
“Don’t have sex talk in front of you?” Reese chuckled. “Either you’re missing a few words or they’re out of order.”
“UGH! I’m trying to get the picture of you two doing what we did out of my head!”
“I don’t need details about my sons sex life.” Helen admitted.
“Just promise me that you were safe.” Reese requested as he pulled them both back to him.
“We were.” Dean admitted quietly as she blushed.
“Good.” Reese kicked his shoes off and propped his feet on the coffee table. “Now, onto more fun topics. The babies are coming home next week. We need to get a nanny.”
“I’m still not sure about that.” Helen admitted quietly.
“I know. But we’re talking about three babies. You and me, we’re already outnumbered. Even if both of us stay home and work from here. We’re still going to need help during working hours. And just so that we can have the occasional breather.”
“I can help too.” Dean offered.
“You have school starting next month and doesn’t summer practice start up this week?” Reese asked her.
“Yeah. I was given a pass this week.” The teen admitted. “But I think I’m going to go on Friday.”
“That’s fine. I guess we should at least talk to some of the people that were recommended.” Helen agreed. “Let me guess, you already have some interviews lined up.”
“No, I don’t.” Reese chuckled. “But I have looked over the resumes and there are a few that I like more than the others.”
“I like Mark Anthony.” Dean smiled. “Who the hell names their kid Mark Anthony?”
The other two joined her in light laughter.
“I have a guy on one of my crews whose name is George Washington.” Reese smiled.
“There’s an accountant at the office and her name is Mary Ibrahim and she’s engaged to Todd Lincoln.”
“They should totally hyphenate their names and then be introduced as Mary and Todd Ibrahim-Lincoln.” Dean laughed.
Laughing, Helen agreed. “I’ll make that suggestion. Why do you like Mark Anthony?”
“Don’t have to worry about him trying to seduce O.” Dean looked up at her uncle who groaned.
“There’s a story there?” Helen asked.
“Several.” Reese admitted as he leaned his head back and looked up at the ceiling. “Prior to Willow working for me, I went through a few-“
Dean scoffed and her uncle continued as if he had not heard her. The only indication that he had heard her was the light tug on her hair.
“- assistants. Once they realized that it wasn’t just some little construction company, and that I was single, they did everything that they could to entice me into their bedrooms.”
“Or your office.” Dean supplied. “Mrs. Teddy.”
Reese laughed. “Yes, Mrs. Teddy. Woman delivered my morning phone messages in nothing but a pair of high heels and a bright red teddy.”
“And she was married!” Dean exclaimed.
“And I knew her husband.” Reese added. “So, Dean’s not wrong. We need to make sure that they won’t try to seduce either of us.”
“I doubt they would try to seduce me.” Helen admitted.
“A few more weeks, when the doctor clears you, I plan on seducing you.” Reese murmured against his wife’s temple.
“Again, eww.” Dean complained.
“Why don’t we go see out babies and get a burger?” Reese suggested.
“With avocado?” Helen asked sitting up.
“Whatever my Kitten wants.” He agreed. “Come on, Dean, you want one with extra bacon and sauteed onions?”
“Yes, please.”
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