Corpsman and the Nerd (22 page)

Our work schedule is
almost back to normal, finally! I’m hoping to be able to call soon,
but we’ve one man on a delicate machine, and we could still lose
him, so we’re continuing to restrict cell phone usage.

I’m glad you folks had a
good leaf-raking day. And that Ryan participated, even if he didn’t
necessarily behave. And I agree with your mother, Ryan does exhibit
some of your qualities. He has learned some of your worst habits,
Mr. Morrison! Or should I say, Dr. Morrison? Why don’t you or Lainy
ever use that title? You’ve both earned it.

I suppose by now you’re
finished with Thanksgiving and are ready to move into Christmas? We
were so busy, I didn’t even notice that a major holiday had passed.
One of our food shipments got delayed, so we didn’t even celebrate
the day here, yet. I’m sure they’ll get around to it eventually.
But being out in the middle of the desert just isn’t terribly
festive-invoking. Ah, well, something besides the slop we’ve been
eating would be nice.

The cookies and brownies
are most welcome!

There goes the call for
all hands again, so I’d better cut this short. Happy Thanksgiving
way late! (It is somewhere in the middle of December,
right?)

I miss and love
you,

KC

P.S. We’ve held an
impromptu Rocky-had-the-puppies party. If you can get pictures, we
sure would love to see them! Everyone had a great time. The excuse
to throw a party was nice. We’re all feeling a little overworked,
overheated, underpaid, underfed, and sleep deprived, so this was
nice.

Chapter 27

She missed and loved him. But was she
in love with him? That was the question. And one he wasn’t likely
to obtain an answer to for a long time. Max pushed himself away
from his desk and paced to the coffee maker.

Pouring another cup of fragrant,
steaming coffee he didn’t want seemed easier than not receiving
answers he did want. He ambled back to his desk, wondering how to
broach the subject. “Yo, KC, do you love me as your man?” didn’t
seem appropriate somehow.

Especially with her thousands of miles
away for approximately five more months. Max tried not to kid
himself. He understood their physical separation was only one small
portion of the problem. Another, larger factor was his fear of
failure. Losing what they had, losing her and Ryan entered into the
equation, of course. But his confidence was another major factor.
Maybe the largest issue of all.

Max settled back into his chair, and
set the wonderful smelling coffee down untouched. Instead he tapped
out a response to KC.

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject:
Thanksgiving

Happy Holidays,
KC!

Yes, we were all together
for Thanksgiving, at Mom and Dad’s. I had a really hard time
convincing Ryan to settle Wednesday night, but eventually managed.
It didn’t help that I was about as excited as him. LOL

He played with the herd
all day. I managed to watch football and eat all day. Whoever
invented Thanksgiving should be given extra privileges. We had a
wonderful time. Even though Mitch and I got stuck with the dishes,
again, we made the best of it.

Lainy couldn’t eat much.
Her stomach still hasn’t settled. But Laurie, Melly, Dory, and Mom
assured us this is perfectly normal, again. (I think they ganged up
on us, but maybe after hearing it fifty times, we’ll catch
on.)

Greg pulled us aside and
said that Lainy being sick is far better than the alternative.
Mitch was brave enough to ask what that was. (I figured what I
didn’t know couldn’t hurt me.) Apparently some women are crabby the
entire time they’re pregnant? I knew they could get a bit cranky,
but Greg claims his sister and brother-in-law nearly divorced, she
was so bad.

Mitch is counting himself
lucky, but he still hates to see Lainy so miserable. She tells him
all the time she doesn’t mind pregnancy sickness. I think she’s
being honest, even. But he’s not taking chances. I told him I
expected more from a Marine. He brained me. Then we
went back to the game.

My team actually won, so I
was happy to see that. You’ll be pleased to know the Steelers have
a good shot at the Super Bowl too. Anyway, that’s all I’ll say on
that subject since I figure you probably don’t care.

Lainy recorded some good
holiday coverage for you, so hopefully you’ll sort of share in the
day. She did the same for Mitch and Ben last year, so no worries. I
think she interviewed Ryan, so just be forewarned. (Better have
some tissues handy.)

The house and office still
feel empty without you here. You really do have a presence here
that’s sorely missed. I’m glad you’re there, helping our country’s
war efforts, but I also want you here. I suppose everyone feels
this way. Pulled in opposite directions and opposing needs. What we
know is right and necessary, versus what we want.

Hope you’re
well!

Love,

Max and Ryan

P.S. Think about having a
doctorate in
my
family. I’d never hear the end of it if I used Dr. Morrison.
I shudder to think about the teasing and harassment! And, I just
don’t think about that degree. I needed it at the time for my
business plans, but really, I’m just Max.

KC could practically see him
holding his hands out, palms up in that universal gesture of
come-on
. He was Max, but
he had earned an advanced degree yet never used it. She smiled.
It
was
true that
his family would harass him to no end if he did use the title
Doctor. Ed’s contribution alone was scary enough not to contemplate
too deeply. The Morrisons certainly kept each other
humble.

*****

KC popped the DVD in that
read
Morrison Family
Thanksgiving
. She and Ryan had spent last
year with them, so she understood what she missed. That didn’t mean
she wasn’t super excited to see what antics this family who had
adopted Ryan and her got up to while enjoying the holiday together.
She was super excited, and also super sad. To be here, rather than
there was a little depressing.

She leaned back on her cot, heart
heavy, but happy to see those she loved, even if only via DVD. The
video started and she saw the surfaces in the kitchen heavily laden
with dishes. She recognized the desserts table, and selected a
cookie from her stash. At least she had something to nibble on
while she watched. The camera scanned the many vegetables simmering
on the stove. KC grinned.

Some of those colorful veggies had
better appear on both Ryan’s and Max’s plates. They would hear
about it if they didn’t. Her men needed to eat right. And since she
wasn’t there to monitor them, KC realized she could use Lainy’s
videos to keep track.

Hungrily, she took in all the
preparations and each face that ambled across the screen. She knew
every one of them, and it nearly broke her heart to know she
couldn’t join in. When told the video was going to her, everyone
smiled, waved, and told her they missed her.

Some of the children were heart
wrenching. “Aunt KC we miss you.”

“
We’ll eat lots of cookies
for you.” “Why can’t she be with us, Mommy?” “Aunt KC isn’t hewe?
Whewe is she?” “Aunt KC, you haff t’ come home, now!”

Then Lainy told Ryan the video was for
her. And already teary eyed from the herd, KC sniffed as his big
blue eyes filled with tears. “Mom, Dad and me miss you. We want you
to come home. Pwease? Cause we love you. And you should be hewe for
Than’sgiving. Gwanme said families should be togethew.”

As Max had predicted, KC had to lunge
for more tissues. She paused the video and sat staring at her son,
aching and empty for him. How would he do at Christmas without her?
With no answer to that heart-wrenching question, she hit play
again.

This time Lainy trained the camera on
Monica, Max’s mother, and that good lady smiled sadly into the
camera. “Don’t you worry, KC, we’ll take good care of your son for
you. He doesn’t understand, and I’m sure you’re worried about
Christmas, but don’t be,” she smiled at something off the camera
before continuing. If she could choose any mother in the world, KC
would choose Monica Morrison to be hers. With a few choice words
Max’s mom managed to make her feel better.

“
I’ll talk to him. And we’re
proud you’re helping our men. Just as we were proud of Mitchel last
year. We missed him. And we miss you. But we understand too. You
come home safe and sound, girl,” Monica finished in a motherly tone
and KC blew her nose again.

Each of the adults added a similar
message and KC felt gone, but not forgotten. A good feeling and it
helped to assuage the emptiness in her heart. The Morrisons
expected her to be with them next year, and in the meantime, they
would make certain her son had a good holiday season.

Shaking her head, KC watched the DVD
to the end. And she liked how Lainy closed the video. Max’s face
filled the screen, laughing as he watched something behind the
camera.

“
Dad, can I get another
cookie?” Ryan asked.

“
How many have you had?” Max
replied, and KC felt her heart twist. He was a natural for the
role. Perfectly comfortable being Ryan’s dad.

“
I don’t know,” Ryan
prevaricated.

“
Why don’t you ask Granme if
you can have some milk instead?”

“
Okay,” Ryan agreed and
loped off.

Max turned to Mitch, seated
beside him. “That means he’ll get milk
and
a cookie, you know.”

“
Yeah, I figured that out.
I’m thinking maybe I’ll go see if ‘Granme’ is giving out milk and
cookies to anyone who asks.” Mitch surged to his feet.

KC heard Lainy laugh and Mitch’s
impressive chest filled the screen followed by kissing noises
before Max showed up on the screen again. He was shaking his
head.

“
This video is for KC, Max,”
Lainy’s voice said.

“
Oh. We miss you! And please
come home soon. Thanksgiving isn’t the same without you.” He looked
sad for a moment, and KC wanted to reach out and kiss the furrows
away. The screen faded as she heard others calling they missed her
too. Then someone started singing
For
She’s A Jolly Good Fellow
and KC laughed
through her tears.

Chapter 28

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: Thanksgiving
Video

Hello Max,

I watched one of the videos
from Lainy. The Thanksgiving Special. I enjoyed the
DVD
and feel happy and...
sad. Wishing so badly I could be there, but grateful that you all
were thinking of me.

You were right about
needing tissues for when Lainy interviewed Ryan. Wow! As usual,
your mom’s interview helped. Mitch seems so happy and enjoying the
holidays with you all this year and that makes me content. Knowing
he was here last year, but this year he can share in the family
celebration gives me hope for next year! And I was with you last
year, so I’m not complaining. Maybe he and I can both be there next
year.

Also knowing Ryan is
having a good time is a relief. He’s taking this better than I am.
How can he have such understanding when we don’t? I’m pretty proud
of him. And you.

I loved hearing him call
you dad. It’s so fitting, why haven’t we initiated that before?
He’s so comfortable at your folk’s house and with you. I’m so happy
he’s got a parent looking after him.

Max paused to think about what KC had
written. He was sure she’d cry. She was also right about this whole
dad thing. Why hadn’t they had Ryan call him Dad before now?
Probably because the little fellow needed to adjust to that way of
thinking first and do it on his own. Whether Ryan called him dad or
not didn’t discount Max’s place in his life.

He kept reading.

I can’t even begin to tell
you how much I love what you’re doing, Max. You don’t have to love
my son like you do. You don’t have to care for him, or take him in,
but you did and you have. It’s humbling to think about what you’re
doing, and you didn’t even hesitate! How, why? I can’t comprehend
your willingness to open your life to my son, but I’m very, very
grateful you have
.

He stopped again and swallowed as he
reread that paragraph. He didn’t have to love Ryan so much. Yet he
was aware of that feeling of Ryan being his, and had felt this from
the start. Like most pet owners claimed their pet chose them, he
felt someone else had chosen Ryan to be his son. Max had simply
fallen in with those plans.

I suppose that’s why I feel
so strongly that he should be calling you Dad. Because you are.
That’s why I didn’t balk when the two of you cooked up the scheme
to have Ryan come stay with you. You’ve been his dad all along,
haven’t you? In some ways, he’s yours as much as he’s mine. He
certainly acts like you.

Even your mother pointed that out!