Love's Sacrifice (9 page)

Chapter Ten

“Bye
, Dad,” Michele’s voice echoed in his ears.

“Bye, princess, talk to you tomorrow.” Cody swiped a finger across the screen of his cell phone.

Three months had gone by, and he was still separated from his girls. Three months and he kept his promise. He talked to Michele every day, even if it was just for five minutes. He longed for Shon, thirteen years was too long, and now this. He wasn’t the same person as before. He was unhappy, and the only time he smiled was when he spoke to Michele or Shon. They always found a way to get him to smile, especially on video chat.

There was a knock on his door. “Come in.”

His commanding officer walked in with some papers in his hands.

Cody snapped to attention.

“Relax, Mitchell.”

“How can I help you, Sir?”

“Are you sure this is what you want to do, Mitchell?” Admiral Kirk asked. “I can rip these documents up right now.”

“Is that the reply, Sir?” Cody moved away from his desk, looking at the documents in his commanding officer’s hands.

“Mitchell, you’re up for commander. Your future looks so promising.” The Admiral pointed out. Do you know how many strings I had to pull to get this?” He waved the piece paper in his hand. “It usually takes nine to twelve months to process this request.”

“I understand, Sir.”

“I signed that damned request and rushed it because you asked me to, but now looking back, I should’ve denied it.”
 

“Sir
, I have my reasons.” Cody watched the man he admired, his mentor in his career.

Admiral Kirk shook his head. “Congratulations, Mitchell, you got what you wanted.”

Cody grabbed the documents out of his hands and smiled, reading over them. “Thank you, Sir.”

“Damn, I haven’t seen you this happy in a while,” the Admiral stated. “I’ve never seen anyone so delighted to receive that shit. Usually, they’re devastated.”

“Sir, I love serving my country, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the ones we love.” Cody placed the letter in a closed folder.

“Mitchell, if you ever need anything, give me a call.” His commanding officer shook his hand. “It has been a pleasure.”

“The pleasure has been mine, Sir.” Cody squeezed his mentor’s hand.

He released the Admiral’s grip. “Good luck at your new command,” the admiral said on his way out.

“Thank you.”

“Tell me it ain’t so.” Barkley entered his office right after the Admiral walked out. “Dude, over a woman?”

“Not any woman.” Cody sat, placing the folder on his desk. “She’s the mother of my only child, and the love of my life.”

“I’ve never heard you say mushy shit like that before.” Barkley dropped into the chair in front his desk. “She must be the real deal.”

“She is,” Cody sighed. “I never knew what I was missing in life until I met my daughter. She’s brought me so much joy and a few headaches.” He chuckled.

“Daddy’s little girl, I can’t fault you for wanting to be there for her, but you can do that from afar.”

“Barkley,” Cody watched him, knowing he tread on thin ice with what he was about to say, “I hope what am about to say doesn’t affect our friendship.”

“Say what you have to say, Mitchell.”

“You don’t have a problem just being the dad that sends money to your child. To me, that’s not being a real father.” He entwined his fingers. “You only call her on her birthdays and holidays. She doesn’t even know you, man. I met my daughter three months ago, and I know her more than you know yours.”

“That’s how you feel?” Barkley glared at him.

“Yeah, you need to reach out to your daughter. Before you know it, she’ll be a grown woman resenting you.” He leaned forward. “Everything I’m doing is for her.”

“You don’t think I’ve tried? Her mother won’t allow me to,” Barkley spat. “She has full custody.”

“Then fight, dammit.” Cody banged his fist on his desk. “They’re worth it.”

“I know.” Barkley stood. “I’m trying.”

“Try harder.” Cody peered up at his friend and stood too.

“For what it’s worth, I’m going miss you.” Barkley roamed over to him and  him a bear hug, patting his back. They pulled away. “Thanks for the advice. I see fatherhood has affected you in a good way.”

“Yes it has.” He grabbed the frame off his desk with Michele and Shon’s picture in it. “I wish you the best. You’ll make Lieutenant Commander in no time.”

“I hope so.” Barkley walked to the door. “I plan on stopping by legal and seeing what my options are with my kid.”

“Good luck.”

Cody didn’t know what came over him. He had no right to tell his friend what to do when it came to his kid, but he couldn’t help it. Being a father changed his whole outlook on life. He smiled, grabbed a box he’d purchased earlier, and started packing his office. “I’m coming home.”

***

“Michele,” Shon tried to console her daughter as she cried, “baby … he might be busy with work.” They hadn’t heard from Cody in over a week, and they tried to call, text, even video chat, and nothing. Shon even emailed him at work and received no reply back. Was this playback for what she did years ago? No, he would never do that to Michele.

“I knew,” she said in between tears, “that it was too good … to be true.” She hiccupped. “Why, Mom?” She cried harder.

“Baby, your dad wouldn’t do this to you.” She held her in her arms and rocked her. It hurt to see her child in pain. She prayed Cody was well, because if she had to hunt him down, she would, and then she would make him ache in pain for hurting her baby. Right now, it was about Michele, and she didn’t have time to think about her pain and how she missed him too. “Michele…”

There was a loud knock on her front door. They both were startled at the sound and looked up at the barrier. “We don’t have to answer it.” She rubbed her daughter’s back. The banging grew louder.
What the fuck?
Shon thought.

“I’ll answer it.” Michele stood, wiping her tears. She left the living room. Shon could hear her open the door, and then she heard her squeal.

Shon rushed off of her couch and ran to the front door to find Michele in Cody’s arms.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” he said against her cheek. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Michele clung to Cody, her body jerking as she cried in his arms.

“I’ve been driving for days.” He kissed her temple. “I made you a promise, princess, and I keep my promises.”

Shon looked beyond Cody at the U-Haul parked in front of her house with a truck hooked up to it. “Cody, what did you do?”

Cody wiped Michele’s face and dug into his pocket. He got down on one knee and pulled out a red velvet box.

Shon gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. No, he wasn’t. All this time she thought he was messing with her. Michele beamed with joy.

“Shon Nicole Blake,” he snagged her left hand, “will you marry me?” He waited for her answer.

“Cody…”

“There’s nothing holding us back. You can have everything you worked for and so can I.” He kissed her knuckles. “Shony … I don’t think I can stay like this for long, I’m getting old.”

Michele giggled. “You’re not old.”

“The Navy—”

“I’m no longer in the Navy.”

“Cody!” she yelled. “Why?”

“I’ll answer you when you answer my question.” He gazed at her. “What is done is done. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

Cody placed the princess cut diamond ring on her finger and struggled getting up. Shon jumped into his arms, kissing him.

“That’s nasty.” Michele opened the door, entering the house. “Dad, I’m so happy your back to stay.” She closed the door, giving them some privacy.

“Cody,” she cupped his face in her hands, “what did you do?”

“I turned in my letter of resignation, and they approved it.”

She closed her eyes, letting her hands fall to her side. “Why? I told you I would get out.” Shon stared at her engagement ring. Was this the price of his career?

He took her hands in his. “This works out perfectly.”

“How? You’re losing everything,” she spoke softly.

“You’re wrong. I’m gaining everything.” He sat down on her front step, making her sit next to him. “You have more invested than me. Like you said before, you have an associate, and you’re working on your bachelors. I have my masters. I’m not losing my career. I’m gaining in that department too. I already have a job on base, paying me more than I was making in the Navy.”

Shon finally smiled. “Really?”

“Yes.” He removed a strand of her hair from her face, brushing his finger behind her ear.

“You loved serving your country.”

He smirked. “And I’ll continue serving my country.” He kissed her lips. “I have connections in high places. Once we get married, really soon, I will join the Navy Reserve with you, Senior Chief, as my wife. As long as it was a prior relationship no one can say shit. They will have to count from the moment I sign my new contract.” He grinned.

“You have everything planned out, don’t you?” She moved closer to him, and he wrapped his strong arms around her.

“I already have the waiver signed.” He kissed her head. “It pays to know people in high ranks. So you see, my loving wife-to-be, love’s sacrifices sometimes pay off.” He held her close. “Your sacrifices will not be in vain.”

Michele opened the door and sat beside him. “Welcome home, Dad!”

“It’s good to be home.”

Epilogue

Four years later.

“
Dance With My Father,” by Luther Vandross
,
played as Cody walked Michele to the middle of the dance floor. She wrapped her hands behind his neck, and he placed his on her sides. They began swaying from side to side. She now reached his chin, outgrowing her mother. Every one of the guests stopped what they were doing and watched father and daughter dance. Michele had grown into a gorgeous teenager. She stared at him with her dazzling eyes, her hair was up into some sort of fancy twists, and she wore a sleeveless, casual, hot pink dress.

He held her tight in his arms and slowly turned her around. All the years he missed were replaced with beautiful memories. Cody gazed around the colorful ballroom; to the far right, there were balloons shaped into the number sixteen, and her name hung from the ceiling. The chairs were decorated in pink and white, and the centerpieces were white and pink roses, next to chocolate covered strawberries. Michele’s sweet sixteen cost more than his own wedding, since he and Shon got married at the court house. His parents and Shon’s mother paid for her party.

Cody spun her around, and his mother wiped at her eyes, watching them dance. He smiled. His parents, sister, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew made it out for the big event. Mrs. Irene was also in town for her granddaughter’s birthday party. She was heaven sent, and he couldn’t thank her enough for all the years she sacrificed to help Shon out with Michele, and now Noah. Barkley was there with his daughter. He took his ex to court, and they awarded him joint custody. He was happy for his friend.

“Dad.” Michele tilted her head to the side, looking up at him. “You kept your promise.”

“What promise is that, sweetie?” He touched her nose.

“You promised me four years ago that you would dance with me on my sweet sixteen.” They continued swaying from side to side.

“You remembered,” he whispered.

“Off course, silly.” She tapped his shoulders. “And you gave me a little brother too.” she winked at him.

He glanced over at Shon holding their one-year old son, Noah, in her arms. He was the spiting imagine of Cody just a darker complexion, but he could never say he wasn’t his. He had everything his heart always desired. Who would’ve thought he would meet the love of his life seventeen years ago? He was so proud of Shon. She had accomplished so much, and she was recently promoted to Master Chief, the highest honor in the enlisted world, and she finished her Bachelors degree.

“Dad…” Michele got on her tiptoe and kissed him. “Thank you.”

He kissed her nose again as the song ended. “Thank you for loving me.”

Michele leaped into his arms. “Dad … I love you,” she said before walking away. She grabbed the mic off the stand. “Mom and Dad, it’s your chance to have your dance. Everybody let’s dance!” She cackled and started dancing.

Mrs. Irene gently took Noah out of Shon’s arms. She stood, taking his breath away. Her makeup was flawless. Shon’s beige dress flowed to her ankles as she ambled over to where he stood. She strolled out onto the dance floor, and his lips curled in to a grin as she held her hand out to him.

Michele danced with her friends. She was such a strange teenager. They figured she wouldn’t want adults around, even though that wasn’t going to happen. Shon and her girlfriends would’ve chaperoned. However, Michele had other plans in mind. She wanted her family there to celebrate with her.

He met Shon half way, wrapping his arms around his wife. Her hands settled on his chest. “You feel that?” he whispered in her ear.

She placed her hand over his heart, feeling the fast pace.

“That’s what happens to me when you’re near.” He kissed her neck.

She blushed. “Imagine what you do to me.” Her lips curled into a naughty smile, and she nibbled on his earlobe. She began singing the words to the song. “Just the way you are…”

“When you smile … you’re … amazing…” Cody spun her around. “Can you believe it?” His hands caressed the arched of her back. “Our sacrifices paid off, Master Chief Mitchell.” He kissed her luscious lips.

“Yes, Commander Mitchell,” Shon chuckled against his mouth.

Cody joined the Navy Reserve, and after three years, he was finally selected as Commander. He enjoyed the two sides of life. He was a civilian on most days, and a commander one weekend a month, two weeks out of the summer, or whenever they decided to recall him. Life couldn’t be better. In the end, it all worked out—love’s sacrifices.

THE END

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