West of Nowhere (30 page)

She rushed into a bear hug, his beefy arms lifting her off the floor. Seeing Gus and the band onstage had stirred warm memories of her Nashville days, especially since Corey hadn’t been there to remind her of the ugly way those days had ended.

“Mack, I want you to meet a couple of my friends. This is Joy and her daughter Madison, who happens to be a big-time Gus Holley fan. Did Michelle leave my name for backstage?”

Madison’s blue eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Sure did.” He hung backstage passes around their necks. “Y’all can go on back. They’re all in the green room.”

Joy and Madison stepped inside the door but Amber hung back to get the lowdown on Corey. “What’s with Sammy on bass? What happened to Corey?”

“Man, that was ugly,” Mack said. “He got busted in Dallas with a sixteen-year-old girl in his bed. Her old man wasn’t happy. Gus fired him right out there in the hall of the hotel. Last we heard, he was picking out wedding invitations.”

“You’re shitting me,” she said under her breath.

“It was that or go to jail for statutory rape.”

Corey never could turn down an easy lay, and he wasn’t smart enough to check ID. It was satisfying to know his recklessness had finally caught up with him. He probably hadn’t even known the girl’s name that night, but she’d be hard to forget as Mrs. Corey Dobbins.

Amber went inside and took Madison’s hand again. “Are you ready to meet Gus Holley in person?”

The girl was practically frozen with excitement—glazed eyes and a toothy grin. Joy seemed nervous too, which Amber found amusing since it was a first. In the green room, they wove through all the groupies to a cluster of people that included Gus, sweaty and flushed from his performance, and his beautiful wife. Amber peered over Gus’s shoulder to wave at Michelle.

“Look who’s here, Gus! It’s Amber Halliday.”

They were the sweet, down-to-earth people they’d always been, the best of Nashville as far as she was concerned. The highlight of the whole night was watching Gus fuss over Madison, telling her what a lucky guy he was to have such a pretty fan. Joy snapped dozens of photos, and Gus signed their tickets and the CD.

The vast parking lot at the Oracle Arena was nearly empty by the time they finally made their way out. Joy took her hand as Madison skipped ahead to the Jeep. “So this is what you had up your sleeve when you asked for a special favor. Who knew you could be so sneaky?”

“I only got the email from Michelle this morning. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“It was. I think you made Madison’s day…week, year, life. But you’d already solidified your place on her idol list after I told her it was your idea for her to come tonight.”

“I knew she’d get a kick out of it.”

“You were sweet to do it, especially after she threw you under the bus. But now that you’re BFFs, does it make you think about sticking around instead of running off and joining the circus…I mean, the navy?”

“You know, what’s funny is that I’m already starting to feel a change in myself. When I told all those guys from the band that I’d joined, I was so proud. Everybody congratulated me and it was the greatest feeling I’ve ever had. I know this probably sounds stupid—I haven’t even done anything yet—but this feels so right.”

They reached the Jeep, but stood outside while Madison buckled up in the backseat.

“It isn’t stupid. I know exactly what you mean.”

“Seriously?”

“I signed my letter of intent when I was just a senior in high school. That whole year it was like…yeah, I felt like I was in the navy already.”

Even with Madison nearby, Amber couldn’t resist a quick kiss as she leaned into Joy’s embrace. “I’m going to do you proud.”

“I have no doubt. Your head’s in the right place, and I’m starting to believe you’re doing this for the right reasons. I just…” She sighed and pulled Amber’s head against her shoulder. “I worry you’ll get out there and find a life that’s better than what’s waiting for you back here in Alameda. I couldn’t blame you if you did…but I hope you won’t.”

“Joy, if I knew something like that would happen, I’d never leave. What I have with you is all I could ever want. But I can’t go through life worried about
you
finding someone better. I want to be that someone.”

“You will be. Heck, you already are. You’ve come so far in just the last few months that I can’t even imagine who you’ll be once you get the navy in you.”

“I’ll still be yours, Joy. That’s all you need to know.”

Joy inched forward in the line, wishing she’d sprung for a larger rental car than a Toyota Yaris, since her hat kept brushing against the headliner. Though she’d arrived before six a.m., there were at least fifty cars in front of her and by now more than a hundred behind. When she finally reached the gate she braced for the cold, damp wind and rolled the window down to present the DD Form 214 that proved her military service, her driver’s license and the required documentation for her vehicle.

The seaman’s apprentice studied her paperwork, returned them and snapped to a smart salute. “Chief Shepard.”

She returned the greeting and drove toward the parking structure smiling. Her enlisted rank hadn’t required a formal salute but she appreciated the courtesy, recalling one of the navy’s favorite mottos:
If it moves, salute it; if it doesn’t move, pick it up; if you can’t pick it up, paint it.

Never in a million years would Joy have guessed she’d find herself back at Naval Station Great Lakes. Given Madison’s new fascination with the navy, there might even be another visit in the distant future.

When she entered the cavernous hall where the boot camp graduation ceremony would be held, she was taken back to a day almost fourteen years ago when she’d marched in with her division, swelling with pride to know her mother and father were upstairs in the gallery not far from where she now stood. It was exhilarating to understand the emotions that had gripped them back then.

The pomp of the drum line and flag bearers whipped up the crowd with patriotic gusto as they waited for the graduates to appear. Then the massive bay door opened to reveal the first of eight divisions marching in place, dressed in service blues with outer garments slung over their arms. One after another, they entered the hall in formation.

Joy spotted Amber in the third group, on the second row behind the seaman carrying the Battle “E” flag, which signified outstanding achievement by their division. Her curly blond hair, shorter by more than six inches, barely peeked out from the back of her cap. When her group took its position on the floor, Joy changed seats so she could snap a few photos from directly in front.

Exuberant families cheered from the bleachers, but none could have been more proud of their sailor than Joy. In a matter of months, Amber had left behind an aimless life of dependency on others to become a capable woman with purpose. By late afternoon she would be off to Texas to start coveted training as a hospital corpsman, a job dedicated to helping others that would serve her throughout her military career and beyond.

After more than an hour of marching, drumming, singing and speaking, the Pass-In-Review concluded with the announcement everyone had been waiting for:
Liberty call, liberty call!

Joy hurried downstairs and pushed through the throng of celebrants to find Amber, who was extending congratulations to others in her division. “Hey, sailor.”

Amber’s face lit up in a wide smile as she dashed into Joy’s arms. “I did it. I actually did it.”

“I never doubted you. Once you made up your mind, I knew you would. You’re too stubborn not to finish.”

Joy was almost overcome with emotion, not only in her pride for Amber, but also for the fact that they could stand here entwined in front of everyone without oppression and fear of consequences. Amber could never appreciate that the way Joy did, this freedom to be with the person you loved.

“I’m so freaking proud of you, I could burst.”

“You’re not the only one,” Amber said, her eyes clouding with tears. “This is the first time in my life I ever accomplished anything where they had a ceremony to celebrate it. And I owe every bit of it to a kind soul who picked me up on the side of the road and said this one might be worth saving. I love you with all my heart and I always will.”

“You don’t owe me anything for this. You’re the one who made the commitment and then you came here and earned it all on your own.”

“Maybe so, but it always helped me to know there was somebody out there who cared. Every time it got too hard, or when I didn’t feel like studying anymore…I thought of how good it would feel to make you proud.”

“You sure did.” Now it was Joy’s turn to fight back tears.

As jubilant families around them hammed it up for photos, Joy took one at arm’s length of the two of them. Then Amber returned with her division to their “ship,” the ship-like barracks where they bunked. Thirty minutes later she was at the gate, where Joy waved her over to the Toyota.

“I have to be back at two o’clock because we’re flying out this afternoon. Tomorrow starts fourteen weeks of A-school. I probably won’t get liberty again for at least a month.”

“Working for an airline has its perks, you know. All I need is a day’s notice.” Joy opened the passenger door for Amber. “So we have four hours, and I happen to have a room at a sleazy motel about a half hour from here.”

“What did you have in mind? My liberty rules clearly state that I must remain in uniform at all times.”

Joy closed the door and walked around to her side of the car, chuckling as she got in. “I think what they meant was if you wear anything at all it has to be a uniform.”

Amber fingered the crease in Joy’s slacks, letting her hand dip between her legs. “As long as you have plenty of hangers. If there’s one thing I won’t tolerate, it’s wrinkles.”

Indeed, when they reached the motel room, both of them meticulously hung their uniforms in the closet before coming together in a heated embrace. As they fell onto the cool sheets of their queen-sized bed, Joy gripped Amber’s shoulder. “Wow, look at these muscles. All that in just eight weeks.”

“Eight weeks without a cigarette too, I might add,” she answered, running her hands over Joy’s hips.

“Mmm…let me see how that tastes.” Joy covered her mouth and thrust her tongue gently inside. This feeling—the sensuous exchange of their bodies—was warm and familiar, an affirmation of the love she and Amber had promised would endure no matter how long they were separated.

But everything else about Amber had changed—her body, her hair, and most of all, her attitude. There was new pride and confidence in her demeanor, the kind that came from having proven herself against grueling challenges. No longer a damsel in distress, she had grown into exactly the sort of person Joy wanted alongside her when responsibility truly mattered.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Amber murmured, guiding Joy’s hand to her warm center. “I need to feel you inside me.”

Joy reveled in the softness of Amber’s wet heat as they slid together in a climbing tempo. Unable to resist, she lowered her face to the source and followed Amber’s body signals to situate herself so they could savor one another simultaneously. Slowing the movements of her lips, she allowed herself to be brought to near-climax before shifting her focus to push Amber over the edge.

It was a full minute before Amber resumed her motions, taking advantage of her position to use both her mouth and fingers to pleasure Joy inside and out. Joy’s instinct had been to tease another climax from Amber, but she was rapidly losing concentration. It took all her self-control not to cry out through the motel’s thin walls when her body erupted.

“You have no idea how wonderful that feels,” Amber panted.

“Oh, I think I do.” She snuggled close and pulled the covers to their chins. “I had no idea how much I needed you until you left. These last eight weeks went by like a year.”

“Tell me about it. I’d lie awake some nights wondering what all of you were up to. It was hard not being able to call but the worst part’s over…I hope.”

“You’re going to love A-school, Amber. There’s a ton of information coming at you all at once, but it’s fascinating. Just stick with it and you’ll do great. We’re all standing behind you…except Pop, of course. He’s sitting behind you eating Goobers.” She chuckled. “Like I said, I can fly down to San Antonio on a day’s notice. I’m sure they have luxurious motels just like this one near the base.”

“Then what, Joy?” Her voice was tinged with anxiety. “How in the world are we going to manage to have a relationship if I’m out to sea for six months? I thought I could handle it but I’ll go crazy if I don’t see you for that long.”

“No, you won’t.” Joy propped a couple of pillows and sat up, nestling Amber beneath her arm. “In the first place, you’ll be so busy when you’re out to sea that you won’t have all that much time to miss me. And I can try to show up in port whenever you get liberty, whether that’s in Hawaii, Key West or San Diego. That’s the way military life is for thousands of couples, but most of the other girlfriends don’t have the luxury of working for an airline. We’ll manage.”

“But what if I get stationed permanently on the other side of the country, like Norfolk or Jacksonville? That could be for two or three years.”

“We talked about this, remember? I can put in for a transfer with StarWest. That’s the navy way too. Pop will be just fine, especially now that he’s spending so much time with Barbara. You just have to be sure you’re ready for both Madison and me. She can be quite a handful sometimes, but that whole incident with the gun settled her down a lot.”

“She’s had a tough road. I was a handful too but I turned out okay…eventually. I’m sure I’ll be ready for her.”

Joy believed her.

In the four weeks between the time she enlisted and when she reported to Great Lakes, Amber and Madison had grown closer, overcoming their rivalry as Amber turned her focus to qualifying for hospital corps and girding herself for boot camp. She’d been right to insist on allowing Madison to go to the Gus Holley concert, since it earned her thousands of “cool” points and strengthened their friendship. It wasn’t exactly parenting, but it showed surprising wisdom and concern, enough that Joy was sure they could be happy together as a family.