Page 106 of Sweet Somethings

Fifteen

The last time Roman had made the trip from Fairhope to the Marine base at Parris Island, South Carolina, he'd been eighteen years old and a new recruit, not at all ready for the world that awaited him.

Back then, he'd arrived late at night, and had been immediately thrust into a whirlwind of events. He'd gone through processing, gotten a haircut, received his uniform and gear, and undergone a medical evaluation and a strength test. Then it was on to meeting his drill instructors and learning about the Marine Corps, before moving on to a grueling camp that tested him physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As he walked under the sign that said We Make Marines, he felt like he'd come full circle.

Watching the new recruits run by, he was stunned by how young they looked. He was only thirty-one, but he felt like an old man in comparison. These boys would become men very quickly, though. He knew what was waiting for them. He also knew not all of them would be able to handle the pressure. They thought they could now, because they knew nothing of what they would see when they were deployed to fight, to be the first boots on the ground, to face fears others could only imagine. But they would find out. And they would be well-trained.

It really did seem like a long time ago that he had been that young. But today wasn't about his past but rather his future. When the group of runners passed, he continued on to the fitness center, where he'd begin his day of testing.

It felt strange to see uniforms again, to salute, to be back in the Corps. This had been his world for thirteen years, and he'd loved being part of it. He'd never thought he would leave, but having been forced to be out of it the past few months, he had to admit that his perspective had started to change. He'd seen another world, one he might like just as much, and that life included a woman he didn't want to lose.

But he also didn't want to lose his career. Would he have to choose?

That question had been worrying him almost as much as whether or not he would be fit enough to have a choice.

Only one way to find out.

He jogged up the steps, then paused as the door to the center opened, and a man in uniform came out. The square-faced, hard-jawed, bald man was very familiar. Sergeant Jerry Woods, his first drill instructor, had been both his hero and his tormentor. He couldn't believe he was still here, still training recruits.

As he saluted, he realized the sergeant was now a major.

Major Woods stopped and gave him a hard look. "Roman Prescott?"

"Good memory. Congratulations on the promotion, sir. It's good to see you again."

"Thank you. What are you doing here?"

"I'm trying to get my job back. I've been on medical leave for a few months. I'm here for an evaluation."

"Right," he said with a nod. "I heard what happened to your unit. I was proud to hear how you handled yourself, how you protected your fellow soldiers. I wasn't surprised, though. I can pick winners from the first day of boot camp."

He'd never guessed that his drill instructor had thought he was a winner, especially not during those first weeks. "I appreciate you saying that now. I didn't think that was your opinion back then."

The major cracked a smile. "I like to give my recruits something to strive for."

"You always did that."

"Good luck today. Remember what I always told you—"

"You can do more than you ever thought you could," he finished.

"Don't forget it."

"I won't." As the major left, he moved into the fitness center and signed in for his scheduled tests.

He felt charged up after seeing Major Woods. The man had always inspired him to do better. Hopefully, that would be the case today.

For the next several hours, he was put through a series of grueling tests and then a thorough medical evaluation. When he was done, he had just enough time to grab his bag from the motel where he'd spent the night and head to the airport. While he was waiting to board his plane, he called Juliette, eager to hear her voice. Unfortunately, his call went to voicemail.

He felt incredibly disappointed. It felt like forever since he'd last spoken to her, but she was probably up to her elbows in flour and sugar.

He left a brief message. "It's Roman. I'm getting on a plane in a few minutes. Call me back if you have time. Everything went well," he said, then hung up, feeling frustrated that they hadn't connected.

She'd been on his mind all day, through the three-mile run, the stomach crunches, the push-ups and pull-ups, through the hearing and vision tests, even at the rifle range, which was not a good place to have a woman in your head.

He put his phone back in his pocket and stretched out his legs, feeling a weary ache in his muscles. He'd pushed himself to the limit today. He'd done everything he could. Now it was up to the medical evaluation board, and he had no idea what would happen.

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