Page 111 of Fight Or Flight

Brooklyn

When we received word from Fort Benning of Eric’s Turning Blue ceremony and that he wanted me to do the honors, I felt so many emotions, but mainly I was excited. We were so close to the end of basic and despite the hiccup in the beginning of his training; we made it! The day after I affix that cord to his dress blues, he’ll graduate and unbeknownst to Lauren and Riggs, we’ll be married.

Married.

We weren’t officially engaged, but we both knew it was happening. Once he was discharged from basic and I could have my soldier back, we were going to the courthouse. I had already applied for the marriage license just in case I had misread the information I found on the internet and Eric had already applied for family housing.

Once he was finished with basic combat training, he immediately moved onto his AIT training as an indirect infantry fireman. That’s where the Turning Blue ceremony comes into play. Not only did Eric pass his physical test, but he scored an eighty-seven on his ASVAB test. They issued him his Permanent Change of Station orders, and in three days we’ll be settling into military life in Kansas.

It sucks we’ll be so far from Riggs, Lauren, and the rest of the family, but Lauren’s already told Riggs they’re visiting once a month. She’s got the United Airlines credit card activated and ready to swipe.

A knock sounds on the door, and I close the lid to Splish and Splash’s tank. Any minute now, Wolf should arrive with the U-Haul. I’m not sure how he got stuck driving that thing to Georgia, but he has the pleasure of taking all of mine and Eric’s things to Georgia, and I’m trusting he’ll keep Splish and Splash safe in the front seat. Let’s just pray he doesn’t get hungry and decide to eat them. That man has an insatiable appetite.

“Hey,” Riggs says as he pokes his head inside the room. I turn to him and my eyes immediately go to the patch he wears to honor my dad and I smile. It seems like so much time has passed, that it’s been years since I arrived at Kate’s and first locked eyes with the man who would take me in and give me a home. Things sure have a funny way of working out.

“I’m just checking on you. Tomorrow’s the big day,” he says, leaning against the doorjamb.

“I can’t wait. You guys must be excited too,” I reply.

A couple of weeks ago we got to visit with Eric for Family Day, but we only had a matter of hours with him. Most of the time Riggs was obsessing over the clock, making sure we weren’t late to bring him back to base. No one wanted him to suffer any consequences that might set him back from reaching his goal.

His eyes focus on his worn boots for a second, then he lifts his head.

“Excited, no. Proud, yes,” he admits. “After tomorrow my son will be an indirect infantryman in the United States Army.” He pauses to blow out a shaky breath. “Proud doesn’t even cut it.”

I smile at him.

“He did it,” I whisper softly.

“He sure did,” he agrees as he straightens up and starts for me. “It helped that he had such a great girl cheering him on.”

I couldn’t take credit for Eric’s accomplishments, but I was happy to share them with him and if I had a small part in helping him keep a clear head to remain focused on his goal, I was glad to help.

Riggs glances down at my hands.

“You should get your nails done.”

I look down at my unpolished nails and back at him.

“What for?”

He shrugs his shoulders.

“Call it a hunch.”

Strange man, that Tiger is.

* * *

As soon asthe announcement sounds overhead granting me permission to find Eric on the field, I leave Riggs, Lauren, Robert, Anthony, Bella, Wolf, Maria, and Uncle Gangster and Aunt Adrianna in the stands and I take off. My white sundress skirts around my legs as I run through the crowds of people all searching for their soldiers.

“Brook, hold up!” Riggs shouts after me. I pause momentarily to glance over my shoulder and watch as some angry old lady hits him with her purse.

“Out of my way,” she shouts.

“Damnit Lady, quit hitting me.”

His eyes slice back to me and he holds up his GoPro.

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