Page 48 of Be With Me
Chapter 23
Mooney looked at the members of the heptad— yes, he’d started using Danny’s nickname for them— that were still at Bragg. Mike had transferred to Drum; Kevin was at Huachuca; and Spook was at MacDill. Danny sat next to Debbie with Cam while Brian and Mackey were on the other side next to Cal. The boys had grown so much in the past nine months. These days it was cute to watch them scoot across the floor on hands and knees. Sometimes it looked like they were racing each other.
Right now, he struggled to get more of the rice and carrots in Cal than on him. Cal wasn’t a fan of carrots, spitting out almost the same amount he ate. Cam was practically dancing as Debbie fed him. He loved carrots.
“Did you hear from Spook?” Mackey asked the table. There was a mixture of positive and negative responses. Mooney thought about it for a minute before shaking his head. He didn’t remember getting a message from Spook. “He met someone. Said she’s got brains and a wicked sense of humor. He’s taking her to dinner, um, next week I think.”
“It would be nice not being the only spouse with all of you,” Debbie mumbled, before she took a bite of her chicken.
“You heard the lady, guys. Get on that mission,” Mooney teased. Cal took the opportunity to blow some raspberries at his daddy just as Mooney put some food in his mouth, causing the group to burst out laughing. “Funny boy.” He grabbed a spare cloth and wiped up the mess before getting another spoonful into his son.
He looked around the table. This was what he was going to miss. They were PCS-ing to Germany the following week. Two years overseas then they’d be back stateside. It was going to be hard for Debbie, Mooney knew it, but she understood that he needed the position on his eval to move forward with his career. At least she said she did.
Brian’s phone trilled from his pocket. He pulled it out and frowned at it. “Um, guys, any of you know who this is in the picture with Kevin?” He held his phone out so they could see the screen.
Mooney’s phone pinged from the counter and Mackey’s went off too. He leaned over and grabbed his while Mackey pulled out his. He had the same picture from Kevin, so did Mackey but he had a message too. Danny didn’t move.
“What? I left mine in the car.” Danny shrugged.
“Are you fu— dging kidding?” Mackey corrected himself quickly, catching the curse before he completed it.
“Thanks, Mackey. The boys aren’t talking yet but they’re trying and I’d rather their first words weren’t that colorful,” Debbie said.
“Now, what’s the message say?” Brian asked.
“The woman in the picture is Kevin’s new wife, Carly, according to this text. They got married last night.” Mackey turned his phone face down and placed it on the table.
Mooney sat there blinking, not sure he heard correctly. Cal smacked him on the arm, waking him up. “Wow, did anyone know he was seeing someone?”
“Didn’t have a clue.” Danny stood and carried his and Debbie’s plates into the kitchen.
He watched as Debbie gave Cam’s hands a quick wipe and then tickled him as she reached for the buckle on the chair. Mooney did the same to Cal and stood.
“Be right back. Going to help Debbie get them into the tub.”
“Oooh, wait! I brought something for them,” Danny said, running to the front door. He came back with a little plastic bag and pulled out two rubber duckies with Army helmets on. Danny squeezed them at the twins who both put out their arms and opened and closed their hands in a “gimme” motion.
“Say thank you, Uncle Danny,” Mooney prompted the boys who both squeaked at Danny before he handed the ducks to them and they shoved them right into their mouths. “Probably as close as you’re getting for thank yous right now.”
“My squeakers thanked me just fine.” Danny smirked, making Mooney groan at the nickname Danny had just given to his sons.
§ § §
Debbie buckled Cal into his car seat while her mom dealt with Cam. Her mom had come to help them out with the boys while the movers were packing the household goods. Mooney’d taken a bunch of stuff over to Mackey’s so it wouldn’t get packed by accident, things for the boys mostly. A Pack ‘n Play, their rubber duckies which they wouldn’t take a bath without… thanks Danny… Debbie’s computer.
“Debra Florence, I’ve been calling you,” her mom said.
“Sorry, Mom. Trying to make sure that we’ve planned ahead for the six weeks we’re going to be in temporary housing.” Debbie was a bit nervous about taking the twins overseas, but she’d been to the briefings and there was an active family program on Sembach Kaserne. Luny was going to be assigned to the 230thMilitary Police Company for the next two years, if the post stayed open that long. Apparently the base was on the short list of ones to close. What that would mean? Debbie had no clue, but she was sure that there would be briefings. There was always a briefing or ten; if she’d learned anything in the past few years that was it.
“Everything will be fine. I’d tell you to stop stressing but I’ve known you your whole life and I’d swear you stressed as a baby.” Her mom climbed into the front seat. Debbie pushed the button to close the doors and got in the driver’s seat. “Rafe will be there with you.”
“Luny will unless they send him somewhere. I’m trying to figure out if or where I can work.” Debbie started the car and backed out of the drive. Luny was dealing with the packers today while they took the boys to the toddler playgroup at the YMCA. They’d be walking soon; she was sure of it. Cam pulled himself up the other night using Danny’s legs for balance. She’d watched the frown go across Cal’s face; he must have been trying to figure out how his brother had done that.
“What’s really worrying you, Debbie?” Her mother broke her out of the musings about the twins.
“Maybe I don’t want to go back to work. But I’ve got a degree. Shouldn’t I be using it for more than knowing if one of the boys has an ear infection?” She knew being with the boys was important; these years were priceless.
“Debra? What’s at the root?” her mom prompted. “You can say it.”
“I don’t want you to think me getting my degree was a waste if I don’t use it.” There she’d said it.
“Sunshine, knowledge is never wasted. You’re focused on being the best mother you can be right now. One day you’ll use your degree again. Whether you go back to nursing or something else. I’ve always been proud of you and nothing is going to change that. Now, let’s take my grandsons to play.”
Debbie focused on the drive for a bit, glancing in the mirror seeing that the boys had fallen asleep. Maybe they should just drive around, so they slept but if they slept too long now, they’d never go down tonight. Playgroup it was.
“You’ll come visit? Maybe for the twins’ second birthday?” Debbie hoped her mom would make one trip to see them.
“I’ll see what I can do about traveling at least once. I’ve always thought that Europe at the holidays would be spectacular.” Her mom sounded wistful.
“I’m going to hold you to that, Mom.” Debbie was going to make the best of this experience for herself, Luny and the boys.
