Page 85 of Marvelous
Then he told us which tarmac to go to.
When we pulled up, it was to see veterans lining a long red carpet.
American flags were held.
The wind picking them up and making them beautiful.
I waited until Alec rounded the hood of his truck and opened my door.
Then I took his hand and climbed out.
He led us over to the line, and then we waited.
The plane had just landed.
And when the plane pulled up in front of us, the back door opened to the cargo hold, and then six men left the line and went into the plane.
I wrapped my hands around Alec’s left hand and squeezed.
He squeezed back.
Then, when the casket came to the front of the long red carpet, a man called, “Attention.”
I let go of Alec’s hand as he did just that.
Then a man called out, “Salute.”
Every man in uniform, and those not in uniform, brought their right hand up to the corner of their right eyebrow.
It was so beautiful, and crippling at the same time.
The six men carried the dark coffin with an American flag atop it down the long red carpet.
Tears welled in my eyes.
And the moment the casket was placed into a hearse, every man lowered their right hand.
I wrapped his left hand in mine again, but he squeezed it, released it, and wrapped his arm around my waist.
Then he led me to his truck, opened my door, and once I climbed in, he closed it.
He was in the driver’s seat, his hazard lights on, and we followed the blue flashing light escort to the funeral home.
That night, on our back porch, I curled my body around Alec’s and held him tightly.
He was staring off into the night when he said, “We called him Julep. Fucker hated it.”
I chuckled softly, then I asked, “Why is that?”
He chuckled, “We had been about to board a plane for our first co-op mission with Seal Team Two. He had been out partying prior to the call. And when he walked into the plane, he smelled minty, sugary, and he reeked of bourbon.”
I chuckled.
Then he said, “First mission, fucker asked where he could go pee.”
I laughed.
“Told him we couldn’t move from our spot, and he needed to hold it.” He said with a laugh.
