Page 168 of Marks of Rebellion
Vanessa lays down and pats the seat next to her. "Take your shirt off and stay a while."
I obey and lie next to her. She turns on her side, facing me. "It's nice in here. Aren't you glad we left the room?"
"As long as you're happy, so am I."
She traces my armband tattoo. "What made you join the Marines?"
"There wasn't much going on where I grew up. I wanted to do something exciting that meant something, but I didn't know what. A recruiter came to my high school, and it sounded like an opportunity to do something good with my life, so I signed up."
"So, your dad wasn't military?"
"No. I didn't see much of my dad."
"Why not?"
"Here you go. Is there anything else I can get you?" The waiter sets our drinks down on the side table.
"I think we're good." I hold up my wristband for him to scan and sign my passport name on the screen.
He sets menus down. "I'll leave these here in case you get hungry later."
"Great, thanks."
He leaves, and I hand Vanessa her drink.
"Cheers." She clinks my glass, and we take a sip. "Mmm, this is so good."
"Not bad."
"Okay, so tell me why you didn't see much of your dad."
I shrug. "My parents divorced when I was six. My father moved across the country, and I only saw him every few years."
She puts her hand on my arm. "That must have been hard."
"Is what it is."
"Where in the U.S. are you from?"
"A small town in Indiana."
"Does your mom still live there?"
My gut twists. "She passed a few years ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
I take another sip of my drink.
"Do you have siblings?"
"No. What about you?"
She gazes at the sea for several moments. She turns back, and her eyes glisten. "I have three brothers, and my parents are still alive. Not that they want anything to do with me."
"Why?"
"Carlos drove a wedge between us all. We had a big fight, and my family said I needed to leave him. They tried to tell me he was controlling. My best friend, Mary, did, too. But I didn't want to listen, and Carlos began sabotaging things between us."
