Chapter Two

Ethan

 

A few days later. Albuquerque. Captain Gibson’s home.

 

Sitting down to my favorite snack a few days later, I can’t believe how good my life is. After such a beautiful wedding a few days ago, and coming out to the wedding couple, I’m busy dreaming about my future. The one I’m going to start creating for myself after I retire from the Navy next year, after 30 years of distinguished service.

I throw back another handful of trail mix…more peanuts than M&Ms, but I don’t really care. At least it’s not a handful of raisins, which is my least favorite part of this snack. When I retire I’m going to take some time to travel the world. It would be nice to find a partner before then. I let my mind wander to my ideal partner… my ideal husband. He’s around my age, maybe even former-military as well. I want him to be kind, playful, colorful and with a good sense of humor. He should have a lust for life, someone who enjoys trying new cuisine, dancing or taking risks.             

I smile while imagining my potential partner and I on a cruise together. He’d be the kind of person to get people involved in games and fun conversation. I imagine that he might be the impromptu comedian telling jokes, putting on a show. Or perhaps he’s soft-spoken and tenderhearted… the sort of person who would jump at the chance to swim with dolphins or cry at a tearjerker even if he was teased for doing so.

I need someone like that, a man like that! Someone who knows how to enjoy art and music, the finer things in life, not just what it means to be “manly” or “in control.” I want someone who is proud of his service to his country, but doesn’t make that all of who he is. One who has aspirations to be more than just a retired Navy SEAL. A person who can inspire me to take those risks I’ve always wanted to take.

“There aren’t as many men around my age here, though,” I murmur to myself. “I don’t know, maybe there are, there probably are but I really haven’t had the courage or the time to check out the ‘scene’ here.” I dig out another handful of trail mix and pop it in my mouth. Unfortunately for me there are more raisins in this one than the last… almost too much for me to stomach. “But I guess Albuquerque is somewhat progressive, so I might find my fun-loving gentleman. Still, I have a whole year before I can finally retire and be free to pursue my new goals.”

I decide to roll up my bag of trail mix. The raisins did ruin it after all.

I’m feeling on top of the world… confident and happy about my direction in life. Despite the fact that at the moment I still taste the residue of the nasty raisins. Ewww.

In part of my mind, I’m replaying the kiss between Brad and Lance — kisses I should say — over and over again. I know I shouldn’t be thinking of my fellow SEAL in this way, but it’s hard not to. They’re so much in love, and that’s attractive. It’s addictive actually, something I’d love to have in my life. Even a kiss would be beyond beautiful.

“Just look at me,” I think, chuckling as I feel my heart begin to race and my cheeks beginning to warm. “47 years old and never been kissed by a man.” But who knows, Ethan, I think, painting a hazy picture of my own wedding… having my own groom to kiss — next year could be your year. You could find the right man, settle down and have your own wedding. Maybe here in Albuquerque. And then off on a beautiful honeymoon to Fiji.

Just as I’m about to put color and sound to this vivid imagination, vigorous knocking at the door disturbs it. From the sound of the knocking, it sounds official—Urgent! Not just a troop of Girl Scouts selling cookies, some salesperson or holy-roller trying to save me from the devil.  This is…dare I say, scary sounding?

Getting up from my seat at the breakfast table I can begin to feel my stomach drop and heart quiver. I make my way to the door and open it, definitely not happy with what I see. Someone from the Navy has come to visit me, but he doesn’t exactly look like he’s wants to hit me up for a $20 raffle ticket. He has an unreadable mask for a face, while he hands me an envelope. It’s a court order. Whhaaa?

“Captain Gibson, you have been summoned to court on charges listed in the order provided to you. On behalf of the Navy, I would advise you to quickly arrange representation for yourself and arrive in court tomorrow at 9:00 A.M. promptly, with an attorney present.”

With that he salutes, clicks his heels and turns around, walking off.

I’m stunned. I stand there unable to do or say anything for a long minute or two. When I can finally move, it’s only to rip open the envelope that the court ordered and read it through. Sexual harassment of an officer? And of a man named Frederick Patterson? My pulse races faster at this revelation. Frederick Patterson was a young man I had just finished training as part of the joint task force not too long ago. Probably no more than a few months ago. Yes, I worked closely with him. I helped him overcome some of his physical weaknesses by spending extra time taking him through exercises. But there was never anything sexual between him and me, nothing that would remotely suggest sexual contact. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. We actually got along fairly well.

I never touched him sexually. What the fuck is this all about? My mouth is unbearably dry, made worse by how badly I’m shaking. How dizzy I suddenly feel and nearly want to throw up. So why would he accuse me of harassment? Why would he bring these charges against me? I walk backward inside the house, feeling like if I don’t, I’m moments away from upchucking my snack all over the porch. How? Why? I never ever touched him in any inappropriate way. Him, nor any of the other young men I’ve ever worked with in my 30 years! This is some mistake, it has to be.

Somehow I find my way to a chair to sit down in but instead of sitting I just fall into it. My head is swimming, spinning, and my brain is in meltdown mode. How is this happening? Why? Why me? I never touched him!

But it doesn’t matter how many times I ask myself why, why now, why that man? I don’t get any clarity…how could I? All I do know is that I need to get in touch with the law offices of Bradford & Campbell who specialize in military and Navy cases. Particularly those dealing with issues between subordinates and superiors.

I get up preparing to make the call but can barely keep my balance.

I’m due in court tomorrow to answer for these accusations and I better have a lawyer before then.