Chapter Ten

Steven

“Maxwell, are you still with us?”

I looked up at Captain Tucker and cleared my throat. “Yes, Sir, I would be honored to serve as an instructor.”

Captain Tucker nodded his head in agreement and gave a quick glance around the room before he stood up. “This matter is closed gentlemen. Maxwell, we can discuss your teaching assignment once you return from your leave. Enjoy the rest of your holidays.” He gave a slight nod, turned and walked out of the room.

By the time I knew what had hit me, I was alone. The sound of their footsteps fading in the distance. I always knew something like this could happen, but when I was on an assignment, I didn’t think about those things, shit happened and we’d adapt and overcome, improvise for Christ’s sake. Being scolded for doing a donut on a putting green is one thing. Okay—my bad—so that wasn’t such a smooth move on my part. But being blamed for Jal Mante’s man being shot is another. I was saving John from getting his ass shot off, but somehow, I was the fall guy—the scapegoat.

Had we forgotten those men were evil mother fuckers and when the day was done, we’d got our guy? I shook my head as I looked around the room and wondered how many times something like this had gone down before. How many fall guys had gotten a boot in their ass right in this very room?

With a long sigh, I stood up and gave it one last glance before I left.

Politics.

As I headed outside to my truck, my thoughts went to Ruby and the way our magical night had ended so abruptly. By the time I’d finished the phone call, Ruby had got dressed, and I guessed, went out the same way she came in.

Damn! She was sexy sneaking into my window like that.

When I got in the truck, I realized I was in my dress blues and thought about doing a quick change of clothes before heading back to Los Angeles. A vision of Ruby slowly undoing the thirteen buttons on my pants brought not only a smile to my face but a slight throb in my shorts. She’d never seen me in uniform.

As I headed up The Strand and approached the downtown area of Coronado, it was impossible not to notice Christmas was in full swing. I’d already picked up most of the gifts for my family when overseas. All I needed was the perfect gift for a certain young lady.

What did I give the girl who climbed through my childhood bedroom window and fucked me like there was no tomorrow? As I pondered that thought, I caught a glimpse of a Santa Claus and a whole pack of elves in front of a small strip mall. When I got closer, I saw a bunch of young kids jumping up and down and running around—clearly this was some sort of holiday event.

I pulled over and sat there for a second, taking in the scene unfolding in front of me. I watched a little girl about four years old get a present from one of the elves, and the look on her face made me laugh and smile as she reacted just like she’d won the Lottery. I was about to pull out when I noticed a sign hanging in the window of a jewelry store that said, Military Discount to all Active Service members. I hopped out of my truck to make my way inside the small store, and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself.

Certainly, the kind of girl that climbs through bedroom windows would love some jewelry, right?

When I walked inside, I was immediately hit with a good vibe. The store wasn’t a typical mall-type jewelry store. It was an old fashioned, small, family-run business. As I approached the display cases, I caught sight of an elderly man sitting at a desk, glued to one of the news channels. He looked up from the TV, smiled and gave me a salute only an old vet could give.

“What can I do for you today, young man,” he asked as he stood from his desk.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Just as I was about to ask him about the special, his attention went full board to the TV on the back wall.

“Have ya seen this yet? These covert types took down this terrorist guy and…well just watch.”

He grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. The news anchor was describing a covert CIA mission that was caught on a video after a brief shoot out, they cut to the video and I cringed as I watched John and myself dragging Jal Mante to the golf cart.

“Oh God,” I muttered and rubbed my hand across my face. There I was on breaking news. ‘abductors as they make their way to waiting van…’

Just as I thought the video was over, and felt certain nobody would be able to pick up that I was one of the two abductors, it happened. The news channel aired the donut of all donuts right on the eighteenth green.

We were coming straight towards the camera and in the last part of the skid—my dark glasses flew off just as I gave a fist pump in victory of such a sweet move.

I stood there, frozen in shock as the TV guy stopped the frame showing my fist pump for the whole world to see. It didn’t help matters that you could also see Jal Mante screaming in terror. My gut clenched—this was not good.

The old man standing behind the counter looked from me to the TV and then back at me with a grin on his face that would make the Cheshire cat jealous.

“Is that?”

“Unfortunately.” I smiled, waiting on his reaction.

He gave me the once over. “You are one bad sonofabitch, aren’t you?” He smiled and pointed to the trident and rows of ribbons on my dress blues.

“I have my moments.”

“Yeah, Sailor, I bet you do. So, what was it you were looking for?”

I took a deep breath and replied, “I’m looking for a unique gift for a special lady.”

“Wife? Mother? Girlfriend?”

I cleared my throat and replied, “Hoping for the girlfriend part. I’ve known her since we were kids, her older brother was my best friend all through school. I’ve been overseas for a while now, and we just saw each other for the first time in years a few days ago. There is something about her I can’t describe in words, but I really want to get her something that knocks her off her feet.”

The old man stood there for a second, sizing me up. “I did three tours in Nam from ‘66 to ‘72. It was a beautiful country. The only problem was that damn war was ugly. I watched a lot of my brothers fall over there, some of us made it home—some of us didn’t. He let out a long breath and looked me straight in the eye. “You know, son, you never really leave a place like that.”

He looked down and paused for a second, clearly in deep thought. He raised his head back up and said, “I was a gunner mate on a river patrol boat. It was a crazy in country.” He shook his head and continued, “You couldn’t tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys, they all dressed alike, talked alike, and none of us knew their language. Anyway, after my third tour, I got stationed across the bay at 32nd street. Back in those days, I only had one day off—Sunday.

“One Sunday afternoon in March, I was out seeing the sights and I stopped at a Foster Freeze for some ice cream. While I was working my way through the best banana split I’d ever eaten, I met the love of my life. She was working the counter and I couldn’t take my eyes off her from the second I walked in the door. She must have noticed at some point and finally came out to my table and asked if there was something I needed. I gave her my best James Dean look and said, ‘I would love to take you out for dinner sometime.’ She laughed me off like I’m sure she did to all the Sailors who hit on her at work and quickly disappeared back inside the store. Just as I was leaving, she ran outside and said, ‘Hey, Sailor, I thought you wanted to take me to dinner sometime.’”

He smiled. It was easy to tell he was in love. His face was glowing as he told his story. When he finished, he walked over to a case and came back with the most beautiful diamond bracelet I’d ever seen. And probably way more than I could afford. I pulled out my credit card and laid it on the counter.

“Give this to your girl. I bet she’ll love it.” The owner of the jewelry store took a lot of care wrapping that beautiful bracelet. As I watched him work, it was clear he was some sort of master craftsman himself. I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle remembering him pegging me dead on in that video.

“What’s the damage?”

He grinned at me and handed me back the credit card. “A lot less than it’ll cost to repair that green you tore up, Showboat.”

I smiled and took the wrapped box and card from his hand. I thought he’d forgotten all about the video. “Thanks, man. What’s your name?”

“Mike. Mike Austin. Merry Christmas, Sailor. Now, when you got your girl and you’re ready to make an honest man out of yourself, you come back and see me, okay?”

“Will do, Mike. Merry Christmas.” He turned toward the TV, flipped it back on and started watching it again.

* * * *

When I finally pulled into the Westin’s driveway, I took a few extra deep breaths to prepare myself for what may or may not happen next. The house was decked out with bright Christmas lights on the outside, and a beautiful tree that could be seen halfway down the block with the front curtains open.

I smiled as I caught sight of Ruby standing next to the tree with her new niece tucked into her arms. I sat there in my truck and watched her as she gently rocked back and forth pointing at different shiny ornaments hanging on the tree. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking as she looked down at the baby in her arms. A warm surge swept over my insides as I wondered what it’d be like if someday I came home from work and found her standing next to our tree with our baby.

Slow down Max!

I looked down on the seat next to me and thought about what was inside the small red box, I hoped she’d like it. I couldn’t believe the old man gave it to me. He must’ve been in some serious Christmas spirit. I wondered where his wife was. The love of his life. I hoped she was at home cooking up some Christmas pies, but as old as he was, I didn’t want to ask. I figured she’d already passed.

Since I’d gathered up different gifts here and there along my travels, I had a couple of gifts for Rick and his parents—even a cool doll from Germany for his new daughter. I got out and loaded them in to an old sea bag I had in my truck. I wasn’t sure how the bracelet would go over and still a little iffy about this being the time or place to give it to Ruby since her brother and his family were there, so I tucked it into a little pocket, separate from the other gifts.

When I turned to walk up the driveway, I glanced toward the window and froze as my eyes locked with Ruby’s. I guessed the sound of my truck door caught her attention and as I got closer, her face lit up.

By the time I reached the door, she and her niece were waiting. “Hey, Sailor Boy. Damn! You clean up nice, Maxwell,” she said as she gave me the once over.

I cocked an eyebrow. “Thank you, sexy lady. You’re looking pretty hot yourself.”

“Shhh…” Her eyes widened in delight—or embarrassment—I didn’t know which. “This is baby Kayla.”

I took the infants tiny fingers and rubbed gently. “Hello, baby Kayla. Uncle Steven brought you a present all the way from Germany.”

“Great baby talk voice. You sure you don’t have any of your own? Come on in,” Ruby teased as she stepped aside to let me in.

I stopped for a second, dying to tell her that I never wanted anyone more than I wanted her right at that moment, but that was quickly overshadowed by her niece, who decided she wanted what was in the sea bag.

As I stepped through the door into the foyer, Ruby’s mom came over and gave me a big hug. “Merry Christmas, Steven, you certainly have grown up to be a fine young man. All dressed up in uniform. How handsome!”

“Thank you, ma’am. Merry Christmas,” I replied. Me wanting Ruby as bad as I did was a little weird standing there in front of her mother. Almost disrespectful. Even though I grew up with Rick and Ruby and was at their house for dinner almost every night, it still felt weird.

She looked over at Ruby who still had Kayla wrapped in her arms and did a double take before a warm smile fell into place. “Steven, we have plenty of food if you’re hungry, so go make yourself a plate.”

Rick piped in from the den. “Make sure you load up on some of Mom’s famous gravy, you’re looking a little…” he stopped as his attention was interrupted by the news on the massive flat screen TV. “Max, you gotta see these guys. Do you know ‘em?”

“Uh…Rick? There are thousands of people in the military, so—” I looked at the screen and there it was again—but this time—on a seventy-two-inch screen. I looked up and caught Ruby’s mom doing the same double take as Mike did at the jewelry store.

The video ended and her dad pointed and said, “Hey that guy kind of looks like you, Steven?”

Luckily Rick butted in before I could respond and laughed. “That dude is taller and way better looking than Max, besides, he doesn’t even play golf.”

“Well, there ya go! So how about we open some presents?”