Page 50 of Stone

Connie took her seat with a smirk. “Oh, hush. Bandit knows I’d never do anything silly. He’s got those girls all over him back at the club. Wouldn’t hurt him to get a taste of his own medicine.”

“Dad would never do anything,” John protested, coming back around the table to help me settle into a chair.

“Of course he wouldn’t,” Constance agreed sweetly, watching John take the chair next to me. “He knows I’d shoothimin the dick if he did.”

John took my hand in his, laughing. “How is the crazy old buzzard?”

“Missing you,” she replied softly. “The club isn't the same without you, John. Bandit won’t admit it, but he’s feeling your absence, Abe too. The brothers ask after you daily. They want to know what you’re doing, and they often talk about their Marine training and compare notes. I don't think your dad realized how much he’d miss you being around.”

John’s fingers squeezed mine as he thought over his mom’s words.

My heart went out to him because I knew how much he loved Bandit. Their relationship was contentious. John’s dad was a complex man with high expectations of his son, but anyone could see Bandit’s pride when it came to his boy. John was well-liked in ways his dad wasn’t, and I think Bandit secretly got a kick out of the fact that John—a biker’s son—commanded respect from much of the townsfolk.

“I miss him, too,” John murmured. “The hardest part of doing this is being away from you all. I love being here, butit’s bittersweet, ya know?” He turned to me. “I’ve got a new appreciation for you, baby. So many of the guys have gotten Dear John’s over the weeks. They’ve all said they’ve found something here but lost something good in the process. I’ve never once doubted you or felt that you resented me. It’s made me realize how lucky I am to have you.”

“You should be proud of her, John,” Connie interjected. “Elise has made an effort to see me every week and works hard at college and the store. She never complains; she just gets on with it.”

“It’s nothing, Connie,” I murmured. “John’s in a strange place, working hard to keep our country safe. I’ve got an easy life compared to him.”

John leaned over and kissed my cheek, making me blush. “See, Ma? Told ya I’d found a good one.” He pulled me in and popped a kiss on my head.

I smiled, but underneath, a cold realization crept through me.

The more he praised me, the lower my heart sank. It was clear John was changing and evolving in ways that eventually would see him outgrow me. The military was molding him into somebody who wouldn’t need anyone, including me. I couldn’t help the stab of worry when I wondered how it would bode for us in the future.

What if coming home to our small town in Wyoming wasn’t enough for him? After the excitement of the Marines, would settling down with me in Hambleton be enough?

Would I be enough?

Over the next few hours, Connie and I laughed and chatted with the boys, listening to their boot camp stories and talking about home. John’s eyes shone with excitement as he relayed how proud he was that the Marines were building him into a solid soldier and a man his brethren could rely on.

A huge part of me felt elated for him. He’d wanted this for so long, and I was so proud he’d come away and, by his own strength of character, had made it a success. But a tiny voice buried deep inside couldn’t help whispering,

What if John slipped away from me, piece by piece?

Chapter Twelve

Stone

Graduation day dawned sunny and bright without a single cloud in the sky. The calm, balmy weather matched my mood because my lifelong dream was about to be realized.

Today, I would officially become a U.S. Marine.

Our wake-up call was a little later than usual, which I was glad of, because, after the ceremony, I had to pack my ruck, get on my bike, and begin the long ride home. After the platoon had wolfed down breakfast, we’d been marched back to the dorm, then cleaned, polished, and ironed our uniforms until every piece of brass gleamed and every inch of cloth was crease-free.

The inside of my stomach resembled a swarm of bees by the time we were eventually marched outside to the courtyard. There, we were about to go through our final drill and be spoken to by our commander before marching to the area where our families and friends were waiting to watch us graduate.

The air was thick with nervous determination as we halted and awaited further instruction. Then, as Mendez bellowed orders, we showed our superior every maneuver the drill instructors had drummed into us.

The sounds of boots crashing onto the ground in unison and the clatter of metal filled the air as we turned, marched, and halted before showing off how quickly and confidently we could handle our firearms.

My chest swelled when I remembered how the commands we’d struggled with just weeks ago were now second nature.One after the other, the platoons moved together perfectly, as demonstrated by our commander’s nod of approval as we came to the end of the drill.

I stood to attention, eyes forward, as he walked down the line, studying our uniforms for imperfections while asking my brethren questions.

He stopped in front of Isaiah. “Name?”

“Sir. Recruit Jones, Sir,” my bud barked.

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