Page 19 of Absolute Valor

Forgetting for a moment I wasn’t talking to another Marine or SEAL, it was too easy to speak in acronyms. “Sorry, Tombstone is his call sign, the name he’s given by his team. It’s usually associated with what he does or where he’s from. Chief is Sawyer’s rank, and when you reach the level of Chief, it’s considered disrespectful to call him anything else. EOD, is the guy who can shoot at an expert level and or disarm bombs and create them.”

Daddy nodded and listened intently, I could see the gears in his brain working, formulating his next question. “And what about you, did they give you a call sign?” It was a double-edged sword to have your team give you the name, which would follow you your entire career. On one hand, it was an honor, and on the other it could be embarrassing.

“Yes, Sir. The first time I went out with the SEAL team, they called me Morgan, but after I showed them what I could do, Chief gave me my call sign.”

We had been called into Kosovo, some Ambassador’s kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our mission was to go get her. After we got a positive ID on her and confirmed her location, they line dropped us onto the side of a hill. We hiked thirteen klicks, wading through some of the most disgusting, mosquito infested, water I’ve ever seen. Doc, our corpsman, found her tied to a tree. She was barely breathing, nearly dead. We got her, but on the way out, our rendezvous boat lost its engine and we had to hunker down. With the girl not looking good, we set up a new extract zone, putting us in the heart of the nasty water. I’d pulled a few tricks from my time as a kid with older brothers who are smart as fuck, those poor bastards never knew what hit them. Chief pulled us aside after we got back and handed the girl off to her parents. Said I had the face of one of those Hollywood action heroes, getting the girl while blowing shit up.

“Diesel, cause I can make water flammable.” I’d never planned on telling anyone about this part of my life. The things I’ve seen and done were not conversation topics in mixed company.

“Anyway, Ramsay managed to talk his way into going with us, with Tombstone telling him if he fucked it up, he wouldn’t get a second chance. We circled the line where the reports of the gunfire had come from. Movement near a cluster of rocks seized our attention, so we split up in an attempt to surround the shooter. Ramsay made the decision to ignore what he was told and spooked the guy, who opened fire on us. Tombstone was wounded, badly enough he was discharged from the military and the sniper got away. Tombstone told me, as he was being lifted into the back of an ambulance uncertain if he would ever walk again, to never put yourself in a position where you have to beg for forgiveness.”

“I take it this Ramsey fellow was begging for forgiveness for what happened to your friend?”

“He was begging, but not for forgiveness from Tombstone. When we got him back to camp, Doc rushed him into surgery. Ramsay begged me not to tell the review board what had happened. He wanted to be a SEAL, and if you aren’t in the military, there’s no chance in hell for you to become one.”

Dad shook his head, glancing to the clock on the microwave, three-fifteen. “How does this relate back to Audrey, exactly?”

Those hazel eyes of hers were like almond shaped tractor beams, pulling me in by my short hairs. “Listen, I know you may think I’m crazy, and maybe I am, but I never want to be in a position where I have to see any doubt on her face, especially when it comes to me.” I shifted my body to align with his and leaned over the counter, my forearms connecting with the cold granite.

“Son, no matter how hard you try, every woman is going to look at you with doubt. Whether it’s something you say or do, she is going to have doubt about you.”

“I’m saying this wrong and I’m worried I did the same thing while talking with her this evening.” I looked into his wise eyes, the same ones I’ve trusted since I was little. “I ended a relationship today. One I had convinced myself was real. It wasn’t and I know this. But Audrey,” I paused, collecting my thoughts and courage. “She’s different, more than a beautiful face and a tight ass.” I’m assuming her ass is tight, her frame is slender and she covers herself in layers, but in my mind, and morning jack off sessions, it’s tight. “Maybe I’m going from the frying pan into the fire, but something tells me Audrey is the one I’m supposed to be with.”

Dad tapped his index finger three times on the granite, watching his fingers before sharing the wisdom I counted on him for. “You say you have plans for her. What kind of plans?”

“The kind that ends with a white dress and the family minister.”

“Listen, Chase, your momma and I adore Audrey, love her to death. I won’t try and discourage you from pursuing her.” I could feel a but coming on, there was always a but in these types of conversations. “But your momma has a feeling there is a missing piece of the puzzle, something she’s keeping a secret. Until we either know what the secret is or she proves herself, I want you to be careful.” Agreeing with him and the feeling momma had, most likely they were the same gut twinges I had.

“I will, and I’ve made a few other decisions. I’m moving out of the condo and back in here with you guys, until the house I’m building is finished. It’s time I grew some roots, built a firm foundation around here.”

Daddy tried hard to hide his smile, the one he would share when momma woke up and made him his first pot of coffee. “All right, Chase, I think we’ve covered everything. I won’t share it all with your momma, some things need to be kept between us men.”

Standing from my chair, I slid my right arm around his shoulder. “Thanks, I appreciate it.” We bid each other goodnight and pushed the chairs back into place. Heaven forbid we messed up momma’s perfect kitchen.

“Oh, hey, one more thing.” He turned slowly from his position in the doorway, the fatigue deepening the lines around his face. “Who do we know down at Charleston Power?”

Reaching up to rub his hand over his chin, a shy smile broke out on his face. “Now you’re acting like a man, and thinkin’ like a Morgan.”

As I climbed the steps after storing the name and number of the company in my phone, I was hit with memories of growing up in this house, full of love and laughter. The dent in the wood of the banister, a reminder of the time Austin snuck in past curfew. At the top of the landing, I recalled sneaking out of my bed, watching my daddy spin momma around to kiss him, and the laughter he caused to bubble out of her. Hugging my brothers goodbye as I left for boot camp.

As I passed the room Momma chose to place Audrey in, a more appropriate room in her opinion, I placed my palm against the wood and leaned my ear to the crack of the door, listening for even the slightest noise, hearing none.

That night as I stood under the beads of the water, I once again indulged in a daily dose of self-love, this time, Audrey wasn’t on her knees, but pressed against the tiles, calling my name as she met her own release. Just like the nostalgia I had in the hall, I wanted to build a life full of memories, one that included the real life version of my shower fantasy.

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