Page 64 of Metal & Mud

"I see the musical apple didn't fall far from the tree." Jess switched legs on a hamstring stretch. "What about you, Penny?"

Mrs. Goodman blushed. "Give me girl pop any day," she said. "The boys used to give me grief for it, but I just like listening to some Katy Perry or Taylor Swift when I'm out on my walks."

"My girl!" Jess said, and Logan looked at her in shock. "What?"

"Uhm... I didn't see you as a Swiftie," Logan said. "You know, being all hardcore lifter and professional ass kicker?"

"I'll have you know that Taylor Swift is some hardcore sh... stuff," Jess replied, grinning. "And don't make me tell stories on you, Hollywood."

"What is this Hollywood nickname from, anyway?" Mrs. Goodman asked. "I asked before, but don't think I got an answer."

Sabby caught Logan's eye and they both burst out laughing. The memory of those early days, when everything between them was uncertain but electric, flooded back.

For the next two hours, Sabby laughed as she and Jess told Logan's parents about his first few months in Charlie Company. The room filled with the scent of brewing coffee as stories flowed, and Sabby felt herself relaxing deeper into the sofa, into this family that was welcoming her so completely.

"Oh Logan, I'm so sorry!" his mother apologized when she heard about his tailored uniforms. "If I'd known?—"

"Mom, it's not your fault." Logan held Sabby's hand, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin. "I knew the regs, but forgot to buy a new uniform top. Totally my fault."

"I'm more curious to hear about the ring on your finger, Sabby," Bud Goodman said, his eyes twinkling. "Logan said he'd found the love of his life, but the details were spotty."

Sabby felt a rush of warmth through her chest as she glanced down at her engagement ring. She remembered the mixture of shock and joy she'd felt when Logan proposed, how time had seemed to stop in that perfect moment.

"I'll let them tell the story," Jess said, "but after that, I've got the video in 4K on my phone."

"Oooh, this'll be a chance to try out that Bluetooth function on the TV!" Logan's mom said excitedly. "Logan, could you?"

"Actually Mom, Sabby's better with electronics than I am." Logan kissed her hand. "She's really good at a lot of things. Like singing."

Logan told the story of how he'd met Sabby, and then how he proposed. It brought tears to Sabby's eyes even, hearing him describe how he'd fallen in love with her voice first, then her spirit, her resilience. She wasn't the only one emotional; the room grew quiet as everyone listened, caught up in the story.

"That's so sweet!" Mrs. Goodman said, dabbing at her eyes. "Isn't it, Bud?"

"You did it right, that's for sure," Bud replied, wiping his eyes. "So before we hear you sing, when's the wedding?"

"Well Bud, Logan and I talked about it," Sabby said, finding her voice. "And we're not going to wait a long time. With Army life, it's not like a June wedding would be guaranteed anyway, so we're going to look at doing it in January. It's the next time that Logan and Jess are on yellow cycle, so they won't be on immediate call for any missions."

She didn't mention how she'd learned to seize happiness when it came, not to postpone it. The last few months had taught her that.

"June, January, don't matter," Bud Goodman said. "As long as you're happy. I haven't asked, but your folks...?"

"We'll reach out, but it's going to be on our terms," Sabby said, her voice firm but not bitter. "For once, it's our way or the highway."

"I taught you so well," Jess teased,.

Sabby laughed.

"I'm also going to be glad, I'll be able to help them, even if I'm not Logan's boss any longer."

"Yes Logan, how is your new sergeant?" Mrs. Goodman asked. "You got a woman again, didn't you?"

Logan laughed, shrugging. "Guess I'm just lucky."

"Tell me son, will that hurt your... I don't know, career?" Bud asked, and Logan shook his head.

"Not at all, Dad. It's a transfer with no negative repercussions, and I'm still in the same platoon. Besides, now I've got someone new to learn from, a new style and new challenges. I like that. She's nothing at all like Jess... but she's a good sergeant in her own right."

"You just got lucky," Jess said. "Linda Castellanos is a hell of a good sergeant. So she can watch over my 'little brother' when I'm not around."

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