Page 2 of A Moment Never Forgotten
“We’re all hoping you can help us out from your new desk at the Pentagon.” Evan scanned the crowd then lowered his voice even more. “It seems like we’re losing more men every day under these newdirectives.” He spat out the last word. “If this shit keeps up, next thing we know we’re going to have to send the bad guys a letter telling them what day and time we’ll be invading their base of operations then give them a call the day before to remind them. Fucking politicians sticking their nose into war. I especially hate the ones who have never served and have no real concept of what we are faced with every day.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.” Micah was thankful his feet were moving and warming up. “You know I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Mom.” Someone called from off to their right.
“Thanks for coming, Momma Barker.” A second man said over the first.
“Hey, Mom Barker, we really appreciate you coming.” Sailor number three spoke loudly.
All the deep voices and the sea of enlisted blue uniforms taking turns hugging an unseen woman caught the attention of both senior Navy officers. Lieutenant Knox caught up to them, then broadly smiled at the scrum of his platoon.
“Sirs, would you mind taking just a moment to come over and meet Mom Barker? She would be thrilled to meet you both.” The lieutenant gestured toward the woman just ahead and to the left. As though to explain, he continued, “She adopted the entire platoon when Mak became Bravo Squad Leader. We get a care package from her almost every week. That lady can bake.”
One glance at each other and a slight nod was all it took for Micah and Evan to change directions. On their approach, the blue uniforms parted, and Lieutenant Knox swept in.
After a brief hug, the lieutenant stepped back from the pretty woman in her mid-forties genuinely smiling as her gaze swept all the men in their twenties surrounding her. “Mom Barker, I’d like you to meet Commander Hubbard and Captain Reid. Sirs, I’d like you to meet one of the most supportive SEAL mothers, Berit Barker.”
Micah couldn’t place her, but he knew he’d met the tall woman with a distinct professional air once before. She’d probably attended one of the social functions the teams occasionally held. Her heart-shaped face surrounded by dark brown hair with its God-given silver strands was so familiar. When blue-gray eyes that matched the winter sky met his, he was sure they’d met.
“Nice to meet you, Commander Hubbard.” She shook Evan’s hand first since he was closer. “I’m sorry it was under such sad circumstances.” She sniffed and rolled in her lips as though biting back the tears. “I’m going to miss Ram.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Evan dropped his large left hand over both of theirs. “We’re all going to miss him.”
As her eyes tracked to Micah, they widened. The corners of her mouth quirked up. “Captain Reid, it’s nice to see you again.” She slid her right hand out from between Evans’ and extended it toward him.
At his obvious lack of recognition, Berit continued, “It seems like just yesterday we laid Senior Special Agent Gabriel Davis to rest.”
Click.
Berit Barker. They met briefly at Gabe’s memorial service. Micah still wasn’t sure how he felt about his former friend. She’d helped Marsha Davis with the arrangements for her estranged husband’s funeral. Micah figured she was the CIA version of the military’s Casualty Assistance Officer. Her boss, Joseph Lambert, had mentioned that she would be helping Marsha over the next year. Obviously, that didn’t happen.
Her gloved hand slid into his.
She stepped in closer and lowered her voice. “I was sorry to hear that Marsha was killed the next day. It’s my understanding that the Fairfax police believe she interrupted a home invasion and was shot by the armed robber. Have they caught the man yet?”
That was such a bull-shit story they had filed. All four members of the original Syrian mission believed it was much more than that. Someone had shot Marsha with Gabriel’s gun then staged the area to look like a suicide. With the help of Matthew, and a private detective they’d hired, they had finally convinced the police to change the cause of death to homicide.
At Berit’s expectant look, Micah bit back the derogatory retort he almost blurted. Instead, he managed to answer, “Her murder remains unsolved. They’re supposedly still looking for the man caught on video by several neighbors’ security systems, but I don’t think they’re looking very hard.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Berit seemed to be an unusual combination of casual and professional. He knew few female flag officers who maintained the same kind of bearing. “I’ve been working with Teagan Williams, I mean, Jackson, establishing education funds for Gabriel’s children through a foundation we have. I’m also handling the confusing payout of his life insurance due to the unusual circumstances.”
Visions of young Brann and little Anora playing in the sand at Topsail Island beach in their wedding clothes popped into his mind. His good friends, Logan and Teagan, had become husband and wife in an oceanside wedding in early September. Once again, Micah had been a groomsman in the small ceremony.
He grinned. “I don’t imagine insurance companies often see the godparents taking on the responsibility of raising two small orphans.” His grin grew into a smile. “Did you know they’re trying to adopt Anora and Brann?”
When Berit smiled her whole face lit up. It struck him that she was pretty in a way that only older women could be. There was also intelligence learned from life experiences—that couldn’t be hidden. “Teagan told me that. I’m so happy for all of them, but especially the children. Kids need parents.” Her gaze wandered over to the pallbearers before returning to meet his eyes. “The next time you see Teagan, please tell her I saidhi.”
“She’s coming up tomorrow, along with Logan, and of course the children. She has to handle some of the probate issues.” Micah wasn’t sure why he was explaining all this to Berit.
“Commander Hubbard, sir, permission to hug my mom.” The anxious SEAL saluted Evan.
“Permission granted.” His friend of several years, and SEAL Team Two’s Commanding Officer, smiled as the heavily bearded man in his mid-twenties threw his arms around Berit Barker and lifted her off the ground. She lost one of her black low-heeled pumps but didn’t seem to care. The joy on her face said everything. She loved this young man.
“The petty officer we just buried was on Mak’s team,” Evan said in a low voice meant for only Micah. “He should still be in the hospital in Germany, but he and two of the less-injured men, insisted on accompanying the body back. They may be able to ship back the others next week.”
When the young sailor finally set his mother back on the ground, Evan called to him. “Mak, have you ever met Captain Reid?”
“No, sir.” He performed a perfect about-face and strode the three paces to face Micah. He came to attention and snapped a salute. “Petty Officer First Class Makensey Barker, sir.”
