Page 21 of SEAL's Spitfire
Rafe shrugged. There was nothing he could tell her. Besides he only had the intel that Tex had shared, it hadn’t come from command yet. Maybe it would all be resolved without needing them. “You know the drill. I can get called in at any time. But we’re all on leave so hopefully, we’ll be good.”
“How are you? You look tired, and I swear there’s a little grey in your hair now.”
“Bull shit.”
“Hey, the kids. I don’t need Chase saying that at school. I get enough phone calls from his teacher already.”
“Has he been getting into trouble? What’s been going on? You should have called me.”
“What are you going to do from two thousand miles away?”
“I could talk to him on the phone, or we could Skype.”
“He’s ten, he misses his father. I’ve been taking him to counseling. I think it’s helping. And before you say it, no we’re not moving to Virginia. This is our home.”
“But if I were closer, you said it yourself…”
“No, I said you’re not here. We’re fine. Their friends are here, my job is here. This is just something we have to learn how to live with.”
Dawn was tough. She and Bob had twelve years together before he’d been killed in action. It had been hard for him when they’d started dating. Bob was his best friend, and then he wanted to spend time with his sister. Teenage boys could be real jerks.
“I’m not trying to run your life. I worry about you and the kids. Now that Mom and Dad are gone, you’re here alone.”
“I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else. This is home, Rafe. I’m not like you. I never wanted to travel or see the world. I was always happy here. I hated when we had to move around when Bob was given new orders.”
“Okay. But promise me if you need help with anything, you’ll call me. I know I make you promise every time, but I hope eventually you’ll actually call me.”
Dawn laughed. He knew her as well as she knew him. They’d gotten closer as they got older and they were the only family they had left.
“Uncle Rafe, is it time yet?”
“Honestly, I’m surprised they left us alone this long.”
“It’s okay. We can talk more after they go to bed.”
“Do we have to?” Dawn said doing her best whiny child impersonation. She did it well. He figured she had a lot of practice from hearing it.
“Let me change clothes and I’ll be right with you, Chase.”
“Yay.”
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into,” Dawn said while shaking her head. “He’s going to run you ragged.”
“I’m a Navy SEAL. You can’t possibly think a ten-year-old boy can wear me out?”
“We’ll see. When was the last time you slept?”
“I don’t remember, a couple of days probably. Don’t worry about me. I’m good.” He picked up his bag that he’d left in the living room and as he climbed the stairs, he could still hear Dawn laughing.
After a quick trip to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash up, he checked his phone for messages. Nothing from Tex yet. He wasn’t sure if that was good news or not. He wanted to call Meghan and hear her voice, but then he wouldn’t want to hang up and he had Chase waiting on him, so a text would have to do.
Hi Spitfire. How’s it going? I’m at my sister's. No new info. Sorry.
As he rummaged in his bag for his jeans and sneakers, his phone pinged.
I’m glad you got there ok. I bet they were happy to see you. It’s ok here. No more news either. I hate waiting.
I’ll give Tex a call in a bit but if he had anything, he’d let me know. SD didn’t call again?
