Page 4 of SEAL's Sunshine
“No shit, right? When I flew into Atlanta last time to visit my sister last month it was ridiculous. I ended up in a middle seat and the guy in the aisle kept hitting on me. Then the person in the window seat must have gotten up about twelve times to go to the bathroom. I was like seriously? It’s a two-hour fight. Just stay in the fucking bathroom already.”
“You need to let my mother make your reservations, then you’ll end up in first class whether you want to or not.”
“Why wouldn’t you want to fly first class? I’d be all over that.”
“I always feel like it’s overkill. Especially on a short flight. Maybe I’m used to roughing since I’ve been on so many missionary trips.”
“Speaking of trips, Charlie told me you guys are heading back in three months.” They’d chatted as Meghan led the way to her car.
“Yeah, I haven’t told my parents yet. I figured I’d wait until it got closer. I know they’re going to freak out. But it’s my job—at least for now.”
“I’m sure they’ll understand.”
“Maybe my dad, but not my mother. She was freaking out about me coming here. It always was a problem, but it’s gotten a million times worse since Afghanistan.”
“You’re her baby, an only child, right?”
“Yeah. I know she loves me and is just trying to protect me. But I’m twenty-five. I need to follow my path. She had her chance to follow hers.”
“I get it. I was lucky since there were three of us it wasn’t as hard. Have you explained it to her like that?”
“No, not yet. But that’s a good idea.” Meghan smiled and popped the trunk of the car. Stowing Miranda’s bag, they got into the car and headed to her apartment.
“I didn’t want to tell you right away, but I have some bad news,” Meghan started, but Miranda cut her off. Hearing the words ‘bad news’ twisted her insides into a knot and the worst possible thoughts entered her mind.
“What news? Is Cam okay?”
“Easy, everyone is fine as far as I know. I didn’t mean to freak you out. They’re going to be delayed. Something came up and their schedule got changed.”
“But they’re okay?”
“Yup. Rafe couldn’t tell me anything other than they weren’t coming back yet and he’d let me know when they were on their way home.”
“I wonder why Cam didn’t let me know?”
“They were in a hurry, I told Rafe I’d let you know. I hope that’s okay.”
“Yeah, of course. But now you’re stuck with me. I can get a hotel room until they get back.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can hang out and we can get to know each other better. Charlie talks about you all the time.”
“He talks about you too. He’s pretty chatty for a guy, isn’t he?”
“Oh hell yeah. My sister, Lizzie, used to bitch at him all the time for telling all our secrets to anyone he met.”
“That’s funny.”
“It is now, but it was absolute hell in high school. Oh my God, I remember when Lizzie had a huge crush on this guy on the Lacrosse team and Charlie told him. I thought she was going to kill him until Eric asked her to the prom. Then she didn’t mind so much,” Meghan said with a chuckle.
“I didn’t have to worry about stuff like it. I used to wish for a sister to share secrets with. I think that’s why I enjoy being part of the missionary group. Most of them have become my friends, some closer, like Charlie. It’s like having sisters and brothers now.”
“I guess I never thought of it that way. We always seem to want what we don’t have, right?”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true. How are you doing? I bet you miss Rafe.”
“I do, but I’ve been keeping busy working on my book. I also went to Atlanta twice to check on my mom and help my sister. Did Charlie tell you our mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year?”
“He did. I’m so sorry. It’s a horrible disease.”
