Page 14 of The Gunnery Sergeant's Ready-Made Family

“No, they are anonymous, that isn’t the issue. They are dreams, Stevie, that’s all they are. It seems silly to be discussing them in a group.”

“Privately then? With the chaplain?”

“Perhaps,” Chase drew the word out. “I think...Yes, I think that might be wise, I mean, it can’t hurt, can it?”

“I don’t want to push you, Chase, if you don’t want to talk to someone, that is your right, I just worry about you, and I would hate to see your pride get in the way of you talking anything through with someone who might be able to help you.”

“Thank you, Stevie, seriously, it helps just to know someone cares.”

“What do you think triggers the dreams? I mean, it's just that I've not heard you before, so I wondered if it was something particular that had happened yesterday?”

“You might be right, I can't say for sure, but maybe speaking to my recruits yesterday, trying to get them to understand the seriousness of war, of just what it actually means to be a soldier in today's world, could have triggered something subconsciously. Or maybe I was just overly tired, the brain is a mysterious organ.” Stevie couldn’t disagree with that.

“I’m going to go to a social group meeting today, one of the wives from church invited me to come along, if you want, I could go past the chapel and see if Chaplain Brown does counselling.”

“Thank you, but no, I’ll pop in myself on my way home from work today.” Stevie nodded at Chase’s answer and started stacking pancakes onto a plate for Ranger who she could currently hear padding down the stairs. She added a fork and spoon to his place at the table and pushed the blueberries and syrup close enough for him to be able to reach them.

“Uncle Chase, you’re still here,” Ranger cried as he threw his arms around Chase’s legs.

“I sure am buddy; I wouldn’t miss pancakes with you for anything in the world.” Stevie watched as Chase scooped Ranger up into a bear hug. “Where’s your brother?”

“Sleeping.” Stevie tried not to laugh at the way Ranger answered, as if he was totally disgusted that his brother dared to sleep late.

“We’ll have to make sure that we save him a pancake then, just in case your Aunt Stevie says he’s allowed to try one.” Chase settled Ranger on his chair and helped him pour some syrup on his stack of pancakes.

“After breakfast, would you mind dropping me off at work Stevie?”

“You aren’t taking the car?” Stevie looked at Chase, surprised.

“You’ll need it to get to your social group. Besides, it isn’t far, I’m happy to walk.”

“It’s fine, I had planned to walk with the kids anyway,” Stevie shrugged, “you take the car if you want to.”

“It’s a long way to walk with the kids, even with the stroller, besides, what if you need to leave early? What if one of them gets sick?”

“I guess you are right,” Stevie nodded absently, “in that case, once you are finished, we’ll run you over to work. It will be fun, won’t it Ranger, to see where Chase works?” Chase insisted on stacking the dishwasher after breakfast, refusing to leave the dishes for Stevie to do later, before finally loading everyone into the truck to head to work. Finn had woken up when he was carried from his cot, happily cooing a greeting to everyone he saw. Stevie pulled into the parking spot that Chase indicated, a grin lighting her face at the reserved parking sign.

“What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“About five? I’ll text you later, I’m not sure how much paperwork I’ll have to do today.”

“Okay,” Stevie nodded, “have a good day Chase, be safe.”

“Have a good day Uncle Chase, be safe,” Ranger echoed from the backseat, Chase and Stevie sharing a secret smile at the sweetness of Ranger’s words. The rest of the morning was a flurry of activity for Stevie, taken up with cleaning the house and doing several loads of laundry before a quick lunch. Stevie wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the social club meeting, she knew that Amanda used to belong to one, but had never considered joining one herself before being invited. Held in one of the member’s homes, the ladies were lovely and welcoming, Ranger happily going off to play with newfound friends, Finn content to be held by waiting hands eager for baby cuddles. Some of the ladies had known Amanda and had therefore heard about Stevie before, others were meeting her for the first time today.

The meeting started with a prayer of fellowship, a comfort to Stevie, before the large group broke into five smaller groups, each one tasked with coming up with an activity that the women could enjoy together as a large group. It was interesting to hear the ideas they came up with, some suited for entire families, others specifically ladies only. The ideas were added to their social calendar, and a copy was sent to Stevie via text message, before the meeting was called to an end and their socialising started, the women sharing refreshments and fellowship. Many of the women were keen to offer Stevie any help she needed as she settled into her new life, which was appreciated. Stevie discovered that there was a small preschool nearby that Ranger was old enough to join, another of the ladies in the group offered to introduce Stevie to the teacher at church on Sunday if she was interested. By the time Stevie and the boys arrived home, tired but happy, the sun was low in the sky, and Stevie had a bunch of new recipes to try. She hadn’t realised until today just how much she had missed the company and companionship of another woman, someone that she could actually talk to, and share things with. She was glad that she had gone, and couldn’t wait to tell Chase all about it.

Chapter Ten

“Aunt Stevie, is Grandma coming today?” Ranger walked into the bedroom that he shared with Finn and plopped down on his bed, looking at Stevie over the changing table where she was currently attempting to dress a very wet and squirmy Finn.

“No honey, not today,” Stevie leant over and ruffled Ranger’s hair, “tomorrow. One more sleep.”

“Oh-kay,” he sighed. “I miss her.”

“I know sweetie, she misses you too, I know it.” Despite talking on the phone every night, Stevie’s grandmother had missed them all terribly once she had returned home and hadn’t needed much urging to return to them. Chase had surprised Stevie by suggesting it shortly after they had moved into their new house, when he had caught her crying after ending her call with her grandmother on a night that she had been feeling especially low. Stevie had been doubtful at first, worried about bringing an extra person into their home when they had not yet established their own boundaries fully, but the more she had thought about it, and the more time that she spent in prayer, the more Stevie came to see that the idea had merits.

When she had suggested it to her grandmother during one of their late-night phone calls, her grandmother had been overjoyed at the idea, she had been feeling lonely since she had returned after the funeral and was thinking that her house was far too big for a single person. Stevie didn’t want her to make any rash decisions, so together with Chase, they came up with a solution that fitted them all. Her grandmother would close up her house in her secure gated community and put her belongings into storage. She would send anything she needed ahead of her, and she would plan to spend the next six months with Stevie and Chase, after which she would make a decision about her long-term living arrangements. Her boxes were due to arrive today, and Stevie was anxious to get both of the boys ready and downstairs, she had a to-do list a mile long. Chase had been more than willing to help, but late last night had been called away on official duty, one of his sniper recruits had gotten into some sort of trouble and Chase needed to go and help him sort it out. He had sent her a text message first thing this morning but was yet to arrive home.

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