Chapter 7 I Think
1518 Words
Three days just me and Kyle. It was there and then it was gone. I guess that’s how it goes when you don’t have very many places to go, and i thought i would be ok with that but the more i thought about it the more i wanted to be on dad's side. I would love to actually go somewhere different for special occasions like our honeymoon. I remembered us studying about Paris, France in history class one day, the city of love they use to call it. I remember seeing pictures of how it looked back then and people seemed happier. I wouldn’t mind seeing it if i could.
On our last night together me and Kyle just cuddled each other and talked. I held onto his body as if I would never see him again which I wasn't sure if I would. Dad was right, being married only made it a little harder to cope with, i wasn’t even gone yet and i missed him already.
I could feel Kyle turning to face me.
“What are you thinking about beautiful?”
“I just….i just wish we could have done something more, something different.”
He looked at me for a second and lifted my chin.
“Even if we’re stuck here the rest of our lives maybe one day our future generations will see a better earth.”
When he said that I wanted Mark and dad to be even more right.
“Come on, let's get some rest, you got a long day tomorrow, and i don’t want you to be too tired.”
He turned off the light, and I fell asleep in his arms and for the second time in my life I was scared to death. Ironic it is about going to the same place,I lost an arm and a leg but this time because i don’t know what's out there now or what's changed. Then too, I was afraid that I'd never see Kyle again.
The morning came and I was silently getting ready while Kyle slept. I didn’t want to wake him but when I was tip-toeing out I heard his voice behind me.
“The last time you left without saying good-bye, i thought i would never see you again.”
He walked up from behind me and leaned in for a strong hug.
“I’m sorry, I just didn’t want to wake you.”
“It's ok, you be careful babe, try not to get into too much trouble ok? I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I started on my way again and I never really noticed how quiet the base is this early in the morning. The sun is coming up but it's like it lingers on the horizon longer than usual, must be my anxiousness getting to me.
As I made it to Gate B dad and Mark were waiting on me.
“Morning sunshine.”
“Don’t call me that.”
When I was getting ready to salute the general he stopped me.
“None of that please. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want Samantha i could just go-”
“I want to go dad, it's fine.”
He seemed shocked to hear me say that.
“I think i want the future generations to have a better future. I mean the bases are safe and things are pretty peaceful but what if there could more? Maybe I'll never get to see more but maybe my great grandkids can see the world when it’s back together.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more. I couldn’t get you much but i did what i could.”
He led us to the back of the jeep and opened the trunk.
I saw two pistols, a sawn-off shotgun, two M4s, and a rocket launcher.
“The rocket launcher is a bit much don’t you think dad?”
“You never know.”
“Well i’m ready to get this show on the road. The sooner we get you on board the sooner we can get a plan in motion.”
Mark hopped in the passenger seat and I got in the drivers.
“You only got a couple days, I'll try to cover the tracks the best I can.”
“Dad-”
“I meant what I said the other night Samantha, I'm proud of you even if you weren’t doing this and I'd still be proud of you, and i’m sorry for what happened all those years ago.”
I did my best to hold back my tears. He'd never actually said he was sorry for sending me out the first time. Never in 12 years. Only words didn’t come out. I could only nod as he tapped on the hood getting ready to open the hangar door and I started up the engine. I turned to dad and he was saluting me as we were driving out.
“Why don’t you floor it? We’ll get there faster.”
“Don’t you see these Sand Dunes out here? We could wreck if we’re not careful. By jeep we'll get there before the day is over, but we have to be careful.”
“Careful huh? You’re just like your dad, too cautious.”
I looked at him and rolled my eyes.
“Come on cousin you gotta let loose, live a little you don’t have to be little miss perfect in front of me.”
I got a little curious about Mark for a second.
“What about you and your dad? Are you guys anything alike?”
He got quiet, almost like I upset him for asking.
“Sure if that’s how you want to put it.”
“I’m guessing you both don’t see eye to eye?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, ya know?”
“Oh, but you make comments about me and my dad?”
He seemed to get a little more annoyed, and for a while we rode in silence.
“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to get upset back there. It’s just me and my dad don’t have the best relationship like you said.”
“It’s ok, didn’t mean to pry, I was just curious.”
“It’s not that i don’t have respect for the man but he can be a bit harsh sometimes ya know? He’s lucky I even decided to come back.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well I kind of accidentally destroyed my radio the day we met and I told him, I'd just turn myself into the authorities to piss him off and I threw the radio at the wall. But then i kind of realized i couldn’t tell him we were coming back when you got on board.”
When realization hit I immediately stopped the car.
“So you’re telling me that your dad doesn't even know we’re coming?”
When he realized what he had said he sank into the seat.
“Oops oh uh, heh did i forget to mention that?”
“Un-f*****g-believable.”
“It’s fine dad knows i bluff a lot….most of the time anyway.”
When i tried to continue driving the jeep wouldn’t go.
“What the hell.”
“Why aren’t we moving?”
“I don’t know. We’ve only used a little less than half a tank.”
I put it in park, turned it off and popped the hood, and Mark got out to check it out.
“Hey you might want to come look at this.”
I got out to see what was going. When I got a clear look it seemed like something chewed through every wire and hose you could possibly see.
“Rats maybe?”
“That can't be, it was fine before we left. Dad wouldn’t have given us this one if it had rats crawling around in it. He always personally inspects a jeep himself.”
Suddenly I felt an urge of sickness come over me and I turned away from the car to throw up.
“s**t you ok? Did you eat anything before we left?”
That was a good question, was i ok? It was just like the day me and Kyle got married but maybe it wasn’t about getting married. I started thinking about other possibilities and then it hit me.
“Mark? I think i’m pregnant.”
- Writer
