brother did, but
he’s a loser. No, that’s not fair. He’s unreliable, and gave me his
not even week old son. I’ve had Ryan ever since.”
“ Ah. So you’re a mom, but
you didn’t have any of the fun getting there.” Janine
nodded.
“ Well, motherhood is fun.
Frustrating and infuriating sometimes too, but definitely
fun.”
Janine stared at her for a moment
before turning back to her footlocker. “I’m going for dinner, want
to come?”
“ Yes. Goodness knows you
have to be hungry to eat this slop, and I’m there now.”
“ I’m with you, girlfriend,”
Janine said and they exchanged cheeky grins before making their way
to the mess hall. After they ate, mystery meat with dubious side
dishes, they sauntered back across the grounds to their
quarters.
A delivery truck arrived and KC
received her first package, much to her delight. Mitch and Lainy
Monahan, the return address read. A small thrill coursed through
her.
“ You got a package?” Janine
hefted one too.
“ Yes. From Max’s
sister.”
“ You’re pretty close to his
family then?”
“ Oh, yeah. He’s my best
friend.”
“ Ah.”
“ Mitch, Lainy’s husband, was
over here for a year. She took in his dog while he was
deployed.”
“ How long had they known
each other before he left?” She heard a note of interest in
Janine’s voice.
“ Not at all. They didn’t
meet until she e-mailed about having his dog.”
“ Really? And they’re married
now?”
“ Yep. Once he came home, it
didn’t take them long to tie the knot. She’s pregnant already. And
they’re both so excited and happy the emotions and displays of love
are nearly sickening.”
“ I see,” Janine said, and KC
caught the speculative look she sent.
“ What?”
“ Wishing for that for
yourself?” A wistful tone KC recognized now mingled in Janine’s
voice.
“ I suppose, but I’d never
steal Lainy’s happiness. She’s a nerd, and waited a long time for
someone like Mitch to come along.”
“ A nerd?”
“ By her own
proclamation.”
“ What’s she do?”
“ She’s an electronics
expert.”
“ Oh? An
engineer?”
“ No. Well, yes, I think she
has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and a few masters in
mathematics and physics, I think Max said.”
“ Is Max that
smart?”
“ Oh yeah. He’s got an MBA,
but I think he also holds a Ph.D. in business something or other.
He doesn’t use the title Doctor or anything, but I wouldn’t doubt
he’s earned it. He’s utterly brilliant too.”
Janine sent her another speculative
look, but before KC could ask her about it, they reached their
tent. KC was too eager to see what her package contained to wonder
what Janine was currently thinking.
She could worm the information out of
her friend later. After she discovered what Mitch and Lainy had
sent. Normally, she figured only Lainy would have a hand in the
package contents, but Mitch had been here, so she doubted he left
the job entirely up to Lainy.
Ripping off the tape was a satisfying
endeavor and she heard Janine do the same. They looked at each
other and laughed. KC had needed the satisfaction of ripping that
tape. And she figured Janine must have felt the same.
She delved into the Styrofoam peanuts
and came up with – a huge container of cookies. “Oh, yeah,” she
said with a sigh, and tore the lid off. The decadent scent of sugar
and frosting wafted up to her. Janine stopped tugging items out of
her package to come investigate the cookie container with
her.
“ Oh, KC, these are
wonderful.” Janine took another bite and breathed deeply. KC
followed her actions, loving the scent and taste of the cookie as
it nearly melted in her mouth.
“ I was hoping someone in the
Morrison family would send me these!”
“ I already love this
family,” Janine uttered, and closed her eyes as she savored the
next bite.
“ There are a lot of them to
love.” KC grinned. They each selected another of the
treats.
“ Big family?” Janine
he’s a loser. No, that’s not fair. He’s unreliable, and gave me his
not even week old son. I’ve had Ryan ever since.”
“ Ah. So you’re a mom, but
you didn’t have any of the fun getting there.” Janine
nodded.
“ Well, motherhood is fun.
Frustrating and infuriating sometimes too, but definitely
fun.”
Janine stared at her for a moment
before turning back to her footlocker. “I’m going for dinner, want
to come?”
“ Yes. Goodness knows you
have to be hungry to eat this slop, and I’m there now.”
“ I’m with you, girlfriend,”
Janine said and they exchanged cheeky grins before making their way
to the mess hall. After they ate, mystery meat with dubious side
dishes, they sauntered back across the grounds to their
quarters.
A delivery truck arrived and KC
received her first package, much to her delight. Mitch and Lainy
Monahan, the return address read. A small thrill coursed through
her.
“ You got a package?” Janine
hefted one too.
“ Yes. From Max’s
sister.”
“ You’re pretty close to his
family then?”
“ Oh, yeah. He’s my best
friend.”
“ Ah.”
“ Mitch, Lainy’s husband, was
over here for a year. She took in his dog while he was
deployed.”
“ How long had they known
each other before he left?” She heard a note of interest in
Janine’s voice.
“ Not at all. They didn’t
meet until she e-mailed about having his dog.”
“ Really? And they’re married
now?”
“ Yep. Once he came home, it
didn’t take them long to tie the knot. She’s pregnant already. And
they’re both so excited and happy the emotions and displays of love
are nearly sickening.”
“ I see,” Janine said, and KC
caught the speculative look she sent.
“ What?”
“ Wishing for that for
yourself?” A wistful tone KC recognized now mingled in Janine’s
voice.
“ I suppose, but I’d never
steal Lainy’s happiness. She’s a nerd, and waited a long time for
someone like Mitch to come along.”
“ A nerd?”
“ By her own
proclamation.”
“ What’s she do?”
“ She’s an electronics
expert.”
“ Oh? An
engineer?”
“ No. Well, yes, I think she
has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and a few masters in
mathematics and physics, I think Max said.”
“ Is Max that
smart?”
“ Oh yeah. He’s got an MBA,
but I think he also holds a Ph.D. in business something or other.
He doesn’t use the title Doctor or anything, but I wouldn’t doubt
he’s earned it. He’s utterly brilliant too.”
Janine sent her another speculative
look, but before KC could ask her about it, they reached their
tent. KC was too eager to see what her package contained to wonder
what Janine was currently thinking.
She could worm the information out of
her friend later. After she discovered what Mitch and Lainy had
sent. Normally, she figured only Lainy would have a hand in the
package contents, but Mitch had been here, so she doubted he left
the job entirely up to Lainy.
Ripping off the tape was a satisfying
endeavor and she heard Janine do the same. They looked at each
other and laughed. KC had needed the satisfaction of ripping that
tape. And she figured Janine must have felt the same.
She delved into the Styrofoam peanuts
and came up with – a huge container of cookies. “Oh, yeah,” she
said with a sigh, and tore the lid off. The decadent scent of sugar
and frosting wafted up to her. Janine stopped tugging items out of
her package to come investigate the cookie container with
her.
“ Oh, KC, these are
wonderful.” Janine took another bite and breathed deeply. KC
followed her actions, loving the scent and taste of the cookie as
it nearly melted in her mouth.
“ I was hoping someone in the
Morrison family would send me these!”
“ I already love this
family,” Janine uttered, and closed her eyes as she savored the
next bite.
“ There are a lot of them to
love.” KC grinned. They each selected another of the
treats.
“ Big family?” Janine
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