“Shit, you got zombies locked up in here somewhere?”
“Close. That would be Charlie, waking early from his nap.”
There was that sound again, part grunt, part growl.
“Do we need body armor?”
“Wouldn't hurt,” Matt said, relieved when there was silence on the monitor. Then another, louder noise came from the kitchen. His family arriving home in a flurry of noise.
The men followed him out of the nursery and down the hall and down the stairs.
“Hey, babe,” Matt said, greeting his wife.
“Hi.” Abby smiled at him as she dropped backpacks and dance bags on the kitchen table. Jack and Gracie rushed the guests.
“You remember Daddy’s friends,” Matt said. “Bob and Doug.”
“I just went to karate,” Jack said, looking up at the men.
“Cool,” Bob said.
“Jack,” Abby said, in a total mom voice. “Don’t forget your manners. Could you at least say ‘hi’ first?”
“Sure.” Jack held out his little hand to shake with the men.
“You got any moves?” Loogie asked.
Jack needed no more prompting than that. He went into a kick spin, a simulated board break, and a downward chop. Before they’d finished their praise, Gracie dodged her brother, coming to stand in front of the men, then let out a wild roar.
A white, fuzzy mask covered most of her face, her brown hair curled out at every angle around the paper plate edges. “March is a lion!” she announced and roared again.
Annie stood close to him, melting into his side and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She gave her little sister a look that said there’d been an overload of roaring in the car, but no way would Annie say anything in front of visitors.
“In like a lion, out like a lamb,” Abby explained when her daughter roared again. “How are you guys?” Abby came over and greeted the men with a hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Good,” Bob said, standing a little straighter. “We’re good.”
And sufficiently dazzled by his wife, Matt smiled. Abby’s smile was enough to make any man want to settle down. He wondered if Loogie had any serious prospects.
Abby moved back into the kitchen just in time to save a full pitcher of lemonade Jack held precariously in his hands. “I hope you’re staying for dinner.”
“No. Sorry. Wish we could.”
“Me, too.” Abby gave Matt a look that said he should try to talk them into it. “Gracie, why don’t you put your mask on the refrigerator?”
Loogie checked his watch. “We’ve really got to get back. It was good seeing you though.”
They said their goodbyes to the kids and Matt passed the baby to Abby and walked his friends to the door.
“You’re a lucky son of a bitch,” Bob said, slapping his back on the way out.
“The luckiest. Be safe,” he told them, then watched them walk to his driveway and a shiny–new black Chevy Camaro. Loogie looked back and pointed, first to the sleek car, then to himself, raising a brow and smirking. Matt laughed, shook his head, then said a prayer for his friends.
He definitely was a lucky son of a bitch, Matt thought later, sliding under the sheets next to his wife. All the babies were fed, bathed, and tucked safely in their beds. Now was his and Abby’s time.
She settled into her sweet spot, cheek on his chest and one leg slung over his hips. “I’m sorry I missed visiting with the guys.”
“Yeah. They didn’t have much time. I think it was more about the baby than me.”
“That’s sweet.”
“I don’t know about sweet.” He slipped and slid his fingers through Abby’s hair slowly, letting the cool strands slide over the back of his hand. “I think Loogie might be looking into getting a glider for his den.”
“Really?”
“He was also spouting off about wanting a couple of his own, but from the look on his face when I opened up her diaper, I think he’ll be waiting a while.”
She laughed softly against him. “Got to be able to handle a diaper. Were they impressed with your skills?”
“Amazed,” he said and smiled. “I’m still Master Chief.”
“Yes, you are.” Abby pressed a kiss to his chest. “You miss them,” she added softly.
“Some.” He tightened his hold, always needing her a little closer. “They’re shipping out soon.”
He didn’t have to say it. She understood he would worry. Another, longer silence passed. It wasn’t filled with tension or fear, but soft touches and thoughtfulness. “Do you miss it?”
When he didn’t answer right away she raised up, rested her chin on his chest. “It’s okay to say you do. You trained for it a good part of your life. You were good at it.”
“I’m good at what I do now.” He brushed an open palm over her bottom, making her suck in a breath. He curled his other hand around the back of her neck and pulled her closer for a slow, deep kiss. When he let her go, they were both breathing a little faster.
“Our commander used to say something to us right before we went wheels up. He’d say, ‘tidy up your life, boys.’ Because you never knew what would happen. If you'd be back.”
Matt smiled, feeling warm around his heart and hot in other places, staring into Abby’s eyes. He brushed back the hair falling over one side of her face, then cupped her cheek. “I like that I have a life to tidy now. I didn’t before, not much of one. None if I’m comparing.”
Abby leaned over him, kissing his chin.
“And if I do miss it, it’s so small in comparison to how much I miss you five minutes after I walk out the door in the morning, I don’t even notice it.” He held her beautiful face in both hands now. “I’m exactly where I belong, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Want me to show you?”
With a grin, she shifted more fully on top of him, the little tank top she wore to bed riding up to reveal more skin. “Yes, Master Chief. I think you should.”
Starting at her neck, he went to work. He’d never loved a job more.
4
The Hunt
“Okay, team. Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Matt paced the line, hands behind his back, and stared down the row of eager egg hunters lined up in his parents’ back yard. Each one held a plastic grocery bag—baskets were not for serious egg gatherers. He laid out the rules, reminded the hunters of the pre determined groups.
The upper group consisted of Anthony, Annie, Jack,
The middle group, Gracie, Lola,
Louisa, Charlie
All the children are still dressed as they’d been for church. The girls in spring colored dresses, the boys in khaki pants or shorts with pastel shirts. No changing into play clothes for this event. The mother’s had declared Easter Egg Hunting would commence as is for the sake of photographs.
Annie, still pristine in her white Easter dress, stood at the ready, her eyes scanning the terrain. The late morning sun beamed through the mature oaks, casting shade over his mother’s prize azaleas. The same ones his five brothers and one sister had trampled in their battle for chocolate years ago. But on this mid April morning, they bloomed in royal mounds of purple, pink, and white.