Too soon.
Today the hangar was filled with family instead of soldiers. I paused at the threshold, ignoring the way the heat of the crockpot handles seeped through the hotpot holders, and simply took in the sight. Children in bright T-shirts raced around a maze of strollers and moms, while a bounce house sat empty to mark the “finish line” near the hangar doors. Tables lined the back wall, buffet-style, where spouses were setting up their dishes in preparation for the potluck breakfast after the run.
It felt like the first day at a new school, except I didn’t even have the luxury of an assigned seat.
You have a crockpot, too. You fit in.
“Of course you fit in,” Josh said with a little laugh. Guess I’d spoken that thought aloud. He held out his hands to take the crockpot from me.
“No.” I clutched the dish tighter.
“It’s not going to protect you,” he joked, walking with me toward the table.
“You have Kevlar. I have a crockpot.”
“You’re adorable when you’re nervous.” He threw me a wink, and I rolled my eyes.
I placed the dish on the table at the nearest empty spot and leaned to plug it into the power strip.
“Well, good morning! What do you have there?” a friendly voice asked.
“Breakfast burritos,” I answered with a smile after I got the thing plugged in.
The woman looked to be in her early thirties, with nice brown hair and hazel eyes and a shirt that read “Dustoff Dolls” in sparkly red letters across her boobs. “Oh, well, these are more muffins and things. Maybe you could move it down to where the eggs are?” Smile or not, I knew that wasn’t a request.
“Not a problem,” I answered.
“Lieutenant Walker, I think Captain Brown was looking for you,” the woman said.
“Yes, ma’am. Ember, this is Mrs. Dwyer. She’s the FRG leader for our company.”
“Lucille,” the woman said, thrusting out her hand.
I shook it. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Ember.”
“Lovely! Oh, Lieutenant, I do wish you’d told me about her. I would have made sure she had a Dustoff Dolls shirt to match the rest of us! And we’re having a little informational meeting later if you want to find us after the run. I know the girls would love to meet you!”
“I look forward to it,” I answered Lucille as Josh unplugged the crockpot.
“Well, there’s a spot right down there. Can’t miss it!” she said with a smile way too perky for eight a.m. and went to correct the next misplaced dish.
“I should go find—” Josh started.
“You leave me, you die,” I whispered so only he could hear.
He took my face in his hands and smiled, warming me like nothing else could have. “Are you nervous, my December?”
“I’m not a wife.” It slipped out before I could stop it.
“So? It’s Family Readiness, not No-Non-Wives Allowed.” His thumbs brushed over my cheeks.
He was right. “I’m just being stupid.” My eyes slid shut, and I took a deep breath.
Josh kissed me quickly. “You could never be stupid. And like I said, you’re adorable when you’re nervous.”
“Okay. You have a job, so go talk to Captain Brown. I’ll find the exact six inches this crockpot should go in and then register us for the race, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
He kissed me again and disappeared into the crowd. Well, as much as anyone his height could vanish in a sea of women. The only soldiers here were either on rear detachment for the deployment, or just hadn’t left yet, like Josh.
I found the correct spot for my dish and gave a half wave to Lucille when she looked over to see that I had carried out her orders. For someone who’d been brought up in the army, I’d never felt quite so out of place.
Strapping my iPod to my bicep with my armband, I wandered to the registration table and signed us in. “Lieutenant Josh Walker and December Howard,” I wrote on the line, adding in his company in the next blank.
Then I tightened my ponytail and waded through the sea of kids and strollers to search for Josh near the starting line.
“Good morning, Ember,” Will said, catching up with me.
My stress level dropped about twenty points at the sight of a familiar face. “Hey, Will. You ready for a little run?”
“Most definitely. You making friends?”
I shrugged. “I wish Jagger and Paisley hadn’t gone to New York for the weekend. How did he get out of this?”
Will laughed. “Paisley’s dad wanted to see him before the deployment started, and there aren’t many people who would deny leave when it’s requested by one of the top-ranking generals in aviation.”
“Good point.” Glancing around at all the wives with their friends, I couldn’t help but miss Sam, too. Her mom’s change of command was coming up, so at least I’d get to spend next weekend with her.
We found Josh near the starting point, and I did a minimal stretch, grateful for my long-sleeve running gear in the slight morning chill, even if I didn’t have Dustoff Dolls emblazoned across my breasts.
After a welcome speech by the rear detachment commander, the run started. Will jetted ahead, taking off like this race would determine his next promotion and not just who would buy the first round after. My heart thrummed steadily for the first mile, my feet hitting the pavement to the rhythm of my beats-per-minute playlist, but Josh lagged just behind me. I dropped back a few meters to where he ran and pulled out my earbuds. “Hey, babe, is your leg acting up?”