Leaving the Nest

Posted on Sun Mar 31st, 2019 @ 5:29am by 1st Lieutenant Hunter Williams

Mission: Interlude 1
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Timeline: Months prior

Hunter sat behind the wheel of his car, staring at the screen on his phone. He didn’t need the caller ID telling him who was calling, he knew the number by heart. He should, he called it often enough over the years.

“Hello,” he said, answering the call. The phone was routed through his truck’s blu tooth system.

“Hey, Daddy,” Macy, his daughter said over the speakers. “Chandler and I are kind of worried, you’re a little bit late.”

“No, it’s okay, I’m almost there,” Hunter said, looking out the truck’s window at the front of the restaurant where he was meeting his kids to tell them the news in person. “Just got a little held up.”

“You sure everything’s okay, Daddy?”

Hunter closed his eyes hearing that. Even after all these years, he was still “Daddy” to her. He loved hearing that one single word when she said it. Sure, there were times over a set period of years when she screamed it at him, angry and upset. But even then. His little girl. “It’s fine,” he said, not sure it was. He made them a promise two years ago, when he retired from military service. When they found out Michelle was just starting to get sick. How would they take him reneging on that promise? “I’ll see you soon, Chandler’s there?”

“Yes, and Melonie.”

“Oh,” Hunter said, shrugging. That would be easier. His son’s long term girlfriend. Hunter had the feeling it would be getting serious soon, or would be ending. Three years, from high school through college. She was beside him through his mother’s illness every step of the way. During the final arrangements, Hunter couldn’t have asked for a better person in all their lives. Her assistance was invaluable, especially taking on many of the more onerous tasks. Personally, he welcomed the idea of them settling down. “Hey, I’m just pulling into the parking lot, so I’ll see you in a few, okay?”

“Sure,” Macy said, sounding relieved. Six months. That’s all the time he had in ‘retirement’ with Michelle. Six months. Even at her worst, she pushed him toward finishing his master’s program. Michelle knew what it meant for him to start something and not complete it. “Any hint of what you wanted to talk to us about?” Macy asked, concerned again. “It’s not more stuff about Mom’s estate is it?”

Hunter almost laughed. “No, honey, that’s settled. I’m parking now, you’ll just have to wait a few more minutes, okay?”

“Whatever, Daddy!” She laughed, at least she tried. “See you in a few.”

Hunter slipped his phone back into his shirt pocket, grabbed his cover off the passenger seat then exited the truck. He secured the cover before locking the truck. It was a short distance between where he parked and the entrance, but in a way it felt like crossing enemy territory once more. Maybe it was just the nerves of what he was about to do, which meant more to him than patrols. He wasn’t sure when it would happen, but he knew he’d be sent back to the Mid-East theater for another tour or two. Only, this time would be different. He was going to be an officer and he would be the one sending out the teams - those young men and women with parents his age. How would he handle the time at base while they were on patrol? Not knowing what was happening until it got reported back? Not being there, on scene, to help calm fears, settle nerves, be there with the dying?

Maybe he shouldn’t have let them send him to officer training and went back as he was. Maybe this time he could make Master Chief.

The hostess smiled as he entered, but he didn’t miss the way she checked him over. Which, he knew he looked good, kept up with his PT even though he was ‘retired’. After Michelle passed, he fell off for a bit, but it helped pass the time. Gave him something else to do between classes other than roll around the house he shared with his wife for so long, feeling the emptiness of it without her.

Rejoining was a decision it took him some time to make, and he was pushing the age limit, he knew. Mostly, he thought of his kids. It felt like abandoning them and so soon after their mother died. They encouraged him to move on, to find something to do, some way to get involved. In some not as subtle ways, encouraged him to date again. Both said they were fine, they were doing okay and were worried about him. In the end, it was the emptiness of the house that decided him. His kids were in college, learning to have their own lives and didn’t need him as much. Well, maybe they still needed money from time to time, but they didn’t need him.

Most of when they needed him, they could take care of it over the phone.

But he still needed a purpose. Working to finish his masters degree just wasn’t enough. He tried odd jobs, but he wasn’t cut out for civilian jobs. It was too loose out there, too wild and the kids today. He didn’t understand any of them. Everything he said or did seemed to be offensive. One, who was whining about being ‘triggered into an anxiety attack’ by being cut off on the freeway, and the way that devolved into some sort of ‘gender identity politics’ confused him. When he told this person to ‘suck it up, buttercup, not much you can do about other’s rude behavior’ earned him a trip to personnel. He quit at the end of his shift.

He didn’t need the money, insurance took care of the medical bills, the house was paid for, he had his retirement from the Air Force - which wasn’t making him wealthy but took care of the bills and allowed him to help his children.

Volunteer work just wasn’t fulfilling enough. Eventually, several months ago, he realized all he knew was the Air Force. That was, outside of his family, the only time he felt fulfilled and felt as if he had a purpose.

When he contacted command, they stated he could come back, they’d take his enlistment if that’s what he wanted. Then offered him command school, letting him come back as an officer, promised he’d be able to continue working on his dissertation and any tours in the Mid-East would be minimal. They didn’t promise PJ training but it was definitely strongly hinted.

The hostess led him, winding through the restuarant, to where Macy and Chandler sat, Melonie to Chandler’s left, leaving a space between Macy and his son for Hunter to sit. But they weren’t. As soon as they saw him coming through the restaurant, both stood, staring at him. Seeing him in uniform again for the first time in years.

“Thank you,” Hunter said as the hostess set a menu down at the place set for him. He asked his children to sit as well, greeted Melonie with a quick kiss on the cheek.

“We already ordered drinks,” Chandler said, “we got you Pepsi since it seems a little late in the day for coffee.”

Hunter shook his head while giving a dramatic sigh. “Where, o where did I go wrong, raising children who think there’s ever a ‘too late for coffee’. You try to be a good parent and then you find out your children sneak around having non-caffeinated beverages after ten in the morning.” Melonie was silently laughing while Chandler and Macy rolled their eyes at each other.

“Melonie, honey,” Chandler said, taking her hand and quickly kissing the back of it, “What have we talked about regarding encouraging Dad to be...well...Dad.”

“Stop it,” Melonie said, “You’re Dad’s great and you know it. You’re lucky to have him.”

“Are we?” Chandler asked, turning back to Hunter. “What’s with the uniform? You have some sort of veterans reunion or something?”

“No,” Hunter said, pausing long enough to order the double cheeseburger, steak fries and steamed vegetables (there were body ratio standards to maintain again) to go with the Pepsi he ordered. Then, in a burst of inspiration, he ordered chocolate cake slices and ice cream for the table. Once the waitress left, Hunter turned back to his children, already considering Melonie to be one of his ‘kids’. “I should have told you before, maybe discussed it with you both but, I’ve re-upped. I’m going back.”

“Daddy?” Macy asked, just staring at him. “You mean back in the Air Force? Back to Iraq?”

“Maybe, but they’re talking more an instructor role here in the States. Maybe one more tour over there, but it’ll be as an officer. A lot safer, you shouldn’t worry, Mace.”

“I always worry, Daddy,” she said.

“Is this definite?” Chandler asked, “I mean, have you signed the contracts and everything?”

Hunter nodded. “I’m afraid so. I know I should have talked to the three of you first but, it’s something I felt I need to do. You kids don’t need me anymore, not really and I need to do something more meaningful than the crap jobs I’ve had.”

Chandler exchanged a quick glance with Melonie, who gave him a small nod. Hunter frowned as he watched this. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“Dad,” Chandler said, “maybe we need you more than you may have realized. Melonie and I are getting married, and not just because she’s pregnant.”

“Married?” Hunter said, looking between the two. Sure, he wanted Melonie to be his daughter in law, but they were both just starting their junior year of college and if they got married then how would that affect college? He wasn’t going to let either one drop out just because they had to rush into any decision like this. “Are you planning a long engagement? Say, until after graduation?”

“Daddy,” Macy said, speaking softly and putting her hand on his arm. “I think you missed the important part.”

“What? That they’re wanting to get married? What’s the rush, it’s not like Melonie’s pregnant or anything, right?”

“Would that be a bad thing?” Meonie asked, her face blank but tears in her eyes.

“Not at all, honey,” Hunter said. “I mean, I’d love to have a grandchild someday, but I want you two to both finish school before you decide to get married and start a family.”

“What if it just,” Melonie shrugged, holding tighter to Chandler’s hand, “happened?”

“Then I…” Hunter trailed off as his eyes widened, he looked to Macy first, but she just pointed to Chandler. “Son?” he asked. “Are you…?” He spoke quietly, slowly, not daring to hope.

Chandler’s face broke into a large smile as he only nodded.

“WHAT?” Hunter said, jumping up, deftly catching the chair as it tottered. “You’re pregnant?” he said, his tone not shouting but very loud regardless. He pulled his son out of his chair and hugged him so enthusiastically that he lifted him off his feet. “Oh my god!” he said, still as loud but dropped Chandler and knelt before Melonie’s chair. He hugged her from his knees, not wanting to do anything that might hurt the precious life growing inside her. “Oh my god, a baby!” he said, with open tears. “How far? Is it a boy or a girl? What are you going to name it?”

“Dad!” Chandler said, standing behind Melonie, almost protectively. “Slow down, we’ve only just found out, and she’s only about three months.”

“You!” Hunter said, unaware of others watching the tableau that was their table. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I don’t know, where might I have learned to spring suprises?” Chandler said, still smiling.

Hunter finished the round of the table, hugging Macy. “You’re going to be an aunt!” he said as he let her go. “You know that, right? An aunt?”

“Yep, sure do, ‘Grandpa’,” Macy said.

“Grandpa?” Hunter said, suddenly aware of the implication. “No, that’s not right. I’m too young to be a grandpa. Or a gramps and I’ve always hated papa.”

“Sir,” a gentleman in a suit said, trying to be unobtrusive.

“Yes?” Hunter said, distracted by the sudden realization that he was a grandfather. Or going to be a grandfather.

“Sir,” the manager said again, still trying to be unobtrusive. “While we celebrate your exuberance at the grand news, congratulations all around, we must ask that you contain your celebrations to your own table.”

“What?” Hunter asked, then looked around. He saw a lot of smiles though. “Oh, sorry! Sorry everyone! Just found out I’m going to be...well, I’m not sure what term we’ll use but I’m one!” He smiled at a smattering of applause and randomly shouted ‘congratulations’ to both him and the happy couple. Hunter waved as he resumed his seat.

“Wow, a baby,” he said, but then shook his head. “Okay, but neither of you are dropping out of school, I won’t allow it. I’ll make sure you got enough money, but you will finish school! Both of you.” He glared at them both. “Childcare will be on me.”

“We’ve been talking, Dad,” Chandler said. “Neither of us want to leave school and we’ve got it arranged. Only,” Chandler looked down and sighed. If his mother were there, she’d recognize it as the exact same move his father made when he had to bring up a difficult subject. “Well, we were hoping to move out of the dorms and…” Chandler sighed. “We were hoping we could move back home.”

“Absolutely, no problem,” Hunter said. “The house is yours. But you still need to worry about childcare.”

“We’ve talked about that too,” Chandler said. He looked up.

“Daddy,” Macy said. “I’m transferring back home. I’ll finish my classes here and we believe we can arrange our schedules so someone is always home with the baby. Only, I’m not sure my scholarship will transfer with me. If not, then I may need some help with school for a bit, until I can get new scholarships or grants.”

“Done,” Hunter said, “Not a problem. I’ll contact OPM tomorrow and get a portion of my check sent to your account every month. I don’t need much and I’d rather you kids are taken care of rather than just collect money in the bank.”

“Are you going to be able to do that, Daddy?” Macy asked.

Hunter shrugged. “Sure, I’ll eat in the chow hall, just have to make sure I make my uniforms last as long as they can. Not buy as many hookers when I’m on liberty. Just the two should do me okay.”

“Daddy!” Macy said, rolling her eyes. But it had the intended effect of embarrassing her as he said it just as the waitress returned with their orders. Hunter waited until she left, catching her smile as she turned.

“Don’t worry. The house is paid for, so is my truck - you’ll use that instead of that crappy car you insist on keeping,” Hunter said to Chandler. “That’ll cut the bills down to just school, utilities and groceries. I’ll have another part of my pay go into a general account for the bills and prenatal care, you make sure you take care of my grandgendernotpresumed,” he said to Melonie. He softened a bit as he saw her wiping away tears.

“What’s wrong, honey?” he asked.

“I wish you weren’t leaving again, I’m sure I’d want you there when the baby’s born.”

“You just give me the due date and I’ll see to it,” Hunter said, “even if I have to ground every last member of Isis to their caves to do it.”

Melonie laughed then, as did Hunter. But it was bittersweet. He already regretted leaving his children but even more so than now. He put his hand over Macy’s that she placed on his arm.

“I wouldn’t want you to do it, Daddy, but, we understand it’s what you feel you need to do. Call us often, email often and come home often.”

“Study hard, princess,” Hunter said, “All of you. Get good jobs, cause you’re making me broke for my old age so you’ll have to care for me.” He turned to Chandler, “You’ll have plenty of practice with diapers by then.”

Melonie apologized for spitting her cola on the table, having the unfortunate circumstance of trying to drink just as Hunter said the last. But Hunter just wiped the bit that got on him and laughed harder. Yes, he realized, he was definitely going to miss all this but even a part of him knew he had to go.