Jules gave him a playful shove. A few more people laughed. Brad’s mother’s long-suffering sigh made her jowls droop farther. Anna assumed the suffering was more habitual than forced after a lifetime of raising those two boys.
Anna and Neil had put off discussing raising kids of their own until they paid off some debts and he made it through the latest round of force reductions, but she had been drawing a steady paycheck for a year—a new record—and Neil’s job was safe. She hoped tonight, with their busy schedules finally slowing down, they’d talk about their future. Their beautiful, baby-filled future.
Maybe they’d do some practicing too.
Rodney handed Neil the mic. As the only married memberof the wedding party, he’d been asked to give a toast as well. He stood and gave his jacket a tug, then surveyed the room. She smiled up at him. A light behind his head illuminated his sandy hair and his hazel eyes took on a deeper hue over his Air Force blue mess dress. He didn’t fly planes for the Air Force, but instead worked behind the scenes making sure the next generation of airmen would have the best training and equipment in the world.
She loved him for his higher purpose.
He flexed his left hand, but otherwise appeared perfectly at ease. “Good evening,” he said into the microphone. “I’m Neil Martin, and I’ve known Brad since he made me eat dirt in field training.”
A few chuckles came up from the crowd, mostly the uniformed contingent. Neil paused, and a muscle in his cheek spasmed. He clapped Brad on the shoulder. “Well, buddy, yesterday you asked my advice about making marriage work. It’s pretty simple. Put your dishes in the dishwasher, wipe out the sink after you shave, and for God’s sake, man, learn to use the hamper.”
Brad shook his head and pointed at Jules, which the crowd loved.
“Well, then, I guess the best I can do is to tell you what I was told all those decades ago, when I took up my old ball and chain. You can be right, or you can be happy.” Neil leaned closer to Brad and dropped his voice in the mic. “But trust me, sometimes you can’t be either one.”
Hoots of laughter erupted around the room.All those decadeswere six and a half years. Neil knew how to work a crowd. The bride gave him a wonky eyebrow.
“Remember today,” Neil said to Brad. “Remember right now, this moment. Remember how happy you are. Because someday, you’re going to look at her and it will finally sink in that her face is the only one you’re going to see every single morning of the rest of your life.”
A couple peopleaawed, but Anna’s shoulders went back.
That hadn’t sounded entirely complimentary.
Brad raised his champagne flute. “Ain’t just her face, bro. Giggidy.”
Jules elbowed him.
“Yeah, well, that drops off too,” Neil said.
The male guests roared. Anna’s face flamed. Jules shot her awhat the hell?look.
Anna tried anI don’t know, they’re guyslook back, but she suspected it came across more likewould anyone notice if I ducked under the table?
Neil’s skin was splotchy above his collar. A fine sheen of perspiration glistened on his forehead. He nodded toward Jules. “And with her job, forget those dreams of a hot meal waiting every night when you get home. Got some takeout numbers for you. Hope one of those presents is a grill. Gonna need it, man, gonna need it.”
“They’re ordering a maid and a cook,” Rodney said loudly.
“That’ll go nice with the moving companies,” Neil said. “But if she ever buys a label maker, watch out. When PCS time comes around, she’ll be so busy usingitfor packing, she won’t have time foryou. Guess which one she’d rather sleep with?”
Over yet another round of laughter, Jules shot Anna another look and made the drinky-drinky gesture.
Anna couldn’t even shake her head. She was too busy pretending her husband hadn’t insulted her and their marriage in front of everyone they knew at Gellings Air Force Base.
He didn’treallythink she would’ve rather slept with her label maker, did he?
“Might come a day,” Neil said, his voice getting thick, “when you’re better off not telling her you’ve got those moving orders so you don’t have to deal with all that shit.”
Cold spikes of alarm scratched like fingernails over her skin. Her lungs shuddered. Silence stretched over the room. She latched onto Neil’s sleeve. He blinked at her like he’d forgotten she was there. Something dark flashed through hiseyes.
Something guilty.
Something honest.
Something terrifying.
He cleared his throat again, his face so red Anna was perspiring for him. He broke eye contact with her and focused on Brad. “But you’re one of the lucky ones, man. You got Jules, and you two are going to have the time of your lives. To you, man. To both of you.”
