I touch the velvet box. “I’m glad to hear you say that because I bought something today.”
“A ring?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, Jake, congratulations!” She practically squeals. “When do you think you’ll get married?”
“I haven't asked her yet. If she says yes, it will have to be soon. I’m expecting new orders.” I’m waiting for Mom to give me some encouragement. I want her to say,Of course she’ll say yes.
She talks slowly. “She loves you a lot. I’m pretty sure that this is what she wants, but…”
I don’t want to hear buts at this point.
“But she’s still very young. And there’s her education to think about.” The practical side of Mom takes over. “Maybe she could join you wherever you end up after she graduates. And then there’s the whole Army thing.”
“The Army thing?” The phone slips and I have to rub my hands on my pants. My palms are sweating.
“Being an Army wife isn’t easy.” She sighs. “I know that better than anyone. And Jess has already seen the worst of it. It takes a strong woman to be a warrior’s wife. My gut feeling is that Jess is the kind of woman who can handle it, but it’s up to her.”
It feels like Mom is giving me thedon’t be disappointedtalk. The one she gave me when I was twelve and tried out for the all-star baseball team.
“It’s the right thing to do,” she finishes. “You have our blessing, you know that. You couldn’t have made a better choice.”
sixty-nine
Jess: Germany
My phone rings, jerking me out of a nightmare. My hands shake as I reach for the phone.
"Jess, did I wake you up?" Becky's voice slows my heartbeat.
"Yeah," I admit, "but I need to be up, anyway." I glance at my clock. I missed my early-morning yoga class, but I can still make it to my lab if I hurry. I haven't been sleeping well again, and when I do sleep, I have nightmares I can't quite remember.
"Sorry, I won't keep you. I just got some insider information that I think you should know."
I sit up. "Insider information?"
"Yeah. Bryan got his orders. We're going to Germany."
"Wow. I'm excited for you, but I'll miss you guys. Germany's pretty far away."
"It is, but you don't need to miss us. You could come."
I shake my head, confused. "To Germany? With you? Do you need a nanny?"
She laughs. "That would be awesome, but I'm sure I can't afford you. My insider information says that most of their unit is going to Germany too, meaning Jacob is likely being transferred as well."
"Oh." My heart falls. "Germany is so far away."
"You could come with us," she repeats. "Wives get to go on this one."
"I'm not exactly—"
"Yet," Becky says. "Like you said. Germany is far away. Think about whether you really want to be that far from Jacob again."
After she hangs up I start thinking about it—all of it. How much I'd hate to be that far away from Jacob, how much I love him, but also how I'm not finished with school. As far as marrying Jacob, for me, it's become less of anifand more of awhen. I think, or at least hope, he feels the same.
I get dressed, too distracted by everything Becky told me to worry about making my lab on time. Angelica walks in, a cup of coffee in her hand. She sits on my bed. "Did you have a good spring break with Jacob?"
