CHAPTER ONE
Brooks Jordan was one-third of the Jordan dynamic trio. Or at least one of the dynamic trios. He, his brother Mitchell and sister Marilisa, also had younger triplet siblings. Cooper, Levi, and Caleb were still relatively young but also very annoying.
Years ago, their parents and their parents siblings, decided to live on the old mansion island. It was cool. Until everyone started having triplets. Then it was crowded.
Not wanting to destroy the original integrity and design of the mansion, Christopher and Ramey decided to build a large cottage toward the back of the island where Christoper was still close to his siblings, nieces, and nephews.
At first, Brooks didn’t understand the need to be close to your relatives all the time. Then, he realized it was something that he craved as well. Being away from Mitchell and Marilisa was often painful for him. When he tried to explain it to others, he could only describe it as a tightness and pain in your chest that needed to be filled or attended to immediately.
When Mitchell had his tonsils out, Brooks skipped school so that he could hide out in the waiting room and be there, just in case. His throat hurt for a week after that.
If Marilisa was at an away game for one of her sports, he begged his parents to take him as well, not wanting to be far from her. When she was hit in the face with a spiked volleyball, his nose spontaneously started to bleed.
As an adult, the pain in his chest lessened somewhat, but to be fair Mitchell was serving with him on the teams and Marilisa was now married to their long-time friend, Joey Dougall. They were safe, at least in his eyes and the eyes of his family.
When they’d first joined the Navy, Brooks told the recruiter that he would refuse to serve if he couldn’t be with his brother. The recruiter smiled at him, nodding.
“You’re not the first Jordan to talk to me,” he chuckled. “I’ve recruited Quinn and River. Well, recruit is too strong a word. I don’t have to recruit you guys. You just sort of walk in and say this is what I want. Don’t worry, kid. We’ll do everything we can to keep you and your brother together. After you actually get into the SEAL program and become SEALs. Just don’t ask to be with all your cousins.” Brooks stared at the man.
“Is that possible?”
“Brooks, we don’t need to be with everyone,” smiled Mitchell. “I’m cool with just you and me being on the same team.”
“I know,” he said nodding at his brother. “It would just be cool to have an entire team of Jordans.”
“We have that,” laughed Mitchell. “Back home.”
Unfortunately for Brooks, the Navy drew the line at entire families being on one team.
After eighteen months in the Navy, Brooks and Mitchell decided to move toward their goal of becoming SEALs. When Mitchell broke his foot during training, he was released. Brooks intentionally failed out, so they could be together.
“Why did you do that!?” yelled Mitchell.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” he lied.
“Brooks, you’re my brother. I can see it in your face. You didn’t have to fail out just to be with me. We would have served together eventually.”
“Then we will,” said Brooks walking away from him.
It would be another fifteen months before they had their opportunity and when they did, it did not disappoint. The brothers were neck and neck for the top spot, thrilling their instructors and their family back home.
For Mitchell, it was the culmination of all his professional dreams. For Brooks, it was bittersweet. He was with his brother but also missed home. Desperately.
He wasn’t someone who would be classified as a big baby, or someone who needed to have his parents near him all the time. Yet, without fail, he called home at least once a week.
“Honey, I’m so glad you called,” smiled Ramey. “Your brother doesn’t seem to keep in touch as much.”
“He’s busy, Mom. We all are but I just like to hear your voice every week. When nothing else feels normal, at least I can count on the sounds of your voices and knowing that you’re all safe.”
Christopher worried about his sensitive son and how he would manage if something happened to his brother during a mission. If Mitchell went down, Brooks might not be able to concentrate. He knew his son, knew he was well-trained and focused. But his connection to family was something he couldn’t ignore.
When Marilisa found herself in a horrible situation in North Carolina, he begged his brother to take leave and find out what was happening. When his mother said she was feeling ill, he begged his brother to take leave and go home for the weekend.
Fortunately, Mitchell understood Brooks need to be close to family. The truth was, he wasn’t far off. Brooks just openly shared it more than he did.
“I think it’s time for me, Mitchell.”
His brother jerked his head up and stared at him. He knew exactly what he was saying. Ten years in the life of a SEAL was like twenty-five years to anyone else.
