Searching for Tomorrow (Tomorrows) (12 page)

As I walk over to claim my girls, I see my mother standing with Maggie on her hip, and the strangest look on her face.
When I look to see what has her so entranced, I don’t notice anything out of the ordinary. I hear a high-pitched squeal and realize that someone has seen me. With barely a second to spare, I brace myself against the onslaught of little munchkins. Little arms come at me from all sides, and before I can blink, those arms wrap around my waist, thighs, and knees. Because I know my girls so well, I give them exactly what they want. I teeter to the left, totter to the right, sway to the front, and then closing my eyes, fall back into the grass, completely at their mercy. Little hands tickle and rub; little mouths press kisses, and one large heart beats stronger.
This
is my little slice of heaven on earth.

I want to just stay
here and soak in the giggles and whispers of my girls, but it’s not meant to be. When I open my eyes, the first thing I see is my mom standing over me, looking a little pale as her eyes once again scan the parking area.

“Mom?”
She doesn’t respond, and keeps staring out at the parking lot. “MOM!” This time I yell, and that seems to work a little better. “Was your class rowdy today? You seem to be a hundred miles away.”

She looks down at me and shakes her head
from side to side. “Sorry, honey. I thought I saw someone that we used to know, but really, it can’t be her.” She shakes her head again as if she were trying to clear out her thoughts. “Liam told me you were going to see Mrs. Tidwell this morning. Did everything go okay?”

My sweet little mama would love nothing more than to go toe to toe with Mrs. Tidwell, but she has patiently put
up with that woman because she loves me. When she hears what happened today, it may take my dad, Liam, AND me to hold her back from confronting that vile woman.

“When in this world did you see
Liam today?” I hold my hands up, and my girls race to see who can pull me to my feet.

“Unka Liam come see me too, Nannyma.”
Maggie says excitedly. Her chubby little thighs swing back and forth, and her tiny feet kick at Nannyma’s leg. Mom earned that name when Annie was just learning how to talk and couldn’t quite pronounce ‘grandma’. When Bekah and Maggie came along, they followed Annie’s example and now Mom’s stuck with it, not that she minds.

“Here
, Mom, let me take that lump of sugar. She is way too heavy for you to be carrying.” I reach my arms out and Maggie all but leaps into them. She wraps her small arms around me and buries her face in the crook of my neck. I can’t resist rubbing my cheek against her head. Her baby curls are so fine and soft that it feels like satin.

“Momma,
Momma. Uncle Liam was here today in his fireman costume. He talked to all of us, and even gave us fire hats.” Bekah turns and points over to her book bag, and, sure enough, there is a small plastic red fire hat. “And Robby broke my favorite pencil. He made me cry, but Annie gave me hers. It’s in my bag. Wanna see?” She starts to run over to get it, but Annie grabs her hand.

“Bekah, no. You’re not supposed to
go anywhere after school without an adult. Right, Mom?” My Annie looks up at me for confirmation, and I give her a wink and a nod.

“She’s right
, Bekah. You know the rules. Why don’t we all walk over together, grab your stuff, and then head on back to the car? I’ve got groceries in the cooler, and I’m going to need your help fixing supper tonight.”

That statement earns me a few excited giggles. The girls love to help in the kitchen. Even t
hough it makes every meal a little harder and more time consuming, all the effort is worth it because my girls and I get to spend that precious time together.

After grabbing all the book bags and lunch sacks, the
girls and I give Mom hugs and kisses and then start our walk back towards the car. We’ve taken only a few steps when it hits me. I forgot to tell Mom about my running into Lara at Mountain Fresh. With a renewed excitement over her return to town, I stop and spin, forgetting that I’m holding hands with the girls. I yell over to catch Mom’s attention, and then bend down to soothe the now-grumbling girls.

Mom walks over to us and before she has a chance to question me, I blurt out, “Lara’s back in town. I ran into her at the store and we talked for a bit.
She’s going to try and make it over to the house for supper tonight.”

“Hmm, that’s strange. I
thought
I saw her here in the parking lot.” Mom leans her head to the side, closes her eyes, and rubs at the spot between her eyes. Having grown up with the woman, I know that this is what she does when she’s trying to figure something out. She opens her eyes and looks at me. “I thought I was just seeing things, but it’s good to know she’s back. You let me know how supper goes.” As if in a daze, Mom just turns around and walks off.

Mom is acting weird, but before I can take time to think about it, I feel a tug on my leg and look down to
Maggie. When she notices that she has my attention, she raises her arms in the air to let me know she wants me to carry her. As I bend to pick her up, she pats my cheek and says, “Nannyma otay, Mommy?” Now I know that something was off with Mom’s behavior if even Maggie noticed. I only have time for one thought to pass before the girls start tugging me towards the car.
Hmmm, that was strange.

As the girls and I walk through the front door, I give my house a quick little once over. My morning cleaning was interrupted when
Liam came to tell me his news, and I never did come back to finish the job. I know the chances of Lara showing up are slim, but just in case, I tell the girls to grab their toys and put them away. My house is never really dirty, but boy is it cluttered. After all, people live here, and we deserve a cozy, comfortable home, and not a stuffy museum. If given the choice between straightening up the house and playing Candy land, games will win every time. I understand just how short life can be, and I don’t want to miss one single minute with my babies.

After tak
ing care of the little things lying around, I tell the girls to go wash their hands while I get the stuff together to make our crust. As I am in the pantry getting the dry ingredients out, the lyrical sounds of laughter drift down the hall. I can’t help but smile when I think about how blessed I am by having my three little monkeys. With that thought in mind, I quietly creep down the hall, wondering what the mischief-makers are up to now.

As I peek around the bathroom door, it takes every fiber within me
to not burst out laughing. Maggie is sitting on the stool, and Bekah is “fixing” her hair. After a quick count, I estimate there are no less than a dozen little pigtails randomly placed all over her head. Annie, being the older, more responsible child, is applying bright pink blush to accentuate the gaudy blue eye shadow on Maggie’s face. The girls whisper back and forth, and for the life of me, I can’t understand one word they say.

Annie
declares, “All done,” and Bekah follows with, “Finished,” and then they help Maggie up from the stool and present her before the mirror.

“Oh
, Maggie, you’re so beautiful. Bekah did a great job on your hair.” Annie’s face is lit up with a smile that’s a mile wide.

“We need to hurry and get the princess into her dress. The prince should be here any minute and we can’t find her glass slippers.” Bekah stand
s behind Maggie, attempting to smooth some of the wayward strands of hair down.

Maggie senses the excitement of her two big sisters, and jumping up and down, she claps her hands and screams, “
Huwy, de pwince is toming.”

The phone rings, and I find myself once again tiptoeing
softly down the hall. Not quite quick enough, I reach the kitchen just as the answering machine makes an obnoxious beep, signaling the end of the call. Right as I press the button to play back the message, I hear a familiar, “Knock, knock,” and Liam walks in the front door.

“Hi
, Wrynn. This is Lara. It was so good to see you again today. I hope we can get together again real soon. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Anyway, we’re not going to be able to make it to supper tonight. I’m really sorry, but some things have come up. Talk to you soon…. BEEP, MESSAGE HAS ENDED.”

I turn to greet my brother,
and he stands frozen just outside the kitchen door. His hands shake, and as I look at him, the color drains from his face. His mouth opens, and then closes, as if he can’t find the words to say, and he slumps against the wall.

“
Liam, are you okay? Talk to me.”
Don’t panic, Wrynn. He heard the message and he’s upset. You’ve got to help him calm down and talk about her.

He doesn’t move
a muscle outside of his trembling hands. He just stares at the answering machine.

“
Liam, Bubby, you’re scaring me. Come on in the kitchen and have a seat before you fall down. I know it hurts to hear her voice, but please let me explain what I know.”

The girls choose that
exact moment to make their grand entrance. They giggle and prance, and Maggie exclaims, “De pwince is here. Pwince Unka Liam is here.”

It breaks my heart to have to put a halt to their play, but by the look on
Liam’s face, now just isn’t the time. I lead the girls to the playroom and tell them that Uncle Liam is feeling sick. They readily agree to set up a tea party just in case Prince Uncle Liam feels up to joining them in a little bit. As I walk back to the kitchen, I notice that the front door is cracked open, and Liam is no longer leaning against the wall. When I hear the rumble of Tripp’s old truck, I know that Liam has run away, just as he did once before.

After the events of 9/11, Tripp had made a few phone calls to find out what he needed to do to enlist in the Army. Since our school administered the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Assessment Battery) at the end of our junior year, he wouldn’t have to worry about taking that test again. He had already spoken with Papa and Dad, and had decided to enlist in
Infantry. He wasn’t sure where that would take him, and we were both anxious to learn as much as possible. Neither of us knew what to expect at the recruiting office, either, but I guess we were getting ready to find out.

“Are you sure you don’t want to just go to the post office and register for the Selective Service?” I smiled up at Tripp as he held the door open for me to go into the recruiting office.

“Come on, now. You know I’ve made up my mind. I know this isn’t what you want, but this is what I need. I just wish you could get it through your head that I’m not leaving you.” Tripp’s voice showed a hint of anxiety, and I could tell that my whining was starting to get on his nerves a little.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I won’t bring it up again.”

Tripp chuckled at that. “Uhm, Wrynn, not true, so don’t even say it. I have a feeling that I am going to be hearing about this, daily, for the next six months. We’ll just have to find something else for you to concentrate on.”

We both stopped just inside the door and looked around. Plain was one word that could describe it. Utilitarian was another. The carpet was thin and old, the walls were a drab grey and needed a fresh coat of paint, and the furniture looked to be rejects from an old office building. That was not what I expected at all. For some reason, I had it in my head that the office would be pleasant. After all, if someone were willing to sign his life away, shouldn’t the place be brighter, more encouraging? It was obvious from the looks of this place that the government wasn’t spending much tax money here.

Against the far wall were several dented filing cabinets, a printer that looked to be ancient, and three mismatched desks. Of the three, only one was occupied. As we stepped further into the room, a woman stood and greeted us.

“Hi, I’m Staff Sergeant Plane. How can I help you today?” Tripp and I glanced at each other, and I shrugged my shoulders. I knew that I certainly had not expected a woman to greet us. I was definitely not a sexist by any means, but the concept of women in the military, except in the medical field, was still a little new to me.
Having lived a fairly sheltered life, I had a hard time imagining myself in a uniform, but even more, I had no desire to do so.

“I’m Channing Kennedy
Tidwell, III. I believe we’ve spoken on the phone about my enlisting in the Army today. When I was in here last month, I spoke to a Staff Sergeant Markum, and he started a file on me.” Tripp spoke the words in a rare solemn voice. He obviously understood the magnitude of the commitment he intended to make.

Staff Sergeant Plane stepped from behind her desk while giving me
a strange look. I could only imagine the sight she saw. I was sure that my eyes were swollen, my nose red, and my cheeks puffy from all the tears I had shed. Her uniform gave her an intimidating air, and I couldn’t help but shrink back against Tripp. Her royal blue dress pants had a gold stripe that covered the length, and the crease ironed so neatly that it seemed to stand at attention. Where I had expected her to wear some sort of boot, her shoes were actually a basic black laced loafer with a shine so bright that I could probably see my reflection if I were to get close enough to the daunting woman. Her long-sleeved white shirt was as crisp as the pants, with a strange little pleat pressed vertically through the front pockets. Her accessories, if one in the Army would even call them that, were an ordinary black tie and belt with a brass buckle.

As she walked
towards us, I couldn’t help but notice the air of self-confidence that she gave off, and I could tell by looking at her that she was very proud of her job and her service to our country. Based on the number of small ribbons and pins on her left pocket, she was obviously good at her job. I had no idea what the medals were for, but I had a feeling that I would be learning what each one stood for, sooner rather than later.

She held her hand out, first to shake Tripp’s, and then she turned and extended it to me. As I shook her hand, she said, “I understand where you are with all of this. I know it’s hard to think about him leaving, but I’ll tell you right now, there are only a few places that he will go that you can’t follow. With Army families stationed around the world, they will become your family and support because they understand exactly what is happening. Instead of worrying about him leaving, be excited about going with him, seeing new places, and meeting new people.”

She gave my hand an extra squeeze, almost as if to reassure me that Tripp was making the right decision. Walking over to one of the other desks, she said, “Let’s see if we can locate your file and see what all we need to get done today. I know that you’ve brought several forms in already, so we just need to find out what is missing.”

When she found the file, she told us to have a seat in front of her desk and began sorting through the papers. “I see you’ve taken the ASVAB, and you scored pretty high. Congratulations on that. It will open more opportunities for you down the line. Ah, a current physical. That’s great. It says here that you play football and baseball. The discipline you’ve learned with those and the physical strength you’ve gained will help you. I won’t say that
Basic Training will be easier for you, but in the past, athletes have shown to have better endurance than others because of the way you practice and work out. There are just a few more things I need to get from you today.”

If I were honest with myself, I started to tune the conversation out completely. It’s not as if I could contribute to the technical parts anyway. I gave Tripp a nod, stood from my seat, and wandered over to the posters hanging on the wall. I didn’t even try to pretend that I understood what was happening, but maybe if I made an effort, I could bring myself to support the man I loved and possibly learn a little in the process.

The poster of Uncle Sam brought a small smile to my face. Very little about him had changed over the years. His presence there was almost comforting. The photo of the soldier in camouflage was what truly caught my attention. His head was high and his posture was straight, and as I stared into his eyes, I could see him as my Tripp. I could imagine him dressed in the grey patterned uniform, pride beaming in his eyes as he held his body firmly at attention. I felt pride well up inside me, and realized that if nothing else, he would be a mighty fine specimen for my eyes to behold.

The next picture showed a young man in a dress uniform. Like Staff Sergeant Plane’s, this one was meticulously pressed and creased. It dawned on me that I would soon see Tripp in something very similar to this.
I hope he doesn’t expect me to be able to iron that good. Oh Lord, what if I scorch it? Hmmm, I wonder if the Army will teach him how to do that, and then he can teach me.
I almost giggled at the path my thoughts were taking. My thoughts had drifted to taking care of him, making sure his clothes were ready for the day. He had always taken such good care of me, and I hoped that I could do the same for him. The next several months would be hard, but knowing that he would still be there to help me through it made it much more bearable.

I stopped to check out the other posters in the office, and I could place Tripp in each one. My fears, though at times irrational, were not altogether unfounded. War happened. Soldiers were wounded, or worse, killed. Families faced separation daily
throughout the different branches of the military. Someone had to do that job, and the fact that Tripp would willingly volunteer to serve our country and face being away from me, let me know just how important it was to him.

I was so lost in my thoughts that when a warm arm wrapped around my waist, it startled me and I jumped. I turned to face a beaming Tripp, pride stamped on his face. He
gave me a quick kiss, picked me up, and spun me around in circles. As my feet touched the ground, he whispered, “It’s official, babe. I’m in the Army now.” Then he pulled me close to him and wrapped me tight in his protective embrace. Life would change for both of us soon, and we would have to make sure that we were prepared to face whatever tomorrow laid at our feet.

As we walked out to the truck, I leaned into Tripp, drawing warmth and strength from him. I knew that I would need to support him in his dreams, and never once let him think that I wasn’t proud of the man he was becoming. I would need to bury my fears until I reached the point that I could handle them better. I needed to show him my love, not my concern or worry. I knew that I could do this, because loving him was easy.

The deal was sealed. My Tripp would leave me for the Army not long after we graduated. I was bound and determined to make the very best of our last six months together. After all, when he left, there was no guarantee that he would be coming back again. While I never once doubted his love for me, I also knew that neither of us had spent much time apart for the last ten years. Would he find something he liked better in his travels outside of our little town? Other than my family, he really had nothing to hold him to Highlands. And after all these years of knowing without doubt that he was the one for me, I didn’t want or need to be worrying about these things. I could only pray that I was strong enough to be the person Tripp needed me to be.
Please God, don’t let my doubts and insecurities ruin our last six months together.

After finishing his business at the recruiting office, Tripp decided that he needed to get some food in me. We stopped in Franklin at Vito’s Pizza because Tripp knew just how much I loved their white pie with vegetables. It started out fairly somber with each of our thoughts going in a million directions. He tried to keep the conversation light and definitely off
that
subject. Even though I didn’t really feel like eating, I chose not to argue when Tripp put a small piece on my plate. When I picked up the slice and took a small bite, the flavors exploded in my mouth and reminded me that even though Tripp had fixed us a plate, after just one bite, I hadn’t finished breakfast.

“
’Is is goo’ bu’ ho’.” I tried to speak, but the hot cheese burned the roof of my mouth and no matter how many times I tried to bite through it, I still managed to string it on my chin. I grabbed my napkin to wipe it away, but Tripp beat me to it.

He put his hands on my cheeks and used his thumbs to wipe the stray cheese away. “Baby, this pizza is a symbol of my undying love for you.” That stinker grinned at me, and I knew he recognized the confused look on my face.

“Okay, this is gonna be good, isn’t it? Just how is pizza a symbol of your undying love for me?” At this point, I was desperately willing to grab on to just about anything.

Tripp puffed up his chest and flexed the muscles in his arm. “Seriously? It’s veggies, babe. How many teenage studs would sacrifice meat on a pizza
for a girl
? See, that right there? True love.”

“Sweetie, that is soooo cheesy. Get it? Cheesy?” I let out a quick laugh. “I crack myself up.” I covered his hands with my own and turned my head so that I could place a small kiss on his palm. “But thanks. I know exactly what you’re doing, and it’s working.” That boy knew me like
the back of his hand. Silly, corny jokes got me every time, so what better way to improve my mood?

Tripp rolled his eyes at my attempt to be funny. Between the two of us, he was definitely the comedian. His sense of humor was one of the many things that I loved about him, and he was always able to put a smile on my face. Tripp snuck a glance at his watch. “Come on, we need to eat and get out of here. It’s already half past noon. I’ve got plans for today, and trust me when I say that you don’t want to miss this.”

I squealed. I absolutely loved surprises, and Tripp’s were the best. Of course, his normally included chocolate and you couldn’t go wrong giving this girl that. I finished my slice of pizza in record time, and before I knew it, we were in the truck making the drive back towards Highlands.