The Red Coral Bracelet

Chapter 11

Navy

For the first time in months, I woke up happy. I had something to look forward to. Luke was coming home! I sprung out of bed, which was weird for me because I'm not a morning person, and floated into the kitchen. I put on a pot of coffee and went to my walk in closet, looking fro something to wear. Instead of pulling clothes out, I pulled out my puppy slippers and went to get my coffee.

I leaned against the counter and drank it, thinking about all of the things that we were going to do together. I set my mug in the sink and put on some music. Smiling, Luke's favorite song started to play and I started to sing along to it. Stand by Rascal Flatts. As I sang loudly, the lyrics finally hit me. I stood when I thought I couldn't. Of course I had help, but I still did it.

After dancing around in my closet for 10 minutes, I pulled out what I wanted to wear. He had left some clothes at my place so I pulled out one of his white button down shirts, a green strapless tube top, a pair of faded blue jean shorts, and his old pair of converse. Smiling, I took a fast shower and started to get ready.

After throwing my long blonde hair back in a sleak ponytail, I started to apply make up to my face. My phone started to ring after I put on my mascara. I danced over to it, still on cloud nine, and answered it.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Is this Marilyn Stone?" A rough voice asked.

"This is she." I frowned and waited for the man to reply. There was some indistinct talking in the background then someone else came on the phone.

"Navy! Sorry, Dawson wanted to scare you." The voice sounded so familar and I laughed when I realized who it was.

"Tanner Lee Imlay. Why you calling me?" I asked, trying to hold back tears.

"I wanted to hear your sweet voice, of course. A little bird told me that you are doing better."

"That little bird would be correct. And thank you for the care packages. They helped a lot." I took a shaky breath as he chuckled.

"Glad I could help." Something he said was farther then he was back to talking to me. "I have to go, Navy."

"I understand. Tanner, just- just be careful."

"I will. Talk to you later, Miss Stone."

"You are going to be a Stone when you get to Georgia. Talk to you later, Mr. Imlay."

"I would never forget that. Navy, have fun and I'll see you soon."

"OK. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." I replied and I heard him laugh again then the line went dead. My breathing was shaking and I had to hold onto the counter so I wouldn't fall over.

My already amazing day got even better after I talked to Tanner. I got dressed, hopped into Gronk who was all fix and repainted, and headed towards the ranch. We were all going to drive over together. It took a while to get all of the kids loaded up and I got all of the older kids. Mama and Dad thought that they would like to hang with their cool Auntie Navy. Blasting music for them, I led the line of cars towards the airport. It wasn't that far, but all of them were arguing over what the radio station was going to play next. I shook my head when Dylan was right and Ryan was wrong. They were the oldest of Andy's five children.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I looked to see Emma, May's second oldest, pointing at the planes landing.

"Is Uncle Luke on that one?" She asked, her voice was small and sweet.

Looking at it, I shook my head. "He'll be on a big, green plane."

"Oh. Not a white one?"

"Nope. A big green one. Like the Hulk, but a darker green."

"I don't like the Hulk." She frowned and looked up at me with her dark chocolate eyes that she got from her father."He yells too much."

"This plane is way cooler than the Hulk. Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because it carries heros." Looking down at her again, she was frowning and it made me laugh. It was too cute.

"The Hulk is a superhero." Emma countered and I burst out laughing.

"Yes, but have you ever hugged the Hulk?"

"Yes."

"What? When?"

"Mr. Dawson dressed up as the Hulk for Halloween once and I got to hug him."

"Well, maybe the plane is carrying Mr. Dawson too." I replied and Emma didn't reply. I knew that Dawson wasn't on it because I had just talked to him, sort of, two hours ago.

Smiling, I pulled into the parking lot and waited for everyone else to pull up. To entertain the kids, I told them to play the Quiet Game. They were all silent, trying to get each other to make any type of noise, so they would lose. It was funny to watch all of the different things they did. When someone would sigh, they would point frantically at the kid who did.

Getting out of the truck when everyone was there, my group was quiet while the other carloads were filled with excited yelling kids. Forrest laughed as he saw me with my quiet children.

"What's your secret?" He asked.

"The Quiet Game."

Holding my hands out, Emma and Robert instantly locked onto them while Dylan and Ryan held onto theirs. I watched as other people walked past us with signs that said, 'WELCOME HOME!' and 'I MISSED YOU DADDY!' We had signs for the kids to hold that Andy was carrying. We stood and waited for what seemed like hours. All of the kids were getting restless and I started pacing. I smiled when Tommy started to copy me. I stopped and lifted him up.

"Are you excited?" I asked.

"Yes!" He smiled his toothy grin and hugged me around my neck. "I'm glad that you're better now."

"Me too, little man. Me too." I smoothed back his wild blonde hair that came from Andy.

"Auntie Navy!" Emma yelled running over to me. "Look," she pointed up to the sky and I smiled widely when I saw what she was pointing at. The big, green plane that brought heros home to their families.

"I see it, Emma. I do."

Everyone around us got really excited. Their husbands, brothers, sons, fiances, sisters, wives, mothers, and fathers were finally home. All of my nieces and nephews that were able to stand by themselves got a sign that said, 'WELCOME HOME UNCLE LUKE.' My dad had one that read 'LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER'. I put Tommy down so he could hold a sign. As they started to pour out of the back of the plane, I saw Luke first. I took off running to reach him before anyone could and he dropped his bag and hugged me.

"It protected me," he whispered in my ear and I laughed.

"It did his job." I pulled away from him and wiped tears from my face. "Look." I turned and held my arm out, gesturing towards our family.

"Oh, God." He muttered and took off running leaving his bag by me.

I picked up his bag and walked slowly back, smiling as he was hugging everyone. I turned to look back at the place where he exited and then watched as other people hugged their Marines. Someone cleared their throat behind me and I turned.

I couldn't believe who was standing in front of me.

***

And boom! Who do you think it is?? Imaly? Dawson?? OR  someone else??

Picture of Luke on the side