Dress Blues

Chapter One

I slid the last box into the bed of my truck. Letting a small breath pass my lips as I turned to my mother biding a small smile.

"I'm going to miss you Catie." I laughed softly.

"Mom I'm not going to be gone forever. Plus! I can visit whenever." She smiled gently as the tears brimmed her brown eyes.

"I know I know." She grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug.

"It's gonna be lonely without you and your father." I smiled sadly.

"Mother maybe you should start going out again... I think it's something dad would've wanted you to do." I urged. It had been seven years since my fathers death. She only glanced away from me.

"Mom I think you should at least try!!" I pleaded.
"I'll think about it." She half smiled and pulled away allowing me to finally breath.

"Well you should get going before you catch traffic." She let out sadly.

"I love you mom and I'll call everyday." I spoke as I opened the door to my truck.

"I'll believe it when I see it." She smirked and watched me climb into the truck. I glanced back one more time and shut the door. Turning the truck on I let out a breath and grabbed my phone and turned on the music and location of my destination. San Diego, California. Shifting the truck into drive I looked in the rear view mirror pulling out of the drive to the place I loved the most. Home.

After about a days worth of driving I finally reached my destination.

I smiled as I drove to the place where I'd be living. Thankfully the zoo had a pretty great place for me to rent. It was near some military bases, my father probably would've known the names but my mother was the one who approved of the place.

She said I should be good as long as I didn't mess with the seals and jarheads. I laughed to myself as I remembered her conversation with me about staying away from military men because they charmed everyone too easily.

Pulling into the driveway of the cute little house, I smiled widely and hopped out of my truck. A man stepped out of the house and met me halfway.

"Caitlin Jones." His gruff voice spoke.

"That's me." I replied stopping in front of him. He smiled and looked me up and down.

"I remember a time when you were no taller than this." He waved his hand below his waist, a grin plastered to his face.

"I'm John, a friend of your parents. In fact, I went on two tours with your father." He informed me. I chuckled and smiled.

"My parents spoke fondly of you. Especially my dad." I remembered the photos I had seen in my fathers office space. Marines with smiles plastered to their faces. My father was on the shoulder of two men and this was one of them.

"Well let me go ahead and show you around to your apartment." He turned and headed inside. As I followed he informed me of the place and stopped turning to me once we reached the kitchen.

"Your mother was nice to help you find this place and the zoo is even better for paying for it." I leaned against the wall nodding in agreement.

"I think so too." He held out the keys to my place and smiled as I took them.

"You look just like your mother but you definitely have your fathers eyes" he spoke softly.

"Well cat.." The nickname my father called me.. "I'm here for anything you need and I'm sure your mom told you too. Don't be afraid to call me for anything okay?" I smiled and nodded.