Forever my Marine

Chapter #36

Chapter 36
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Louri’s POV
After dinner Pa had asked me if it was ok that we talk in private. I checked with Scarlett and she let me know she was good, so I kissed her on the forehead and went with Pa to my office. He closed the door and we sat at my desk. He took my chair as I still respect him. “How are you doing?” He asks, leaning against the desk. “I don’t know Sir, I don’t like conflict within my family but my Mom went way too far this time. She literally triggered my wife to have a severe panic attack and relive that nightmare all over again. I have never seen her like that before and I’ll be damned to let anyone hurt my family mentally or physically,” I say as tears stream down my cheeks. Pa quickly gets up and comes over and engulfs me in a hug. He rarely showed emotion when we were on the battlefield but he has been the best father figure I could ever ask for. He consoles me as I let everything out, not allowing myself earlier because I wanted to be strong for Scarlett and the kids. “I just don’t understand how someone could be so cruel, Scarlett has seen so much of my injuries, she has had to wait months on end, hoping that she would never get the visit that I wouldn’t be coming home. I fought so damn hard each and every time to come home to my family, only to be knocked down by the one person who birthed and raised me. All because she couldn’t see that Scarlett was masking how she really felt when I was injured,” I said in between tears and hiccups from crying so hard. Pa just held me close, “I know Louri, you are the strongest person I know, stronger than I am. I saw how you would direct your unit, with such pride and compassion. Each and every one of those men and women looked up to you because you knew how to lead. You always fought so hard to come back to your family and each and every time you did. I’m sorry that your mother has torn you down like this but please don’t let her keep you down. You are my strong daughter, your Mama Mildred and I are extremely proud of how far you have come in your military accomplishments and with your beautiful family. I’m not saying forgive and forget because that is not what we stand for. She will have to earn her way back into your lives after what she put Scarlett and you through but you both will always have us and Melanie to be there for you through it all.” He says making me smile up at him. “Thank you for being here for me,” I tell him. “Always,” he says as he wipes my face with his handkerchief that he had in his pocket making me giggle a little. “There’s that smile that I love,” he says. We get up and he checks on me and I nod and we walk back out to the living room. Devon is curled up with Scarlett on the couch while the girls are sitting on Melanie and Mildred’s laps. I walk over and gently pick Devon up and sit on the couch next to Scarlett, putting Devon on my lap and holding him close. All this pain and anger that I feel will pass. I have my family to focus on and we will get through this together.

Scarlett’s POV
Louri went to go talk with Sherman in her office. I hope everything is ok. She saw me have a panic attack, something she has never seen before. But she brought me out of it and held me and kept me safe. She has been so strong for our family, I don’t think she’s fully processed things for herself. Hearing Lisa say all those hurtful things about me must’ve torn Louri down. But she is good at hiding her feelings. I hope she will open up to Sherman. She has to know that I’m there for her too. I get up but Mildred puts her hand on my arm and pulls me to her. She embraces me in a hug and I cry in her arms. I don’t know what it is because my mom was here too but I just felt so safe in her arms too. She told me everything is going to be alright and calmed me down. Devon asked me if I was ok and I nodded, getting up and pulling him to sit me with on the couch. He nuzzled into me and I rubbed his back. He always knows how to make me feel better. After some time, Sherman and Louri come into view and she walks over to Devon and I, picking Devon up and placing him on her lap and holding him close to her. I rest my head on her shoulder, wanting to be close to them. Sherman placed a blanket on us and then sat on the recliner and we all decided to just be here together. Because that’s what we need right now, family. Even if it means a part of us is missing, we will pick eachother up and be there for one another.

A/N: Hey everybody, Chris here. Little bit of an emotional chapter. Hope you liked it. See you in the next one.