Mandy

Chapter 3

In the eye of the storm, you remain in control.
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Amilee ran into her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

Mandy looked at her, shocked, and Ethan started crying. She picked up her son, holding him close. "Shhh Ethan, Amilee is just upset about something." She whispered to him, watching as her daughter rolled onto her bed.

Caleb opened the door to the room and peeked inside, catching Mandy's eye.

She shrugged, but walked over and handed him the little boy who was no longer crying.

Caleb took Ethan from Mandy's arms, then closed the door softly behind him. "I think Amilee needs your mama's help right now." He told the little boy.

Ethan seemed to study him for a minute. "Mama." He finally said.

Mandy sighed as she sat down on the bed. "Sweetie."

"Go away." Was Amilee's quick reply.

Mandy looked at her. "Ami, what's wrong?"

"I want Mama!"

Mandy's heart nearly broke for the girl. "You were excited to see Daddy." She offered.

Amilee flipped over so she faced Mandy. "I wanted to be a family. But Ethan, Daddy, Mommy... That isn't what family we are suppose to be." She explained.

Mandy swallowed and used her thumbs to wipe the tears off Amilee's cheeks.

"I want Mama and Dada."

Mandy pulled the girl into her lap. "I know Ami. I miss them too."

On the other side of the house, Caleb sat down on the couch. Ethan was sucking his thumb while he sat on Caleb's lap.

"It looks the same, doesn't it?" Caleb said, looking around the large family room.

He saw the mantle had been filled with family pictures, ranging from when he was eighteen until only a couple years ago.

"Caleb?" Mandy asked softly, walking into the room with Amilee at her side. "Amilee has something to tell you."

Caleb tore his gaze from the photos and over to Amilee, who held her mom's hand tightly.

"I'm sorry." She told him quietly.

"Are you ready to eat?" He asked her.

Amilee nodded, letting go of Mandy's hand as she walked over to the boys. "Ethan needs to eat too." She informed Caleb.

He grinned and stood up, still holding Ethan. "Well we better get to work then."

Mandy smiled sadly as she moved aside and let the others head out of the room, in the general direction of the kitchen.

She sat down on the couch, her fingers automatically reaching for the necklace she wore around her neck.

The silver chain was attached to a small silver pendants. The pendants were all letters, she had gotten for her birthday each year.

Mandy reached for the small plastic bag in her pocket, then looked at the eighteen letters that remained in the bag.

"Eighteen more years?" Caleb asked softly from the doorway.

Mandy nodded, unable to respond without bursting into tears.

Caleb sighed and sat down beside her, taking the bag from her hand. "How did you get them?"

"The safe deposit box." She whispered.

He nodded, moving the small letters around in the bag.

"What about the rest of the alphabet?" Mandy asked.

Caleb was silent as he opened the bag and pulled out two letters. He handed them to her.

Mandy wiped the tears from her cheeks, then carefully unclasped her necklace.

He took the two letters, the 'I' and the 'J'; and slid them onto the chain.

She reclasped the chain around her neck, then grabbed the small knife from the bag.

Caleb held out his wrist, and Mandy carefully uncapped the knife, then etched the letters 'I' and 'J' into his leather bracelet.

He smiled, then took the knife, put the cap on, then slid it into the bag.

She carefully closed the bag, then slid it back into her pocket.

"We still have each other Mandy. And we have Ethan and Amilee too." Caleb reminded her.

Mandy frowned. "But...isn't it just another couple weeks before you get deployed?"

He sighed. "Mandy..."

She frowned as he walked out of the room, then back in a couple minutes later.

Caleb set a small stack of papers on her lap, then sat back down beside her.

Mandy looked at the papers, then turned to him, eyes wide. "Are you serious? Separation papers?"

Caleb nodded. "I'm officially honorably discharged."

She looked at the papers again. "Why Caleb? You've been in the Corps since the alphabet began; it's all you ever wanted!"

Caleb took her hand. "Mandy, this is what I want now. I can't leave you alone to raise two kids, jumping in and out of the picture whenever."

Mandy felt more tears slide down her cheeks. "Caleb...thank you." She whispered.