Mandy

Chapter 27

I don't want to live for now, I want to live forever.
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The next day, Caleb was starting to wonder if they really would be able to open next weekend; but he was careful to hide his worries from his sister.

"Lunch is ready!" Mandy called from the kitchen.

"Coming!" Caleb yelled his reply.

"Ami, eat slower. You aren't entering a race anytime soon." Mandy reprimanded her.

"Ann, there's someone at the door." Caleb told her as he walked into the kitchen.

Mandy frowned. "Liz is at school and Sam isn't coming until next weekend. And that pretty much covers everyone."

Caleb shrugged and grabbed one of the sandwiches Mandy had made.

She glared at him, then walked out of the kitchen, heading over to the door.

Mandy opened the door, her eyes widening as she saw who was there. "Commander Robin!" She exclaimed, hugging the man. "Come on in."

She led the commander and his friend into the kitchen. "Caleb."

Caleb looked up from his plate, grinning as he saw the commander. "It's been awhile." He greeted the man.

"It has. I heard you took honorable discharge." Commander Robin said.

Caleb nodded. "I don't know if you heard about the accident?"

The commander nodded. "I was informed when I was told you weren't serving anymore."

"Well, Mandy was raising these kids on her own, and I decided to step in and help her out."

"Well, I'm very proud of both of you." The commander replied. "And what's your name?" He asked Amilee.

Amilee finished chewing before she answered the question. "My name is Amilee. And this is Ethan. He is my little brother." She introduced.

Mandy smiled as the commander shook Amilee's hand. "It's nice to meet you both." He told her.

Then, turning to Mandy and Caleb, he pulled out a letter. "Could I talk to you both for a couple minuets?" He asked.

Mandy looked at her brother, who nodded. "Sure." She replied, then led the two men into one of the hotel rooms.

Caleb sat down on the couch, and Mandy sat down beside him, leaving the commander to sit on the chair.

"I need your help." The commander started. "There's an ex-marine I know. He messed up one night and ended up in the slammer for a couple years, taking dishonorable discharge. He's not a bad man, but he made a mistake and it cost him."

"Where do we come in?" Caleb asked, echoing Mandy's thoughts.

"He gave everything to his ex-wife when he got sentenced. He needs a safe place to work and to live while he can try to get himself back together. I heard y'all were hiring and I wondered if..." The commander trailed off, watching their reaction.

"The kids would be safe?" Caleb asked immediately.

The commander sighed. "The law would tell you not, but I think so. I may as well tell you, he had a little too much to drink one night. Never was, never has been abusive. He is a new believer."

Mandy looked at her brother, then back at the man. "We'd be happy to help." She said. "It's the least we can do, you've done so much for us."

The commander shook his head. "I got you two an opportunity. It was you that took that opportunity and made something good of it."

"Still, we are both grateful for everything. As long as this guy isn't a threat to the kids, we'd be happy to give him a job and a place to stay for awhile." Caleb replied.

The commander stood up. "Thank you. I'll bring him over tomorrow and introduce y'all. Is that enough notice?"

Mandy grinned as she stood up and hugged the man. "Yes sir." She said, saluting.