Army Way of Life

Chapter One

My name is Quinn Leigh Ellis. My father is in the Army. Not only is he in the Army, but he's the Post Commander for Fort Cooke. He's the top dog and controls everything that happens on post. Many think it's awesome that my dad is so high up in the ranks. But for me, it's annoying. Don't get me wrong, I love my dad, but I always seem to be held to a higher standard than most of the other kids I grew up with. So when I ended up pregnant at 18, my life as I knew it was pretty much over.

For a while, my parents gave me the cold shoulder. It was my mother who came around first, and then somehow talked some sense into my father. He allowed me to live at home, but I was supposed to do as he said, no questions asked. That was easier said than done, and it seemed that I was always disappointing him. One area that I was not going to disappoint him in, though, was my education. Though I had to toss my dream school aside and attend the local university, I was doing exceptionally well.

"Let's get out of here and go to the mall," I said to my friend Paige, whom I had met my first day of classes my freshman year of college. Not many people I met stuck around after they found out I was going to be having a baby. They acted like it was a disease or something they could catch by just being around me.

"Sounds good to me," I said. "I have to get Ryker from daycare first. I feel bad that he has been there all day. Besides, I have to find him something to wear to my brother's graduation in a few weeks."

"Girl, I can't wait to meet this brother of yours in person, he seems dreamy." I rolled my eyes and fake gagged. "He's cute." When I didn't dignify her with a remark, she added. "He is coming back here, right?"

"For a while, yes. Having my dad as post commander has its benefits. Namely, my brothers won't be sent all over the country when they graduate."

"How do you do it?" she asked as we got into my car and headed to pick my son up.

"Do what?"

"Have a family where everyone is going into the military? I would be worried sick all of the time."

"When I was young, we moved around a lot before my dad landed us at Fort Cooke permanently. My dad has been deployed before and it's awful. But when he came home, it was the best feeling in the world. I know it'll be hard when my brothers leave, but my dad always came home. I know they will too."

"What about..." she started, but I cut her off.

"He's in my past. I haven't heard from him since he left. He hasn't tried contacting me once. I know he's busy and everything, but my brothers always made it a point to call and visit. And he could have come home or contacted me over breaks, but I received nothing but silence."

She looked at me warily but didn't question further as we pulled into Tiny Tots Child Care Learning Center. I parked and we got out of the car. When we got inside, Cara, the receptionist, greeted us. "Hello, good afternoon!"

"Hi, good afternoon," I replied.

Paige and I made our way down the hall and to the room Ryker is in. I looked in through the window and saw him playing with Collins, an adorable little blonde girl. Ryker and Collins were best friends already.

"He's definitely going to be a heart-breaker," Paige said, looking in at the picture in front of us.

"Just like his Dad..." I said, mostly to myself, though I think she heard me.

"I love his outfit. You've got such a fashion sense," she complimented. He had on blue jeans, a red plaid shirt, and red converse.

I opened the door and walked through it then. His teachers, Ms. Katie and Ms. Hanna both looked up and greeted us. A couple of the kids looked toward us when the door opened, but Ryker and Collins continued playing.