Sparta ~Tommy Conlon

Chapter 18: T.R.C.

Malia's POV:

November 13, 2010

The ride was so much bumpier than I remember. I was nervous, what if's and fake scenarios ran through my head as my stomach flipped.

"Hey, you ok?"

I looked from the window of the moving car to Pilar. I nodded, "Yeah, I'm good. You?"

"Malia, what's bothering you?"

I sighed. I turned behind me to check on Danny and Maria, both of them were watching a movie and I smiled. They'd grown up so fast, Maria was now 4 and Danny was 6. I looked at Pilar and gave in. "I'm worried about what Tommy is going to think about how much I've changed in the past two and a half years."

"Oh, Malia. You can't think like that."

I nodded and looked at my hand, I was playing with my engagement ring and I glanced at my right wrist. It was the most painful thing I'd ever done before, I hated the feeling so much but I had no regrets about it.

I got a tattoo, it read T.R.C. For Thomas Ryan Conlon. Tommy and I were always entertained by our same middle names and he had the same tattoo for me, I felt it was only right to do the same. I had also begun to work out, I've lost quite a bit of weight. When Tommy left two years ago, I was 5'6" and I weighed 140, I am now 5'7" and I weigh 115. I have been running a lot, and I even started running to and from work. I started a program at the base with the kids where we go running every day after they finish their homework. We run a mile a day and the kids have loved it so far, I loved it too. I used to struggle to run a mile and now I can run up to 10 with no issues or breaks. I was hoping that Tommy would be proud of me, my hair had grown longer than when he left. It rested on my upper back in natural curls. I almost completely stopped wearing makeup except for natural-looking eyeshadow and mascara. I was wearing both today and I was wearing a light blue t-shirt with white denim jeans that clung tightly to my waist. I had on some white high top converse and I had sunglasses on. It was a bright day in El Paso and this car ride was literally taking forever!

When we got to the base, I helped Pilar get Maria and Danny out of the car and we walked them into the building. "What unit are they in again?"

"Unit 7, group c."

"Okay,"

"Now remember, all of the Marines from Texas will be here today. It's going to be crazy busy. That's why we got here so early."

"Okay, so it's 11, what time do we get to go and greet the soldiers?"

"12, we only have to wait for another hour."

"Okay," Pilar and I sat down on a bench by the back door where we would be brought out to in an hour. My hands were held tightly together and my knee was bouncing up and down.

"Malia, relax. You're going to make yourself ill."

I let out a shaky breath, "How are you so calm? You know what happened to Manny over there."

She nodded, "I do know, but he will become stronger from it."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, that was out of place-"

"No, Malia. It's ok. I get it. I'm nervous too, I mean, Manny got his leg halfway blown off. They were able to stitch it back on but there's no telling what will happen or if he'll heal right."

"I'm sorry,"

"It's okay, Manny is strong. He will get through this, as will Tommy. I know they both had each other's backs over there and they will continue to have each other's backs over here."