Moonstruck Marine

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “Are you kidding me? So many Quinns are getting married this year, they’re having to double up on dates!” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll find my peace and quiet eventually.”

  “Yeah, you will.” She got up and threw her trash in the receptacle provided. “I’ll help you out by leaving you alone now and getting back to work. I have a menu to overhaul and food to prepare for a big wedding next weekend. Thanks for lunch.”

  “Thanks for teaching me about sopapillas. Remember when I am rolling down the street because I’m too big to walk that you brought about my downfall.”

  She just laughed as she left the room.

  Jake stared at the door after she’d closed it. That Melinda was something special.

  Three

  As Melinda walked back to the restaurant, she had a new spring in her step. She had wondered a lot about Bobling, and now that she had met him as Jake, she knew she wanted to get to know him better. He was the only one of the five children of Bob and April Lynn Quinn who had moved away after high school, so she found him fascinating. The Quinns all seemed so tight-knit to her, and she wished her family was the same, but they never really had been. The Chases of Kemmerer just had never been like that.

  When she walked into the kitchen of the restaurant, her sous chef was working on a burger. He gave her a strange look. “Have a good lunch?”

  “It was really nice, thanks.” She walked closer. “Everything under control? I want to sit down and work on the new menu.”

  “I can’t believe you got Bob to agree to change the name of this place and make it nicer. It’s going to be great cooking real food for a change. And yeah, it’s all under control. You get to work on that new menu, so we can change faster.” Nathan had been hired shortly after she was, and she had always felt in competition with him, but he didn’t seem to begrudge her the promotion. He’d been nothing but supportive, which thrilled her.

  “All right. Come and get me if you need me.” She walked into the tiny office that she shared with the restaurant manager and sat down to work on the menu. She googled a few recipes for vegetarians and started making a list of dishes she’d like to try. After talking to the restaurant manager of course, but they were on the same page on all of this. He wanted Impressions to be the most sought-out restaurant in town as well. Melinda believed that together, they could make it happen.

  Jake took the stairs to the top floor, hoping some of those sopapillas would be worked off before he got there. When he pushed open the door to the workout center, he frowned. No one was there, and some of the equipment looked as if it had been neglected.

  He carefully walked around, assessing the damage. He stopped at a treadmill that looked as if it had been through an earthquake and pushed the button to turn it on. When nothing happened, he walked over to check if it was plugged in, and it was. He shook his head.

  He found a paper and pen on the desk in the little office there—though apparently no one worked in it—and started making a list of things that needed to be replaced, updated, or fixed. He desperately hoped his father was feeling generous, because he was going to need a hefty budget to get the place to the point people would want to work out there again.

  As soon as he was done, he went back down the stairs to the first floor and his father’s office. This time Bob was alone, and he walked in without knocking.

  Bob looked up, and he grinned. “You have no idea how much I love it that I can look up and see you in front of me.”

  Jake grinned. “You may not feel that way after I tell you why I’m here . . .”

  “You want to spend some of my money on that gym. Okay, how much?”

  After sitting down, Jake read over his list aloud. “I think it’s all going to be in the neighborhood of ten thousand. There are no working treadmills, only one working bike, and one working elliptical. That’s ridiculous for a hotel this size. And I need exercise balls and free weights. There are no free weights up there. How am I supposed to train people?”

  Bob sighed. “Order it. And we haven’t talked about your salary yet . . .”

  “I’m getting a salary?” Jake asked, surprised. “I thought I’d just be getting my own clients.”

  “No, because I want you to make sure everything is in working order and be there for people who ask for help. This is going to be done right or not done at all.”

  “Well, then let’s talk salary.” Jake was happy to accept it, and it sounded like he’d be doing a lot more than personal training.

  After a quick negotiation, they settled on a salary they were both pleased with. Bob pulled out a credit card and handed it to his son. “Don’t go nuts now, Bobling. That’s for business expenses only.”

  Jake happily took it, biting back his correction of his name. “Thanks. I’ll order everything today. Hopefully, we can have it up and running properly within a week or two.”

  “That would be great. The sooner the better. I want to put on our website that we have a first-class workout facility with a personal trainer. Hopefully that will bring more people in.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I’m assuming the office is mine?”

  “Yup. All yours.”

  “I’ll need a computer. That doable?”

  “Order it. You have a credit card in your hand.” Bob looked down. “Now let me get back to the real work.”

  Jake laughed as he got up and left, going back up the stairs. He sat down at the desk in the little office and started ordering the things he needed with his phone and his father’s credit card. He was going to make the gym the best in the valley, and then he was going to be the best personal trainer in all of Idaho.

  After finishing the orders, Jake took his father’s credit card back to him. “No, keep it. You get a credit card for the gym, and that’s it. Order what you need, but don’t go crazy.”

  “Thanks, Dad. See you at home later.” He hated that he would be living at home, even for the less than two weeks until the wedding. He’d been on his own for too long for that to sit comfortably.

  Walking out to the truck, he thought about how good it was going to feel when he was in Riley’s little house. At least he’d heard it was little. He should probably get her to show it to him before he actually moved in. It was a rental, and he figured his father probably owned it. He owned a lot of property around Quinn Valley, and he loved renting to his children.

  Instead of heading home, Jake knew he needed to stop in and see someone first. He drove straight out to the ranch where his grandparents lived, his tires spitting gravel as he drove up to the house, and went to the door. It would be good to get out of his uniform, but first, his grandma Gertie needed to see him in it.

  He didn’t bother to knock, because it was frowned upon at his grandparents’ house, and he went straight in. He found her in the kitchen, sitting with a friend. “Grandma?” he said, alerting her to his presence.

  When the matriarch of the Quinn family turned and saw him standing there in his uniform, he knew keeping it on all day had been worth it. She covered her mouth with her hand, and tears sprang into her eyes. “Bobling? Are you really home?” She jumped up and ran to him, wrapping both arms tightly around him.

  Jake buried his face in her hair, which smelled of chocolate chip cookies. She’d been baking, and he was going to get himself some of those cookies, no matter what it took. “I missed you so much.”

  “Not as much as I missed you, boy. Not nearly as much. I prayed for your safe return at least a dozen times a day, every day. You’re home for good now?” She looked up at him, her eyes pleading.

  “I just negotiated a salary with dad for being the gym manager and personal trainer at the hotel gym. How’s that for being home?” he asked with a grin.

  “That sounds good and home to me.” She stepped back and studied him. “You’re more muscular but thinner. Didn’t they feed you well in the Marines? Sit down, and I’ll get you some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Coffee or milk?”

  He smiled, think
ing of all the times he’d had cookies and milk at this very table. “Milk. I couldn’t drink coffee with my cookies at your house. It wouldn’t be right.”

  He moved to the table and sat down, smiling at the woman there. “You’re Ciran’s grandmother, aren’t you?”

  She nodded. “Welcome home, Bobling. The whole town has been excited for your triumphant return.”

  Triumphant? Huh. “Everyone calls me Jake now. But it’s wonderful to be home.”

  The older woman laughed, even as his grandmother slipped the cookies in front of him. “Good luck getting people to really call you that.” She slowly stood up. “I’m going to go now, Gertie. You need time with this special boy of yours.”

  Grandma just smiled at Jake, nodding. “We’ll catch up later. When we’re fighting over holding our great-grandson.”

  Ciran’s grandmother went to the door and let herself out. She obviously understood that Grandma needed time alone with Jake.

  “I don’t remember her name, Grandma! I didn’t know what to call her.”

  “Doesn’t matter now, does it? She left!” Grandma sat down near him to watch him eat the milk and cookies. He couldn’t remember how many times they’d sat in her kitchen just like this. “How was your trip home? Did anyone bother you?”

  “No, it was good. I flew into Boise and drove home this morning.”

  “Well, that’s good. Everyone is all abuzz about Raina and Riley’s wedding. Have you met their future husbands yet?” she asked.

  Jake shook his head. “I think I’ll meet them tonight. Dad’s calling for a family dinner.”

  “And I’ll have a welcome home party for you two weeks from Saturday. I’d do it a week from Saturday, but we all know your sisters are getting married. And I have a feeling, you’re going to be too busy resting this Saturday.”

  “You know, the idea of sleeping and waking up when I want to is pretty amazing at the moment. I feel like all I’ve done is live by someone else’s clock for the past twelve years.” Jake smiled. “I love the idea of having at least weekends with no alarm clock and nowhere I need to be. Think I can handle it?”

  “I think you can handle anything, Bobling.”

  Jake took a deep breath. “I go by Jake now, Grandma. I’ve outgrown Bobling.”

  Grandma shook her head at him. “Of course you haven’t. You’ll always be Bobling to me.”

  “I really don’t want to be called that anymore. Are you sure I can’t convince you that Jake suits me better?”

  “You can try . . .” She grinned. “I’ll try. I won’t like it, but I’ll try.”

  “That’s all I ask.” Jake shoved the last cookie into his mouth and washed it down with milk. “I’m going to head home and start on my laundry. Lots to do.”

  Grandma nodded. “I know, but I’m so glad you came to see me. I wasn’t expecting you to be standing there.” She dashed another tear away. “Please don’t ever leave the valley for a long time again. My old heart can’t take it.”

  He hugged her tightly. “I won’t. I promise.” He headed for the front door, feeling like he’d needed that bit of time with his grandmother more than he’d ever needed anything. She had always been a positive driving force in his life, and he’d stayed with her every time a new sister was born. Nothing came more naturally than loving her.

  He drove through the busy streets of the usually quiet little town. Tourist season was in full-swing there in Quinn Valley, and it made him want to go swimming, eat ice cream, and ride four-wheelers up into the mountains. He smiled as he realized he could do all those things. It didn’t have to be shoved into a three-day weekend. No, the rest of his life could be about doing the things he wanted to do.

  He’d loved being a Marine. He’d been good at it. But it had made him appreciate life outside of the military even more. All of the fun things he enjoyed could easily be done now that he was out.

  When he drove into his parents’ driveway, he was surprised by the sense of nostalgia that overwhelmed him. He’d been very excited to be at his grandma’s, but it hadn’t been home. Walking into the house, he wandered through, touching everything he had missed—eyeing the new large-screen television that his mother had once claimed would never grace the house. His parents’ room looked just the same to him, but his sisters’ rooms were all empty. They were all on their own, which made him sad. He hadn’t been there to see them grow up. He’d done something good—for himself and his country—but what about the things he’d missed?

  Then he went into his own bedroom and felt as if he’d been transported back in time. His whole world had once been encapsulated in this room, and now, it felt so odd. It had been left alone, because his mother knew he would return someday. There were posters of his favorite bands on the walls and football trophies on the furniture. It had been well-dusted, but that was all. It was waiting for him, ready to welcome him with open arms, just as his grandmother had. This room—this house—he was home. Finally home.

  He sat on the edge of his bed for a moment and smiled. It was perfect. After a minute or two of reminiscing, he went to the car to get his things. He had laundry that desperately needed doing, and he wanted a shower. He’d put another dress uniform on, because he knew his mother would like that, but today was the last day he’d be wearing a Marine uniform. It was time for him to return to the life that felt both like it had stood still waiting for him and raced by without him.

  Jake was sitting in the living room of the house, a can of Coke at his side, and watching baseball when he heard the door open. There stood his mother, staring at him with tears running down her face. He got to his feet and walked to her, afraid to reach out and try to touch her, for fear she’d disappear.

  “Mom.”

  April Lynn Quinn burst into sobs and grabbed him around the waist, pulling him to her. “Bobling . . . I just can’t believe you’re finally home!”

  He didn’t need to correct the name. He’d do that later. For now, he needed to bask in the glow of her smile. The smile that lit up the entire valley, no matter what time of day or year. “I missed you so much.”

  “Don’t leave again!” she said, stepping back and brushing away her tears. “Come into the kitchen with me, while I make the lasagna for supper. Dad called a family dinner, and you know as well as I do, I can’t cook anything else.”

  He sat at the table while he watched her putter around the kitchen, making her famous lasagna. He couldn’t wait for the first bite. That stuff was famous for a reason. “Who all will be here?” he asked.

  “Just immediate family. Roxie and Ciran, Renae and Chad, Raina and Derek, Riley and Blake. You, me, and your dad. Have you met any of the men yet?”

  He shook his head. “I ran into Roxie and Raina at the hotel, but I haven’t seen Renae or Riley yet. I got tacos for lunch, so I saw Ciran, but I’ve known him my whole life, so that wasn’t like it was new for me.”

  “Roxie’s huge, isn’t she?” April Lynn smiled. “I cannot believe I’m going to be a grandmother. All four of my girls will be married in another ten days.” She looked at Jake curiously. “And my boy? Are you seeing anyone?”

  His mind briefly flashed to Melinda, but he shook his head. “Nope. No one. I’ve kind of been busy working instead of looking for a girlfriend.”

  “Good for you. Now you can start looking for a girlfriend. I can find you someone if you’d like, but I have a feeling that would just upset you. When are you going to start working at the hotel?” she asked.

  Jake ignored her offer to find him a girlfriend. That was the last thing he needed from his mother. “I guess I did that today when I walked through that broken-down gym and ordered new stuff for it. There’s so much I want to change in there.”

  “Good,” she said. “You need to make it yours.” She looked at him for a moment, just staring. “I’m so glad you’re home. I’ll probably say that a dozen times today, but I’ll mean it more each time. Welcome home, Bobling.”

  Jake smiled, feeling loved. He knew h
e was. Even in Afghanistan and during his tour in Iraq, he could feel the love from his mother across the miles. No one had as much capacity for love as April Lynn. No one. “Thanks, Mom. You have no idea how good it is to see your smile. I think that’s the one thing I clung to, no matter the circumstances. My mama’s smile was waiting for me back home.”

  “Her smile will be coming through tears as she gets used to you being home.” She paused for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. “I’m so proud of you for your service, but I’m so thankful that God brought you home to me, whole and hearty.” She brushed away the tears she’d just mentioned would be coming. “I love you, Bobling.”

  “I love you, too, Mom.”

  Four

  Around six, all of Jake’s sisters and their men started pouring into the room. The first to come in was Riley, and she was holding the hand of a smiling man.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Jake. I’ve heard wonderful things about you.”

  Riley smiled at Jake, hugging him tight. “Jake, this is my Blake. Rhyming names are fun!”

  Jake laughed. “So, you’re the new pastor in town, huh?”

  “Sure am.”

  “Very good to meet you. I’m excited for your wedding.” Jake shook his head. “Though it is hard to believe that the little girl who used to sneak all of my Easter candy is old enough to get married.”

  Riley stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re supposed to only talk about my good qualities. If Blake finds out the truth before the wedding, he won’t marry me!”

  Blake laughed, shaking his head. “Nothing is going to stop me now.”

  Renae came in with Chad next. “Bobling, do you remember Chad?”

  Jake nodded. “Sure. Your friend’s big brother.”

  “Yup. He was in the army for a lot of years, and as soon as he was back in town, I fell at his feet.”

  “Not even a little bit surprising, Renae.” Jake reached out and grabbed his sister in a hug. “Very good to see you again, Chad. I always hoped Renae would find a good guy to make her happy.”