Cole

by Autumn Gunn

  “That’s terrible.”

  “I know. And we were really getting traction. But don’t worry. I’m going to figure this out. Fast.”

  “I know a guy about an hour away who can probably certify you. He teaches this kind of thing. At least he’ll know what to do.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t have time for that. Momentum is key and I don’t want to lose it. I’m going to try some other channels to address this thing head on. In the mean time can you put up a note at school that the gym’s taking a short break? I’m going to go through the list and email everybody, but if we can put something up at the school, if that’s ok, then that would also be helpful.”

  “I’ll check with the principal, but I think it’s ok. You’re not actually affiliated with the school, but unofficially everybody knows you and respects you and we know a lot of our students are training with you. A few of them have already seen improved grades.”

  “I can’t say it surprises me. Once you get your ducks all in a line it’s easy to start knocking them down. They basically fall right into place for you.”

  “Well, whatever you’re doing it’s working. I think Jerry’s really spreading the gospel as well. He’s a quiet kid, but I’ve noticed kids approaching him and asking him things. He’s put on about two or three pounds too and young boys this age are always interested when they see a way to gain muscle. I think they know the muscle brings in the looks from the girls.”

  “I remember doing 1,000 push-ups and sit-ups a night when I was that age. Samantha DeLaney. She was the reason.”

  “And did Samantha notice?”

  “Her family moved away, but her friends definitely noticed.”

  “And did you pursue any of them?”

  “No, I was a little heartbroken about Samantha. Once I get my mind set on someone, or something, I’m fixated on that one thing. The good thing was it really got me going with fitness. I started really fixating on eating right and getting as healthy and strong as I could. So that was my new fixation to try and replace Samantha.”

  “Did it work?”

  “Well, can you ever really replace a person?”

  “I wouldn’t say so.”

  “Me either. And definitely not with an activity. People are people. Activities and things are just that. It worked well as a healthy distraction, and still does to this day, but it didn’t replace the pain of her moving away.”

  There was no response. I waited, and then finally…“And now. Do you have anyone you’re fixated on now?”

  “Fixated on, or interested in?”

  “Either or.”

  “I wouldn’t say I have anyone I’m interested in, but I definitely have someone I’m totally fixated on.”

  I could almost hear Carissa smile through the phone.

  “Me too.”

  Neither of us spoke for what seemed like an eternity. I decided to break the silence.

  “The best thing in life is to know when you finally have that someone special and that they feel the same way. That you both have that one special person and it’s each other. It sounds so simple to say, but in reality it doesn’t often happen. For some people never.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “And I’m glad I’m a little older now. Hopefully a little wiser. I know how special that is and I’m not going to ever let it go. I’m going to hold on tight and ride off into the sunset. Happy forever.”

  “And I’m going to be on that white horse with you.”

  “You’re darn right you are. No you. No sunset. This dream is a package deal and it all starts with you. The best part is it’s not a dream.”

  “You’re going to make me cry at work.”

  “Neither one of us wants that.”

  “Well, tears of joy might get a free pass, but yeah…I need to be professional in front of the kids. But we can definitely talk about this later.”

  “Yes we can.”

  “OK. I’ll put something up about the gym after I speak with the principal. You go get ‘em tiger.”

  “Grrr. I will.”

  Carissa laughed. “Thanks for making me feel special.”

  “You are special.”

  “I definitely feel like it whenever I’m with you.”

  “Good.”

  “Ok, back to work I go. Talk soon?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Ciao.”

  “Buenas tardes.”

  I was riding the high of hearing Carissa’s voice. I needed to channel that into a solution. A way to get my gym back. If in doubt I knew one person I could call. The one person who would have the answer.

  Chapter 22

  “Good morning. Can you put me through to Petty Officer Lackey, please?”

  “May I ask who’s calling?”

  “Cole Callahan. We served together.”

  “One moment Mr. Callahan.”

  “Cole. You’re up early.”

  “Laura. Good to hear from you. I’m in the Midwest.”

  “What in the heck are you doing out of California?”

  “At first I was asking myself that same question. It’s grown on me now. The people are great. I’m actually feeling right at home.”

  “I must say I’m shocked to hear that. I always saw you as a guy who needed an ocean nearby.”

  “I thought the same, but luckily lakes seem to be working these days.”

  “Good for you. I’m glad you called actually. I had some new information I wanted to give you.”

  “Can I go first?”

  “Sure. Is everything ok?”

  “Yes, but no, but yes.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “The Navy made a decision on my case.” Suddenly I froze up. I didn’t quite know how to say it. “Laura, I’m done. It’s over. They don’t want me anymore.”

  “Cole, I’m so sorry. And it’s not that we don’t want you, it’s that the PR people in their ivory towers are trying to reduce risk. It’s not about you.”

  “Thanks, but it feels like it is about me. I’m trying not to blame them. I understand the position they’re in. The position they want to avoid possibly putting our country in. It makes sense. It’s just tough when it’s you. It really hits home.”

  “I would say I can imagine, but I can’t. All I can say is I’m sorry, Cole. You’re always one of us, with or without the uniform.”

  “Thanks Lackey.”

  “Don’t thank me. Thank you for everything. If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have this post. I still have our picture by my desk.”

  “When we got promoted together?”

  “Yeah, that one. Time sure flies. We look like babies.”

  “We were babies.”

  We both laughed.

  “We were just talking about you yesterday at lunch. The pranks you pulled when you visited Headquarters. You sure were mischievous, but it made the day a lot more fun.”

  “Don’t count me out yet. I still may put on some eye black and sneak in one evening. You never know.”

  “With you, you’re right. You never know.”

  “Laura, I’ve got a dilemma and you’re the first person I thought of.”

  “Let ‘er rip. Let’s turn this dilemma into a winner.”

  “I opened a gym where I live now and everything was going great. Really great. This morning some suits showed up and shut me down. Said I need to be licensed in martial arts to teach. Liability reasons and such. It looks like I would have to take some sort of course. 12 weeks probably. I don’t have that time. I have momentum now. I need to keep this thing going.”

  “And you’re asking me to bend some rules?”

  “No. No. Not at all. I’m still above board with everything I do. I just want a solution to make this go away. I have the training. I just don’t have the paperwork.”

  “Got ya. And I’m glad to hear that, because I’m above board also. I’m still Ms. By-The-Book. The good news is I already have an idea.”

  “Great. I knew you would.”<
br />
  “Did you take any of those elective martial arts training classes, or just the mandatory ones?”

  “Come on, you know I maxed out every opportunity I got.”

  “Thought so. I have your file right here, but let me pull up your full records on my screen. One sec.”

  I could hear her keystrokes. She seemed to be scrolling through information.

  “Cole, I’m really sorry, but I’m getting pulled into a meeting right now. Can I call you back in a few hours?”

  “Of course.”

  “Again. Sorry.”

  “No worries.”

  She confirmed my mobile number and ended the call. Off to her meeting.

  Now I had the whole day in front of me, but with no car, no gym to look forward to, and it was starting to rain. What was up with today? When it rains it really does poor. I needed to quit feeling sorry for myself. I went and sat on the couch. Next thing I knew I was sawing logs.

  Chapter 23

  Ding-dong.

  The doorbell rang, but it might as well have been an incoming mortar. The sound of those mortars always stuck in my head and seemed to be what was on my mind so many times when I woke up.

  I looked around to get my bearings. Remember where I was. Jax’s house. Right. That didn’t take long. My mind was starting to develop a comfort level with Jax’s place. That was a good first step.

  Ding-dong.

  Right. The door. But who could it be in the middle of the afternoon?

  I opened the door feeling wide-awake.

  “Thought I’d surprise you!”

  “And a pleasant surprise you are.”

  “Hope you don’t mind me dropping by.”

  “Carissa, you’re always welcome. I’m glad you came by.” I wanted to add especially dressed in her sexy skirt and blouse from work, but bit my tongue.

  She reached into her backpack.

  “And I brought us some goodies. We had a small teacher meeting today after school and I brought chocolate chip cookies.”

  “Let me get this straight. I’m dreaming, and then I’m woken up by the site of Ms. Beautiful at my door carrying chocolate chip cookies?”

  “You’re not dreaming anymore, Bucko.”

  “Today started off a little weird, but it’s definitely getting better.”

  “That’s the spirit. The world can’t get you down any more than you let it. Do you have any milk?”

  “I think we do. Let’s check.” We walked to the kitchen. Jax drinks tons of milk and sure enough, the fridge was packed. Two percent, whole milk, skim milk, Vitamin D milk, and on and on.

  “All that milk is for you guys?”

  “Just the three of us. But really it’s for Jax. Jasmine has some on her cereal and at dinner. I have a glass once in awhile. Jax? Whoa. He’s like 100 baby kittens. He can’t get enough.”

  “Think he’ll mind if we take a little?”

  “Hardly. He’ll probably bring more home from the store today when he arrives with Jasmine.”

  “They’re not back yet?”

  “Surprisingly not. Sometimes they go for hikes after school though. I’d guess they’re up in the hills somewhere about now.”

  “That’s so nice that he spends so much quality time with her. He’s really a great dad.”

  “The best. You should see him help her with her homework. I think he gets into it more than she does.”

  “Maybe I should let the other teachers know to keep an eye on her handwriting. Make sure it matches each day.” Carissa gave me a teasing look.

  “I think Jax would like the challenge of doing her homework. Really, but he wants her to learn. He guides her, but I can’t ever remember hearing him just give her an answer. He wants her to be self-sufficient. He tells her as long as he’s here they’re going to walk down the path of life hand-in-hand, but sometimes she’ll have to, and even want to, go off on her own. He’s preparing her for those times.”

  “That’s really nice.”

  “Yeah, he’s really preparing her for life. He’s a great dad.”

  “I’ve heard from the other teachers at school. And I think the single ladies would love to get to know him better too.”

  “Maybe later. Right now isn’t the best time.”

  “I understand. But you know what it is time for now?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Cookie dunking battle!”

  “I’m in!”

  My phone buzzed.

  “Carissa. Sorry. I’m expecting a very important phone call. One that could get the gym back to full steam. I’ve got to check this.”

  “Please. I totally understand.”

  I looked. Sure enough. I hit accept call and before I could even speak…

  “Jackpot!”

  “What ‘cha got?”

  “Three years ago you did that full week of off base training at Pendleton, remember?”

  “The joint training with the Marines?”

  “That’s the one. Says here you completed it and were awarded a certificate.”

  “I got a certificate?”

  “Cole, did you ever save anything that represented an achievement?”

  “Not really. Can’t rest on the past. Have to be forward looking.”

  “Yeah, but those things can at least make good bragging material for mom.”

  “Guess you have a point, but my mom’s not one to talk a lot.”

  “I get your point. Anyways, that was just a certificate of completion, but it says here that represented about three months of civilian training up to and exceeding black belt. I bet that qualifies. And I have the number of those guys here. They do a lot of government contracts so you could surely give them a call and find out.”

  “Sounds perfect. You’re the best. I knew calling you was the right thing to do.”

  There was no response.

  “Laura. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, and I’m glad you called earlier, but I have something more serious to talk about now.”

  “Something heavy?”

  “As heavy as it gets.”

  I knew what she meant. Captain Culver had not addressed the reason for my discharge. We all knew the 600 pound gorilla in the room when we spoke, but neither of us wanted to name it. Laura was about to dart into that forest, grab that gorilla, and put it right in my face. But why?

  “Cole.”

  “Yes.”

  “You might want to sit down.”

  I felt a lump in my throat. I looked at the kitchen table. The same table where I had breakfast so many mornings with Jasmine and Jax. A place of laughter and joking. Now it was about to be anything but. But I couldn’t sit there. Carissa was there. I made the motion with one figure that this might take a minute. She moved her hands sideways indicating a no problem response. I walked up to my room. I sat on my bed. I didn’t look out the window as I usually do. I looked down. The phone pressed to my ear in my right hand. My forehead in my left. My left elbow resting on my thigh. My eyes closed.

  “There’s some new information about the incident in Kandahar.”

  “Is this nightmare ever going to end?”

  “Stay with me, Cole.”

  I didn’t reply.

  “Cole?”

  “I’m here.”

  Laura spoke slowly. She was sensitive to my feelings from the incident. I didn’t speak the entire time. Just listened. After about 10 minutes she finished. I raised my head from my hands. Stood up and looked out the window.

  “Thank you, Laura. For everything.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad we gathered this intel and were able to get it to you. And in regards to the martial arts certification…I’ll email you the contact information.”

  “Thank you. Really. Thank you for everything.”

  “You’re welcome. You sound very tranquil. Should I let you go? To process everything?”

  “Yes. I really need to take this in now.”