Limits of Protection by Kelly Utt

Author:Kelly Utt [Utt, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733771207
Publisher: Standards of Starlight
Published: 2019-04-06T22:00:00+00:00

7

Patriots

By the time the sun begins to come up, we’re beyond the Sierra Nevada mountain range and are winding our way through the countryside on US Route 95-South, east of Yosemite National Park in route to Las Vegas. Liam drives just enough over the speed limit to help us make a little extra time. We don’t stop for a bathroom break. We’re holding it. Liam and I have hardly said a word to each other so far. I like that about our relationship. It’s easy. We can be together in silence and it isn’t awkward. We don’t have to fill the space with meaningless conversation.

It’s hard to keep from thinking of my wife and little boys, but I do my best to push all of that out of my mind. Instead, I think about what it’s like to be deployed on a mission. I’ve been deployed dozens of times before and although I believed those days were behind me, I imagine it will all come right back. Much like riding a bike.

“Do they know we don’t have any uniforms with us?“ I ask Liam. “I hardly think they’ll want us showing up in lake clothes. We look like a couple of vacationers.“

Liam chuckles. I think maybe he’s relieved that I finally broke in silence.

“I don’t know,” he says. “But it will be okay. They’re bound to have extras laying around. Especially in a situation like this where we’ve been called back on short notice. They know we weren’t home when they called us. They’ll make accommodations.“

I reach up and smooth the hair on the top of my head down absentmindedly, as I do when I’m nervous. Liam sees the gesture and tilts his head to one side as if he’s thinking.

“George, buddy?“ he asks. “Is there anything I can do to make this easier for you? I know you’re afraid to leave your family. Since I don’t have kids of my own, I won’t say I know what you’re going through. But I can imagine. How can I help?“

I take a deep breath and slowly exhale before I answer.

“Uncle, just having you with me is the best comfort I could wish for. I’m facing the unknown here, in multiple ways. I don’t know if my wife is going to make it. I don’t know if my family is going to be safe without me there to protect him. Hell, I don’t even know if my father-in-law is going to be okay without getting started on his chemotherapy as scheduled. Not to mention, I have no idea what you and I are walking into. It must be something pretty substantial for them to call us back… You from leave and me from retirement.“

“It’s a lot,” Liam confirms.

“So, yeah,” I say. “I don’t think there’s anything you can do other than just be with me as I go through this.“

“Well, that I can do,” Liam says. “I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere” He taps his fingers on the steering wheel in a rhythm.

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