She smiled at him.“Hey, Jerry.”
“You look rather radiant,” Jerry said, accepting the hug from her.He shook Waller’s hand.“Tim.Glad you made it.”
“Yeah.We had a doctor’s appointment.”
Patting her baby bump, Leanne teased, “Uh, ‘we’ had a doctor’s appointment.Tim was just a straphanger.”US Army Airborne soldiers referred to paratroopers who added themselves to the jump manifest to fulfill their mandatory jumps as strap-hangers.
Tim said, “Glad I made the manifest.”
Leanne pouted her lip.“Well, ‘we,’ as in me and little Waller, are officially off the cruise manifest.”
“That’s too bad.”He looked at Waller.“What about you?Am I going to have to double down on groomsman duties?”
“Nah.Leanne and her mother are insisting I go.Her parents are coming here tonight.We have exit strategies in place for wherever we are in case I need to rush home.”
Major Norton stood beside Captain Peña and First Sergeant Wade “Commando” Chandler.He tapped a trill atop the grill with his spatula.“Hey, guys.Can we get your attention real quick?”
Everyone settled down and moved closer, Jerry included.Norton continued, “First of all, I want to thank all of our special guests for joining us today.Thank you all.It’s great when we have beautiful women here instead of just a bunch of hairy gorillas.”
Polite laughter.
“So, you all knew this was coming.I will now confirm the rumors.The President and the Joint Chiefs, in their infinite wisdom, have determined that I can better serve at a posting closer to the flagpole.”
First Sergeant Chandler said, “So, in other words, you got too old to stay on a team?”
Everyone, including Norton, laughed.
“No, that would be you who’s old, Top.”More laughter.“Anyway, I have to tell you,” His face turned stern.“It has been the honor of my life to serve alongside every single one of you.You are the very best at what you do.I will never forget you, no matter where the Army takes me.”He laid a hand on Peña’s shoulder.
Peña cleared his throat.“Come the first of June, we’ll officially do the whole dog and pony change of command with much pomp and fanfare and ribbons and flags.Heck.We might even march in lines and whatnot.And I’m sure there will be cake.As you probably guessed, I’ve been selected to be your new team commander.Daddy would rather I take over his duties starting today.”
“I’m sure he would!”Chandler yelled.
Everyone laughed.
Norton held up his hands, asking for room to speak again.“We also get to surprise your very fine First Sergeant with the news that he has been accepted into the Sergeant Major’s Academy effective August first.”
Chandler’s eyes widened.“What?”
“Obviously, there’s been a terrible mistake.But you should take advantage of it before they get to know you.Now who’s too old?”
Jerry laughed with his teammates and clapped Chandler on the shoulder.“Congratulations!Well done, Top.”
Norton continued.“We will announce the new First Sergeant when all of the paperwork gets finalized.I don’t think that announcement is going to surprise anybody.”He gave Jerry a meaningful look.
Jerry didn’t realize how much he wanted that position until now.He knew his ultimate goal, of course, but now that itmightbe his, he could almost taste it.
Norton held his hands out to the crowd.“Today is about food and family.We have good food and beautiful women here.Let’s just get to that before we get ahead of ourselves.I’d like to pray.”
The men wearing them took off their hats.
“God, thank you for watching over us.Thank you for memories we will cherish but can never share.Thank you for a promising future.We trust You have made plans for us and that Your plans for us are good.Be with us today.Bless these fine men and amazing women.Bless this food.Amen.Let’s eat.”
Jerry loaded his plate, missing Olive.He felt just a hint of envy when Cynthia arrived, and Major Norton laid a huge kiss on her until she laughed and pulled back.
Jerry overheard him say, “You missed my big speech.”
Cynthia, straight-faced, replied, “Oh, thank goodness.”
