Homecoming

By Bonnie Gardner

Captain Brick Mueller thinks that life will be good now that he's finally at the end of a series of back-to-back deployments into a war zone. He believes that he and his wife Katie will finally be able to start the family they both wanted.

Kate is not so sure all is well. After multiple reunions, she's pretty sure there will be problems. After a brief honeymoon period, she can see that all is not well. Brick is showing disturbing signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, culminating in Kate's being injured when she tries to wake him from a particularly bad nightmare. She tells him that if he doesn't deal with his PTSD, she may have to get out.

Will this homecoming signal the start of a wonderful new life or threaten to end the marriage?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonnie Gardner
• Release date: Oct 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311951656

Bonnie Gardner

After spending most of her life as either an army brat or a military wife, the last people that Bonnie Gardner expected to find herself writing about were military men. After all, she'd looked forward to the day she could put that spit and polish and moving around behind her. Then she sold her first book. Her hero was ex-military. Then she sold her second book. Her hero was retired military. You get the picture. When her editor suggested that she use her military knowledge and background, she resisted. She really did. But common sense won out. After all, they say to write about what you know, and that's what she knew. Bonnie grew up on army bases around the world. According to her parents, one of the first homes she lived in was a converted World War II army barracks. She lived in Hawaii before it was a state, and has either visited or lived in almost every state of the Union. During six years in Germany in her formative years, Bonnie developed her love for reading and movies. (In those days, there was no American television to watch overseas, so books and movies were her entertainment.) Even at the tender age of 12, she was a critic. If she didn't like the ending of a book or a movie, she'd spend half the night rewriting it in her mind. Though she didn't actually write any of these ideas down, she honed her skills by writing long letters to friends she'd left behind. Finally, when she was almost 16, her father retired to his home state of Alabama, and there, Bonnie met her husband. Wayne was the cutup sitting next to her in geometry class at Marbury High School, the last of 11 schools she'd attended while growing up. She tried to ignore him, but his clowning won out. They married at 19 and have been together for over 30 years. They have two grown sons, one of whom is now serving in the air force - the third generation in their family. Though Bonnie swore she would never marry a military man, Vietnam intruded and Wayne was drafted. He joined the air force because his father had retired from the air force. It was only supposed to be one enlistment, but...he stayed for 25 years, and Bonnie followed him whenever she could. And Bonnie wouldn't have missed a moment of it. She learned how to do things she never thought she could do - like repair a toilet - when her husband was away for weeks or months at a time. She learned how to be alone. And she learned she could handle anything if she set her mind to it, even Casualty Duty when she and her husband had the unpleasant task of notifying a friend that her husband had died in the line of duty. All those things made Bonnie what she is today, and all of that experience shows in her books. When she writes about her men in uniform, she knows them. She knows the joy and the pain of loving a man in uniform. She knows their wives, their girlfriends, and their mothers. She's been all of them.

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Copyright © 2015 Bonnie Gardner

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Thank you.

Chapter One

The big day had finally arrived.

The sun was shining happy and bright, and Kate Mueller hoped the coming reunion would be as cheerful and good as the weather suggested. She’d cleaned the house from top to bottom, had fresh linens on the bed, and cut flowers in every room. What could possibly go wrong?

She stood nervously among the throng of families gathered in front of the Base Operations Building, some wearing their Sunday best, others in tee shirts showing a variety of patriotic slogans and red white and blue. They all waited on the tarmac just off the flight line at Pope Air Force Base. The C-130 transport planes were due in any minute now, and after a short homecoming ceremony, the airmen would be released and free to come home for two weeks leave.

Kate strained to hear the sound of incoming aircraft over the murmuring of the crowd, everyone waiting just as anxiously for their loved ones to return. Finally something sounded over the impatient noise, different than that of the chatter. The talking stilled as each person tried to hear. Soon they recognized the drone of heavy aircraft approaching and quieted in hushed expectation.

Look there! I see it, a little boy announced, a small American flag clutched in his chubby hand, as the first of the three planes appeared on the horizon. It’s coming. My daddy coming to home.

A cheer lifted to the sky then stilled as each person watched expectantly as the formation of C-130s made the final approach. One after another, the huge planes, seeming almost too big to fly, maneuvered onto the runway and lumbered to a halt on Green Ramp. Hundreds of eyes watched eagerly as the engines wound down and the enormous propellers slowed to a halt. Finally, the cargo doors in the rear of each plane were lowered to the ground and, in formation, the long awaited contingents of men emerged.

Kate strained to catch that first glimpse of her husband, Brick.

Another cheer of joy rose from the crowd as the group of airmen halted, still in formation, so near, yet too far away. Brick’s team, wearing scarlet berets with the distinctive flash were easy to pick out among the sea of desert camouflage. Eager to spot Brick’s face, Kate scanned the group.

The crowd stilled as the base commander stepped forward to a podium that Katie hadn’t previously noticed. She’d been too busy watching the sky then searching for Brick’s face to pay attention to small details. Finally spotting her husband, she smiled broadly as it appeared that he had picked her out of the crowd, as well. She lifted her hand in a slight wave, and received a grin of recognition in return.

He looked so good, so healthy, not like he’d spent the last year sleeping in temporary quarters between forays into enemy territory. She couldn’t imagine what this entailed, but as long as she knew Brick was safe, she tried to convince herself she could deal.

For the first time, Kate dared to hope this homecoming would prove to be all she wanted. Of course, it wasn’t the first time she had waited to see her husband, and each time she hadn’t felt he was home until she’d actually picked him out of the crowd, had taken a quick inventory, and determined that he was, indeed, all in one piece. And each time, after the first giddy moments of joy, the first few weeks and months had proved to be difficult.

Finally the speeches were over. Though they were supposedly brief, they seemed far too long to Kate and the rest of the waiting families. Eventually, a chaplain provided a brief prayer of thanks then someone finally barked the word everyone had been waiting for.

Dismissed!

Kate wasn’t sure who stepped forward first: someone in the assembled crowd or the men. It didn’t matter. In the milling surge of people, Katie, like so many others, searched for her man.

Finally, he was there. Reservations forgotten, Kate rushed forward and stepped gladly into his arms and was swept up into a bear hug of gigantic proportions. Katherine Esther Mueller, I am so happy to feel you in my arms, he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically husky.

Kate tipped her face up to him and answered, her voice equally thick with emotion, I am so glad to see you safe and sound and here, she said.

Then Brick lowered his mouth to hers and communicated with his lips how much he’d missed her, and Kate answered back.

It didn’t matter that they were standing outside Base Ops in the middle of a huge crowd of people. All that mattered at that moment was that Brick was home.

Kate clung to her husband, relishing the feel of his big, strong body against hers. Not wanting to display her unexpected tears, she buried her face against the front of his airman battle uniform and took in his musky scent.

Finally she dragged herself away and looked around, her tears slowed, but not gone.

Brick tipped her face up to him. Now, don’t you do that, Katie girl. It’s all good.

I know, Katie murmured. I’m such a baby.

And that’s just fine with me.

Brick must have noticed a lack of commotion as well as she had, and they looked around. The crowd had thinned; so many of the gathered people were eager to get home with their loved ones and had wasted no time to get on their way. She and Brick weren’t the last to leave Green Ramp, but there were few others lingering. Brick gazed over her head and then looked down at Katie and grinned. What say we blow this joint and go home?

She grinned back. Let’s do just that.

***

As much as it had felt wonderful to feel him close to her, once they reached home, Kate felt suddenly shy. She lingered in the kitchen – procrastinating – wondering what to do next.

Did Brick want to jump right into bed? True she’d missed sex as much as any other healthy twenty-six-year old married woman who’d been away from her husband for a year, but as familiar and wonderful as Brick looked, she was nervous and shy as a new bride.

Do you want me to fix you something to eat? she asked in a badly disguised stalling tactic. She had stocked the fridge and could prepare his favorites, but she closed her eyes, trying to figure out what would be quick and easy. Or slow and complicated.

Why hadn’t she thought to have something on hand ready to go ahead of time?

It’s okay, Katie. I can wait till later.

For what? she wondered to herself.

You’re not hungry? Why was she so confused? It had felt so good to hold him, yet now she felt so awkward. Did he want to go to bed right now at three o’clock in the afternoon?

I’m starved. You know what I’ve been thinking about for about six months now? Brick had a hungry look on his face that she knew all too well.

I have no idea.

Pizza! he announced. A giant pizza with everything on it but the kitchen sink. Rations will keep you alive, but there’s nothing like a real honest-to-God pizza.

Relieved, Kate laughed, but mostly to cover a knot of hurt in her throat. I’m afraid I don’t have the ingredients here in the house, she said. Why was she disappointed that Brick’s hunger was not for her?

He reached for the phone. Is Angelo’s still open for business?

Of course. Yes! She cheered silently. Maybe they would go to Angelo’s for a pizza.

No problem, then. He started to dial a number he apparently knew by heart.

You still remember the number?

I dreamed of you and that place the whole time I was gone. Sometimes, I dreamed of you wrapped in pizza.

Sounds messy, she answered dryly. Don’t forget I don’t like anchovies. At least, he had listed them in the right order.

I know, I know, Brick said, then placed the order, hung up the phone, and turned to Kate. They said it would be half an hour. I can think of something to do to in the meantime. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Oh, you do? And what would that be? Kate teased. Checkers?

Not in a million years!

Now Kate was ready. At last, the idea of going to bed with her husband, the man she’d missed, the man she’d longed for, seemed much more appetizing than pizza.

Lead the way, she said.

He swept her up into his arms and carried her down the familiar hall to their bedroom. He kicked the door closed then lowered her gently down onto their bed.

You have on way too many clothes, he growled as Kate reached to unbutton the top of his ABU.

So do you. Kate pushed his shirt aside and he shrugged out of the sleeves, then Brick reached around her for the zipper that ran down the back of her new dress.

Let me do it, he rasped. You wrapped this present up just for me. I want to unwrap it myself.

Apparently, he had noticed the dress.

I want to unwrap you, too, she replied, but it would be quicker if they just did it themselves. She glanced at the long row of laces down the front of his tan, desert dress combat boots. I’ll never get those things undone.

You have a point there, he said, his fingers tangled in her hair, having abandoned her recalcitrant zipper. He reluctantly let go, and sat on the bed and began working on his boot laces.

Kate slid the zipper down, unclasped the hook and slipped out of the dress, careful to lay it over the arm of his valet chair. The morning had been warm, so all she’d worn underneath the dress were her bra and panties. She kicked off her shoes then waited for Brick to catch up.

Noting how tanned he’d become, except for the area on his forehead normally covered by his headgear, she leaned over and kissed the back of his neck, delighting in his tremor of response.

Keep doing that and I’ll never be able to get out of this stuff, he growled.

Well, hurry up. It’s chilly here. I need you to keep me warm. The room wasn’t particularly cold, but a gaggle of goose bumps pebbled Kate’s skin as she trembled in anticipation.

Finally Brick stepped out of the boots and made short work of his socks. He unhooked the blousing bands that kept his trousers tucked over his boots in the proper position and started on his pants. Kate leaned against his back and reached around him to unclasp the metal buckle on his mesh belt. He moved her hands away and made quick work of the button and zipper, then climbed to his feet to step out of the trousers.

Kate gasped as she noted the size of the erection that strained against his olive drab shorts as Brick crossed his arms over his chest, grasped each side of the hem of his OD tee shirt and pulled it over his head. With the exception of his shorts and her bra and panties, they were ready.

Brick turned to her and caressed her cheek, running the callused pad of his thumb down to her neck, noting the flight of gooseflesh that covered it. Cold? he asked.

No, she whispered. Just waiting for you.

He pushed down one thin strap of her bra then pulled it aside to reveal one taut nipple. He took it in his mouth and suckled, then left it damp and hard as he released the clasp of the bra and freed the other. Gotta give them both equal time, he murmured and bent to the task.

Kate sighed and pushed against his shorts, eager to tug them down. Finally all exasperating barriers were gone, and Katie lay back, opening her arms to receive him. He lowered himself to cover her, sighing as they lay skin against bare skin.

You feel so good, Kate murmured as he adjusted himself over her, fitting his body to her as he found the familiar position they knew so well. He paused there a moment to allow her to adjust to his weight, then he kneed her legs apart and settled against her.

He paused, as he often did, waiting until their heartbeats matched beat to beat. Then he pushed against her warm, moist core. He pushed again, this time harder, and she opened to him. They fell into that primal rhythm familiar to all mankind.

Kate closed her eyes as he moved within her. As she reveled in the warmth of his body, she realized exactly how much she had missed this. Yes, this is perfect. This is right.

***

Brick lay quietly listening to the soft sound of Katie asleep. He had missed the feel of her small, soft body nestled in the crook of his arm, her head lying against his chest. It had been far too long since he’d held her in his arms, but already this day had proved far better than he could have imagined.

He drew in a long, deep breath of satisfaction. Life was good, and it was just going to get better.

It appeared that world tensions had relaxed enough that he could finally count on being home for the long haul or, at least, longer than in recent years. He wouldn’t have to leave his wife at home alone again. They’d have a normal married life, and they’d finally be able to start the family they’d always planned to have.

Katie shifted, and he pulled her back close to him. She murmured something, and he answered her with a soft kiss on the top her head. If only he could freeze this moment and keep it forever.

Of course, he couldn’t. It seemed he’d barely gotten comfortable with the notion of being safe and at home, when the doorbell rang.

Brick muttered a curse. Who the hell could be ringing the doorbell at this time of n—

It’s the middle of the afternoon, silly, and it’s the pizza you ordered, Katie murmured sleepily. I’ll get it. She started to get up.

No. He pulled her back to him. I ordered it, so I’ll get it. He was already out of bed and pulling on his ABU pants.

He didn’t care if he would be technically out of uniform. He was in the privacy in his own home, and frankly, he didn’t give a damn. He yanked his billfold out of his wallet, and grabbed for a twenty and opened the door. Damn, it felt good to spend money again.

The pizza guy announced the price, and Brick frowned. He had only been gone for a year, yet the price had increased. He fumbled for another five and thrust it at the kid. Keep the change, he muttered, snatched the box out of his hands, and firmly closed the door.

Funny, he’d wanted the pizza earlier, but now, he’d just as soon be back in that bed with Katie in his arms.

Gosh, that smells good. Katie had put on a robe and apparently had run a comb through her love-tousled, honey blond curls. I’ll get some plates and some sodas. Anything else?

You, he said with certainly. Only you.

***

This was fun, Katie said as she wiped her fingers free of tomato sauce. She found one last smidgeon, and rather than get up and find another napkin, she popped her finger in her mouth and licked it off. They were picnicking, half-naked on her robe spread out on the living room carpet, empty pizza box on the coffee table, backs propped against the couch.

This was nicer than sitting at the dining room table, but I still think it would have been better if we’d stayed in bed, Brick grumbled.

Katie swatted him on the arm. "Then we probably wouldn’t have ever gotten around to eating at all.

Surely, you didn’t want to waste that hard-earned twenty five bucks.

Brick finished chewing his last bite of pizza then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. It would have been worth the money to me. He leaned back against the couch and stretched his arms over the couch seat. You wanna christen this couch?

Katie laughed. I believe it’s already been done, remember? They’d started christening each new piece of furniture soon after they were married. Some of the pieces had been initiated more than once.

I could go for seconds. How about you?

Katie made a face. "Good grief. I’m stuffed. Let’s let this stuff digest.

If you want to cuddle, I’m game.

Hey, I’m a manly man. Real men don’t cuddle.

Then just what was it that you were doing when the doorbell rang? Calisthenics? Katie countered.

Well, I did work up a sweat.

Oh, you, Katie complained. I can’t take you anywhere.

Good thing we’re at home then. Brick pushed himself up, and reached for the pizza box.

Katie stopped him. No, let me do that. Why don’t you go take a shower?

Why? Are you saying I stink? Brick grinned, as he was already fingering the closure of his pants.

Katie reached up and ran her fingers along the line of his jaw. Why don’t you go take a shower and we’ll see what happens next, Katie said, her tone firm, but the twinkle in her eyes, said something else. I’ll be right behind you.

Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Brick grinned and double-timed it toward the bathroom.