Lynnette Kent - Matt's Family

They shook hands. “Planning to reenlist, Dad?”

“Don’t I wish.” The Colonel shook his head. “Life outside the Army never feels right.”

“Come on back.” Matt led the way and waved his dad into a chair. “Coffee? Soda?”

“No, thanks. Your mother and I just finished lunch.”

“What’s Mom up to? She’s always got some project going.”

“Planning the Fourth of July party. As soon as Memorial Day passes, she starts on that one. How are my granddaughters?”

“A little bit crazy. Since Luke told them about the trip to the mountains, they’ve been bouncing off the walls.”

“They’re a lively pair.” William Brennan’s hawkish gray eyes softened. “Enough spirit for several more children.”

“That’s for sure.” Matt closed the book he’d been reading and set it to the side.

His father leaned forward. “If you’ve got time to read, son, you need another job. What’s the book?”

“That new account of the battle at Gettysburg.”

“You’ve already got it?” He extended his hand and Matt passed him the book.

“Yes, sir. The guy’s done his homework, and he’s got a way with words. He almost puts you on the front line.”

The Colonel looked up. “Which is where you should be.”

“Don’t start, Dad.”

“It’s time you got back to the job. You owe your country the use of your mind and your strength.”

“I’ve given the Army most of my life since I was sixteen years old and joined Junior ROTC. That’s nearly twenty years.” He tried not to sound defensive.

“Some men give their entire life. You can’t ask for a greater honor.”

“I understand that perspective. But this is a different age from Gettysburg, or World War II, or even Vietnam. Maybe the country needs more than just…more than soldiers.”

“Like what?”

“Well…” Think, Brennan. “Teachers? Government leaders? People to see what the future holds and prepare our kids to handle the challenge?”

“There are plenty of men out there who can teach, make plans. Your combination of skills is what makes the Army work.”

This conversation was destined to go in circles. Matt leaned back in his chair. “I understand, Dad. I’m giving the whole issue a lot of thought. Anything else I can do for you today?” An abrupt change of subject.

But effective. His father drew out his pipe and clamped it between his teeth, avoiding Matt’s eyes. “I got to wondering last night what you and Kristin planned to do for your first anniversary celebration.”

“We haven’t talked about that. I was thinking dinner and that new Broadway show out at the theater. Why?”

His dad actually looked a little embarrassed. “I just…a little fatherly advice here…Why don’t you and Kristin take some time off? Get away, just the two of you, while the girls are in the mountains with Luke and Sarah?”

Matt stared at the man across the desk. “What brought this up?”

“Nothing, really.” The Colonel shrugged. “Well, except it occurred to me that Kristin’s had a rough time these last few years. She might feel…better…if she has you to herself for a while.”

Matt realized he should have thought of this one without help. Maybe that was part of the problem—maybe he’d been taking Kristin for granted. “You’re absolutely right—we should make our own getaway. Where would be a good place to go?”

His father held up his hands. “I’m not meddling any further. You take it from here.”

“I will.” They both got to their feet, and Matt put out his hand again. “Thanks for thinking about us.”

“My pleasure. Kristin will make a good Special Forces wife.”

Laughing, Matt pulled back the glass door panel for his dad to step through. “Give Mom my love.”

The Colonel settled into his beige Cadillac. “Sure thing.”

Matt turned back inside. The office seemed small all at once, and the air smelled stale. He felt as if he’d been cooped up inside forever. How long had it been since he’d slept out under the stars? Maybe he and Kris should go camping…

No. Kris worked hard enough at home—she ought to get a chance to simply relax. But they lived in a beach town, with the ocean just a mile away from their house, so a beach trip wouldn’t mean much. He didn’t like the idea of following Luke to the mountains—sure, there were lots of mountains, but did he have to imitate his little brother right down the line?

So where?

His eye fell on the Gettysburg book and he sat forward to pick it up. Ever since grade school, he’d been fascinated by all aspects of the Civil War. And he’d long promised himself a chance to visit some of the places forever marked by that violent conflict.

Why not now?

A couple of hours of planning later, Matt whistled as he closed up the office. What a great idea this was. He could hardly wait to tell Kris!

ON THE FRIDAY EVENING before the girls were set to leave, Matt caught Kristin’s hand as she got up to start clearing the table after dinner. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

As she sat down, her heart bumped hard against her ribs. “A surprise?”

“Yeah.” From beside his chair, he brought out a big manila envelope. “You and I are going to take a little trip. An anniversary trip.” He pulled out a sheaf of shiny brochures. “See what you think.”

Fredericksburg. Arlington. Manassas. Antietam. Gettysburg. “Battlefields?” Kristin stared at him blankly over the tableful of dishes. “You want to visit battle-fields?”

He nodded, his blue eyes bright. “And other historic places around them. I’ve lined up some great bed-and-breakfast inns for us to stay in on the way. We can cruise country roads, soak up the fresh air and space, stop when we feel like it, do whatever we want to. How does that sound?”

“You’re planning to bring the girls?” She couldn’t picture Erin or Jenny at their ages being interested in an old war.

“Nope. Just you and me this time. While they’re in the mountains.”

“Oh.” She swung from one kind of dread to another. “Just us.”

“No beds to make, no dishes, no meals to cook, no laundry. Ten days with nothing to do but relax, kick back, enjoy.”

“That…that sounds really nice. But it sounds kind of expensive, too. Can we afford a long trip like that?” Could they afford that much time alone? What would they talk about? Would they discover there was nothing between them anymore but…but duty?

“No problem. Our savings account is pretty fat. I think we can spare the cash.”

She was running out of excuses. “Can you get off work so soon?”

“My leave has already been approved.” His grin disappeared. He searched her face, his eyes wary. “You don’t like the idea, Kris? We can do something else if you want. Or we can stay home.”

“Oh, Matt. No.” Now her heart cramped with guilt. She took his hand with both of hers. “It’s a beautiful idea. I love that part of the country, and it’ll be great to get away from the beach crowds for a while. I’m just…this happened so fast.”

“That’s because it’s a surprise.” He drew her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles as Erin and Jenny and Buster tumbled into the kitchen.

“A surprise? What surprise?” Erin grabbed at her half-finished glass of milk. “For me?”

“For me?” Jenny asked, climbing into Kristin’s lap.

Buster sat on his haunches and stared expectantly.

Kristin drew her hand back and managed a laugh. “No, for me. Matt and I are…taking a trip just like the two of you.”

“You’re coming to the mountains, too, Mommy?” Erin nodded. “That’ll be cool.”

“No, love. We’re going to visit some historic places in Virginia and Maryland. You’ll still get time with just your dad and Sarah.”