got together.”
“I would have never guest the boys.”
“Call me Dad. I know I went from just taking care of myself to a wife and three sons. Meghan was closed off at first. She didn’t want people to think that because she was with a soldier she was using him for his benefits. She even broke up with me for a month because of it. Tired of the B.S. put her and our boys in my car and moved her to Nashville,” they were stationed in Clarksville, TN which was about thirty minutes from Nashville, TN “she loved me for it. She fought me a bit about moving her to a place where she didn’t have a job and the boys’ weren’t in school but ultimately she’s been happy the last ten years and I’ve never looked back.”
“Her barriers”
“Are still up a little but they include me, our twin daughters plus our sons. She just wants what’s right and she wants to prove that she needs me as much as I need her, while trying to keep her independence.”
“So what do I do?”
“Does Elsie seem like the type you can pack up and move to Nashville?”
Eric chuckled “Elsie is not the type I can throw over my shoulder put in the car and move from Atlanta to Nashville.” Eric had been surprised that the Junior ROTC program sending care packages was in Atlanta. But his Commander had explained that their Army program was doing the assigning and their Unit had been the one chosen. “She owns a home there and she’s at the end of her pregnancy.”
“Wow you’re taking on a lot here.”
“You’re not going to tell me I should walk away from her because–”
“I would be a hypocrite to say anything like that. Paul, our youngest son, was on only five when Meghan and I got together. I just want you to be prepared. Going from bachelorhood to parenthood can be really jarring.”
“Trying to scare me?” Eric questioned. He knew this wasn’t going to easy and that Elsie was always going to put the children before him. But he still wanted her. Needed her. She was what was keeping him grounded here. Giving him something to look forward to.
Jones chuckled “a little”; he placed a hand on Eric’s shoulder, “here is the truth. Being a parent is the greatest joy and headache of your life. Trust me. But also know this towards the end of pregnancy women are tired of being pregnant and would like to see their baby so be patient. Also add in the fact you’re here and she’s there and arguments like you two had in the communication tent are bound to happen.”
Eric nodded, “thanks Jones.”
“Welcome. Now come on let’s get this patrol finished so you can head back to communications and make things right with your girl.”
Chapter 2
This was a mess. A complete and utter mess but this was her mess and she needed to clean it up. Elsie thought a week later as she sat down at the table in the cafe and sipped her tea as she placed a hand on her stomach. She still didn’t have a name for her daughter. She had run through a few but none were what she wanted. None seemed to fit the precious cargo she carried. Elsie released an exasperated breath when she saw Lucas walk into the cafe. She had been trying to get a hold of the man for the last five months. She’d wanted to talk about custody of RaeLyn. Elsie stopped RaeLyn had been a suggestion of Eric’s a month ago. Ray had been his father’s name and Lyn had been his father’s mother name. Eric had said he wanted to name any child he had after his father who had raised him to be a gentleman.
“Elsie, how have you been?” Lucas questioned as he sat down at the table. When she had called him and asked him to meet he had been ready to refuse until she’d told him she was at the courthouse ready to give his name to child support enforcement. Something he didn’t want to happen. He was already on child support add in the brat Elsie carried and he would have no pay check at the end of the month.
“I’ve been well the baby is good too,” she replied as she took a sip
“I would have never guest the boys.”
“Call me Dad. I know I went from just taking care of myself to a wife and three sons. Meghan was closed off at first. She didn’t want people to think that because she was with a soldier she was using him for his benefits. She even broke up with me for a month because of it. Tired of the B.S. put her and our boys in my car and moved her to Nashville,” they were stationed in Clarksville, TN which was about thirty minutes from Nashville, TN “she loved me for it. She fought me a bit about moving her to a place where she didn’t have a job and the boys’ weren’t in school but ultimately she’s been happy the last ten years and I’ve never looked back.”
“Her barriers”
“Are still up a little but they include me, our twin daughters plus our sons. She just wants what’s right and she wants to prove that she needs me as much as I need her, while trying to keep her independence.”
“So what do I do?”
“Does Elsie seem like the type you can pack up and move to Nashville?”
Eric chuckled “Elsie is not the type I can throw over my shoulder put in the car and move from Atlanta to Nashville.” Eric had been surprised that the Junior ROTC program sending care packages was in Atlanta. But his Commander had explained that their Army program was doing the assigning and their Unit had been the one chosen. “She owns a home there and she’s at the end of her pregnancy.”
“Wow you’re taking on a lot here.”
“You’re not going to tell me I should walk away from her because–”
“I would be a hypocrite to say anything like that. Paul, our youngest son, was on only five when Meghan and I got together. I just want you to be prepared. Going from bachelorhood to parenthood can be really jarring.”
“Trying to scare me?” Eric questioned. He knew this wasn’t going to easy and that Elsie was always going to put the children before him. But he still wanted her. Needed her. She was what was keeping him grounded here. Giving him something to look forward to.
Jones chuckled “a little”; he placed a hand on Eric’s shoulder, “here is the truth. Being a parent is the greatest joy and headache of your life. Trust me. But also know this towards the end of pregnancy women are tired of being pregnant and would like to see their baby so be patient. Also add in the fact you’re here and she’s there and arguments like you two had in the communication tent are bound to happen.”
Eric nodded, “thanks Jones.”
“Welcome. Now come on let’s get this patrol finished so you can head back to communications and make things right with your girl.”
Chapter 2
This was a mess. A complete and utter mess but this was her mess and she needed to clean it up. Elsie thought a week later as she sat down at the table in the cafe and sipped her tea as she placed a hand on her stomach. She still didn’t have a name for her daughter. She had run through a few but none were what she wanted. None seemed to fit the precious cargo she carried. Elsie released an exasperated breath when she saw Lucas walk into the cafe. She had been trying to get a hold of the man for the last five months. She’d wanted to talk about custody of RaeLyn. Elsie stopped RaeLyn had been a suggestion of Eric’s a month ago. Ray had been his father’s name and Lyn had been his father’s mother name. Eric had said he wanted to name any child he had after his father who had raised him to be a gentleman.
“Elsie, how have you been?” Lucas questioned as he sat down at the table. When she had called him and asked him to meet he had been ready to refuse until she’d told him she was at the courthouse ready to give his name to child support enforcement. Something he didn’t want to happen. He was already on child support add in the brat Elsie carried and he would have no pay check at the end of the month.
“I’ve been well the baby is good too,” she replied as she took a sip
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