Chapter 8

Christmas morning in a military hospital is not all that it is cracked up to be. Top that off with being in an intensive care unit meant that any Christmas cheer stopped outside of the ward. The sounds of carolers could be heard, even while muffled. The smell of ... wait for it ... sterilized air filled the halls with that sickly sweet smell of a hospital. The midnight shift delivered breakfast and hurried their turnover reports so they could get home to whatever family they had stationed with them.

Heather stuck her head in the room to see if I was awake. When she noticed that I was slowly stirring my yogurt, she smiled and said that she would be right back. She truly looked lovely with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. I consumed as much as I felt needed to not get a lecture and pushed my breakfast away. So much for a “Merry Christmas”. The sound of hyper-conversation going on at the nurse’s station left me feeling slightly curious though detached at the same time.

Dr. Rubai had started my brain churning over where my future would be. While I had plans mapped out to retire at 40 from the military and take time to enjoy life, that wasn’t an option now. Feeling depressed had not been something that happened often. I believe that you take your destiny in your own hands. Why was I feeling so down? In a perfect world, I would be in Scotland sitting at my Grandfather’s old desk, drinking scotch and ideally having inappropriate relations with Alisa, Shell, or some other person that I hadn’t met yet. This was the first Christmas without my Grandfather. The first one that wouldn’t end with Alisa once again offering herself as a gift to me.

Heather walked briskly into my room and her smile told me that either she won the lottery, or I was going to get good news.

“Shaw, if you had to choose between movies or games, what would you choose?”

“Heather, since I can’t snuggle with you on a couch, I would choose reindeer games.” I quipped.

“Okay, I will be right back.” She bounced out of the room.

It didn’t take her long to roll in a cart that had some board games on it, along with dominos and a deck of cards. I almost didn’t even notice her slip the exam in progress sign on the door as she closed it.

“Well, the good news is that we only have three patients in the ward today.” She said with a twinkle in her eye. “The bad news is that you are one of them. The better news is that you are the only patient that I am charged with. So, except for getting meals, I am here all day unless you kick me out.”

“So, if I asked you to leave, you would be stuck sitting out there?” I inquired.

She looked shocked and sullen at the same time, “Yes if that is what you want, I can go read or find something to do.”

“What if I want to unwrap you?” I asked.

“Ha, you would have to beat me in monopoly or risk. Though I don’t see that happening in only one day.” She answered.

“What can I win in poker, because I am not playing a long-ass game to only have you leave sad.”

She pulled up a chair and started shuffling the deck of cards while kicking off her white shoes and curling her feet up under her in a way that reminded me of a child. She had opted out of wearing olive drab socks that I am used to seeing on feet, but instead had a much more festive pair of holiday green socks.

“It’s too early to start with strip poker, how about some gin rummy?” she asked.

“Rummy and 20 questions? I could be bribed with information.” I replied.

“Deal,” she said as she passed the cards and giggled at the double entendre.

A quick shuffle and the game began, never really agreeing on a point total needed to win. I was less worried about winning and more worried about learning about her.

“I told you that I grew up in a religious home, my parents had wanted to be missionaries before they had me. Then when my little sister came along, well, they just decided to be the pious couple in town. We weren’t allowed to date while living at home. We could only listen to Christian music in the house and the car. Our school didn’t have a dress code, but our parents did. The only college that I was allowed to apply to was a Christian university. So I enlisted just to get away and see the world. When I got out of A-School, I fell for another corpsman at C-school. We were married after dating for 3 months. He said all of the right things and well, he took my virginity. The only other penis I had seen in person besides his was my dad’s. His looked like an anteater so I was confused when my husbands looked different. I learned about circumcision that way. Even in C-school, the anatomy and physiology was sorely lacking when talking about different penis shapes. I guess we were expected to have general knowledge. I was lucky and pulled my first tour on a carrier. My husband was assigned to the flight unit that was attached to the carrier, so we didn’t deploy away from each other. I got a promotion and was up for orders. I wanted to come to Germany for reasons that I don’t often admit. He was assigned to a ship and started telling me that I shouldn’t take the orders, and should just not re-enlist. Then we got into a fight. He was arrested, and I filed for divorce and took my orders. I am hoping that it hurries up because he is going through a court martial due to a positive drug test, and I don’t want him to drag me into it.” she explained through three or four hands.

“Oh Heather, that really sucks. What is the reason for Germany? And, well, what is the hold up on the divorce?”

“Oh, wow, you’re killin’ me Smalls. I mean, just ask the questions that cut to the core already.” She laughed. “Well, since we are being honest, I chose Germany because my ex said that this was where all the ‘freaky’ porn was made. I enjoyed some of the more extreme stuff that he had. Though I would never tell him that. It was something that I had to figure out for myself. I mean, I had always masturbated to extreme stuff in my fantasies but thought I was just a huge sinner. I didn’t even buy my first toy until I moved here. So, yeah, I am sowing some wild oats now. As to why it is taking so long, he told his attorneys that he didn’t want to get a divorce and he is trying to get the court to say that we have to go through mediation and counseling.”