Chapter 1

It was early November when she got the phone she had waited so long for.

“Hi honey! It’s Tommy! Can you hear me?” he said.

“Hi Tommy! Oh I am so glad you called! I miss you honey!” she said surprised to hear from him. “I thought you weren’t going to call till this weekend!”

“Yeah, well, I got some good news for you. Are you sitting down?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Our unit just got word we are coming home. We’ll be leaving in a couple weeks. I’ll be home for Thanksgiving with you, sweetheart!”

“Oh my God, Tommy! Really? Oh, are you sure? You aren’t joking with me, are you?”

“No baby, I’m coming home for the holidays,” he said.

“Oh, Tommy...” she said, trying to hold herself together long enough to get off the phone with him. “That is the best news I’ve ever had. Oh I can’t wait, I have to call everyone!”

“Well, I figured you could spread the news. I only get to make this one call, but I figured you could tell everyone from here,” he said.

“Of course. I will let everyone know. Oh honey, this is wonderful!” she said, unable to sit still.

“Well, I need to get off this so the rest of the guys can call too. I love you baby,” he said.

“I love you too, Tommy. Stay safe and come home soon,” she said.

After she hung up the phone she sat down in the chair and sobbed uncontrollably for several minutes.

Tommy and Becky had been childhood sweethearts for as long as both could remember. Growing up across the street from each other, everyone knew they would eventually get married and be together – they had been inseparable ever since Becky’s family moved into the neighborhood. They went to school together, went to the prom as a couple, and graduated together.

On September 11 2001, they both were in school when the school address system announced the attack on the World Trade Center. Together in the same classroom that day, Tommy and Becky watched together as the events of that fateful day unfolded on the TV. That same day Tommy decided that as soon as he graduated high school, he would sign up for military service.

Graduation day was bittersweet for the young couple. While they were happy they had graduated, Becky knew that Tommy would be leaving soon for military service. He left a month after graduation. And after boot camp and his training, he was sent to Iraq on his first tour of duty overseas.

While overseas, Tommy called Becky as often as he could, but he never told her about what was happening over there. She heard things on the news and would often ask him about it, but he always told her that was not going on where he was at. He didn’t want her worrying herself sick over him.

Tommy did two tours over in the war torn Iraq. It was after his second tour that he had called Becky telling her he was coming home. And because he had fulfilled his “hitch” in the service, he would be coming home to stay this time.

Becky was at the base when Tommy’s military plane came in. She waited there with her family and Tommy’s as the C-17 cargo plane pulled up. After waiting an agonizingly long time, the rear loading ramp began to come down.

Waiting behind the chain link fence surrounding the flight line, Becky strained to see her Tommy get off the plane. But they were too far away yet to make out anyone in particular. The travel-weary troops walked the final few yards towards the waiting crowd. Slowly individual soldiers could be made out. The guards holding the crowd back eventually opened the gate and let soldiers and families come together.

Becky searched faces as they got closer. She was getting worried, then frantic as her man was not among them. Finally, she spotted him.

Tommy was 23 years old, tall, with dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and a mischievous smile. He was well-built and muscular, and if you were to ask Becky, heart-stoppingly handsome! His Becky was a very pretty girl, 23 as well but shorter than him at only 5’3” tall, with long brown hair, and hazel eyes.

“TOMMY” she screamed and bolted forward. At a dead run she crashed into him, he swooped her up in his arms, spinning her around to reduce the impact. Becky wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as she buried her face in his shoulder.

“Oh you’re home! You’re home!” she cried into his shoulder. He held her tightly as he reveled in the warmth of his girls embrace.

“Yes, Becky, I’m home. I promised you I would come back to you and I am here sweetheart,” Tommy said.

As Becky clung tightly to her beau, Tommy and Becky’s families came up to greet him as well.

“Welcome home son,” Tommy’s father said to him, shaking his hand. Becky climbed off her man as Tommy’s mother came up to him, kissing and hugging her only boy. Becky’s parents came up to welcome Tommy home as well. Becky’s parents were like his second family, the two families had gotten that close over the years.

After all the hugs, handshakes and kisses had been exchanged, Tommy picked up his daypack and with Becky on his arm, proceeded into the hanger. There he separated from his family temporarily, and stood in formation waiting to be formally dismissed. The two families took their seats in the temporary bleachers set up inside the hangar.

The Company Commander made a short speech about how proud he was with the job his troops had done and how pleased he was that they all had come back home. He thanked the families that had showed up for their support for the troops, saying that it had kept his boys going through all the difficult times. He said a few short words about those soldiers who didn’t make it home and the cost of the war. Finally, he barked the final command.

“Bravo Company – Dismissed.”

“Bravo Company – Hoo rah,” the soldiers replied, the sound of their shout echoing off the hanger walls. And with that they turned an “about face” and went to their families.

As Tommy walked out of the hanger with his gear on his back and his girl on his arm, he couldn’t believe how good it felt to be home. Becky, too, was happier than she had ever been to have Tommy home. As they got to the parking lot, Becky’s father turned to Tommy.

“Son, I am sure you and Becky want to have a little time alone. Here are the keys to my car. In the glove compartment you will find a set of hotel keys. Go enjoy each other,” he said, shaking Tommy’s hand once more.

Becky looked at her father with eyes filled with tears. “Thank you Daddy,” she whispered to him as she kissed his cheek. Then the couple got in the car and left with a wave to everyone.

Becky looked in the glove compartment after they started away and found the hotel key with a note “Be careful. Love, Daddy” tied to it. Becky smiled. The key was to a very nice hotel in the area. They drove to the hotel and parked the car. Tommy gave her another kiss before they got out of the car and went into the hotel.

The pair went to the front desk to check in and then went to the elevator to go to their room. As they got into the elevator, an older couple also got in with them. As they rode up to their floor the older man spoke.

“Just getting back?” he asked.

“Yes Sir,” Tommy replied.

“Well, I’m glad you made it home. I’m a Viet Nam vet myself – I’m glad you boys are getting a better reception than we had,” he said.

“Thank you Sir,” Tommy said. As the door opened on their floor, Tommy and Becky started to get off the elevator. The old man stuck his hand out “Thank you for your service son,” he said.

Tommy, rather than shaking the man’s hand, “snapped-to” in a proud and honorable salute. The man smiled and returned the salute. Then Tommy and Becky went off to their room.

Tommy found their room and swiped the keycard to unlock the door. He swung the door open and held it for Becky. As they went inside, Tommy locked the door behind them then pulled Becky into his arms again, for a longer kiss and tighter embrace.

“We’re finally alone baby,” he said with a devilish smile. She knew what he meant and returned a shy smile of her own.

His hands slid up and down her back and over her ass, pulling her as close to him as possible. Becky could already feel his hard cock against her belly and hugged him tighter. Her heart was pounding in anticipation and excitement, and most of all, happiness at seeing her lover again.

When they finally broke the kiss to breathe, she said, “Oh Tommy, I have missed you so much! I’ve needed you so many times since you’ve been away and you weren’t here for me to call.” Becky had a sad look on her face as she spoke.

He hugged her again and said, “Baby, I’m sorry. I’ve been deployed and stationed out where I couldn’t call or be called sometimes. I know I should have told you, but it happened too fast and I didn’t have time. Can you forgive me?” He wiped away a lone tear that slipped from her eye with his thumb and kissed her tenderly.