Chapter 10

The Reunion!

I had decided to get my Pilots license, and then go for my commercial license. I took the money I had saved while in the service to get an apartment. I also got another job at the airport working on commercial airplanes. It paid more than what I previously made at the plant.

Times were good during this part of my life. After months, I had gotten my private and instructors license, making extra money on the side giving flying lessons. Sue was working in a doctor's office part time while my mom and sisters baby-sat Jay. All the extra money was going toward my multi-engine rating and commercial license.

I had talked to Sue several times about her going to college. We had agreed to discuss it after I completed all that I needed to fly commercial.

Returning To Denton

Her dad had been back for months and we had not been able to get home to see him. Without telling her, I had saved enough money to fly us up to visit her parents in Denton.

"Are you going to have your clothes packed for this weekend?" I asked.

"Where are we going?"

"I am going to fly us to Denton to see your family, if that is OK with you." She began crying. I knew it was because she was happy she was going to see her dad.

"We are going to leave at five and arrive at eight. You need to call them so they can pick us up at the airport."

"I will be so glad to see them. It has been seven months." She said.

"I'm sorry, I have been so busy thinking about my own plans, and I have neglected yours." I said reaching my arms around her.

"I understand this is the way it has to be right now." She replied.

"I love you. You are too good to me, giving up so much." I said in praise of her.

"I wouldn't change anything, not for the world." She replied.

That evening after supper, we sat on the couch watching television. She fell asleep with her head on my shoulder. I got up to shower and afterwards while dressing I saw the letters in my closet. I had read several in the past months that I had selected at random. Reading them caused me to get very emotional. Some made me sad and disgusted with myself for not thinking of her during that time. However, at the same time they made me feel loved. Sometimes I could only read one when I felt bad about the way I treated her but mostly, I would read several at a time. I pulled the first one out and began reading it while I sat on the bed.

October 16, 1969, 9:50 pm.

Jay my Love,

It has been a month since you walked out. It has taken me that time to stop crying. I have seen a lot of pain working in a hospital but I have never seen as much pain as I have felt during this past month. I may never understand exactly what you are going through but I have an idea now of the mental anguish you must be suffering. I pray to God that he will heal your suffering as he has helped me. The pain is gone but my loneliness remains. I know you loved me and still love me. I know in my heart that we could have spent our lives together if not for your pain.

You may not return from that war but I hold the hope that you will. My last words to you were that I would be here when you return. That has never been truer than it is now. What I am trying to say is that I love you so much. I will be here for you with loving and open arms. Time will heal us and I know we will be together again to share the love we have for one another. My happiness, now and forever depends on it. I know nothing of war except it only takes and never gives. It has taken from me once and I will not forgive it a second time.

You may ask me why I continue to hold on. It is very simple. Love! Your mind may be consumed with living or dying for the next year but there will be a time when all of this is over. At that time, you will make decisions that are not under duress. That is when you will realize that you still love me. You will come to me and I will be here for you. I have to believe this because I know you love me. If I did not believe it, I know I could let go.

Other than leaving me, I have nothing but loving thoughts. You were always exactly, what I needed when I needed someone. A sweet kiss, a loving word, a touch of my face to express your love, a little humor to lift my spirits, a look upon your face letting me know I was meant for you and most of all telling me that you love me in a way that left no doubt. These are the thoughts I cherish.

Goodbye for now and know that my love grows stronger with each thought of you. I will write you often.

Your awaiting Love, Sue

October 21, 1969, 7:00 pm.

Jay my Love,

I could not wait any longer to write. I hurried with the dishes tonight so I could sit down and be alone with you. However, it seems my brothers and sisters will not allow that to happen at this time. They are so loving and caring. After the younger ones had left my room, Joni remained awhile longer to comfort me. You seem to have made an impression on all of them, especially Joni. She is only fifteen, but has a heart of gold. She seems more mature at her age than I was at fifteen so I hope you do not mind. I shared some of my thoughts with her a few minutes ago. I told her how much I love you. She said she thought you were worth waiting for. She also had noticed some of the things that make you so special to me. You were always kind and sweet to everyone, even the younger ones. You were always in good spirits, joking, teasing and how you always acted like a gentleman, opening doors for women, saying yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am and no ma'am.

She told me that she overheard Mom and Dad discussing you one morning over breakfast. Dad said it would break my heart if you ever went to Vietnam. Mom told him she was not worried that you would not come back. Somehow, she knew everything would turn out fine in the end. Dad said to her, "I like that boy and I hope you're right". I seems my parents are pulling for us also. It is no wonder why I love you so much. Everyone close to me loves you. Even Jennifer's heart was broken when you left. I should tell you now that she has had a crush on you since that night we met at the drive-in. do not say anything to her!

It is funny how life works. How we met. You have told it, that you were in the right place at the right time, but I say I was. I hope life will never be the same for you after meeting me. I know my life has changed in a way that I cannot explain in words. You have to look into my heart to totally understand.

I know it seems that I am rambling on but this is when I feel closest to you so please bear with me. You have that effect on me, as you like to tease me so often. A year is a lifetime when waiting is involved but never is even longer. I will settle for a year. Nevertheless, I Love you and I would wait for never if I have to. You are everything I want, everything I Love and I believe in my heart you know this. Take care my love and be safe for your family and me and kiss me in your dreams.

I Love You, Sue

Friday, as we drove to the airport I could see that she had concerns about flying. In all this time, she had never flown with me.

"I have never been up in an airplane before, what can I expect?" she asked.

"It is beautiful up there. Sometimes it is a little windy, and it makes for a bumpy ride, but we should not have to worry about that this trip. You will get a little sensation as we lift off, but I know you will enjoy it. You might even hear Jay laughing."

I borrowed a Cessna 175 from a friend Weston Freeman. Fuel would be the only cost involved. I loaded our baggage and put the car seat in for Jay. We lifted off on schedule.

"Just take a breath and relax, you will love it." I said in case she was nervous. I climbed to six thousand feet and leveled off.

"This is so beautiful up here, I had know idea it was like this."

"Do you like it up here?" I asked.

"Yes, I love it." This was her first time up and I was not going to do anything unusual that might scare her. I wanted her to love it. Jay began crying.

"He is right on time. Put him up here with us and give him a bottle." I said smiling. She leaned over the seat and picked him up, to hold and feed him.

"It is not going to get dark before we get there is it?" she asked.

"We will get there about eight fifteen and it doesn't get dark until nine. I am looking forward to seeing your dad again. I hope he doesn't shoot me for marrying you." I stated.

"He said he was looking forward to seeing all three of us when I talked to him this morning." She replied.

"Still, I want you to stand between us. I'm not taking any chances until I'm sure he won't beat the crap out of me."

"OK silly, I'll protect you from daddy." She said laughing.

We talked some and had a lot of time to think. I was trying to remember her brothers and sisters names. Mickey is seven, Sammy nine, Josh ten.

"Who is the youngest, Lisa or Joni? I am trying to remember their names. I asked.

"Lisa is twelve and Joni is sixteen."

"Then you at thirty five!" I said joking.

"Ha! Ha! There is me, Ray is twenty-one, Genie is twenty-three, Doug twenty-five, James Junior twenty-nine, and Taylor Thirty. You haven't met JJ or Taylor." She said quickly.

"I was going to name them if you hadn't interrupted!" I said poking my finger under her arm. She jerked away trying not to laugh.

"You were not! She said laughing.

"Do you see that small airport and the two towers off to the right of it? That is my fourth checkpoint. See here where I have them marked." I said showing her the map. She looked and acknowledged. That is check point charley, we are at the point of no return." I said to be funny.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that we are closer to where we are going than where we left." I continued looking at the map. Checking the time and to see what my next checkpoint would be.

Just the flying caused my mind to wander back to Vietnam. Where was Fred stationed? He was going to reenlist for six more years. Did anyone not come back? What is Mike Branden doing now? I miss them but I do not miss Vietnam. You were so stupid, I thought about myself. I hope Lin got over me. She was really a nice girl. I could not understand her way of life though. I had it made considering the ass-hole I was.

"What are you thinking? You look preoccupied." She asked as I noticed her staring at me.

"I was thinking of Vietnam. Wondering what my buddies were doing."

"What was it like?"

"It wasn't that bad after you were there a while. We worked fourteen and sixteen hours a days, seven days a week.

"Tell me how you get wounded in the side."

"You mean how did I get my beauty scar."

"Yes, how did you get that sexy scar?"

"I was walking from the parts house toward my helicopter and Charlie fired mortars at us. One of them exploded near me and I was hit."

"Did it hurt bad?" she asked with a serious and concerned look.

"No! I jumped up, ran after them and killed all of them! I said then laughed aloud. "Sure it hurt! I passed out a couple of times because I had lost so much blood. It took an hour from the time I was hit, until I made it to the hospital." I said as continuing to smile at what I had said.

"Did you really want to die?" she asked putting her hand on mine as she held Jay.

Do you remember before I went over there? I told you that I knew I wasn't coming back."

"Yes."

"That was what I meant by that. Because of dad, I wanted to die. Right now I am glad it didn't happen the way I had planned." I said squeezing her hand and looking at Jay.

"Me too!" she said leaning over and kissing me.

She put Jay back in his seat and remained silent for a while.

"Do you know how much I thought of you?" she asked breaking the silence.

"I do now, your letters tell me." I replied. Moments later I looked at her and she had fallen asleep probably because of the sun shining through the window. It had been almost two years since I had seen her dad. I thought about what her mom had said. That he thought I was the perfect soldier. I was always yes sir and no sir with him and I always wore neat uniforms but he did not know how I really was. I began thinking more about her family. The ones I had met, especially the young ones were always friendly. Genie seemed a little snotty the few times I saw her. She was always gone somewhere and I saw her for a total of one hour. She is very beautiful, but not as beautiful as Sue is. Sue had mentioned that everyone had spoiled her. Sue's mom was always nice to me. She almost treated me as one of the family when I would eat dinner with them or anytime I was at their house.

"Sue! Wake up sweet! We should be there in about fifteen minutes." I said rubbing her neck.

"OK." She said stretching her arms out.

We landed at eight ten, on schedule. I rolled up to park and we saw their car parked by the gate. It was a very small airport, just one hanger and the tower was manned part time.

"You take Jay on to the lounge, and I'll get the luggage." I said. I could see her mom and dad standing outside of the lounge waiting. Her dad met her half way and they hugged, then he walked to the plane.

"How are you Jay?" he said saluting and holding his hand out to shake mine. I reached and shook hands with him.

"I have been doing great, how has it been with you Sergeant Major, sir.

"Come on Jay, you can call me Jim or dad, take your pick." He scolded.

"OK dad, how are you?"

"Fine, we have been looking forward to seeing you again. I am proud of you son. For what you did over there." He said as I smiled.

We got the luggage out and walked to where the others were waiting. I put the luggage down and hugged her mom.

"Hi mom! It's good to see you, we have missed you."

"We missed you too Jay!"

"How are all the kids?" I asked.

"Everyone is fine, I'll have all of them home this weekend. It's been two years since we have all been together at one time."

"I'm looking forward to meeting Taylor and James Jr." I said.

"They have been looking forward to meeting you too."

Her dad and I talked some on the way home about the Army and Vietnam. He was saying he would retire after thirty years next June. We arrived at the house after a thirty-minute drive. Most of the younger kids were waiting on us as we pulled in the driveway. We got out and everyone hugged each other. Mickey jumped up in my arms again.

"Hey Mickey! You have grown eight foot since I last saw you!" I said.

"If I was that big, you couldn't hold me!" He said while laughing. The older ones met us as we went in.

"Hi! I am Taylor, good to finally meet you, welcome to the family. This is my wife Carey."

"Hi Carey!"

"I'm James Jr., everyone calls me J.J., welcome to the family. This is my wife Bonnie."

"Hi!" I said. We all shook hands. "I should have brought my family, we could have played a football game." I said as everyone laughed knowing about my large family.

"Are you all hungry? We have plenty of food." Mom asked.

"I'm starving!" I replied.

"Me too!" Sue answered.

"Sit at the table and Lisa and Joni will fix you a plate." Mom said. We sat at the table while they prepared one for us.

"Thank you Joni and Lisa." I said as they put a plate of food before us.

"You're welcome!"

"Sue told me you just turned sixteen." I said looking at Joni.

"She did and I will be twelve next month!" Lisa answered.

"You two are getting prettier every time I see you."

"Thank you, but Sue has always been the prettiest." Joni said.

"That's not true, Sue is beautiful, but you two are gorgeous." I replied.

"Thank you Jay!" Joni said as she stuck her tongue out at Sue. Everyone burst out laughing.

"Joni, you better consider that a compliment. That is from someone that knows." I looked around at Genie wondering why she would say that.

"Hi Genie! I said.

"We know all about you Jay." Genie said, she was twenty-three.

"What have you been telling them?" I said looking at Sue.

"She tells us everything, how the women fall all over you." Genie said.

"That's not true, she is making that up."

"I'm not making anything up!" Sue blurted out.

"I'm the one that has to fight off all the guys from Sue!" I replied.

" What's it like wearing The Medal of Honor." Ray spoke out.

"Ask Sue, she wears one every day." I replied. "Sue is young and easily impressed, she believes anything someone tells her." I added smiling at her.

"He is being modest, but I love him anyway." Sue stated.

"Mom, Dad, if you are not going to stop these unruly children that you've raised, I'm going to go sit in the car." I stated as dad laughed at me.

"You better get use to it son." He said.

"OK! Have your fun! Pay-back will be fun too!" I said.

"Believe him too, he will pay us back! Jay knows what you are thinking sometimes." Sue stated.

"Oh yeah! What am I thinking right now?" Doug asked.

"Your thinking this is a nice guy, everyone needs to get off his back." I joked with a smile. Everyone laughed. "Sue has a wild imagination, don't believe everything she says about me." I stated.

"Who made the roast? It's great!" I asked.

"Joni made it." Mom answered.

"Joni, how would you like to come and live with us?" I joked about her cooking for us.

"I would, but mom and dad wouldn't let me." She replied.

"Maybe you can spend a couple of weeks next summer." Sue said.

"What am I going to eat until then?" I joked with Sue.

"That's real funny." She replied.

"Pay-back!" I stated.

After we had eaten, I went onto the porch to smoke. It was dark out, but the porch light was on. It was around eighty degrees. Everyone was inside was enjoying the time together. Taylor the oldest, thirty and JJ twenty-nine, came out and sat on the steps with me. JJ lit a cigarette but Taylor did not smoke.

"This is a great family, and I can see that you all are very close." I said.

"We do have our bad moments too." Taylor responded.

"Probably like mine, we fuss but it doesn't last long." I said.

"Yeah, we are a pretty close bunch." He replied.

"What was it like for you in Vietnam?" JJ asked.

"It was kind of crazy, everybody just trying to survive to come home."

"Sue said you had it pretty rough over there, that you were wounded twice." JJ said. I did not want to talk about, but I understood them wanting to know. If they asked me any specifics, I would answer them.

"I took some shrapnel in the side from a mortar. It wasn't real bad though." I said showing them the scar.

"It's looks pretty bad to me." Taylor said.

"The doctors made it larger than it was. It was a piece of metal about an inch long. If it had been very bad, they would have sent me home. This one was from an Ak-47." I explained tilting my neck.

"It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it." JJ replied.

"What did it feel like killing ten men?" JJ asked.

"It makes you want to kill more." I said with a serious face. They looked at me being shocked. "Just kidding!" I said as we laughed.

"I thought you were serious for a moment." Taylor said.

"This may surprise you but I don't feel anything." I said.

Sue, along with Doug, Genie, and Ray came out to join us.

"What are you all talking about? " Sue asked.

"Jay was showing us the scar on his side he had gotten from some shrapnel and the one on his neck from being shot." JJ answered.

"Let me see it!" Ray demanded... "OK, you women have to turn your heads!"

"Daddy showed me his, he got the first time he was over there. It didn't bother me!" Genie said. Joni came out on the porch holding a picture frame.

"Look what I have!" she said holding it up for everyone to see. It was the picture of Sue and I from the newspaper.

"Medal Of Honor Winner Returns to Marry Local Sweetheart", where did you get this Joni?" JJ asked taking it from her.

"I clipped and framed it from the paper when they were here last." She replied.

"Sis had her picture in the paper." Taylor said.

"Everybody in town called her that day. She was a big celebrity." Joni stated.

"Only because of Jay!" Genie slurred. I turned and stared in her eyes. She looked at me knowing from my expression not to say anything like that again.

" Come on Jay, don't be embarrassed showing us your scar. Joni said.

"It's not the scar, I don't like showing my body to strange women. I am very shy!" I said.

"Don't believe him, he is not shy about anything!" Sue remarked.

"Sue! Did you tell them that I wet my pants in the third grade too?" I asked laughing.

"I haven't gotten around to that yet." She laughed.

"Let us see it!" Joni said. I pulled the side of my shirt up to show them.

"Sexy, isn't it!" Sue stated.

"Let me tell you something about Sue!" I said smiling at her.

"Don't you dare!" she scolded me knowing what I was thinking.

"Come on, tell us." Taylor demanded.

"I'm going to save it for a rainy day." I replied laughing.

"It must be a good one if Sue doesn't want us to hear it." Taylor remarked.

Everyone began talking between one another. I looked at Sue and smiled. She had that, you had better not tell them look on her face. That was private to me also. I would never tell that to anyone, but she did not know that.

"Jay, will you take me up in your airplane tomorrow?" Joni asked.

"I don't think I can this weekend. Gasoline cost a lot of money." I replied.

"I'll pay for the fuel if you take her up!" Taylor said.

"You better ask mom and dad about that, they might not want you in a small airplane." I said.

"I'll ask them, but I know they won't mind.

"I want to go with you too!" Ray said.

"Get permission first, then we'll see." I said.

We all went into the den and talked until eleven thirty. Everyone began going to bed. Sue and I were sitting alone at the table drinking coffee and talking as Genie came in and sat beside Sue.

"Can anyone join in the conversation?" she asked.

"Sure! I was just saying how much I loved your family." I replied.

"We love you too, you are everything Sue says you are." She replied.

"Thank you! Or should I have said, I'm sorry!" I joked with her.

"Where is your boyfriend Genie? Why didn't you bring him over this evening?" I asked.

"We broke up about two weeks ago. It wasn't working out." She answered.

"You broke up with him. He was probably immature and a little insecure." I stated.

"How did you know that?" she asked.

"I told you he knows things about you." Sue responded.

"I don't know things about you the way Sue puts it. I can tell that you are a strong willed, independent person and that does not mix well with an insecure person. I took a fifty-fifty chance that you broke up with him.

"What else can you tell about me?" she asked.

"Nothing that was just a guess, nothing more." I replied.

"I think you can, but you don't want to tell me. Sue, why don't you go to bed so I can talk to Jay." She said.

"I don't know anything, you need to go see a fortune teller!" I said.

"Are you sure?" she asked with a suspicious frown.

"It's like this. If you were to yell at me, I could feel that you are angry. If I did something to make you angry, then I would feel that you were angry because of what I did. It is as simple as that. Maybe I just think more about these things. Another example! Right now, you are a little confused and are not sure I am telling the truth because I guessed something a few minutes ago. Am I right?" I asked.

"Maybe."

"I can see the expression on your face and I can detect confusion in your voice. Anyone can see that. With that note, I am going to bed. We will see you in the morning!" I said.

"Good night!" she replied.

After checking on Jay lying in the baby bed in the corner, we got in the bed and cuddled up.

"I love this time, laying here with your body next to mine." I said.

"I love it too." she replied.

"What didn't you tell Genie?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Jay, I know you, there was more you could have told her that was on your mind."

"Sue, I'm not a psychic. I don't read minds."

"I know that, but you do have a way of knowing things about people." She explained.

"You feel the same things I do. To prove it we will play a game, OK."

"OK."

"I will say something about your sister and you tell me if you agree. If you agree, then you feel the same thing. They may not be right but we feel the same. Does that make sense" I asked.

"Yes." She answered.

"Your sister is pretty and she knows it."

"Yes!"

"She is a dominant type person."

"Yes!"

"She is a little jealous and envious of you because you have your own family." She hesitated a moment. "Tell me what you really feel." I asked.

"Yes, I feel a little of that."

"See, it is as simple as that. You feel the same things but you disregard them. It stays with me and I have a tendency to analyze it. It's like a hobby with me." I explained.

"OK, I have one for you. You have to tell me if you feel the same." She said.

"I love mind games, what is it?" I asked.

"She flirted with you a couple of times this evening."

"Yes, but not the way you might think. Do you ever see her flirt with other guys?" I asked.

"Yes, all the time."

"She meant nothing by it and I felt nothing odd by it. That is just her personality. Did you think about that?" I asked.

"No, but you are probably right. That is the way she is most of the time."

"Let's call this our "mind game". I got another one for you. Tell me what I am thinking." I said putting my hand on her breast.

"Your thinking the same thing I'm thinking."

"Great! See how easy it is." I said with a little laugh.

I continued with my hand sliding over her body feeling every part within my reach. Sliding my body down until my mouth was even with her breast I began sucking on her nipple and caressing her body. I leaned over and turned the lamp on to see her body as I felt it. Her eyes were closed as she lay still allowing me to examine her with my hands and eyes. I moved over each nipple slightly sucking and licking each one as she flinched each time I did.

"You have the most beautiful body I have ever seen and I can't get enough of looking or touching you." I stated.

"I love you to look at me and say that." She said softly, as her eyes remained closed. I began gliding my tongue over her belly moving down until my face had reached the spot it was searching. Her legs opening slightly, enticing me to further pleasures for both of us, I positioned my body between her legs in full view of what I was about to explore with my tongue. Teasing her I glided my tongue around her inner thighs toward her moist spot noticing a slight trickle of juices flowing down onto the sheet underneath her. Her slight moaning indicating she was ready for me to explore her even further and signifying by opening her legs wide causing her lips to separate exposing everything in full view. I lunged forward burying my tongue inside of her reaching in as far as I could feeling for anything only touching softness and moisture.

"Ooooh Yes Jay! She moaned. "Lick and Suck me!" she continued. Pulling my tongue out I licked and sucked her clit forever until her she began quivering as her body convulsed into an orgasm and continued until her body subsided and lay relaxed being drained of emotion. I continued kissing and licking that region waiting for her to signify she was satisfied.

"Come up here Jay."

"Moving up even she pulled my mouth to hers and kissed me wildly taking me in her hand and putting me inside of her. "Do me hard!" she said as I began ramming myself in and out of her. I continued ramming, holding myself from releasing in her, enjoying extended pleasure. "Do it slow now." She said as I raised my upper body and looking down to view where we were connected. Placing her fingers between her legs she began rubbing herself and leaning her head forward to watch with me as our pelvic areas bumped continuously until she again began moaning and quivering. Seeing she was having another orgasm I pushed harder until I exploded inside of her and pushed until I was totally empty of fluid filling her until it began oozing out onto the sheet below. Finally, lying limp, after holding one another tightly, our bodies drenched in sweat and cooling rapidly from the fan above us we pulled the sheet over us. Lying in silence, being exhausted, we fell asleep.

The following morning a knock on the door awakened us.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It's Josh and Sammy. Can we come in?"

"Come in." They entered and stood beside the bed.