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  “Well, let’s get on with step two now and deal with the residency. Maybe after,” Jo said.

  “I think that towards the last year of residency, it will be okay.”

  “We have a plan then. Marriage, residency, a job for me, and then a kid.”

  “Kids,” Kate stressed the plurality.

  Jo raised her eyebrows. “Can we start with one?”

  Kate smiled and kissed her before proceeding to try on her wedding band. “It looks awesome. Try yours.”

  “It will fit. I had them resized. By the way, we’re going to get the marriage license and deal with that tomorrow. I wouldn’t want you to change your mind.”

  Kate laughed. “Not in your lifetime, McCallister! You’re mine!” Having made her statement, they rolled on the bed and consummated, once again, the soon-to-be marriage.

  ***

  The next morning, as planned, they got up and went to City Hall to get their marriage license. While filling out the paperwork, Kate was thoughtful. “Jo?”

  “Yes,” Jo replied but was still focused on filling out the forms.

  “Do you mind if I take your name?”

  Jo looked at her surprised. “No, not at all, should we add Nolan also?” She hadn’t thought about it and wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to say and do.

  “No, baby, McCallister is long enough, we don’t want to make it more complicated.”

  Kate’s reply was definite and rendered without hesitation. Jo thought that Kate might have thought about her choice prior to that moment and decided to go ahead with her decision without asking any further questions.

  After completing the paperwork, they went off to celebrate. They had reservations at a very exclusive French restaurant and had a wonderful dinner, after which they went home.

  “I know you haven’t said anything, but we should call Mike and Todd and get a few of our friends here together and have a ceremony of sorts. I’m not big on parties, but since this will be our one and only wedding, we should do something,” Jo said.

  “Really? You surprise me sometimes. I’d never thought you’d go for something like that.”

  “Well, it’s all the same to me. All I care about is for us to be together. The paperwork and the celebration makes it official, but it’s the heart that tells us where we want to be, and who makes us happy.”

  “You always say the most amazing things!” Kate cupped Jo’s face and kissed her.

  “Besides, I think we owe Grams to do the whole nine yards. I think she would have liked it,” Jo added.

  Kate’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes, I think she would have liked it. Kate tried not to cry, but her tears fell. “It’s wonderful that you always remember her.”

  “She was very influential in your life, and she definitely left a mark on mine.”

  “Yes, she did.” Kate dried her tears and said, “so when should we do it? We need to give Mike and Todd some time.”

  “Those two could show up tomorrow unless they’re on a job.”

  Kate chuckled. “Well, call them and see when they’re available. I’m going to call Marjorie, Caroline, and the others. Oh, and be careful with what you say to those two! We don’t want any military bands playing at the ceremony!”

  Jo laughed, thinking that Kate must have concluded that Mike had something to do with Grace’s send-away to Memphis.

  In bed that night, they had their usual talk. “Katie, I’ve been wanting to say something all day, but I waited until now because, well, I think it’s very important and intimate.”

  Kate smiled and turned to face her. “Umm. I like intimate. What did you have in mind, lover girl?”

  Jo smiled. “You really turned out to be a mad rabbit!” Jo chuckled.

  “I have never detected any signs of complaints from you in that regard, am I correct, or is there something I don’t know?”

  “No, you’re correct. No complaints on that subject for sure, or any other, as a matter of fact.” Jo brought her closer and kissed her.

  “So what is it that you have to say now,” Kate teased.

  “It’s nothing sexual,” Jo replied.

  “Then?”

  “I just wanted to say that today at City Hall when you asked me about taking my name, well, I felt very honored, and that’s why I asked you if you wanted to include Nolan.”

  “Oh, baby, that is so beautiful! I feel privileged to have your name.” She kissed her. “I love you, Joelle McCallister, all of you! That’s all I can say to sum it up.”

  Jo grinned. “Had you thought about it before today?”

  “Yes, I think that when we have kids, it will be easier if we all have the same name. We’ll all be the McCallisters.”

  Jo laughed. “That sounds like a western movie family.”

  “Maybe, if we ever move back to Wyoming. We’ll be the McCallisters from Wyoming.”

  “And maybe we’ll end up at the RV Ranch,” Jo added.

  “Maybe, but it won’t be a campground, it will be our ranch.”

  When they went to sleep that night, Jo lay awake, thinking about the irony of life. What if all that turned out to be true? What if after having trekked the road of life, they ended up as ranchers back at the RV ranch? She remembered when Kate thought about selling the ranch, and how she asked her to wait, and also about how she had been the one to rescue the ranch from the banker who fraudulently tried to foreclose on the property. Then she thought of Grams and her belief that the winter storm had brought her to their door, and how Grams felt that she was the answer to her prayers for Kate. Was Grams right? Had she been delivered there as the agent of change for all? Grams, you must be having a hell of a good time watching all of this unfold! She closed her eyes and went to sleep filled with happy thoughts. Life was full of promises. The nightmares of the past were gone, and bedtime was a happy time where sleep came between kisses and smiles.

  Two weeks later, in the company of their close friends, they exchanged wedding vows in a small ceremony at a vineyard south of Nashville. They shared with their friends the story of how Grams believed that Jo had been delivered into Kate’s life by divine intervention because it was their destiny to be together. Their friends laughed and agreed that they were a match made in heaven.

  Chapter 6

  After Kate’s graduation ceremony, they packed their belongings in Nashville and hired a moving and storage company to keep everything until they had a place in Washington. They also stored the RV in Nashville, until they could come back to get it.

  Jo had applied to several jobs and, as expected, had several interviews scheduled. None of the positions were at her level, but she had explained to Kate that the important thing was to get any job and later look for a better one.

  Kate was not too happy to see Jo taking a downgrade, but she understood her point and knew that Jo would eventually get to her level of expertise.

  “You look impressive, Colonel,” Kate kidded when Jo stood in front of her to go to her first interview, “I may have to issue some interim orders before this interview.”

  “General, with all due respect, we have no time for interim anything. Neither of us can afford to be late today.” Jo always loved how they used military rank as sexual innuendos. In bed, Jo ranked Kate as general to give her control or downgraded her to a soldier when she wanted to be in charge.

  “Umm, you’re right. We may need a word later tonight on this matter.”

  “Yes, ma’am, at your service, absolutely.”

  Kate smiled and kissed her. “Good luck, baby. Let me know how things turn out as soon as you know anything.” She kissed her again and went off to the hospital, while Jo walked to the metro station to catch the subway to the Pentagon.

  When Jo arrived at the notorious building, she had mixed feelings. Although she had worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in a civilian capacity in Nashville, it hadn’t felt as if she was working for the military. Her office in Nashville had not been on a military base or even a government building. I
t had felt more like any other job, except when she had to meet with military personnel at military facilities.

  Being at the Pentagon was an entirely different ballpark. This was very much a government building, and most importantly, the seat of the United States Armed Forces. This was the throbbing heart of the military life she had once left behind.

  Coming back was as dreadful as joyous. The joyful part came from the pride of the military career in which she had excelled. She was proud to have graduated with honors from West Point, and of her distinguished career and achievements as an officer. It was also a humbling experience because she had been accepted into West Point on her merit, unlike others who came from military families or traditional West Point legacies. Of course, all that love and pride had been obscured by her life-changing experience in Afghanistan.

  With Kate’s help, she was now able to put all of that in perspective and again take charge of what would become a semi-military life while living in D.C. She thought of it as a semi-military because although she was a civilian, she would now be working in close quarters with high-ranking military personnel.

  Taking in the building and all the uniformed people around her, she stepped inside and managed eventually to get to the location of her interview. An administrative assistant led her to a conference room where three Army officers were waiting for her. After the preliminary introductions and small talk, the interview began.

  Fifteen minutes into the interview, the door of the conference room burst open, and a three-star general stepped into the room followed by two other high-ranking military officers. Surprised by the general’s, appearance, the three officers in the room abruptly got on their feet and saluted. The moment was so militarily intense that Jo also got to her feet and almost saluted, as she would have done during her military days. The general noticed and acknowledged her with a nod. “At ease gentleman, you too, McCallister. I see that you have not forgotten military protocol.”

  “No, sir. Once Army, always Army,” she replied with the first words that came to her mind. Shit!

  The General grinned, satisfied with the response. “McCallister, what the hell are you doing applying to a GS-13 position?” The General asked in a tone that gave the obvious indication that he knew her, and that he also knew that she was well above that level.

  “Sir, I need a job in Washington, and this one is available.” How come he knows my name? I don’t remember him.

  “What are you doing in Washington?”

  “My spouse is starting a medical residency at Children’s Hospital, and we’ve just moved to town.” She replied, making sure to refer to Kate as a spouse, rather than wife to maintain appearances under the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.

  “I see.” The general then addressed the three officers who had been interviewing Jo. “Gentlemen, this interview has ended. There’s a vacancy on my staff, and I’m hiring Ms. McCallister. McCallister, when can you start?”

  Jo was as surprised as everyone else in the room. Not knowing where to begin to ask questions, she merely responded. “I might need a week or two to move and settle in town, but I can report as needed.”

  “Very well.” He again addressed the officers in the room. “Have everything ready so that McCallister can report here in two weeks.”

  “Sir?”

  “Yes, Colonel Craft?”

  “As you know, the vacant position in your staff is for a Civilian Senior Executive position. Ms. McCallister is applying for a GS-13 position.”

  “I’m well aware, Colonel.” The general did not seem very pleased with the colonel’s statement.

  “As you go over McCallister’s resume and military record, you might conclude, as I have, that she’s above any GS position. If you cannot secure a senior position slot, make her a confidential Schedule C position at the same rank and level. She’s been hired as my Deputy. Make it happen.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “McCallister, come with me. Let me show you where you’ll be working.”

  Jo and the officers looked at each other, and they watched her as she left the room following the General and his entourage of staffers. She sped up to catch up with him and to take a better look at the man who had just hired her without any previous interview for a job she had no clue about.

  Everyone in the General’s entourage kept looking at her with a degree of awe that only matched her curiosity as to what the hell was going on.

  “Cynthia, this is Joelle McCallister, she will be working with us.” The administrative assistant was as dumbfounded as everyone else. Several looks of wonder were exchanged among the staff personnel as Jo followed the General into his office.

  “McCallister, I need a Deputy, someone I can rely on and who can get things done. You’re it.” The General proceeded to explain to Jo the nature of the job, the responsibilities, and the pay. “Do you think this is something that you want to do?”

  Thrilled with the rank and responsibility of the job, Jo replied, “yes, sir. I do.”

  “Very well, you will hear from this office in less than two weeks.”

  He walked Jo outside his office, where they shook hands. Before parting, Jo asked, “Sir, I’m sorry to ask this, but you’ve offered me this job as if you knew me. I don’t recall your name from having been under your command.”

  “I didn’t expect you to remember.”

  Jo was more confused now than she was before. “Sir?”

  Several high-ranking officers had just entered the room and were waiting to meet with the general “McCallister, I was a Brigadier General in Afghanistan.” He mentioned the specific date and time when they had first met to everyone’s astonishment in the room, everyone, except Jo. She knew that date all too well. “I know all I need to know about you.” He then proceeded to salute her in front of all present. Instinctively, Jo did the same. They both turned and walked away, he into his office, and Jo out to the hallway. She made it to the ladies’ room, went into a stall, and leaned against the wall to gather her strength.

  Now she knew who he was. He had interviewed her under the worst possible circumstances, on the worst day of her life. She closed her eyes and briefly recollected. She had asked to be debriefed while everyone wanted to take her to the medical officer. They tried to hold her down, but she demanded to speak with the commanding officer.

  General Thompson, who was then a Brigadier General, had noticed the commotion and walked towards it to see what was going on. They explained to him that Lieutenant Colonel McCallister wanted to be debriefed but that she was badly injured and needed urgent medical attention.

  He made his way to her and, from the gurney, Jo gave him full account of the event that had transpired and provided specific details of the location and conditions where they had encountered the explosive devices. She later found out that it was mainly he who had recommended her for the promotion that she later received to the rank of Colonel, for the Purple Heart Medal, and all the other medals for her bravery on that day.

  Now in the bathroom stall, she thought about the job she had just signed up for. She thought of nothing more than to get home to Kate and to tell her what had happened. Kate might not think this was the right job for her, but she knew it was.

  ***

  “And you accepted the position?” Kate asked in awe.

  “I think it will be good, Katie. I was trained by the military, and that will always be a part of who I am. And you’ve always said, I need to come to terms with that part of me and learn to appreciate the good that I received from my military career.”

  Kate was astonished that Jo was finally accepting her achievements and focusing on the lives of those she saved, rather than the ones she lost. “Okay, you have a point there. But promise me that, if the nightmares return, you will look for another job. We have savings, and I’ll be making money now, so you can quit and look for something else.”

  “Okay, I promise. It’s also a great position. I’ll be in charge of overseeing the Eastern Command for
the Army Corps of Engineers.”

  “Wow! That sounds super important. Very impressive!”

  “Wait until you hear the pay! Man, I can’t believe my luck!”

  “It’s not luck, Jo. It’s merit. You may not be aware of it, but you’re an extraordinary person with outstanding credentials. You also work hard and are very good at what you do. You’re also a kind, good person. Manny was right. I struck gold with you.” Kate winked and wrapped her arms around Jo’s neck, and then she kissed her possessively.

  “You left out something,” Jo said.

  “What?” Kate was already smiling, knowing what was coming.

  “Great lover?” Jo added.

  “I didn’t forget that. I left it out because that is something only I need to know.”

  They stared at each other for a few minutes. “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you, former Ms. Nolan.” Jo smoothed Kate’s eyebrows with her thumbs. “When you took off your hoodie the day you rescued me from the snow, and I saw this mane of brown hair,” Jo laced her fingers through Kate’s hair, “and then when you looked at me with those green eyes, it was as if a lightning bolt hit me.”

  “Funny that you say that because when I saw your face, I knew I was taken. I think it was the way you looked at me with those sexy eyes, and the way they twinkled when you smiled, it was enchanting. I’ve loved you from that very moment.”

  “I hated when Grace showed up at the ranch.”

  “I know. I could see the hurt in your face. But you should have known better.”

  “I didn’t know you that well then.”

  “You saved me from the bullets, you rescued me from the snow, and you even fought Tara for me. You’re my knight in shining armor.” Kate kissed her on the nose.

  “You saved me from much worse.”

  “What?”

  “A lonely, loveless existence.”

  “I think we saved each other. Come on, let’s go to bed. I need a memory refresher.”

  “Regarding?”

  “The great lover part.”

  “It will be my pleasure to remind you.”

  “So, what’s the pay?” Kate grinned as they walked into the bedroom.