Chapter Fourteen

Not the Beginning and Not the End

“I can’t believe that this time in two weeks we’re going to be in the army.” James sighed as he sat down on the couch across from me.

“Yeah, neither can I.” I muttered in reply, sliding down in my chair and rested my folded hands on my stomach.

“Ok, so are you going to tell me what’s happened to make you come here?” James asked, cocking his head to the side. “Especially because you were living in a cool condo with your girlfriend and you kids who don’t know you’re their father. I’d say that you had it made.”

“I don’t know,” I sighed and furrowed my eyebrows together. “I mean, Rikki found out that I joined the army.”

“What’s the problem with that?”

“I never told her I signed up for it.”

“Ouch”

“I know.” I moaned and rubbed my forehead. “I mean, I sort of understand why she’s upset. It’s the fact that we just got back together…and now I’m leaving again, especially when there’s a good chance that I could get killed.”

“But?”

“How’d you know there’s a but?”

“There’s always a but”

“But”

“See?” James smirked and I glared over at him and he laughed nervously, waiting for me to continue. “Sorry dude, keep going. I want to help you.”

“But, I also think that she’s being kind of selfish. I know she’s worried, but now that I’ve been admitted, I’m going to be helping the US and all.”

“Do you want to know what I think?”

“Yes.”

“I think you should talk to her yourself.” James replied and threw me the telephone. I caught it before it whacked me in the face and glared at him. “Sorry. But really, this is between you two, not you and me.” He looked at his watch. “I have to go anyway.”

“What’s his name?” I asked after a second of silence.

“Damien.” James grinned in reply and disappeared in his room. I gave a small smile and dialed the familiar number into the phone and pressed SEND.

I hesitantly put the phone up to my ear and waited as it rang seven times. Right when I was about to hung up the phone, it was answered.

“Hello?” a high-pitched voice answered.

“Hey, Daley.”

“Who is this?”

“It’s Dougie.”

“Dougie! Hi!”

“Could you give the phone to your mommy?”

“Ok. Mommy, Dougie’s on the phone.” I heard her call. I gave a little laugh and waited for Rikki to answer the phone.

“Hello?” was her quiet reply. Hearing her voice, my heart leapt into my throat and I knew then, that I really loved her and that I couldn’t live my life without her.

“Rikki! Before you hang up, hear me out. I have something really important to say.” I pleaded and then waited. I could still hear her breathing. And to my relief she didn’t hang up the phone. “I’m really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really,-“

“Just get to the point, Dougie.”

“I’m really sorry about not telling you about joining the army. But, can you understand why I did it? It was a backup plan, just in case. And I know I was stupid for not thinking things through if we did get back together. That was dumb on my part. But what’s even more dumb on my part is the fact that I couldn’t tell how much I loved you and how much I have loved you. And even if I’m shipped out to Iraq or whatever, I’m always going to love you and I know that you’re always going to be with me.”

Silence.

“So, I guess what I want to say is…will you marry me?”

I could hear Rikki gasp on the other end and then the sound, of which I’m guessing ,was the phone dropping to the floor. I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at it, before putting it back, listening intently.

“Mom, mommy, what is it?”

“Dougie…Dougie just asked me to marry him.”

“Well, you’re going to say yes right?”

“What’s marry, Ghazi?”

“It’s when Dougie becomes our father.”

“Say yes, mommy.”

I waited until I heard Rikki pick up the phone again, but this time, I didn’t hear Ghazi or Daley in the background. I held my breath, waiting for her reply.

“Wow, you really got them going now.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be, I find it kind of funny.”

There was an uncomfortable silence.

“So…what’s your answer?”

“I’m thinking that this time next year is good.”

“What?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“Dougie?”

“Hold on a second, Rikki.” I looked up from my hand and saw James standing above me. “What?”

“How long have you been on the phone?”

“Since you left, I’m guessing.”

“That’s been…four hours, Dougie you’re running up a serious bill, hang up.”

“Does it even matter to you that I’m talking to my fiancé?”

“You’re getting married?”

“Yes.”

“Congratulations, but if that phone bill gets any bigger, I’m cutting you off, young man.” James joked and went to his room.

“Sure thing, mom!” I called back in reply before putting the phone to my mouth. “Listen, I got to go.”

“Alright. Love you.”

“Love you too. More than you could ever know.” I replied and hung up the phone, a huge grin on my face.

I felt like a man that could have just won the lottery.

But even better.

The End