Janet follows with a second question, “Just so I know what Kara’s level would be?”
I didn’t realize Kara was standing behind me when I say, “I have a third Dan in tae kwon do and a second Dan jujitsu, Kara would have at least two Dan tae kwon do and in Jujitsu.”
Kara begins to giggle, “That means I’m pretty bad ass.”
Chuckling I turn and tell her, “If your brothers haven’t been training with anyone else, you’re the second or third toughest person in the County.”
Kara giggles and says, “I guess Kathryn would give me a very hard time trying to find out to see who is second or third.”
Kathryn hugs Kara before she says, “I don’t care, you’re my sister and nobody is messing with you, not even me.”
Kara hugs Kathryn back and says, “You’re right sis, no one is going to mess with you too.”
Janet asks, “If she’s that much higher level than I, why did you pair us?”
I answer, “Because she is the best to defend against an unknown move, you are trained out-of-state and in a different dojo from my original. By the way I would not say you’re a green belt anymore, closer to maybe purple on a good day.”
Janet was a little stunned by the news but she quickly gets a smile on her face. Before she asked, “Does that mean I’m catching up with most of the class?”
Telling Janet the truth I say, “You’re just about caught up with everyone, by Christmas you should be easily caught up with everyone. You did start at a disadvantage most of the girls when they started class would’ve been at least one or two belt levels higher than you. You’re doing great.”
Janet practically floats away. Kara, Ron, Reese, Sam, Kathryn and I had to our cars to go home.
Ron and Reese were thinking of today for their wedding, but because of conflict of scheduling we moved it to tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. We actually had the church for a rehearsal yesterday and it went off without a hitch. Reese’s father and mother have flown in and we put them up in the town’s best bed and breakfast. Reese’s father and mother were speechless as she showed them her accounts.
Reese also wrote a check equal to the payoff for all her parents’ bills. I smile at Reese as she says, “JJ taught Kathryn how to trade they taught Marshall and Misty, who in turn taught us. My top Sergeant is retiring at the first of the year, JJ and Kathryn along with Marshall and Misty are going to help Ron and I teach him how to trade if you could come and stay for a few months we could share it with you too.
Reese’s Mom and Dad hug her, and agreed to come back in the New Year. They leave shortly after that, and the two lovers are disappointed as we forced them apart for the remainder of the night. I chuckle and say, “You’re not the only ones who had to go through that, it’s tradition remember.”
The next morning I am with Ron, eases nervous as I was. I tell him, “Don’t worry Captain everything is going to be fine.” That doesn’t stop him from pacing for half an hour. After he finish wearing my carpet down, I pull them into the kitchen and sitting down with some food. I order him to eat, reluctantly he begins to eat he knows I’m trying to help him. I keep him distracted most of the morning, Sam helps too. Sam got her Godfather to read her a story. Kathryn comes to get Sam as Reese is dressing.
Ron is in the shower, and I hear him stumble and begin to curse. I ask if he needs any help, he doesn’t answer so without a lot of time today I walk in with his cane. Ron is on the floor of the shower looking down at the remains of his lower leg, his right leg is missing halfway below the knee. I force myself not to stare at his injury but I look at his face and see the distress.
He looks at me and says, “I can’t even take a shower alone. I need someone’s help every time. Reese doesn’t need someone like that.”
I ask him, “Are you finished yet?”
Ron looks at me and says, “No, I can’t even reach the damn washcloth without fallen over.”
I grab that washcloth and hand it to him with the soap. I say, “You sit there wash and listen. Reese loves you, she doesn’t need your self-pity to her you are her hero. Every time she sees your leg she is reminded of what you are willing to give for her. I want to ask, what you are willing to go through for her.”
Ron looks up with soap covering his face. “You know I’m willing to die for her.”
I smile when I say, “I know that, she knows that, everybody that knows you two knows that. What I really want to know are you willing to live for her. Even though it’s hard, the hand you got isn’t the greatest, but you really ought to play it out. Live for her. Give her the life she deserves with the man she loves. If you fall down you can always get up again, if you need help Reese loves to help you. She loves the fact that you need her. Just appreciate the fact that she loves you.”
Ron rinsing the soap from his face says, “Damn that stings.”
I ask, “You get soap in your eye?”
Ron says, “No, an eighteen-year-old just gave me some fatherly advice, and some damn good advice at that.”
I ask, “You need help?”
Ron chuckles and says, “I think you gave me more help than you realize. I can handle it from here.”
We make it to the church on time, and Ron takes his place waiting by Reverend Akins. I walk back down the aisle ready to escort Kathryn back up when the music starts. I step out with the groomsmen and take my place at the head of the line. Ron chose me as his best man, and Kathryn is the maid of honor. Marshall and Misty are next. With his unit deployed none of his military comrades were available. We are videotaping it and will post the video file for them. At the reception several have made videos toasting the couple, Mom and Helen had watched all of them, and only had to delete two four rude comments.
The music begins and I take my place walking arm in arm with Kathryn. In the last five months I’ve been in three other weddings, and ten ceremonies, five of my own, this will make the eleventh ceremony, there’s a good chance I’ll be in at least one more for the end of the year. At the end of the aisle I take my place as Kathryn and I separate to be on each side of the bride and groom. Marshall and Misty stand next to us, Reese and her father begin the march down the aisle at the end Reverend Akins asks Reese’s father, “Who gives this woman.” With a smile he answers, “I give this woman.”
The Reverend begins, “I have the pleasure today to marry two veterans who served this country honorably. During that time Ron Davis proved he was willing to die for Reese Hansen. Now he proves he is willing to live for her. The Reverend begins his standard marriage vows after that. They say, I do at the appropriate times, exchange the rings and then the married couple’s first kiss. The Reverend announces, “I give you Mister Ron Davis and Mrs. Reese Davis.”
We are off to the wedding reception. When I give my toast to the couple I present them the keys to a brand-new SUV, and the reservations for the rest of the weekend and next week for a hotel in the Smoky Mountains. The reception seems to go by very quickly, but everyone has a very good time.
Days go by and life falls into a routine, Kathryn does get a little disappointing news just before Thanksgiving. Her doctor wants us to stop having sex. Kathryn’s Doctor feels it would be safer for the baby and Kathryn. So reluctantly we give up on sex, until after the baby is four months old. That’s worse than waiting for Kathryn from when I ask her to marry me until when we actually started having sex.
Kathryn does say, “The doctor said I still can give you a hand job or blow job.”
I give Kathryn a hug and tell her, “Does that mean I get to lick you.”
Kathryn says, “Only if you promise that you can control yourself after.”
Chuckling I say, “I’ll do my best.”
It’s Monday before Thanksgiving and all three houses are finished, it feels a little sad helping MC move out. She did spend a lot of time in her room writing, but she would come out and have dinner with us. Reese and Ron are moving into the apartment over Marshall’s garage. They are looking for land near here, and want to build a house in the spring.
Daniel had been working with Kara on building the perfect house for her. Now that they have their design finished and the crews are available, the work is beginning on their new home. I spoke with the work crews and they insist they’ll have it done by December tenth. Plenty of time for us to get furniture for the couple, although this time, Alyssa is insisting that she gets to buy the furniture. Misty is working on some artwork for them. Misty has also picked up a few from the studio that she feels would be nice for them.
Alyssa, Mom and Kathryn after taking a long look at the artwork leave one afternoon to go shopping for furniture. Ron and Reese bring Sam to school for her afternoon workout with my self-defense classes. It is weird feeling Kathryn that far away, it’s not like stretching a rubber band it’s more like when you talking on the phone to someone very far away there is a delay. If you are accustomed to talking to people close to you and then you have at one phone call from across the country the delay feel so unnatural.
Before heading home I gave Kathryn a call, her voice was happy when she answered she says, “I really been missing you, it feels so strange to be so far away.”
I almost chuckle as I say, “Hearing your voice feels good, I’m glad you’re headed home. I will have dinner ready when you get there.”
Mom and Alyssa overheard part of the conversation and tell me, “Don’t worry about dinner we eaten already.”
Kathryn says, “Some people have, but I’m still hungry. What were you thinking about?”
For the first time in my life my mind goes blank. So I say, “I have to look through the kitchen to see what’s there, do you have something in mind?”
Kathryn says, “Why don’t you just pick up a pizza, by the time it’s ready we should just about be there I’ll meet you at home.”
When I pull over at the pizza joint, Ron pulls in behind me I ask what they would like. After taking their order I waved them off and tell them to meet me at home. I start to have Sam go with them but Sam whispers to me, “Please Daddy let me stay with you.” So I wave and they leave.
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