Miranda couldn’t sit down as she and her family waited for Callan’s flight to land. She was pacing. Eli couldn’t help but laugh. “Miranda, if you pace anymore Dad’s going to have to pay the airport so that they can replace the tile where you’ve worn a hole in them. Settle down. There’s no need to be this nervous.”
“I’m not nervous, Eli. I’m excited. I haven’t seen him since the day he left to report to Pendleton before deploying. This is not nerves like you think they are.”
“Will you sit down already?” her younger brother Shawn asked. “You’re making me dizzy.”
“Get over it, Shawn Patrick?” Miranda rolled her eyes.
“Do you think he’ll let me draw a picture of him?” Jenni asked.
“I don’t know, Jens. You’ll have to ask him.” She looked at her watch. “I’m going to go see how much longer his flight is going to be.” She wandered over to the screens that displayed departure and arrival times to see if Callan’s flight had landed yet and felt the presence of one of her younger brothers behind her. “What’s wrong, ‘Randa?” Eli asked. “You’re on edge and this is more anxious to see your man. What else is going on here?”
“Can’t I just be excited without something being wrong?” she asked as she started to cry.
Eli pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. “It’s ok, sis. You can talk to me. What’s going on?”
“I haven’t seen him in months, Eli. I’m just a tad nervous because of that. Mostly I’m excited though.”
“Then why are you crying?” he asked softly.
“I’m hormonal, Eli. I’m pregnant. Remember?” she said as she wiped her eyes.
“Well, save them for your Marine. He should be walking off the plane now.”
Miranda looked eagerly toward the gate where Callan was supposed to be getting off of the plane. Eli let go of his sister and went back to his man so that Miranda was waiting for her Marine alone. The moment she thought she saw his head amongst the crowd she stood up on the seats behind her to make sure. “CALLAN!” she shouted.
He looked up and headed straight toward her with the same breath taking smile he wore when she met. As soon as he was close enough, she stepped down off of the seat she was standing on and ran toward him. He stopped dead and dropped his bag in the floor so that he could catch her. She jumped and he caught her midair, pulling her into his arms and holding her close. “Hey beautiful”, he said softly in her ear.
“Hey there, handsome”, she said with tears in her eyes and voice. “I’m so happy you’re finally here.”
“What are you crying for?” he asked, setting her feet on the floor.
“I’m just so happy you’re finally here.”
He wiped her tears from her face and smiled at her. “That’s right. I’m here and I’m not leaving for a while. I’ve got a couple of months unless they call me back to Pendleton for the promotion board. If I’m lucky, I’ll be a Gunny soon.”
“And what does that mean for us?”
“That means once your father says that I can marry you we’re going to start planning a wedding and if I can get approval from the Corps I’m going to be taking you to Japan once the baby is born. How’s your Japanese?”
“I’ll have to see if I have a relative that took Japanese in college or something because I don’t speak the language.”
“That’s fine. Neither do I.” He kissed her lips softly. “Now, I see a very anxious family over there. Why don’t we head over that way so that I can introduce myself?”
“Or I’ll introduce you.”
“Whatever works, baby girl. Let’s just get this over with. I’d like to get out of Denver soon and hopefully we can go over to meet your grandparents.”
“I’m sure we’ll be able to. Gramma and Grampa seem eager to meet you too.”
“Cool. Nice to know I’m expected.”
They walked over to where her family waited for them. “Everybody, this is US Marine Corps. Staff Sergeant Callan Maguire”, Miranda said, introducing Callan to everyone. “Callan, this is my father Malachai, my mother Amanda, my younger brother Elijah and his boyfriend Brandon, and my baby brother and sisters Shawn, Kelsi, and Jenifer.” She pointed to each of them in turn.
Callan extended his hand to Malachai. “Pleased to finally meet you, sir.”
“And I you, Callan. Miranda hasn’t stopped talking about you for weeks.”
“I can imagine. When I was at home, I couldn’t stop talking about her either. I believe my mother and father can sympathize with you there.”
---------------
On the drive toward homestead from Denver, Malachai had a few questions that he wanted to ask young Callan. “So, what made you decide on the Marine Corps, Callan?”
“It’s a family thing, sir. My dad was a Marine, his dad was a Marine; all the way back to the founding of the United States Marine Corps.”
“Very cool. What’s you’re MOS?”
“I’m in EOD.”
“You blow shit up?”
“Exactly. I blow shit up. But, I also disarm explosives. I’m one of the top bomb techs in my unit.”
“Where are you currently serving out of?”
“29 Palms. There’s been talk of sending me to the East Coast and talk of a stay in Japan for a few months, but they won’t send me to either place until I’ve made Gunnery Sergeant.”
“Why not?”
“Because the only positions they have open are for Gunny’s. They’re training positions.”
“And they need training in Okinawa?”
“They need someone to train their bomb squads.”
“Where in the East Coast would they send you?”
“Quantico or Cherry Point.”
“Which post do you hope for?”
“Until I’m married, I would want to stay in the States. I only want to travel overseas if I can take a family to share the cultural experience.”
“And your command is accommodating?”
“Seeing as we’re not in a conflict of some sort right now, yes.”
“How did you meet Miranda?”
“My brother Kade was one of the stage hands. I was on leave and staying with him in New York for a couple of weeks. I was helping him at the theater when I saw her in her red dress and red dance shoes. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. When I saw her ex hit her and try to hide it, I about lost it.”
“Really?”
“Yes sir. I was raised never to hit a woman and seeing that pissed me off.”
“Did you react?”
“Kade was my voice of reason and made me stay in the spot where I was helping with a set piece. I relaxed when I saw her bodyguard escort the guy out the back at gun point. It made smile, to say the least.”
“And you two started seeing each other after that?”
“Yes sir. I asked her out that very night. We hung out at her apartment and ate bad take out every night for two weeks.”
“Did you do anything?”
“No sir. I wanted to know if there was going to be anything before we did.”
“Glad you waited?”
“Yes sir, because I know how I feel about her and its not clouded by impressions from sex.”
“And how do you feel about my daughter?”
“I’m in love with her, sir. I would love to make her my wife one day with your permission.”
“You do understand that she is my oldest daughter and was my only girl for twelve years before the triplets?”
“I didn’t know all of that but I think I can understand it. It’s not every day a guy comes along and wants to take your little girl away.”
“At least you understand. Well Callan, I am thoroughly impressed with you, young sir. Now, you have to get through my Dad. You think you can handle that?”
“We shall see, won’t we?”
“Brave words Callan, but my father has made lesser men crumble.”
“Well, maybe the fact that I’m a Marine will soften him up.”
“Unlikely but it might win points with my Mom. Her older brother was a Marine.”
“Miranda told me. Master Guns Matthew Cartwright. The man is a legend in the Corps.”
“Really?”
“Yes sir. They renamed the sniper school after him.”
“Mom will be interested to know this if she doesn’t know already. Too bad Uncle Matt’s not still around to have accepted the honor himself.”
“I think his widow accepted for him. My Dad was still in the Corps when this all went down. He retired years ago.”
“Well, you should tell my Mom if you have the opportunity. She’ll be interested to know about that.”
“I’ll be happy to share it with her.”
---------------
All Callan could do was stare at the expansive house as they pulled up the driveway. He couldn’t believe that David Draiman had raised his ten children in that very house. He was excited and scared to meet the rock idol. Naturally, he knew the story that Foresight front man Remy Caldwell told about meeting the retired rocker. How much of the story was truth and how much was fiction was up in the air.
When the vehicle pulled to a stop, Callan quietly took a deep breath to steady himself. He was approaching the situation a lot like he was defusing an explosive. He had to be calm and take it slow.
As he climbed out of the SUV, he evaluated everything he knew about David M. Draiman. He knew that the man was brutally honest and very opinionated. He knew that the man was highly educated. He knew that he held an Honorary Doctorate which- along Business Administration and Political Science- he’d earned a Bachelors’ degree in many years before. He knew that he was a multi- platinum, Grammy award winning recording artist as well as a Kennedy Center Honoree. Other than that, he really didn’t know much but he was sure that if he was himself he’d have not problems.
“You okay, baby?” Miranda asked, taking his hand.
“I’m just a bit nervous, I’ll admit. But, I’ll be fine. There’s no turning back now, ya know?”
“Yeah. This is happening right now. Bright side, four out of five of his daughters are married.”
“Why isn’t the fifth married?”
“She just never married. She never found that guy that completed her. She was too busy putting a man on Mars and sending probes to the gas giants to get an idea of the atmosphere and to see if there is any land of any kind to send manned missions to them to really date. It was nothing to do with Grampa. Aunt Meagan just never got married.”
“Oh. That’s a relief. Well, let’s get this done.” They started for the door and he took another deep breath.
When the door opened, Miranda’s grandparents weren’t there. “Hey Jake?” Malachai called.
“What’s up?” Jake asked as he came down the stairs.
“Where are Mom and Dad?”
“In the guest upstairs. They’ve been there all day.”
“Have you checked on them?”
“Yes, several times. They’re still breathing, Malachai. Mom woke up this morning feeling a little weird so she and Dad stayed upstairs until she was feeling better. They were getting ready to come down when you guys pulled up.” Jake looked to Callan. “Who’s the high and tight?” he asked.
“Uncle Jake, this is Callan Maguire. My boyfriend”, Miranda said.
Jake extended his hand to the young Marine. “Nice to meet you, Callan. Miranda speaks of you often.”
“All good, I hope.”
“Oh yeah. No worries. I’m Miranda’s Uncle Jake. My two youngest are around here somewhere, I’m sure. They may be with your younger cousin taking care of the horse.”
“I’m sure I’ll meet them at some point. It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
Jake looked to Miranda. “Where did you find this one? He’s so obviously not the last douche you brought home to meet everyone.”
“Would you believe that I found him at the theater, Uncle Jake?”
“Really?” He looked at Callan. “You’re not another actor, are you?”
Callan shook his head. “No sir. I’m a Marine.”
“Nice. MOS?”
“EOD.”
“I’ve had a few patients in EOD over the years. Good people, but you have to have a certain personality for that, I think.”
“I think you’re right. I think you have to be a bit of a sociopath to a degree in order to be in EOD. There was rumor when I was being recruited that they were only taking the ones that tested positive for mental illness as well as the proper ASVAB scores for EOD.”
“How much of that was true?”
“Only the ASVAB thing, as always. They didn’t need psychos messing with explosives. That would make a bad name for the Corps and it’s still recovering from the bad image from the last major conflict we were in.”
Jake grinned. “Delightful. I like you. You’re definitely a keeper.” He looked at his niece. “Miranda, do whatever you have to so that you can hang on to this one. He’s a good man.”
“Thanks Uncle Jake. I intend to.”
---------------
Once David and Brie made their way down the stairs, Callan braced himself. He was about the meet an icon. It wasn’t every day that you meet a man that you grew up hearing your grandfather tell stories about. His grandfather had served in the Resistance during the Occupation alongside Matthew Cartwright. He’d gotten to meet David and Brie Draiman both before the Last Stand. Callan loved seeing the pictures when he was a kid. And now, he was meeting the same people that his Papaw told him stories about when he met them.
Once they were seated, David looked at him behind his glasses. “You must be Callan”, he said.
“Yes sir. Callan Maguire, Staff Sergeant. USMC.”
“A Marine”, Brie said with a smile. “Semper Fi.”
“Thank you ma’am. Oorah.”
“What do you do in the Corps?” David asked.
“I’m in EOD. I’m a bomb tech.”
“A very high stress job, I’d imagine.”
“Yes, sir. It can be quite nerve racking, I have to admit.”
“What are your intentions with Miranda?”
Callan looked David dead in the eyes and spoke. “First of all, I want to say that this is certainly my honor. I’ve heard so many stories about you. Now, I have to admit, the fact that you’re THE David Draiman is a little intimidating. But, I love your granddaughter. She’s the most beautiful soul I’ve ever met. She's genuine and that's not something you see very often these days. Now, I understand that she's pregnant with another man's child. Does this bother me? Not at all. As far as I'm concerned, that's my child whether it's my genes in their DNA or not. I will love him/her as though he/she were my own. And, as soon as her father gives me permission I'm going to make her my wife. I hope that gets me some points. If not, I do apologize and will work harder to gain the approval of all that I need it from.”
David nodded slowly. “That took balls, young man.”
“I know. And if I lost points, then as I said, I apologize. I just needed to get that off of my chest.”
“No need to apologize for speaking your mind. That’s encouraged around here.” David looked over to where his oldest son was sitting with his wife. “Why haven’t you given this boy permission to marry the girl yet?”
“I wanted to know what you thought of him first, Dad”, Malachai responded. “Just because I like him doesn’t mean that you will and it just seems that you’re a better judge of character than I am most of the time.”
David chuckled. “Well, I like him. He seems like he actually has a head on his shoulders unlike that last piece of shit.”
“Then he and I will talk later about the possibility of him marrying my daughter.”
“Speaking of the last guy”, Callan said. “The reason I wasn’t here yesterday is because I had to take care of some business. I don’t call New York home. That’s my brother, Kade. Home is actually South Texas.”
“Where in South Texas?” Brie asked.
“I grew up around Houston.”
“Very nice area. What business did you have to handle in New York that involved Miranda’s ex?”
“I had my brother following him to get an idea of his routine. When I got to the City, I met my brother outside a restaurant in Brooklyn where Zack was eating and chatting up a bunch of girls with a bunch of friends. He stepped out to get a cigarette and I asked him if I could talk to him in private. When we were a decent ways down the alley, I beat the hell out of him and told him that if he came near Miranda again I would kill him and I’d enjoy doing it.”
David’s brow shot up. “Really?”
“Yes sir. No one gets to call my girl a whore and get away with it. Miranda told me all about that day you went to lunch before her show and he happened to be there. She told me about her father’s confrontation of him and how that all went down. I wanted to make it known to him that he didn’t need to worry about Miranda anymore. She had a real man in her life now and I was more than happy to man up where he wouldn’t.”
David and Brie both laughed. “Beautiful”, Brie said as she laughed. “Oh, that’s just priceless.”
“Brilliant!” David laughed. “Just brilliant! You’ll fit right in.”
“I’m not a violent person by nature, but I do believe in taking care of home”, Callan said. “Miranda is going to be a big and rather permanent part of my life. I am very serious about marrying her. If I can swing it, I’ll even have a ceremonial sword arch for her at the wedding and I’ll wear my dress blues while she wears a dress of her choice that fits her like a glove. I want her to be my wife and the mother of my children and I’ve never made love to her. That might change tonight, but that’s neither here nor there. She’s family and I will do whatever it takes to take care of her. If that means making sure her piece of shit ex doesn’t bother her again, that’s what I’ll do.”
“We totally understand that”, Brie said. “You have our blessing to marry Miranda and we’d be happy and proud to call you our grandson in law. But, Zack getting the hell beaten out of him just deserves a laugh. It just does.”
---------------
Everyone sat around and got to know Calla better. He was an interesting young man. He told stories of his different deployments around the world and the run in’s he had with the locals. “Learning Punjabi in a pinch is a bitch!” he laughed. “But, when you’re the only one in the unit that had even been putting forth the effort, what choice do you have?”
Everyone chuckled. “What were you doing in Punjabi, India?” Jeremiah asked. He’d come in with Jona to meet the young Marine.
“You go where the Commander in Chief sends you”, he laughed. “We were sent over there to do some training with the National Army. Their bomb techs are amazing. My team was chosen to train with them and we were sent over. We were enjoying a little R&R when we ran into some locals that didn’t speak English. Thankfully, I’d been studying the language so I got us around the country.”
“Are you still fluent in Punjabi?” Jake asked.
“Not anymore. It’s been years since I was over there and I haven’t needed to speak the language so I forgot.”
“Have you spent any time in the Middle East?” David asked.
“Spent a little time in Israel, Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan, but they were short stays. A couple of weeks a piece and back to back. Spent a little bit of time at the Embassy in Jerusalem. Met a Jessykah Yaron while I was there. Sweet woman.”
“That’s our baby”, Brie said with a smile. “Our youngest child.”
“I figured as much. I gathered that from meeting her. She was very nice to me; answered all of my questions if I had them. She’s very nice and looks just as beautiful as her mother and the rest of her sisters.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere”, Brie warned.
“It’s not flattery if it’s true, ma’am. It’s simply truth. All of the women in this family- born or married in- are beautiful. I have to say, the men in this family have an eye for beauty.”
“That goes for you, as well you know”, James said. “I mean, Miranda caught your eye. If what you say is true, then you can’t discount your own taste.” James and his family had been there since Malachai and his family had taken off to pick Callan up from the airport.
Callan thought about what James had said. “You know, I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right. Thank you.”
“I’m just agreeing with you… Callan, is it?”
“Yes.”
“I’m just agreeing with you, Callan.”
Callan looked around the house from where he was sitting. “I’m still in awe that I’m even here. My grandpa used to tell stories all the time about meeting you before the Last Stand of the Resistance. I was fascinated as I sat at his knee with my brothers and he showed off his picture. He said it was the proudest moment of his life, meeting you Mr. Draiman, sir.”
“You grandpa? Who was he?” David asked.
“He was one of the Ghosts Master Guns Cartwright trained. His name was Richard Maguire. He had just made Gunny when the team was recruited.”
“Very nice. We met so many people when the Resistance gathered at the last safe house; I have to be honest, Callan, I don’t remember him.”
“I didn’t figure that you would, but he talked about you every chance he got. He had nothing but respect for you and the rest of Disturbed. When he heard that you guy were retiring, he made it a point to be there. He was very saddened when he heard that Danny passed.”
“I think the music world cried when Dan Donegan died”, Brie said. “Dan was not only a great musician, but he was a very kind man. The same goes for Mike and John. They were talented musicians and good men.”
“And my Papaw mourned each of their passing.”
“Again, everyone did.”
“MIRANDA!” they heard from outside. The voice was familiar.
Jake went to the door. “It’s Zack and he looks like he took an ass beating. There’s not a mark on him, but he’s moving very stiffly.”
David sighed. “I would have thought that your mother slapping him would have taught him better manners.”
“Apparently not.”
“Well, let’s go see what he wants.”
“Mr. Draiman, permission to beat the hell out of him?” Callan asked.
“If he says anything stupid, granted.”
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