The Maroon Beret

-Brayden-
The train ride home from Washington can always go one of two ways: either we’re celebrating, or we’re depressed. Fortunately for us, tonight is a night to celebrate. Even though it’s only the first game of the season, it felt good to get the win and the demeanor of the team shows that. Guys are hanging out, telling jokes, laughing, and just over all having a good time.

My usual seat mate is up with the coaches, probably talking to them about his two goals on the night. Couts has been having a tough time lately, with Charlie on deployment again in Afghanistan. He won’t admit it to anyone, but he’s an emotional wreck inside. He’s constantly worried about her, and lives for the one phone call he gets from her every other week. Last time she was deployed she could get away with contacting someone from home at least once a week, but tensions are currently running really high in the middle east and contact with all military members is much less than it was a year ago. Last time they talked, Charlie said that she’s been twice as busy as she was on her first deployment. As his roommate, I’ve heard bits and pieces of their conversations. I try not to eavesdrop, but there’s only so much I can do when we’re ten feet away from each other. I can tell the increased work load is taking a toll on her both physically and emotionally. I know her brother Drew is stationed in Japan and they can’t contact each other, so Sean is the only loved one she gets to talk to.

I’m not exactly sure what happened that night at the banquet, but I know things have been rough for them. I was fully expecting them to come back inside with massive smiles on their faces, flaunting the rock on her finger. Instead, they seemed deflated. She was wearing her new ring, so I knew she had accepted his proposal, but I was confused as to why they both looked like someone had died. Well, I was confused until they told me Charlie was being deployed again.

I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this is for my best friend. I get upset when we’re on a long road trip and I don’t get to see Janine for a week. I miss having her body next to mine at night every time I have to sleep in a hotel. Most guys with serious girlfriends and wives feel the same way. And even when I’m on the road, I text Janine every chance I get, and call her at least once a day, before I go to bed. So to go that long without her? That’s insane. I certainly couldn’t do it. And for that, I have so much respect for them.

As I’m sitting in my seat listening to Zac Rinaldo make fun of Michael Raffl for believing in mermaids, I notice Couts’s phone ringing on the seat next to me. I don’t recognize the number, but it’s international so I figure it has to be Charlie, even though she’s not scheduled to call him for another week.
“Yo Couts! Your phone is ringing. International number!” I yell up to him. I see his head instantly pop up over the seats.
“Answer it, quick! I’ll be right there.” He responds, so I pick up his phone and answer it.

“Sean Couturier’s phone, this is the best forward in the NHL, and the future best man at his wedding speaking. How may I assist you?” I joke, hoping to hear Charlie’s laugh. But she doesn’t laugh.
“Hey Bray.” She says in a solemn voice. Something is wrong. “Where’s Sean?”
“He was up front talking to Chief. But now he’s making his way back here. You’re not supposed to call until next week. Everything okay?” I ask.
“Brayden, can I please just talk to Sean?” Something is definitely wrong. Even though she’s not my fiancee, I still feel my stomach drop.
“Yeah, here he is.” I say as he reaches our seats. I hand him the phone and signal for all the guys to give him some room. This sounded like it was going to be a very private conversation, and he deserved the personal space.

We move a couple rows up and Raffl goes back to explaining why mermaids are real. But our conversation doesn’t last long when we hear Couts freaking out.

“What the fuck do you mean you got shot?” He yells, getting all of our attention. “Baby, if this is some sort of sick joke, it’s not funny.... You’re serious right now.... Are you okay? Are you coming home?.... Why the fuck not?.... That’s fucking stupid....” He pauses, listening to her talk. Even from a couple rows away I can see the tears forming in his eyes. Every person on the train is looking at him. “Charlie-” His voice breaks. “Why can’t you come home?” He asks. “No, I get it. I just want you to be safe.... Okay.” He sighs and places his head in his hands. “Are you still going to call me next week?.... “Alright. I guess I’ll talk to you then.... I love you so much more, baby. Please be safe....”

He hangs up and no one makes a sound. Our good moods are squashed. We all look at each other, no one knowing what to do or say. Finally, Kimmo moves to sit down next to him. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” He says. “Just tell us if she’s okay.”

Sean keeps his head down, but nods. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “She was responding to a call in the middle of the city and there was a sniper no one saw. It didn’t actually puncture her, she just got grazed. Thank God. It isn’t too bad, so she can still do her job. With everything there so tense, they wanted their best medic to stay.” Kimmo places his hand on his shoulder and I realize we’re all feeling emotional right now. Charlie is a friend to us all. And even though we’re a bunch of grown men, we’re all a bit scared hearing that she got shot. We could all lose a close friend that quickly. We almost did. “Everyone should just go call their girlfriends, wives, mothers, sisters, whatever. Call anyone who is important to you. Tell them you love them. Life is too short not to.” With that, I watch my friend get up and walk towards the back of the train car.

We all take Sean’s advice and grab our cell phones, dialing the ones who we love the most. It takes three rings for my fiancee to respond. “You boys are crazy!” She laughs. “You’re all calling us at the same time.”
“Charlie got shot.” I say. It’s the first words I’m able to get out since I heard the news. Janine gasps and then goes silent. “She’s okay. It just grazed her. She’s not even going to come home.”
“I don’t even know how to respond to that.” Janine says with seriousness in her voice.
“I don’t either.” I admit. “I just wanted to let you know that I love you more than anything. Every day I feel like the luckiest man in the world because I have you, and I can’t wait until the day when I officially make you Mrs. Schenn.” She sniffles and I can tell she’s crying. “Baby, don’t cry. Charlie is going to be fine.”
She laughs. “I’m not crying because of Charlie, you doofus. I’m just emotional because you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met. I love you, Brayden Schenn.”
“I love you too, future Mrs. Janine Schenn.” She giggles.
“I’ll see you when you get home, okay?”
“I can’t wait.”

As I hang up, I notice that I have a new group text from my captain.

G: ‘Cancel any plans you have for the night. Couts isn’t allowed to be alone. No exceptions.’

Notes

Gonna update the first few chapters pretty quick.