The Maroon Beret

-Sean-
As I sit in the hotel dining room in Chicago with my team, I can’t help but tap my foot impatiently. I practically inhaled my food in about two minutes as soon as I sat down, and was more than ready to go back to my room and wait for my computer to ring. But my stupid captain had taken the key to my room, saying I had to socialize with everyone during dinner before I disappeared. I felt like a kid being scolded by his mother. I don’t need to “socialize with my team,” I need to talk to my fiancee. But I guess you can’t argue with your captain, right? As long as I’m not late getting up there and miss her call. Then I’ll have to kill him. Time was ticking down and my heart beat was getting faster. I always get like this on days when she’s supposed to call. Impulsive, energetic, and antsy. I can’t help it, I’m just so excited to talk to her. I haven’t heard her voice since she told me she got shot.

This time my impulsivity and hyperactivity is even worse than usual, since she gets to Skype with me instead of just a normal phone call. The guys are making fun of me for my behaviors, as usual, but I just ignore them. Instead, I play with the ring on my chain as I wait to be excused. Even though they’re allowed to wear engagement and wedding rings on deployment, Charlie had asked me to hold onto it for her. She was afraid something would happen to it, and wanted it to be safe. At first I was a little disappointed that she wouldn’t be wearing it, but I understand why she made that decision. And now it gives me something to hold onto when I’m missing her most.

With about ten minutes left before I was expecting my call, G finally gives me back my key and I practically fly back upstairs to my room. I’m in the middle of shucking off my suit when my computer alerts me that someone is trying to Skype with me. Pants be damned, I immediately press the accept button and wait for her face to be on my screen. It feels like I’m left waiting for an hour before it finally connects and I can see my beautiful fiancee. She laughs when she sees me half-dressed and I blush.
“Hi baby.” I say, unbuttoning my shirt and pulling it off. I’m now left just in my boxer briefs.
“Sean.” She breathes, her eyes darken as they roam from my head to my toes and back up again. I feel myself twitch to life. Just one look and she drives me crazy. That’s definitely one of the harder parts of her deployment, if you pardon my pun. But she’s worth waiting for. I mean, it’s not like I’ve gone completely dry anyway. I’ve got a couple fantastic pictures of her that are helping me get through it.

“Not that I’m complaining, but why are you almost naked?” She asks, still scanning my body.
“I was changing out of my suit when you called.” I respond honestly, grabbing a pair of shorts from my suitcase and stepping into them. I sit down at the desk and let out a deep breath. “How are you, Charlie?” I ask. “And tell me the truth, because I can see the dark circles around your eyes.”

She sighs sadly and all I want to do is wrap my arms around her. “I’m exhausted, Sean.” She admits. “I worked fourteen hours straight today, and went on eight calls.” That’s a lot more than normal. “Three bombs, five gunshots. They all lived, thankfully. But it was just one after another and we hardly got any time to rest in between.” I was so distracted by actually seeing Charlie that I had totally forgotten about her own wound.
“Can I see it?” I ask, timidly. I really don’t want to see where someone almost put a bullet through her, but I have to. She nods and takes off her long sleeved quarter zip, leaving her in just a tank top.

Just then, half on my team mates come barging through the door, my room mate leading the pack. They all pile onto the bed behind me and shout their greetings to Charlie. She giggles and says hello back before returning her attention to the bandage on her left shoulder. She peels it back and I can see the wound clearly. I suck in a breath and my heart races. It’s still kinda bloody, but I can tell it’s starting to heal.
“Damn girl! That’s sick!” Someone shouts from behind me. She chuckles slightly, but her eyes remain connected with mine. Her eyebrows silently ask me if I’m okay, and I shrug my shoulders. I’m happy to see her alive, and I’m happier to see that there really isn’t much damage. But it hurts. Before now, I could pretend that it was all just a bad joke. She didn’t really get shot. But now I’ve seen the wound and I know it’s real. My girl got shot.
“So how are you guys doing?” She asks us, putting the bandage back over it and throwing her quarter zip back on. “I haven’t had much time to get online so I have no idea what’s going on in the real world.” I hear my teammates laugh behind me.
“We’ve won six, lost two in regulation, and lost one in overtime.” I say.
“But your fiancee is tearing it up!” Hartsy butts in. “Nine games, eight goals, nine assists!” The boys hoot and I can feel my face get red.
“Baby, that’s amazing!” Charlie says, smiling. “I’m so proud of you. Are you trying to win the Art Ross Trophy?” She jokes. I shrug, but I have to smile. She’s proud of me.

Someone on her side says something to her and her face falls a bit. “I’ve only got five more minutes.” She says sadly. The guys get the message and quickly say goodbye, filing out the door. Brayden sticks by my side until the last person leaves.
“I’m gonna hop in the shower now, but I just wanted to ask you something real quick.” He says to her. “Janine wanted me to ask you if you would be willing to be one of her bridesmaids for our wedding.”
She smiles. “Of course I would!” She says. “Tell Janine I’ll do anything for her.”
He reaches for his phone and types out a message before bidding her goodbye and heading for the bathroom.

“I don’t want you to go.” I say honestly, feeling my eyes start to water.
“I don’t want to have to go.” She responds. We stare at each other for a minute. “Sean, can you promise me one thing?” She asks. I nod my head. “Please don’t worry about me so much. I know you’re having a rough time right now.” My eyes shoot up and question her. “G emailed me.” She explains. “Baby, you can’t shut yourself off from everything except hockey just because I’m gone. It’s not healthy.” I sigh.
“I’m thinking about finding a local support group.” I admit. “I just don’t know how to function without you here.” Her face is sad and there are tears in her eyes.
“I think that sounds wonderful. Sean, I know it’s hard for you. It’s hard for me too. But I’ll be home soon. Before the all-star break. Then I will retire from active duty and we will have all the time in the world to plan our wedding, get married, and start a family together.” It sounds perfect. Truly, that’s all I want in life. “After you win the Cup, of course.” She adds with a smile.
“If that’s what you want, Charlie, that’s what I’ll get you.” She blushes.
“How are you so perfect?” She asks me.
“You’re crazy if you think I’m the perfect one in this relationship.” I respond, making her blush even harder. I love doing that to her. I know her time is almost up. “Is there anything you want me to send you?” She normally says no, but I always ask before we hang up. Surprising me, she doesn’t say no.
“One of your hoodies would be nice. Or a shirt. Something that smells like you. I spilled juice on the one I have and had to wash it. Now it doesn’t smell like you anymore.” I nod. Of course I’ll do that.
“Anything for you, my love.”

Notes