Chad was in Basic at Ft Bliss, Dene was in a natatorium in the middle of Indiana, and I was bored to tears with freshman intro classes in Corpus Christi. Thank goodness I'd wheedled my way into a 200-level Calculus class. I was taking the pre-requisite class at the same time, but I'd already used the same book in high school and aced the class then. That just frosted my ass! The damned school assumed I didn't know anything until I had THEIR class. English and Civics were likewise anemic. The Calculus, at least, took enough concentration to keep my mind off everything else.
And "everything else" had gained another dimension. My father had been transferred to California. Chad and Dene's folks had been transferred to St. Louis.
I knew something was up when Mom got the dean's office to deliver a message to me emphasizing I needed to be home for dinner. That just never happened. I spent the afternoon wondering what on earth was up, but my leading guess was that Mom and Dad were splitting up. There weren't any clear signs, but they had both been on edge, and heated conversations stopped suddenly when they knew I was within earshot. When I got there, Jan's car was outside too-a real family conference. My stomach sank.
I could smell Mom's chicken casserole in the oven and the table was set, but our parents were in the living room.
"Come on in girls." mom said. "Dad has some news that will affect us all."
"Dad?" Jan asked, "What's going on?"
"Are you guys getting a divorce?" I blurted, nearly in tears.
"Oh, Kitten! No! Oh, honey, I'm so sorry you thought that. Dad and I are fine, it's just, well. . ."
"I've accepted a transfer to Sharp," Dad said. "It's actually a promotion, but the thing is that I've been really afraid of being RIF'd here, and things look better at Sharp."
Mom and Dad both worked at ARADMAC-the "Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center." Dad was an "Equipment Specialist" and managed overhaul programs for stuff that went on Huey and Cobra helicopters. Dad had worked there as long as I could remember. Mom had begun working as a secretary when I got old enough to be left alone.
"I think Bob and Madge (Chad and Dene's parents) are probably going to be dealing with the same thing-I saw Bob in Personnel as I was leaving this afternoon, but we didn't get a chance to talk."
"Anyway," Mom continued, "Dad has to report to Sharp (Sharp Army Depot) in about 3 1/2 weeks, and we're putting the house on the market this week." "I'll live here and keep working until the house sells, then we'll move out to join him."
"Kitten, this will affect you more than Jan, but we wanted you both here to get the news together. Personally, I don't think the house will sell before your semester ends. If it does, we can probably delay closing until you're done. Then you can transfer to California."
"Whoa!" I gasped. "California?" "I'm trying to get enough worthwhile courses at Del Mar to transfer to Rice next year. I've already talked with them about my scholarship, and they said I can still get it. I don't want to move to California!"
"I know, hon, but with Chad and Dene gone, things have been pretty rough for you. It's been hard to miss. Dad and I worry that you're not quite ready to live on your own yet. We've worried and worried about all kinds of things if Dad got transferred, but that most of all. We really think you'd be better off to come with us, at least for the rest of the school year."
I glanced pleadingly at Jan. Mom caught my look and said: "And Jan, before you bring it up, we absolutely don't think it would be a good idea for Kathy to live with you while you and Tony are living together in, well, without being married. I don't want this to be an argument, but that's what we both think."
I saw Jan tense. She locked eyes with Mom for a moment, then glanced down, breathed out, and looked back up.
In a quiet, perfectly calm voice, Jan spoke: "It won't be an issue. Tony just got his Air Transport Rating and he's got job offers from Ozark and Delta. Neither of them will be based anywhere close to here. He'll probably be moving in a couple of weeks. I'd love it if Kath wanted to live with me, but above all, I think you need to realize she's not our little "Kitten" anymore. Let her think this through, make her own decision and trust her wisdom. Kath, you're tough and smart. Ask questions, think about this from all the angles you can. California might be the best spot. It's an important step, so don't shortcut anything, just balance everything out and make the call. All three of us love you more than you can ever know-we'll always support the path you choose." She stared directly at Mom as she spoke those last words, almost daring her to say otherwise.
The room was silent for a bit.
Mom broke the silence: "Thanks Jan. That was well-said. And we don't need to make a decision about Kathy tonight. We just wanted you to know about the move. And congratulations to Tony-that's a big step. And I really am sorry you'll be losing him. I really like him, just-well, you know." Mom and Jan had been at odds over "living in sin" with Tony for the 3 years since she found out. Good for both of them they didn't get sidetracked into that battle now.
The timer went off in the kitchen. The chicken casserole was great, as always, and it lifted our mood some, but the table was pretty quiet.
Later, Dad got a call from Bob. Dad's guess was right-Bob and Madge would be heading to AVSCOM, the Aviation Systems Command headquarters in St. Louis on pretty much the same timetable as Dad.
The house sold way sooner than Mom thought, but it turned out OK. In fact, it turned out great! I explored schools in California, but decided to stay put at Del Mar for the remainder of the school year and transfer to Rice at the beginning of my sophomore year. As soon as I announced my plan, JAN bought Mom and Dad's house and paid in cash. You could have knocked Dad over with a feather! They had no idea she had been so successful with her business. Jan moved in as soon as the movers hauled the folks' furniture out to California, then refurnished the place to her own taste. She offered me her old house, but I kept my room. The world felt like it was getting back on track. Jan rented out the old house, but told me I always had priority on it if I ever wanted a place of my own.
The real boost came right before Thanksgiving week. Jan was dressed to go out when I got home Friday night and gave me a quick kiss as she headed out the door to the garage. Chad was set to graduate from Basic Training tomorrow and thought he'd be "home" on Sunday to begin his leave. I put "home" in quotes because his parents were both in St. Louis. Their house was still on the market but all the furniture, including his and Dene's, had already been moved to St. Louis. Bob and Madge were expecting Chad and Dene for Thanksgiving in their new home, but Chad was stopping by Corpus to see me on the way. I'd been working on a way to travel with him to St. Louis but hadn't come up with the cash for a plane ticket yet. I was planning to devote tomorrow to some serious house-cleaning, baking and primping.
I heard the garage door go up and Jan's car start. I was back in the kitchen when I heard the door to the garage open again. "Forget something?" I yelled.
"I forgot how stunningly beautiful you are" said a male voice.
"BEEBEEEEEEEEEE!" I screamed, running full speed and leaping straight into his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my legs around his waist and squeezed for all I was worth. "OH, BeeBe-I can't believe you're really here" I said between sobs, smothering him in kisses."
"Surprised?" Jan's voice asked behind me. I glanced around to see Jan leaning in the doorway with Tony hugging her from behind.
"YES!YES!YES!" I said, still hanging like a monkey from Chad's frame. "How-What-"
Chad answered. "I called Monday to let you know graduation was this morning instead of tomorrow, but you weren't home and Jan took the call. It kind of went from there."
