Like all Navy Seals, Frankie was in his element at Dam Neck Beach, but more specifically, on this day his mission was with his family. Lieutenant Leonardo epitomized the Seal persona as dashing and muscular with an overflowing cup of charisma. Today he was teaching his three-year-old recruit, Austin, survival techniques in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sara, the very curvaceous, beautiful brunette, and patient wife of Frankie, was settled up under her umbrella, reading a romance novel. Occasionally, she would glance over her book to observe her big kid, Frankie, and her little kid, Austin, playing in the sand. She would chuckle inside, thinking that her bigger kid was more of a handful.
“Frankie, let Austin use his own imagination.”
“Just trying to get it right so the bad guys can’t break through.”
She grinned big. “I’m sure. He’s just a boy, as are you. Don’t you think we should go? It’s cooling off, and I don’t want him to catch a chill.”
With a wink and a smile Frankie fired back. “Yes, we do have to conduct some sheet operations before I leave tomorrow.”
Frankie scooped Austin into his arms and headed to the water. Sara heard a blood-curdling scream as they hit the water.
“Frankie, it’s cold!”
“Sara, I’ve got to get the sand off. Besides, I don’t want him to grow up to be a pussy.”
“Time to go, and you know that I hate that word.”
They gathered their gear and headed toward the parking lot. As soon as Sara was in striking distance, she dope slapped Frankie. He unsuccessfully tried to outmaneuver her hand.
“Now who’s the wimp?”
The trip home was filled with silence. Each was reluctant to face the next morning with words. Instead, they stowed the beach gear, toted the little sleeping recruit to bed, and worked steadily to complete the chores in preparation for departure day. Sara went upstairs and lay across the bed watching her sailor stuffing his duffel bag with more clothes than it would hold.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Get so much in that bag.”
“It’s all in the folding my dear.”
“I guess.”
He stuffed the last webbed belt into the duffel bag while Sara began stripping for the shower. Frankie lay across the bed at this point, propped up his chin and asked, “Mind if I watch?”
“Well sailor, you can help me get some of the sand out of the hard to reach places.”
She didn’t have to offer twice. Before she could close the shower door he had his clothes off with soap in hand.
“Okay, start at my shoulders and work your way down.”
“I think I’ve got this well under control, Missy.”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s the Marines that I have to give instructions to.”
“Real funny.”
He began to lather the washcloth, and then proceeded as instructed.
“Yes, right there.”
“I was thinking lower.”
“Now, do it right, Frankie.”
“Circles, I think circles. Relax your shoulders and go with the flow, Sweetheart. Daddy’s in control now.”
As he moved down her back with the cloth, he reached around to lather her breasts.
“And you are breaking your move on me now?”
“Shhhhh. Go with it.”
She was standing in front of him now leaning against the glass. He steadily migrated south to the Promised Land. She would always drive him wild when she puffed her sweet round cheeks against his groin. Then it was Katy bar the door after that. Neither could stand it. They stayed in the shower until the water began to cool. They rinsed, dried, and retreated to the bed. It wasn’t long before the two engaged their bodies again with Sara in control. It was understood in their marriage, there may not be a tomorrow.
The mantra of the warriors who are always on the edge of death missions is normally live life to the fullest. That mantra in this case would be demonstrating his intense love for his wife. Then, there would never be any regrets of ever having fallen short. They would collapse in each other’s arms, exhausted from the intensity of giving themselves, to an afterglow that would remain until the next time.
After a while, she rolled to her side. He saddled up behind her in a spooning fashion with his arm around her, enjoying the afterglow.
“What time are you leaving?”
“About zero dark thirty.”
“That tells me a lot. He began to touch her again, wanting more. "Is that all you think about? You know that I get antsy every time you go, especially on your secret squirrel trips.”
“Baby, I am one well-trained machine. I'll always be back here for you and the maggot.”
“Why would you pick the most dangerous job in the world? It would be nice to have a semi-normal life with you. It gets hard with just Austin.”
“See, you're never alone.”
“Funny… You know what I mean. You get to run off everywhere and travel. Well, you know. You’re always busy and don’t have time to miss us.”
He pulled her toward him, and she cried.
“I miss you guys every day. I can’t imagine hurting you or not being here. We have our whole lives ahead of us. I love you more than you can imagine. You and Austin make my life what it is.”
“Then promise you will come back in one piece, please?”
“I promise.”
He got up to turn off the bathroom light and then opened the shades to let the moonlight shine on their naked bodies. They held each other tightly and eventually drifted off to sleep.