Corpsman and the Nerd (12 page)

She’s pretty
unforgettable, I know. We took to calling her The General behind
her back... Well, Lainy called her that to her face, and General
Emma thinks it’s funny, so we all use it now. And the nomenclature
is surprisingly fitting.

Anyway, I called the
general and she came up with a great idea. From what I gathered,
she’d been thinking about it anyway, so here’s the
scoop...

KC finished the rest of the e-mail and
laughed for the first time in days. Since Admiral Rich O’Riley was
currently on her base, and Mitch had told her he was approachable
and friendly, she thought she better go talk to him.

Mitch had also explained that the
admiral knew about Emma, and actually seemed fascinated by her.
Emma and Rich met via e-mail when she made arrangements to house
the Admiral’s dog, Rocky. Admiral O’Riley was therefore as
connected to the Morrison family as she herself. KC thought he
would appreciate hearing the news she brought.

Since KC knew this indomitable woman
well (yes, she was absolutely unforgettable), and loved Emma, she
thought telling the admiral about the new Morrison General could be
a good thing. Besides, this news might help morale, and if the good
tidings came from an admiral, especially Rich O’Riley, a man
everyone liked and respected, perhaps their jobs would be a little
easier.

“
You want to speak to the
admiral?” the woman behind the desk asked, her eyes
wide.

“
Yes. If you could please
inform him Lieutenant Commander Gilmore would like to speak with
him?” KC repeated.

“
Okay, Doctor,” the woman
said, her eyebrows nearly in her hairline, a definite moue around
her lips. “I’m sorry to bother you, Admiral, but I’ve got a LT Cmdr
Gilmore to see you? Yes, sir, I’ll send her in, sir.”

The woman hung up the phone and
gestured for KC to enter the office. If one could call their
temporary-accommodations-with-a-door an office. KC nodded politely
to the woman and after a brisk knock, entered the room and
saluted.

The admiral rose to his feet, saluted
her in turn, and gestured for her to be seated. He was in his early
fifties, but still bore the lean and muscled body of a man half his
age. There was no denying Rich O’Riley, with his masculine chiseled
features, reddish hair, and piercing eyes was handsome. “LT Cmdr
Gilmore, how may I help you?”

KC was grateful for his manners. She’d
been barked at enough to understand why this man was so well
respected. Not that Admiral Richard O’Riley couldn’t bark when he
needed to, but he didn’t need to at the moment, and she appreciated
his restraint.

“
I’m KC Gilmore, sir. I’m
sure you’ve heard of the Morrison family?”

“
Of course, Mitch Monahan
married a Morrison woman, and another one has my dog.”

“
That’s right. Mitch’s
wife’s brother, Max Morrison, is my business partner and he’s
taking care of my son and dog while I’m here.”

“
Ah, the Morrison family
strikes again.” KC liked the satisfaction and slight affection she
saw in his eyes.

She laughed. “Yes, they have. Max’s
mother and aunts came and packed up all my things, and his brothers
and cousins came and moved it all. Max and my son cooked up the
idea of them living together while I’m here.” She thought about Max
and her stomach flipped at the thought of all he and his family had
already done for her.

“
I take it you didn’t come
just to tell me that,” the admiral said sagely.

“
No. I lost my first
patient, Lieutenant Lance James,” she started, but tears welled in
her throat and she swallowed before taking a deep breath. Admiral
O’Riley gave her the time she needed. He nodded when she mentioned
the Marine’s name. “A good man,” he murmured and she recognized her
sorrow on his face. That helped her to regain composure.

“
I wrote Max,” she said,
battling her emotions and winning, “because I knew Lieutenant James
left behind a wife and three children and I couldn’t imagine how
they’ll cope.” She paused to take a deep breath.

“
They’ll probably live one
day at a time,” he answered, his voice soft and
compassionate.

“
Yes. I suppose my grief
must have been fairly evident in my e-mail because Max called his
Aunt Emma.”

“
Ah, the force of nature?”
She liked the gleam in his eye.

“
Yes. And she is. She’s
about five feet tall, and maybe a hundred pounds, but if you step
in her path, you’re getting knocked over!”

Admiral O’Riley laughed. “That’s what
I’ve heard.”

“
Well, some of them started
calling her General,” his bark of laughter encouraged her, “but
Mitch’s wife, Lainy, called her General to her face, and Emma
thought it was funny. General Emma doesn’t take offense easily.
She’s an amazing woman.” KC shook her head and smiled as she
remembered her own interactions with Max’s aunt.

“
What has that woman done
now?” She heard fondness, and a personal affection again in his
tone.

“
Well, you know she and
Lainy weren’t able to keep Bentley and Rocky apart and they made
some puppies?” Mischief rose like an imp inside and KC tamped the
troublemaker down. Right now probably wasn’t the time.

He nodded and rolled his
eyes.

She grinned, but continued. “Well,
Emma hit on an idea, since they’ve had close to fifty offers on the
new batch of puppies.”

His eyebrows disappeared.
“
Fifty
?”

“
At least that many,” she
confirmed, nodding to add credence to her statement. “And these
haven’t even been born yet.”

“
Fifty?” he muttered and
shook his head.

“
General Emma decided to
start up a fund. It’s called the Bent Rock Foundation in honor of
Bentley and Rocky and the foundation’s purpose will be to raise
funds for the families of military persons who die in battle or any
who need further assistance. General Emma plans to auction off the
puppies and all proceeds, plus any other funds obtained, will go
toward the foundation.”

“
Auction off the puppies?”
The gleam in his eyes made her grin.

“
Oh yes. From what Max tells
me, she’s already cranking with publicity. And ever since, funds
and donations have poured in from local businesses and residents.
Schools are holding car washes, and ladies groups are holding bake
sales. Sounds like it’s already a big production.”

“
Emma could run an entire
branch of the military. So this wouldn’t be a problem.”

“
Emma could run the
country,” KC offered dryly and he chuckled.

“
So she’s going to auction
off Rocky’s newest batch of puppies.” He leaned back in his seat
and stroked his chin.

KC leaned forward in her seat. “Yes.
I’m going to e-mail Max and have him video tape the entire thing. I
definitely want to see this.”

The admiral straightened abruptly in
his chair. “I hope you’ll invite me?”

“
Of course. I’ll let you
know once it comes.”

“
I would love to see her in
action.”

“
General Emma is a sight to
behold,” KC agreed and she rose from her chair, saluted, and turned
to leave.

“
Is this something I can
tell the camp?” His voice stopped her at the door.

KC turned and smiled. “I think this
news would go a long way to increasing morale.”

“
You’re right, Dr. Gilmore,
you’re definitely right.”

Chapter 16

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: You’re
wonderful!

Dearest Max,

You’re the most awesome of
men! I went to our admiral and told him what you and General Emma
have done. (Emma has his dog, Rocky.) He was quite happy, like me,
to learn of this new foundation. He’ll speak to everyone here about
your efforts because something like The Bent Rock Foundation raises
morale.

Knowing you, who we leave
behind, are planning to help our military personnel and their
families makes all the difference. It helps us to know that if we
fail to win against the Grim Reaper, our patients’ family will be
taken care of, at least. That means so much to us. To know you
care. Thank you!

I think the admiral may
have a thing for General Emma. I can’t be certain, but could you
look into the situation on your end? He’s never been married, and
neither has she, right? Could be quite interesting. You know your
aunt pretty well, so send me the scoop.

Now, I’m off to dinner. I’m
feeling quite a lot better than I was the last time you received
e-mail from me. And it’s your fault, just so you know!

Thanks, Max, again for
taking care of me. You’ve got my son and my dog, and you still take
on my issues and concerns and fears. Not too many friends would be
willing to do so.

You’re pretty special to
me.

Thank you,

KC

P.S. Please tell Ryan I
love him.

P.S.S I hope you guys are
eating other foods besides hot dogs. I don’t really consider hot
dogs food, by the way. That’s why you didn’t find them in the
recipe book I left. So, please, for the sake of my sanity throw in
some hamburger and chicken, okay?


KC sent the message and then stood.
Janine nearly bumped into her and they grappled to stay
upright.

“
Hello!” KC laughed as she
grabbed Janine’s arms and Janine held onto hers.

“
Tight corners,” Janine said
her grin broad and white. KC endured yet another surge of envy at
the smooth lines of Janine’s face. None of them had been able to
determine her age. Her West Indies heritage had blessed her with
ageless chocolate brown skin and large, silken amber eyes. Her
voice contained a faint island cadence that was rhythmic and
soothing, perfect for her line of work.

So far in this tour, Janine had lost
the least amount of patients. Therefore, even the more veteran
doctors listened when she made a suggestion. There was an undefined
power coursing through Janine that everyone from the patients to
the most senior staff responded to. And something rang familiar
about her, but KC couldn’t define why.

Janine was tall and slender and
elegant, with presence. Perhaps that explained her undefined power
– it was latent charisma maybe. KC still couldn’t identify it, but
Janine possessed a little extra something. Yet it was hard to hate
Janine because she also brought a wicked sense of humor and utter
calm with her. And she was genuinely nice.

“
That’s it!” KC
yelped.

Janine’s eyes widened and she arched a
delicate brow. “What’s it?” She sounded dubious, but being the
friend she was, didn’t run screaming from their
quarters.

“
You remind me of my friend
Max,” she answered, enlightenment swirling in awe of this new
revelation. That was part of what made Janine seem familiar,
anyway. She decided. Janine also looked like someone she knew, but
KC couldn’t place who.

“
Max?” Janine asked. They
finally dropped their arms and now Janine moved around to her cot
and tugged something out from beneath it.

“
Yeah, my business partner
and the man who is currently taking care of my son and
dog.”

“
You’ve reproduced?” KC
heard the amusement in Janine’s words and sent her a mock quelling
look.

“
No, my brother did, but
he’s a loser. No, that’s not fair. He’s unreliable, and gave me his
not even week old son. I’ve had Ryan ever since.”

“
Ah. So you’re a mom, but
you didn’t have any of the fun getting there.” Janine
nodded.

“
Well, motherhood is fun.
Frustrating and infuriating sometimes too, but definitely
fun.”

Janine stared at her for a moment
before turning back to her footlocker. “I’m going for dinner, want
to come?”

“
Yes. Goodness knows you
have to be hungry to eat this slop, and I’m there now.”

“
I’m with you, girlfriend,”
Janine said and they exchanged cheeky grins before making their way
to the mess hall. After they ate, mystery meat with dubious side
dishes, they sauntered back across the grounds to their
quarters.

A delivery truck arrived and KC
received her first package, much to her delight. Mitch and Lainy
Monahan, the return address read. A small thrill coursed through
her.

“
You got a package?” Janine
hefted one too.

“
Yes. From Max’s
sister.”

“
You’re pretty close to his
family then?”

“
Oh, yeah. He’s my best
friend.”

“
Ah.”

“
Mitch, Lainy’s husband, was
over here for a year. She took in his dog while he was
deployed.”

“
How long had they known
each other before he left?” She heard a note of interest in
Janine’s voice.