Chapter 26
Home to a new future
Afternoon, Friday, August 17th
Maria....
Our two SUVs arrived at San Diego International and stopped at the private aircraft terminal and we walked through the terminal out to my Gulfstream. As the Hunter women entered the plane, I could hear the 'oohs' and 'ahhs' as they settled into the plush leather seats of the plane.
Turning toward Michael, I asked, "Michael, are you sure this is what you want? Your mother gave me a list of things that you are to do. Some of them are harsh. Are you going to have a problem with that? There's no turning back once you get on that airplane.
"If you say 'no', I'll understand and help you get back into the Navy. It will hurt but I'd rather be hurt now than later. Tell me."
"Mistress... if you remember, I was attracted to you the moment I saw you. In the time we've been apart, I've been miserable. I couldn't think of anything but being with you... and that's dangerous on an aircraft carrier.
"Yes, we've known each other only a short while but I hope we think alike.
"We both understand what the military is like and we both want and hope for the same things. As long as you care for me as you do right now, we'll be OK... better than OK. We can... we will keep this spark alive, you and I. I love you, Mistress, I really do and will do whatever you want no matter what it might be. I've been taught that men are to serve women and accepted that. It will give me comfort to know that I can serve you.
"I am still surprised at how my entire life has changed in the last few hours. I had once expected to spend the rest of my life caring for my mother and sisters but now things will be different. Instead of trying to please five different women with different desires, I will only have to serve you and Mistress Alessa and for that I am truly grateful."
"All right, Michael, if this is what you really want."
"If you two lovebirds are finished, the pilot says we have to leave now."
"All right, Brianna, we're coming." The sooner I could get him away from these little bitches the better. Their attitude toward their brother had not changed even though he was mine, now. I knew I was going to have to take charge of this little group before they felt they could 'gang up' on me through sheer numbers alone.
After we entered the plane, the co-pilot secured the cabin door.
"Sorry, Colonel, but if we don't leave now it will be a two hour wait... and after flying to San Francisco and back this morning we'd just like to get out of here."
"That's OK, don't worry about it.... I just want to go home."
Turning to my new 'family,' "Make sure you are buckled in correctly, this plane handles like a fighter jet." I shuddered as I remembered my flight to and from the carrier; this was much better.
After waiting for a 737, we lifted off and headed north along the coastline. The Hunter girls had flown a few times but never in such splendor. Their excitement reminded me of Alessa's description of her first flight on the Gulfstream as we both sat in Fiscelli's hospital room one night.
I walked back to sit next to Michael's mother. "Are you all right, Mrs. Hunter? Would you like something to drink, perhaps?"
"Oh, no, dear. We're stuffed from that fabulous steakhouse. And please, if you want, call me 'mom' or... something... we're your family now, for good or bad, I guess."
"You don't know how happy that makes me." Was I being honest or not, especially to myself? I began to relate how my father had treated me like a possession and my mother did nothing to support me.
When I was done, I looked up and saw Michael's sisters looking at me in astonishment. Until now, the military had been my family, strict and unforgiving, but still a family.
They, on the other hand, after the death of their father, had controlled the family's life with their own insane desires.
"Maria, dear, Michael is just who you need. This will work out wonderfully. You won't have to worry about him doing something you don't want."
As much as that sounded interesting and was probably meant to be comforting, I knew that as soon as I could move them away from Michael, Alessa and I were going to try and rehab him to the best of our abilities.
The plane soon began its descent to Point Magu Naval Air Station and once again kissed the ground. The two pilots once again proved their abilities that I had once taken for granted. After the crash in Hawaii, I knew better.
"Thank you, gentlemen, for another safe flight."
"Say, uh... Colonel, any chance of getting an introduction?"
"Slow down, flyboy... let's let these girls get settled before you two coming fooling around. I'm sure they're not the type you're used to." 'That's for sure... probably chew you up and spit you out... and you'd come back looking for more.'
"Well... maybe we want to settle down."
'Not with these ones, you don't. You're both real men. I'm going to have to remember that.' "If you're good boys, then I'll think about it. Knuckleheads!" 'Like I'm going to do that... I like these guys.'
One of the Corporation's vans was waiting for us near the plane. The driver took the Hunters' bags and led the women away.
"Good afternoon, Colonel. Was your visit to San Diego productive?"
I tried to smile for an answer but it seemed hollow and I got into the front seat. A drive along Pacific Coast Highway and up into the coastal mountains... and we arrived.
The size of the complex awed the Hunters. After getting them signed in and arranging identification, I took them up to my floor.
Opening the apartment suite's door, I stood back. "Welcome to my little home."
Brianna, very politely, asked me to pay attention. "Michael, corner."
The former Navy commander took his place kneeling in the corner facing the wall. To me, it seemed ludicrous that a man in uniform would subject himself to such humiliation but the years of constant conditioning by his mother and sisters had done their work on his ego.
"See how that works, Maria. Give him specific commands inside the apartment and he will immediately respond. You need to watch what happens outside these walls, though. You don't want people to wonder what's going on, for his protection as well as yours."
The apartment was tastefully decorated with souvenirs from my trips with Jim and the Corps. Photographs of strange places covered the walls and in several, if you looked hard enough, you could just make out my image in the desert.
"Iraq?" Brianna asked.
"Iran... it's where I met the general." I looked to see three sisters speaking with Michael and became uneasy. "He was qualified as a Marine sniper; so am I. We were out there a little over two months and took out a number of the Al Qaeda leadership in northern Iran. It was the biggest high I ever had."
Brianna moved to several paintings, looking closely at the signatures. "Are these?"
"Yes, they both were gifts from Jim... I was reading a book on Van Gogh and he bought them last Christmas. He... I... he was in love with me but the whole military situation stopped him cold. It was just one of those things we didn't have control over."
