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As I expected, my
father follows me. “Have you thought this through,
Max?”  
    I lay James down to change his diaper then
look up at my father. “I have. Emma worries non-stop about me and I
want to be involved in my son’s life.” 
    “ Max, the military can offer
you and your family a great living and unlimited free education,
and you can travel and see the world at no cost to
you.” 
    “ Dad, I know that. I want
all those things for my family. I would do anything for Emma and for James. Please try
to understand, and I mean no disrespect to you or the military. I
have a wife I love more than myself and a son I would kill for. I
just want to be with them. I don’t want to look back on my life in
20 years and wonder where the time went. I don’t want to count how
many of my son’s birthdays I missed.”  
    My dad stands tall without slouching and
squares his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I wanted to be there for you and
your mother.” 
    “ No, dad, it’s fine. You did
what you thought was right and it worked out for us as a family. We
had a good military life and I had a great childhood because we did
travel and move a lot. I saw some amazing places and met some
amazing people. But now, I want to do what Emma and I feel is right
for our family. I hope you can understand that.” I look at my dad
and add, “I want to be home with them and be present in James’
life. I’m not sure the Army is right for me to do that. I love
being a soldier and I will miss it, but I will miss seeing James
and Emma more.” 
    Dad walks over and sits beside me on the
couch. “I have always been proud of you, but I don’t think I have
ever been more proud of you than I am right now.” 
    “ Thank
you.” 
    At that time Emma and mom walk into the room
smiling.  
    “ Two years will fly by in no
time,” mom says.  
    “ Look at what has happened
in the last two years. We got married, joined the service, got
pregnant, and became parents,” Emma says, looking at me, and then
she looks at our son. “I guess time does fly.” 
    Later that night, I am unable to sleep. I am
surprised to see my dad sitting at the dining room table. “Can’t
sleep either, huh?” I ask.  
    My dad is already dressed and I wonder if he
is up for the day. 
    “ I was hoping to have a
chance to talk to you in private,” my dad says, looking up from his
coffee cup. 
    “ I was wanting to talk to
you as well,” I say, taking a seat across from
him. 
    “ I just wanted to make sure
you are ready for your deployment.” 
    “ Well, I think I have
everything I need.”  
    “ Are you mentally ready? Are
you ready to go over there and fight for your
country?” 
    “ I am. I love Emma and James
more than anything in this world. The Army has informed us of the
dangers that invade the Middle East at present. I plan to go over
there and do what I have to do to protect Emma and James and my
country, but I also plan to come home alive when it’s done and over
with.” 
    My dad nods and drinks the rest of his
coffee. “Well, it sounds like you have it all worked out. I am very
proud to call you my son.” 
    “ Thank you. I need you to do
something for me while I’m gone. I know they said the deployment
would be in six months, but I think you and I both know what the
meeting will be about tomorrow.” 
    “ An earlier deployment. Go
ahead, I’m listening.” 
    “ I need you to make sure
Emma and James are taken care of while I’m gone.” My dad nods but
doesn’t say anything. “I increased my life insurance policy the
other day, and if something happens to me I want you to make sure
that Emma and James get every benefit from the Army they are
entitled to.”  
    “ Son, I will. Don’t worry
about her and James. If the time comes for those things, I won’t
let them fall through the cracks.” 
    “ Thank you. 
    Emma
    Max went to work today at 6:00 a.m. and I am
staying home with his mom and dad. His dad actually left with