A Different Way To Finding Each Other

Overseas

"What's going on Sir?" Nate Adams asked. It could be transferred to a new base or sent packing overseas. He gulped and they both sounded bad. His family was in Mission Bay and he didn't want to have to move. But orders were orders.

"You are going back to Iraq," Admiral Shane Wilcox replied. Nate's eyes went wide.

"Iraq? How long?" he asked. He was shocked since he thought he was done with the whole overseas aspect of the military. Guess I was wrong he thought bitterly. He thought of his family and especially his mama, sister and niece. His Niece Callie was a tad bit sensitive. A tad bit? She was overly sensitive. She would not take this well at all.

"A year," he said. "You know the drill."

"I do sir," Nate added. He sighed and went back to work and groaned and wondered what he was going to tell his parents and the rest of his family. "Mama and dad first," he said in a glum tone and look. "Then everyone else. On second thought mama first."

A few hours later, "Mama?" Nate asked as he walked into her office at The University of California San Diego. "Mama?"

"Hi baby boy. "What's wrong?" she asked since he never comes to see her at work. She was curious, scared and worried all wrapped in one. But more scared and worried that was the mama in her.

"Can't a son come see her mama without something wrong?" he asked in a huge fake smile.

"Nathan Daniel Adams!" she replied. "I didn't give birth you. But I raised you since you were a baby. Spill."

"I'm being sent to Iraq for a year. I leave in two weeks."

"A year?" she asked. "Why?"

"It's my career mama and my orders," he told her as she nodded. "I have to follow my orders. Like Stef who is cop has to follow hers."

"I'm scared and worried," she replied. He knew she was a tough cookie to handle with bad news or not bad just unpleasant. "Plus Stef is not my child. You are."

"How? I haven't even left yet," he teased. She started to cry and he hugged her hard. "Don't cry."

"I can't help it. You are my baby boy," she said. "A whole year gone."

"No," she replied. "You aren't a parent. When you become one you will understand and know what I go through."

He rolled his eyes and she gave him the look and playfully whacked his arm. He gave a fake whine and sighed. "That hurt mama," he teased.

"That hurt?" she asked. "You haven't seen my heart baby boy. That hurts."

"How about lunch?" he asked.

"Yes and I want Korean Barbecue," she replied. He nodded and smiled.

Nate eyed his family minus the kids. They were at The Riviera Rossi home for a few hours. He eyed his parents, his sister, his sister-in-law, Robert, and his Papa Thomas and sighed.

"Mama knows what this is about since I told her first," he replied. Lena eyed her mama and knew she had been crying. And Lena was scared and worried too as she eyed her big brother.

"I um going to Iraq for a year. Maybe longer," he replied.

"Iraq?" Lena asked. "For a year?"

"Yes I got my orders today," he replied. "I leave the first week of May."

"How do we tell the kids?" Robert asked.

"With the truth. AJ will be used to this and maybe Jack. The big twins too. Not sure about the rest of them," Nate replied. "Especially Callie."