Free Forever by Jeff Holmes Page A

lock eye contact with Scott.
    As he listened to the officers drone on about “Duty, Honor, Country” from the reviewing stand, Scott’s thoughts wandered. In some ways, things had happened so quickly in the last few months for him and Roni. They had gone from being friends to being lovers to planning the next few years together in Kansas. Was it too fast?
    But at the same time, it really hadn’t been. They had been together forever and he had loved her for as long as he could remember.
    Last night, Roni had asked him to make love to her forever. Forever sounded incredible. They were each other’s best friends and Scott never wanted to be apart from her. And from Rick and Maggie’s wedding on, it appeared they might not be apart ever again.
    As the new graduates of basic training were about to march off, Scott looked at his sweet lady. “I love you,” he mouthed to her.
    She tenderly put her hand over her heart. She must have been thinking exactly the same thing.
    The next few hours went by too fast. They marched back to Fifth Brigade for their farewell dinner at the mess hall; steaks and shrimp, and all the fixings, for everyone. Roni and Scott sat with the Days, the Pepitones, the Perrsons, and Carl and his wife at one big table. Talk was light and breezy and everyone was so relaxed. After lunch, they walked out of the mess hall for the last time together.
    It was 1300 hours and the bus to San Antonio wasn’t leaving until 1630. Roni wanted to wait to leave when Scott did, but he wanted her to get on the road. “You don’t like to drive in the dark,” he reminded her. “If you leave by 2:00, you’ll make it to Manhattan before it gets dark.”
    “But I want to leave when you do,” she protested.
    The Days were leaving by 1400, so it was decided Roni would follow them off the post. They would head east up I-44 to St. Louis for their 1700 flight back to L.A.; Roni would head northwest to the roads that would take her to Kansas City, and finally to Manhattan and Kansas State University.
    Sgt. Alexander let her and Mollie into one of operations shack offices to change clothes. They came out giggling and both went over and gave Alexander a hug.
    “Thank you,” Roni said.
    Ever the southern gentleman, Alexander tipped his hat once last time. “Ladies, it’s an honor to have met you.”
    Scott helped Roni load the last of her stuff into the car. He put his guitar case in the front seat and stuck an old fatigue cap on the top of it.
    “What,” Roni said, “is that supposed to be?”
    “It’s your passenger,” Dale said. “It doesn’t look like you’re alone. That’s a great idea, Scott.”
    Just then, the tender moment was broken.
    “Ladies, ladies, Nolan Moreland III at your service, but you can call me Slick Man,” he said, wandering into the middle of the group. “I’m the man with the plan and all the women in his hands, but you can understand, because I am Slick Man.”
    He then kissed Roni and Mollie each on the hand and as he walked away, he turned to the guys and said, “Don’t forget, boys, the infantry always has your back!”
    “What,” asked Cheryl, “was that?”
    “We’ve never been sure,” Andy said.
    Roni hugged Dale and Cheryl and thanked them for everything. Scott shook hands with both of them, but Cheryl had to hug him. “Thanks for being his friend,” she said.
    “My pleasure,” he said.
    Mollie gave him a hug as Roni was hugging Andy. “We’re going to see you again, right?” she asked.
    “You’d better believe it,” Scott said.
    Roni was talking quietly to Andy and he was smiling and nodding. Then Roni and Mollie hugged like long-lost sisters. They had already planned on swapping the guys’ addresses once they settled in. Roni had done the same thing with Mary Esposito. The boys in ‘San Antone’ were going to be able to stay in touch with their missing compadres. Roni had made herself the D-5-2 social director.
    The rest of the guys were there, saying