Maybe she can help me out. Yeah, you’re probably right.” He smiled.
*****
It was after 11 p.m. when Lena and Bill walked back from the classroom to the Communications building. The group meeting educating everyone on Chinese military and defense capabilities went for almost three hours. When the meeting ended, people were happy to get back to the “hotel” as the consultants were all calling it now. Raindrops began to fall as the outskirts of a thundercloud grazed the island.
Bill had approached Lena immediately after the night meeting in the classroom. She was very understanding and suggested they go sit down and discuss it further. Bill had a good feeling. Women were just better that way. They understood the importance of family. Maybe that was because they bore children. Bill remembered one of his macho-man, hard-ass commanding officers back in the Air Force that had denied his leave chit during Desert Shield. That forced Bill to miss the birth of his second child. That guy was a jerk. But Lena seemed much more understanding.
They reached the Comms Building and Lena went to type her code into the digital keypad next to the door. She looked over at Bill and then typed with her body positioned so that he couldn't see. The keypad beeped and there was a click as the door unlocked. She opened it and they went into a room that reminded Bill of an airport control tower. Rain started coming down in sheets just as they entered. Bill wiped away the rainwater from his hair as he looked over the room. There were several TV screens, all of them off. Three black swivel chairs were placed in front of computer monitors. There was a second door on the far wall that looked like it connected to the rest of the structure. It too had a digital keypad.
Lena motioned for Bill to sit. He took one of the swivel chairs and looked around the room. He wondered where she slept. Must have been behind that door. The computers looked new. When did they build this place? The technology to open and close these doors was pretty sophisticated. Bill saw Lena sit down across from him and cross her legs. She looked relaxed. She really was a nice woman.
Bill told her what was on his mind. He told her about his wife’s cancer and her history of it. They had a few neighbors that could look after her, but it wasn’t the physical stuff that he was worried about. Bill poured his heart out before he even knew that he had. All of this talk of war and strategy and China had distracted him plenty good, but the thoughts of his wife came tumbling back and they were wrapped in emotion. He hoped the display would be enough.
Lena listened. She was an intense woman, Bill noticed. The kind that leaned forward in her chair at all times. Like she had to be ready to pounce. It was awful funny seeing a woman sit like that. Reminded him of a fighter pilot or something.
When he was done talking he felt embarrassed but was glad to get it off his chest. Bill let Lena know that he felt an obligation to help out, but had a bigger responsibility back home. Lena seemed like she got it. Family had to come first. She said all the right things when he was done, smiling. She understood. He saw that in her eyes. Now she would tell him what he needed to hear.
Bill said, “I mean...Lena, I understand how important this all is. But there must be some other person that can take my place. Maybe someone else at my office. My director will be able to help with that just like he helped get me here. I presume you already know him, since he sent me here.”
She was sitting close to him, leaning in and following every word like she really cared.
Lena said, “Bill, of course. Whatever you need. When would you like to leave?”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Oh thank you. Thank you so much. I hate to be a burden. I’d
*****
It was after 11 p.m. when Lena and Bill walked back from the classroom to the Communications building. The group meeting educating everyone on Chinese military and defense capabilities went for almost three hours. When the meeting ended, people were happy to get back to the “hotel” as the consultants were all calling it now. Raindrops began to fall as the outskirts of a thundercloud grazed the island.
Bill had approached Lena immediately after the night meeting in the classroom. She was very understanding and suggested they go sit down and discuss it further. Bill had a good feeling. Women were just better that way. They understood the importance of family. Maybe that was because they bore children. Bill remembered one of his macho-man, hard-ass commanding officers back in the Air Force that had denied his leave chit during Desert Shield. That forced Bill to miss the birth of his second child. That guy was a jerk. But Lena seemed much more understanding.
They reached the Comms Building and Lena went to type her code into the digital keypad next to the door. She looked over at Bill and then typed with her body positioned so that he couldn't see. The keypad beeped and there was a click as the door unlocked. She opened it and they went into a room that reminded Bill of an airport control tower. Rain started coming down in sheets just as they entered. Bill wiped away the rainwater from his hair as he looked over the room. There were several TV screens, all of them off. Three black swivel chairs were placed in front of computer monitors. There was a second door on the far wall that looked like it connected to the rest of the structure. It too had a digital keypad.
Lena motioned for Bill to sit. He took one of the swivel chairs and looked around the room. He wondered where she slept. Must have been behind that door. The computers looked new. When did they build this place? The technology to open and close these doors was pretty sophisticated. Bill saw Lena sit down across from him and cross her legs. She looked relaxed. She really was a nice woman.
Bill told her what was on his mind. He told her about his wife’s cancer and her history of it. They had a few neighbors that could look after her, but it wasn’t the physical stuff that he was worried about. Bill poured his heart out before he even knew that he had. All of this talk of war and strategy and China had distracted him plenty good, but the thoughts of his wife came tumbling back and they were wrapped in emotion. He hoped the display would be enough.
Lena listened. She was an intense woman, Bill noticed. The kind that leaned forward in her chair at all times. Like she had to be ready to pounce. It was awful funny seeing a woman sit like that. Reminded him of a fighter pilot or something.
When he was done talking he felt embarrassed but was glad to get it off his chest. Bill let Lena know that he felt an obligation to help out, but had a bigger responsibility back home. Lena seemed like she got it. Family had to come first. She said all the right things when he was done, smiling. She understood. He saw that in her eyes. Now she would tell him what he needed to hear.
Bill said, “I mean...Lena, I understand how important this all is. But there must be some other person that can take my place. Maybe someone else at my office. My director will be able to help with that just like he helped get me here. I presume you already know him, since he sent me here.”
She was sitting close to him, leaning in and following every word like she really cared.
Lena said, “Bill, of course. Whatever you need. When would you like to leave?”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Oh thank you. Thank you so much. I hate to be a burden. I’d
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