Chapter 7 - The General’s Office
Daniel entered General Holloway’s office at 10:43.
The general did not offer coffee.
That told Daniel enough.
Major General Thomas Holloway sat behind a broad desk with Daniel’s file open in front of him.
Colonel James Reeves sat in the corner.
Daniel had known Reeves for twelve years.
Reeves avoided his eyes.
That was worse.
“Sit down, Mercer.”
Daniel sat.
Holloway folded his hands.
“I’m going to ask one question.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you want the Stuttgart command?”
“No, sir.”
Holloway stared at him.
“Your mother says otherwise.”
Daniel felt humiliation burn beneath his collar.
“My mother does not speak for me.”
“She seemed convinced she did.”
“She was wrong.”
Holloway leaned back.
Daniel continued.
“I declined the command three weeks ago.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then I don’t understand the issue.”
“The issue is that I received a call from a civilian claiming you had reconsidered.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“I did not authorize that call.”
“I assumed as much.”
Daniel blinked.
That answer surprised him.
Holloway closed the folder.
“I have known Evelyn Mercer for twenty-five years.”
Daniel stared.
He had forgotten.
His father and Holloway had served together.
“She sounded worried.”
“She was interfering.”
“Yes.”
Daniel waited.
Holloway sighed.
“Your mother believes your family is limiting your career.”
Daniel looked toward Reeves.
Reeves finally met his eyes.
Daniel said, “My career choices are mine.”
“That is what I told her.”
Daniel felt some pressure release.
Then Holloway continued.
“But there is another problem.”
Of course there was.
“What problem, sir?”
“The Stuttgart command has been reopened.”
Daniel frowned.
“I declined it.”
“You did.”
“Then why?”
“Because Colonel Mason withdrew yesterday for medical reasons.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
Holloway slid a folder across the desk.
“You are again the preferred candidate.”
Daniel did not touch it.
“No.”
Holloway raised an eyebrow.
“You haven’t read it.”
“I already read the first offer.”
“This one is different.”
“How?”
“Eighteen months instead of twenty-four.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“That doesn’t change the answer.”
Reeves shifted.
Holloway studied Daniel.
“You have always wanted brigade command.”
Daniel answered carefully.
“I wanted many things before I understood their price.”
“That sounds like your mother has frightened you in the opposite direction.”
Daniel’s eyes sharpened.
“With respect, sir, my mother has nothing to do with my decision.”
Holloway leaned back.
“Then tell me what does.”
Daniel thought of Anna on the airport floor.
Caleb counting days.
Noah calling his job mean.
The unborn baby kicking beneath his hand.
He answered.
“My family.”
Holloway’s expression remained unreadable.
“Officers have families.”
“Yes, sir.”
“They still serve.”
“I’m not leaving the service.”
“You’re refusing command.”
“Yes.”
“For domestic comfort?”
Daniel felt anger rise.
He controlled it.
“For responsibility.”
Holloway’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel continued.
“I have spent years treating presence like something optional.”
Reeves looked down.
Daniel went on.
“My wife has carried our family while I carried the mission.”
“That is common.”
“Common doesn’t make it harmless.”
The room went silent.
Holloway studied him.
Daniel wondered whether he had just damaged his future.
He surprised himself by not caring as much as he once would have.
Finally, Holloway spoke.
“There may be another option.”
Daniel looked up.
“What option?”
“A stateside position.”
Daniel’s pulse shifted.
“Where?”
“Fort Carson.”
Colorado.
Daniel thought of Denver.
Anna’s sister.
The ticket.
The irony was almost absurd.
Holloway continued.
“Deputy command role.”
“Duration?”
“Two years.”
“Deployment?”
“Limited travel.”
Daniel stared at the folder.
“Why wasn’t I offered this before?”
“Because you never asked for it.”
Daniel said nothing.
Holloway leaned forward.
“You have spent your entire career asking what mission needs you most.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Perhaps it is time to ask where you are most useful.”
Daniel thought of home.
Holloway continued.
“I’m not offering charity.”
“I know.”
“You’d be valuable there.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You don’t have to answer today.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“Thank you.”
“But.”
There was always a but.
“You need to deal with your personal boundaries.”
Daniel’s face warmed.
Holloway’s mouth twitched slightly.
“I would prefer not to receive strategic guidance from your mother again.”
“Yes, sir.”
Daniel stood.
The meeting ended at 11:19.
He checked his phone.
Seven missed calls.
Three from Anna.
Two from Michael.
Two from his mother.
His heart dropped.
He called Anna immediately.
She answered on the first ring.
“Where are you?”
“Leaving now.”
“Your mother is here.”
Daniel stopped walking.
“Inside?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“She’s been talking to Holloway.”
“I know.”
Anna went quiet.
“You know?”
“She called him.”
“I mean today.”
Daniel stopped again.
“What?”
“She knew your meeting started early.”
Daniel felt anger flash.
“Put her on.”
“No.”
“Anna.”
“She left.”
“When?”
“Five minutes ago.”
“Why?”
“She got a call.”
“From who?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel reached his car.
Anna’s voice changed.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“She said you gave up your future because of me.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Anna.”
“I told her I didn’t even know what you gave up.”
“That’s true.”
“I need to ask you something.”
“Ask.”
“If there were a way for you to keep serving without disappearing from us, would you want it?”
Daniel froze.
The Fort Carson offer flashed through his mind.
“Yes.”
Anna was silent.
Daniel continued.
“Yes, I would.”
“Then stop making these choices alone.”
“I will.”
“No.”
Her voice sharpened.
“Not will.”
Daniel understood.
“I am.”
Anna took a slow breath.
“Good.”
He started the car.
“I’ll be home in thirty minutes.”
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“Don’t say home unless you mean all of us.”
He tightened his grip on the wheel.
May you like
“I mean all of us.”
This time, Anna did not correct him.
