This is a continuation of Daniel’s and my story. Click on the “Our Story” tag for context.
Cathy asked me that Friday, when I was telling her about my scheduled date, whether my family knew about Daniel.
I confidently assured them that they did–before backtracking.
Truth was, I hadn’t ever mentioned Daniel to my brother who is stationed with his wife in Okinawa. John had no idea.
I was determined to rectify the situation, and Friday night happens to be the perfect time for doing so–since I could stay up late and catch John in the midmorning.
I sent John a message that I wanted to Skype with him. He didn’t respond back very quickly, so I texted him. He didn’t respond then, so I messaged his wife.
Finally, I got a text back from John.
“Why do you wanna talk to me?”
“I just do,” I responded.
John’s reply was: “Whoever he is, I don’t like him.”
I was flabbergasted. “Who told?”
To which John responded something to the effect of: “lol, that was a lucky guess. I was teasing. If he makes you happy, I’m very happy for you.”
John eventually did come home from the basketball game he was playing, and the two of us (and Kaytee) Skyped a bit.
We didn’t have much to say. The conversation ended up being pretty short. But I let John know that I was corresponding with Daniel, that he had asked me out and that we had a date planned.
I don’t remember exactly how John responded, but I’m pretty sure he included the standard line about a six week training course (with each brother) and maybe threw in a “He’d better fly you and him to Okinawa so I can see if I approve.”
Since John usually asks, whenever we talk, whether there’re any guys he needs to beat up for me, I informed him in advance that this was one man I definitely did NOT want him to beat up. I wanted to keep Daniel around, I said.
John was less than convinced.
A guy has to have the threat of being beaten up by a girl’s brothers. No, a guy needs to be beaten up by a girl’s brothers. That way, if he sticks around, you know he really loves you.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to put Daniel to that sort of test-but I knew that, at least on this front, such a test was unlikely.
I told John so, citing his distance as a complicating factor.
John assured me that he could easily hop a cargo plane and fly back to the States for a confrontation. He could also mobilize the home troops–my remaining three brothers (and most especially his fellow Marine brother)–to make sure the job got done properly.
I told him thanks, but no thanks, and we ended our conversation.
I could now tell Cathy, without any falsehood, that my whole family knew about Daniel.
Now I had only to meet him.
Two weeks.
Forever.