GI Joe and Ebony, An American Love Story (7 page)

“Okay.
”
She
conceded
as
she
wiped
the
corners
of
her
eyes.

“Besides,
we
have
at
least
forty
eight
hours
before
I
deploy.
So
you
know
what
that
means
right?
”

“Lock
down?
”

“You
know
it.
So
I
’
m
going
to
make
a
run
to
the
store,
to
make
sure
we
have
everything
that
we
need.
”

“I
’
ll
go
with
you.
”

“No,
you
just
stay
here
and
get
ready
for
me.
I
’
ll
be
right
back.
”

~*~*~

GI
Joe
was
gone
for
almost
two
hours.
He
was
gone
so
long
the
emotionally
train
wrecked
Ebony
decided
to
take
a
much
needed
nap.
She
had
been
asleep
a
little
over
an
hour
when
she
heard
something
that
sounded
like
a
puppy
bark.
Assuming
that
she
was
dreaming
she
rolled
back
over
and
tried
to
go
back
to
sleep,
but
she
heard
the
yelp
of
a
puppy
again
and
yet
again.

Not
sure
what
was
going
on
she
followed
the
sound
downstairs
to
her
kitchen
where
she
discovered
GI
Joe
holding
the
cutest
Toy
Poodle
that
she
had
ever
seen.
“
Oh
she
’
s
so
cute
were
did
she
come
from?
”

“I
bought
her
for
you.
She
can
keep
you
company
until
I
get
back.
I
had
to
stop
to
get
some
things
for
her.
Of
course
it
took
forever,
but
it
was
worth
it.
”

“Let
me
hold
her.
”
Ebony
said
as
she
took
the
tiny
puppy
from
GI
Joe
’
s
arms.
She
gently
stroked
the
pet
’
s
curly
white
mane
as
she
watched
GI
Joe
unpack
the
grocery
bags.
“
She
’
s
such
a
cutie.
Aren
’
t
you
just
the
cutest
little
thing
that
I
’
ve
ever
seen?
”

“Hey
I
thought
I
was
the
cutest
thing
that
you
’
ve
ever
seen?
”
GI
Joe
teased
as
he
stole
a
quick
kiss
on
his
way
to
the
refrigerator.

“I
must
admit
that
you
’
re
pretty
cute,
but
not
as
cute
as
her.
What
’
s
her
name?
”

“Mary.
”

“Mary?
What
kind
of
name
is
that?
…
As
in
the
Virgin
Mary?
Oh
come
on,
she
deserves
a
better
name
than
Mary.
”

“No,
as
in
marry
me
…”

“What?
”
Ebony
asked
completely
stunned
as
she
watched
GI
Joe
get
down
on
one
knee
and
present
her
with
a
ruby
red,
velvet
ring
box.
Frozen
like
a
fly
on
a
metal
ice
tray
she
could
not
move
or
speak.

GI
Joe
opens
the
ring
box
and
the
flash
as
the
light
hit
the
near
perfect
two
carat
solitaire
diamond
set
in
platinum
almost
blinded
her.
“
Marry
me?
”

“Oh
my
God!
Is
that
real?
”

GI
Joe
chuckled,
“
I
can
’
t
believe
that
you
asked
me
that.
Yes
it
’
s
real.
It
’
d
better
be
real.
I
practically
cleaned
out
my
savings
account
to
get
it.
”

“You
’
re
serious.
It
’
s
so
beautiful.
”
Ebony
mumbled
as
she
eyed
the
stunning
ring.

“Of
course
I
’
m
serious.
I
’
m
in
love
with
you.
I
knew
I
’
d
ask
you
this
question
one
day
from
the
moment
we
met.
So,
will
you
marry
me?
”

“I
don
’
t
know
what
to
say.
”
Ebony
’
s
voice
cracked
as
she
became
emotional.

“Do
you
love
me?
”

“Yes,
you
know
that
I
love
you.
”
She
responded
as
she
fought
back
tears.

“Then
just
say
yes.
”

Ebony
begins
to
nod
yes
repeatedly.
“
Yes,
yes,
yes!
I
will
marry
you!
”
She
screamed
as
she
jumped
in
his
arms
and
kissed
his
mouth
hard.
“
Oh
my
God!
We
’
re
getting
married!
”

GI
Joe
cradled
her
in
his
strong
muscular
arms
and
kissed
her
for
what
seemed
like
an
eternity
before
placing
the
diamond
engagement
ring
on
her
trembling
finger.
His
face
was
wet
from
tears.
As
Ebony
wiped
them
away
he
realized
that
they
were
his
tears.
They
were
tears
of
joy
because
he
had
found
the
love
of
his
life.
And
they
were
tears
of
sorrow,
because
he
knew
that
he
’
d
soon
have
to
leave
her
for
the
war.