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They’d all been granted two weeks of leave. A small gift considering the Hell they’d all been through over the last month.
Returning to small town Texas didn’t feel like much of a vacation but the tenuous schedule him and his siblings had worked out had been interrupted by him being called back to TOPGUN.
Hangman’s mother had been a strong and intimidating woman for as long as he could remember. A hard life raising multiple fussy kids in a small home that seemed to fall apart if you looked at it wrong made sure of that. She’d sacrificed everything to set her kids up for a better life. And those kids made sure her sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed.
Nowadays, she was struggling. Forgetful, easily confused, the insanely stubborn woman refused to admit she needed help. So the Seresin kids didn’t offer it. Instead they snuck around after her turning off ovens and taps. Making appointments she wouldn’t think too and making sure she made it too them even if it was a fight getting her in the car.
He was scheduled on the first flight back into the closest airport he could find. He had a checklist of things that needed doing, things his sister couldn’t get too before she had to rush back to her own kids in the city. He’d be similarly released of his post once he was called back to whatever new assignment awaited him.
Not for the first time he considerd not signing a new contract, the baby of the family, he felt he needed to be there for his mom. Even if it meant leaving the Navy. His mom would need a better explanation though. She was so proud of him it made his head spin sometimes. Hanging around his small childhood home were more framed photos of him in uniform than Jake knew existed.
All the Seresin kids helped to make sure she didn’t need to work, although she stayed busy within the church and every food bank/soup kitchen in a 100 mile radius of their small town.
She was an amazing woman who never let Jake or his siblings down. Even when they didn’t always reciprocate the effort. Her love for them was truly unconditional. Even when his brother was arrested, even when his sister dropped out of school, even when a teenage Jake couldn’t help but snipe and whine over everything she asked of him.
Jake knew he was gay in middle school but as he prepared to leave for the Naval academy his mother sat him down,
“I’ve given you years to tell me darling so I’m just gonna ask.” She’d cooed, prompting tears from both of them.
She never stopped supporting him.
Jake remembered struggling with schoolwork, the letters jumbled and twisted around in his head. She’d stay up as late as necessary to read it out to him. Even when she’d just come off a 12 hour shift.
When Jake called her in the academy, ranting about the idiot in his squadron, Bradley Bradshaw , what a stupid name, she’d laugh and encourage him to get to know the man.
“Careful Hun, get this worked up over someone and you just might marry them.” She’d warned.
So when he called and asked if she’d mind a plus one as he came to spend his leave with her, she only asked if they needed one bed made up or two.
“One.” He’d answerd softly.
“I can’t wait to meet him.” She’d responded earnestly.
She and Rooster got on like a house on fire. Rooster happy to share embarrassing stories and his mom ecstatic to listen.
Sure, they underplayed the danger of the mission, but she still understood how her son had saved the man who held his hand now.
“If that ain’t a sign from God I don’t know what is.” She laughed.
Rooster giggled at that, kissing him on the temple to show he agreed with her.
His mom outright refused to call him Rooster though. She’d even huff when Jake let it slip.
“Bradley let me know when you start cawing at the sun. Then I’ll reconsider.” She’d stubbornly demand.
Bradley was thoroughly entertained by the way Jake acted at home. Soft and comfortable. Confident smirk replaced by an easy smile. He wasn’t a different man by any means, but this was an intimate side of Jake he felt privileged to meet.
It hardly took a day for Ms.Seresin to ask about a wedding.
“We haven’t been together long Mama.” Jake would reason.
“Oh that don’t matter when your meant to be.” She’d defend.
From the way Bradley looked at him after that comment, Jake was tempted to agree.
They didn’t get engaged during that trip. Much to his mothers chagrin. But when they were alone they talked about it softly. Both hesitant to ask but desperate to know if it was in the cards for them.
It was Rooster who called Ms.Seresin a year later asking for permission to marry her son.
And it was Jake who called her the next week practically hyperventilating from joy.
The wedding only distracted her for a few months.
It wasn’t long after the vows before started asking about grandchildren.