The tide turns for Tim and Gwen

 

 

Life for Tim and Gwen Davis couldn’t have been better. Their daughter Shannon had grown into a fine young girl and was the spitting image of her mom (thankfully). Tim and Gwen had also been blessed with twins, a boy and girl who were now mobile toddlers keeping the parents quite busy with their curious antics. Tim felt like he was in a dream. He couldn’t imagine his life being any better.

 

 

He and Gwen still felt like they were in the honeymoon phase and it had been many years that they had been married. Their careers were also on the right path as well. Tim had been promoted to roadie for a local band which gave him ample time to raise the children, and he was passionately continuing his painting on the side as well. Gwen had had a very good year and was promoted to commander of her military unit, a promotion she had worked diligently for.

 

 

 

 

The twins were somewhat of a surprise. They were expecting only one addition to their family and were pleasantly shocked when two babies were born. They knew twins ran in Tim’s family but never thought they would be blessed with multiples.

 

 

 

They named the boy Tyler, and the girl Tatum. They were fraternal twins so Tyler resembled his mother.

 

 

Tatum, except for the hair color, unfortunately had inherited her father’s genetics.

 

Shannon was a proud big sister. Since Gwen worked long hours and was on active duty many weekends, Shannon was always eager to help her Dad with the twins. It also kept her busy from thinking of how much she missed her mom those weekends she was away.

 

The days Gwen was home were spent toaking full advantage of their family time. They would spend lots of time watching Tim play music for them all in his little studio. The kids would dance and Gwen would relax and look on in admiration of his talent not only as a musician but as an awesome father and husband. She considered herself the luckiest woman around.

 

 

Just when life felt like life couldn’t be any better, a devastating blow was delivered to Gwen at work. She was called into a meeting with her commanding officer and was told that her time had come to be deployed overseas for active combat. She always knew this day would come eventually but never prepared herself for it. She had been passed over many times due to her invaluable skills needed at the base training soldiers who were being deployed to the battlefront. When she arrived home to tell Tim the distressing news she could only hug him tightly and cry.

 

After the initial shock wore off, Gwen knew she would have to be strong and fulfill her duty as the lifetime soldier she chose to be. She would put on a brave face and prepare herself mentally for what lay ahead of her. The only aspect of this situation that troubled her deeply was leaving her family behind. Tim was overwhelmed. He had known for years that this may happen but chose not to think of it. He wondered daily how he could live without his wife for a whole year, and of course the unavoidable question popped into his head. What would he do if something should happen to her? He knew he had to be strong for her and the children so he buried those thoughts and focused on spending those last days with her, enjoying every moment.

Gwen spent all of her time with Tim and the children. She spent quality time with the twins, reading to them and savoring every moment into her memory.

 

 

Hugs were plentiful.

Romance was necessary.

Tim arranged a going away party for Gwen and invited the whole family. He wanted everyone to have a chance to say goodbye and for Gwen to know how much she would be missed. Everyone was there. Tim’s parents, Erin and Lee, and Anthony and Monica who were exhibiting a newfound happy couple demeanor ever since their marriage had taken a turn for the better. All of the children were there as well running and crawling around not even aware of the looming sadness of Gwen’s coming departure.

 

 

 

Shannon was well aware and was thankful to have her cousin Kate, Erin and Lee’s daughter, to play with and keep her mind off of how much she would miss her mother.

The day they were dreading finally came and Gwen had to say goodbye to her family.

 

 

 

 

There were many tears and hugs but nothing compared to the sorrow Tim felt as he watched her leave. He tried to be strong but he couldn’t overcome the emotions he was experiencing.

 

Deep down inside he couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that their fairytale life would soon come to a screeching halt. He knew her tour of duty would be only a year but he also knew that her being there was dangerous, especially for an officer. He couldn’t help but think that compared to his brother Anthony and sister Erin, his life was exceptionally wonderful. Maybe time had run out for him and Gwen.