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Mais oui, Mademoiselle Pam

1/2/2026

Sergeant Wilson pulled a chair over for Abby while she unzipped Teddy from his little snowsuit. “You know? Friday in Pine Hollow doesn’t sound like a great time until you realize you get to spend it with that adorable little face. Hi, Teddy.”

The baby smiled and hid his face on his mom’s shoulder. Abby twirled the chair around and took a seat. Matt sat beside her and leaned on the sergeant’s borrowed desk.

“Since you mentioned a wedding being imminent, I brought some more paperwork.” He slid the forms out on the desk.

“Boy, my favorite.” Abby said, studying the documents.

“That’s what I like to hear. Positive attitudes make Friday paperwork flow like meltwater. The sooner we start, the sooner we’re done.”

Pam hid behind her monitor. The sergeant’s assertion made her chuckle, but it reminded her to put her earbuds in to grant them some privacy.

The sergeant jogged the papers on the desktop and stuck them into a folder before sliding it into an attaché case. He pulled out a stack, stapled in the corner, and slid it over to them. “I imagine this looks familiar to you, Corporal.”

“Yes, Sergeant.”

“Would you care to explain it to your fiancée?”

“These are PCS orders. I’m being reassigned to…” His eyes grew wide.

“What is it? Matt, what’s the matter?” Abby hugged Teddy tight.

The sergeant smiled. “Looks like the cat’s got his tongue, ma’am. He’s joining my unit down by the airport. The chaplain put in a good word after Corporal Jozsa left on the MEDEVAC flight to Germany.”

“Lehigh Valley Airport?” Abby gasped.

“Yes, ma’am. Not much chance of your guy getting blown up in Allentown.” He knocked on the desktop anyway. “Your report-no-earlier-than date is the twentieth. If I’ve read you correctly, you’ll be camped out at the front gate when we report to work that morning.”

“Roger that.” Matt had an embarrassed grin.

“Good man. We’ll get you introduced and situated. Bravos for winter weather. If you left anything in Africa, it will be waiting for you at the I&I.”

Gary slid the door to his mail truck to refill his satchel. His pocket buzzed as he transferred mail from the tray. After filling the bag and securing the truck, he pulled the phone out to check for messages.

Abby

HE’S NOT GOING BACK TO AFRICA!!!!!

Well, that’s good

HE’S GOING TO ALLENTOWN!!!!!!

Pennswald?

YES! YES! YES!

Congrats
Love you
TTYL

😍

Gary shook his head as he tucked his phone back into his pocket. He slid the satchel over his head and returned to his rounds.

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive? Maybe you should just fly home, and Teddy and I will hang on to your legs.” Matt slid into the back seat beside the baby.

Abby laughed uproariously as she fumbled with the buckle. “Don’t say stuff like that. It’s so cold out here, and I’m already having a hard time buckling him in.”

“Okay, give me that and you go start the car. This I can do one-handed.”

“You’re amazing.”

“Who, me? If anybody is amazing around here, it’s you. Maybe you should be an oh-triple-one. You do paperwork like a darned machine.”

“If it gets you stationed somewhere safe and close to home, I’ll do reams of it.”

“That’s not going to be permanent, you know.”

She studied him silently, then leaned in for a kiss.

“Wow, what was that for?”

She shut the back door and jumped into the driver’s seat. “Because I love you, silly.”

“Well, sign me up for more of that.” He looked down at Teddy. “You’re going to have to share, mister. You’ve had her all to yourself all this time.”

“Da!”

“Yeah, you’re right. She had you all to herself this whole time, too.” He leaned in and kissed Teddy’s forehead. “What do you want to do when you grow up, huh? Be a mailman like Grandpa?”

“Hmm, that might be a good job for you.” She backed out of the space.

“What do you mean? I’ve already got a job. Right down the road, for the foreseeable future.”

“Planning on a long career? Maybe make super-duper master sergeant or something?” She checked in the rearview.

“Super-duper master sergeant?” He laughed. “Mommy’s really funny when she’s being paranoid, buddy. How can you stand it?”

“Ugh! Don’t tease. Do you want anything on the way home?” She worked her way to the street and waited for a gap in traffic.

“I’d say cinnamon buns, but Bonnie already put a lid on that. Maybe swing through the Dunk’em and we’ll get a dozen to share with everybody.”

“Ooh, Mr. Moneybags is on the way, ladies and gentlemen.”

“Yeah, yeah. While you’re at it, grab me a hot chocolate for the ride home.”

“Only if I get to have one, too.”

“Hmm.”

She checked him in the rearview. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m having a hard time imagining you being any sweeter.”

She covered her geeky grin and headed for the drive-thru at the Dunk’em.

Jenny greeted them at the door and took Teddy so Abby could take off her coat. “Well, how did it go today?”

Abby looked at Matt and grinned as she hung her coat.

“He’s pretty psyched for the wedding.” Matt slid the coat off of his shoulder, and Abby helped him with his sleeve.

“He is? Should we add him to the guest list?”

“Yeah, Abby has all the names.”

“Names?” Bonnie wrestled her way free of the couch. “What do you mean, names?”

Abby giggled as she unzipped Teddy’s suit and pulled him free while Jenny folded it and tucked it into Abby’s coat sleeve.

“Come on, Corporal Bunyan.” She snapped her fingers in front of his nose. “What do you mean she has all the names? Cat got your tongue?”

Abby burst out laughing, and Teddy joined her.

Matt looked down his sister’s accusing finger and held up a paper bag. “We stopped at the Dunk’em and got you a bagel.”

“Oh, that’s nice. Thanks.” She took the bag and peeked inside. “Went heavy on the cream cheese. Good job. Now, what’s this about the names?”

“Yeah, so the donuts are in the car. I need to go get them before the jelly freezes.” He took two steps back and darted out the door.

“Abby, what is going on around here?”

“Wait until he gets back. He’s got good news from Sergeant Wilson.”

“From Sergeant Wilson? Now I’m getting excited.” Jenny smiled.

“You should be.” Abby nodded. “It’s big. Isn’t it, buddy?”

“Da!”

Matt came in with a large box marked Dunk’em and a sheaf of stapled papers.

“Matthew, what is that?” His mother put her hands over her mouth.

“It’s a dozen donuts, Mom. The kid picked them, but I asked for a Boston Cream for Dad and a PB&J for Harry.”

“Matthew!” His sister growled.

“Oh, these? They’re my new orders. I’m going to be working at the Marine Reserve office near the Lehigh Valley Airport.”

Bonnie clenched her fists at her sides. “Put the stupid donuts down so I can give you a hug!”

“Everybody hold hands and we’ll say grace.” Gabe said. “Gary, as our guest, will you lead us off?”

“Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.” Gary crossed himself and gave Pam’s hand a squeeze.

“Thank you. Now, my understanding is that Matthew has news for us. Be sure to speak up so they can hear you at the kids’ table.”

Zelda glared at Abby. “I told you this was the kids’ table.”

“Teddy, are you a kid?” Abby waved a spoon of mashed carrots.

He followed the motion with his head as he flapped his mouth open.

“Seems like the right place.” She slid the spoon into his mouth.

Matt looked around the table and over to the card table where Teddy, Abby, Zelda and Bonnie sat. “For those of you who haven’t already heard, you might want to hold on to the table. This is big.”

Harry looked at his dad in confusion. Zelda frowned at Abby. Pam’s eyes got big as she squeezed Gary’s hand. George and Marta looked at each other and shrugged.

“After I get my cast off, I’ll be reporting to a new duty station.” He waited for the commotion to settle down. “I’ve received my orders to work at the Marine Reserve I&I billet near the Lehigh Valley Airport. I’ve been restationed, and it’s in driving distance.”

“Wow! That’s incredible.” Harry hugged him.

“There’s more.” Matt smiled and waited for them to quiet down. “My new colleagues have agreed to do us the honor of participating in our wedding. This is huge, guys. When the service is over, they’ll draw their sabers and form an arch for us to walk under. It’s their way of welcoming Abby and Teddy to the Corps family.”

“Message for Dustin.” HEARTH announced.

He set aside his bowl of popcorn and stepped away from the conference table. The team was watching a Christmas movie about an off-duty cop crawling around in the ductwork of a building that was held by a criminal gang. He stepped out to the balcony over the foyer. “Hey, HEARTH, what have you got?”

“You have received an invitation to a wedding.”

“Dad needs help with a service?”

“No, it is from Abigail Light, mother of the baby you saved in Roosevelt Plaza.”

“Really?” He turned to see who had followed him out.

“Is aught awry?” Meirhe whispered.

“The lady whose baby I saved on Black Friday just invited me to her wedding on, um…”

“January twenty-fourth.” HEARTH said.

“Where?” Meirhe asked.

“Pine Hollow, Pennswald, at Saint Casimir’s Catholic Church.”

“I’m yer plus-one.” She patted his shoulder and headed for the doors.

“You are?”

“Aye.” Her enormous green eyes studied him. “Me friend lives there, and I’d like an excuse to catch up. Did ye have someone else in mind?”

“No, I couldn’t imagine who I would ask.”

“Just so, Dustin. I’ve saved ye the burden o’ thinkin’ about it. I’m yer date, but no gettin’ handsy.” She waved an accusatory finger before she dashed back in to watch the movie.

“No, ma’am. Hands off. Understood.” He caught his breath. “HEARTH, please let her know I’m very honored and Mary Christmas is my plus-one.”

Pam watched the dark countryside pass by. “That went well.”

“Right up until Grandpa George asked which church they were getting married in.”

She turned to look at Gary. “Well, it’s only natural that the bride would want to get married in her own church. St. Cas is such a beautiful church. I don’t think George would protest so strongly if he could see it.”

“Sacred Heart is pretty in its own way, but I agree with you about bride’s choice. Abby should be able to marry in whichever church she wants.”

“One hundred percent.”

“Good news about Matt being reassigned locally.”

“Yes, that’s wonderful. They can settle in and really get started without having to go to some strange base somewhere.” Pam smiled. “I guess that brings the question of whether they stay here, in Laurel Ridge or get a place close to his office.”

“She’s got a lot of grown-up decisions coming her way. I’m glad you guys made peace. You’ve got a no-nonsense perspective I think she can benefit from.”

“Thanks.” She grinned and squirmed in her seat. “Gary?”

“Pam?”

“Do you mind?”

“Mind what?”

“Jenny asked me to be your plus-one for Abby’s wedding. Is that okay with you?”

“I didn’t ask you?”

“It was just kind of assumed.” She looked out at the nighttime scenery. “Is that okay?”

He smiled and reached out for her hand. She took his.

“Pam.”

“Gary?”

“Would you do me the honor of attending my daughter’s wedding as my plus-one?”

“Yes, and the honor is mine.”

He kissed her hand and released it to get a grip on his steering wheel.

“Gary.”

“Can we stop through the Zavijava for a cacao blanc à la menthe poivrée?”

“Wow, that’s a mouthful.” He reached out for her hand again. He kissed it and returned his grip to the steering wheel. “If you’re going to talk to me in French, there’s a very good chance you’re going to get anything and everything you want.”

She got a sly grin before whispering into his ear. “Ça ouvre pas mal de possibilités, Gary.”

“You clearly paid more attention in French class than I did.”

“I said that opens up quite a few possibilities. I think we know what your New Year’s resolution is.”

“To let you keep whispering in my ear until we crash?”

“Nope.” She gave his earlobe a little nibble. “You’re taking French lessons so you can understand what I’m saying.”

“Mais oui, Mademoiselle Pam.” He smiled.

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