Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“I’ll get your door, baby.”
I want to argue that he doesn’t need to, but again, I stay quiet and nod. I’m giving him whatever he needs. My door opens and his hand appears. I take it, stepping out of the car. I move out of the way so he can shut the door. I shriek when he spins me around and presses me up against the car.
“I’m going to fucking miss you. So damn much, Mrs. Anthony.”
“Every second of every day.” My voice is meek, and the sadness is evident in my tone. Chad kisses me, just a quick press of his lips against mine, way too quick if you ask me, before he pulls away. Taking my hand, he leads me toward the bus.
There are already other families gathered around saying their goodbyes. I can feel the heaviness on my chest, as if the heaviness of this moment is weighing me down. The ache is so strong it hurts to breathe.
My parents are the first to step forward. Again, my husband refuses to let go of me as he hugs them one last time. Ford and Shayne are next, followed by his parents and sister. Once everyone has had their final round of hugs, Chad pulls me into him. He wraps his strong arms around me, and I can no longer hold on to the sob that breaks free from my chest.
He buries his face in my neck, and I can feel the slight tremble in his hold. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on with everything I’ve got. I want him to feel this hug for days, weeks, and months from now when he’s missing home.
I lose track of time as we stand anchored together. When he finally pulls back, it’s only far enough so that I can see his eyes.
“I hate that I’m missing you start your dream career. I hate that you’ve barely been mine, and I have to leave you. I hate that you’re left to set up our home on your own. I hate the pain I see reflected back at me in your eyes. I hate it all, but I love that you’re my wife, Faith Anthony.” He moves to rest his forehead against mine. “I love you, my beautiful wife. Don’t forget that.”
My heart pounds in my chest. It’s racing so hard, I feel it might suddenly stop working altogether, then again, that could be because my husband is leaving. It could also be because he told me he loves me. The intensity of his words don’t feel like he’s talking to a friend.
“I love you, my husband,” I reply, pushing all the other thoughts out of my mind. We’re running out of time, and I need to stay in this moment with him.
His breath hitches, and I know my words have affected him, just as much as his affected me. “I don’t know if I can walk away from you, Faith.”
“You’re not walking away from me. You’re serving our country. You’re doing your job. It’s taking you away from home for a while, but you’ll be back.”
“It’s not dangerous, more training than anything, but there are always risks,” he tells me. It’s more than I know he was supposed to or allowed to say, and I appreciate him giving me that.
“How do you feel about the color gray?” I blurt.
“What?” He laughs, which was my intention.
“For the master bedroom. A dark gray is what I’m thinking.”
His lips are against mine, and I get lost in his kiss. “The only thing I care about is that you’re sleeping in our bed,” he says, pulling away. “And that’s where you’ll be when I get home.”
“So needy. Is this how all marriages work?”
“Damn right, I’m needy. Only for you. Only for my wife.”
A voice comes over the speaker in the waiting area, giving a two-minute warning before boarding.
Two minutes.
Not long enough.
“I’ll call when I can, and I’ll write, and email, and anything else I can do to communicate with you. If it’s a few days before you hear from me, don’t worry, okay?”
I nod. The tears are hot behind my eyes. My vision is blurry. I blink rapidly to clear my eyes. I need to see him clearly. I focus on his neck as he swallows hard.
“Faith.”
My eyes snap up to his, only to see tears as he blinks them away. “This is just a notch of time. There is so much ahead of us.”
“Four to six months.” I smile.
“Every second I’m away from you, I’ll be thinking about you.” He raises my hand and places it over his heart. It’s thumping wildly inside his chest, the rhythm matching my own. “Right here, baby.” He taps his hand over mine that’s still resting against his heart.
“I love you, Chad Anthony.” I need to say the words. I don’t want any regrets.