She was looking forward to the holidays, though they would be bittersweet this year. Everyone would be attending the Christmas Eve party Parker and Astrid were throwing. It included a visit from Santa for the kids. Everyone except for Liam, of course.
Her family was then planning a quiet Christmas day at Max and Karlie’s house. Chiara was already planning to share the guest room at their house with her mother so they could watch the kids open their presents early the next morning. She would help Elena cook the day before so dinner would still be ready in time. How the seven of them managed to squeeze around the kitchen table was beyond her.
To: Chiara Scaletti
From: Liam Donnelly
My favorite sexy elf,
I can’t begin to express how much the bracelet means to me. You wrote that it was where my life began, and you’re right. It began the night I looked up and saw the most beautiful woman pouring drinks. Words are not enough to convey how much I love you. Unfortunately, they’re all we have right now, so I’ll say it again. I love you, Chiara.
On a different note, the cookies were a huge hit. It turned my platooninto a ravaging pack of wild dogs. I got one. One, Chi! I almost came back with a stump trying for another. I don’t know if she told you, but your mom sent me a Christmas card. I might have let a tear slip when I read that she has been lighting a candle every night for our safe return. It was either that or she put a hex on me to stay away from her daughter. Hard to say.
On an even more different note, thanks for the photo of that luscious breast. I wanted to bury my face in those golden thighs and not come up until I had feasted for hours. But enough about the Christmas turkey. I loved the picture of you under the mistletoe. Thanks for all of the pictures.
I had better head to work. The pink slips they hand out here for non-performance can be rather harsh. Before I sign off, I want to mention again, and I can not make myself any plainer:NAKED PHOTO. You’re killing me here.
All my love always,
Liam
Winter hit New England with a roar, but then it usually did. Chiara spent days at a time inside her apartment due to school closures. If it got too bad, she was guaranteed a visit from Sam in Dean’s Land Rover.
Quite often, it would include Astrid and all three kids bundled into car seats. Sam would grind it into gear coming around the corner. It usually lurched to a stop before she could push the clutch in. Chiara could feel Dean wince from wherever he was working that day.
She and Liam had settled into a routine of emailing every day and video chatting on Sundays. He was supposed to come home in April, but his deployment had been pushed for two months for reasons he couldn’t tell her.
Her respect for military wives had skyrocketed over the months he had been gone. She also realized that this would be her world with Liam. He loved being in the Army and the job he did to keep the country safe. If he could be strong enough to risk his life in service, then she could learn to be strong enough to be there when he came home.
On one of the days school was canceled because of the snow, Chiara was curled up on her couch when Sam pulled up with Karlie and Astrid in tow. They had left the kids at home with the pretense of helping Chiara with a project.
Chi wondered what project could involve her wearing her most scandalous bikini out in the snow. She began to understand when Karlie pulled out her camera, insisting Chi pose in the fresh snow in the middle of the street.
After preparing a round of hot chocolate, mostly to stave off hypothermia, they settled around the living room as Astrid poured over the pictures. Chiara had missed the snow bunny pictures they had taken in college that had sent their three men into a permanent state of devotion. Leaning over Astrid’s shoulder, Karlie helped pick out five of the best poses before Astrid shot them in an email to Liam.
To: Chiara Scaletti
From: Liam Donnelly
My frisky snow bunny,
It’s very likely I have a letter of reprimand in my permanent file now for jacking off in the communications tent. The 20x30 print I made that hangs on the wall above my bunk has been approved, however. Just kidding, my love. It’s only 15x25. I did ask Astrid if she can take one of you in that bikini eating an ice cream cone. I’m not sure why she called me a depraved libertine. It wasn’t like I asked for one of you eating a corn dog. On second thought, do one of those too.
I need you to send me your mom’s address. Several of my guys have requested it so they can thank her for the monthly shipment of cookies. I told them that was fine, but don’t try anything funny. I’m keeping that fine cougar in the wings just in case things go south with her daughter. Love you! I could feel you slap my chest over here. I wish I was there so I really could feel that smack and see your face blush like it does. Ooh, if I say something else bad, do you promise to punish me when I get back?
Damn it, there’s another letter of reprimand. They really should put a privacy curtain around this thing. I love you. I can’t wait to hold you again.
Yours always (and praying for just one naked picture. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for),
Liam
Spring arrived about the time Liam would have originally gotten back. Chiara was beginning the last week of finals and her last week of work. She had turned in her resignation from her job after making the decision that her staying in New England with Liam in Oklahoma would never work. It was up to her to make the sacrifice of moving, he couldn’t.
On a whim, she had applied to a small college near the base. The first phone interview for a counseling job had gone amazingly well, and they were anxious to schedule a formal in-person interview.
She hadn’t told Liam what she was doing. She firmly believed in the unfounded fear that she would jinx it. When she informed her family and friends of her decision, they were sad but excited for her. Parker closed the bar on the last night she was in town to throw her a party. She would miss everyone so much. They all promised to visit, but it was a long way, and she knew kids and work would make it hard.
Max and Parker helped her load the few pieces of furniture she hadn’t sold into a U-Haul trailer to pull behind the small SUV she had traded her car for. They all promised to keep her secret until she could talk to Liam in person.
