My heart squeezes painfully. I pull Jorgie in close to my chest. The flutter of her fast pulse runs the length of my arm.
“He will be home soon,” I say, my voice quivering as a surge of emotions pummels into me.
I miss Hugo when I’m away from him for a few hours, so I can understand Jorgie’s dilemma of not seeing Hawke for months. Thankfully, their absence this time around is only a matter of weeks with Hawke’s squadron returning home the week Jorgie is due.
“Did you want to join Hugo and me for dinner tonight?” I offer.
Her nose scrunches as her face whitens.
“I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself at all times,” I say, crossing my finger behind my back.
She eyes me dubiously. “Alright, but if I see one thing that makes me gag, your lunch schedule for the next five weeks is fully booked out.” She bumps me with her hip. “I’ve missed you a lot the past few weeks.”
My heart warms. I’ve missed her too. More than she will ever know.
“Deal,” I say, raising my pinkie into the air.
Giggling, she accepts my pinkie promise.
“Where are you parked?” I query, seeking her little beat-up Honda.
“Across the street,” she replies, peering past my shoulder.
I gasp when I spot Jorgie’sBabyparked across the street. “You gotBabyon the road?” My voice rises high, exposing my excitement.
Jorgie smiles. “Yep,” she replies excitedly, the “P” popping from her mouth. “She still needs a bit of work, but she’s drivable.”
Her head cranks to the right before shifting to the left. “Where are you parked?”
“Halfway down the block,” I grumble. “I went around the block three times, and I still couldn’t find an empty spot.”
Smiling, Jorgie wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me goodbye.
“Bye,” I whisper into her ear.
“You don’t say goodbye, you say, I’ll see you later,” she reminds me.
I pull away from her embrace and peer into her glistening eyes. “And that I will,” I reply. “I’ll see you tonight.”
She nods her head and smiles. I run my hand down the side of her arm before pivoting on my heels, my happiness clearly evident on my face. The sun warms my arms as I briskly stroll to my car. The smile on my face enlarges when I dig my hand into my handbag, searching for my keys and I notice my cell has one new text message.
My heart races when I read the message.
Hugo:I’ve cleaned up the storeroom in anticipation of your visit. I can’t wait to see you.
Grinning like the cat watching the canary, I press the speed dial for his number and lift my phone to my ear. My smile fades when my call is directed to his voicemail.
“Hey, you’ve reached Hugo; leave a message.”
“Hey,” I say breathlessly, my excitement for his message heard in my voice. “We have a special guest for dinn--”
I stop talking when the sound of brakes squeaking and tires bouncing across asphalt pummels my ears. An overwhelming fear clutches my heart from the awful sound. When my neck cranks towards the noise, distress surges through my blood, turning it potent. My phone slips from my hand, tumbling to the ground. The screen on my cell cracks when it connects with the sidewalk, shattering into a million pieces, just like my heart.
Twenty-Eight
Hugo
“Mark, can you give Dante a hand unloading the supply truck please?” I request, leaning over the bar at The Chapel.
