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Ricks eyes meet mine and he smiles. “We met the other night.”
I nod, slightly embarrassed that he saw me sitting in the dark on my suitcase.
She smiles warmly, and I know I already like her. She has a relaxed kind of feel about her. “Bridget.” She takes my hands in hers and kisses my cheek. “She’s every bit as beautiful as you told me she was, Ben.”
He smiles as he watches on.
I bite my bottom lip as my eyes flicker between them. It’s obvious that Ben is close to this woman. I glance down at her large stomach. “How far along are you?” I ask.
She rubs her stomach. “Five months.”
“How exciting.” I smile.
She smiles lovingly at her husband across the circle. “It is; we can’t wait.”
“I’ll get you another Champagne. Ally, what would you like?” Ben asks.
“A lemonade please.”
He nods before he disappears to the bar.
Ally smiles as she watches him disappear through the crowd, and then her eyes turn back to me. “I think he wants us to get acquainted,” she whispers so only I can hear.
I laugh. “Seems that way.” The other boys go back to talking amongst themselves and I look around. “This is a fancy turnout.” I try to make conversation.
She smiles. “I know, it is. I always get nervous coming here.”
“Oh, jeez.” I put my hand on my chest. “I was terrified tonight. I had no idea what to wear. I had one day’s notice and had to go shopping with Ben for a dress.”
She laughs. “Try finding a formal maternity dress if you want a true nightmare.”
We laugh and Ben reappears with our drinks. “Keep your clothes on.” He winks as he hands me my glass of Champagne.
I narrow my eyes with a smirk.
“What the hell, Ben?” Ally laughs.
“Ask Didge about it.” He smiles as he turns around to the boys.
“Didge?” She frowns.
“That’s my nickname. It’s easier to say than Bridget. Oh, and I warned him not to let me drink Champagne, as I might take my clothes off. Not really, but who knows?” I widen my eyes and shrug, causing her to laugh.
Silence falls over us and I twist my wedding ring.
“Show me your ring?” she asks.
I feel embarrassed, because she knows that we aren’t really married, but I lift my hand anyway. “It’s Ben’s mother’s ring. I’m just borrowing it for tonight.” I smile shyly.
She smiles knowingly. “Forgive me if I’m intruding, but Rick told me about you having trouble accepting…” she gestures to the room with her Champagne glass, “all of this.”
I drop my head. “Yeah.” I look up and frown. “Does your husband…” I pause because I don’t even know what to call it.
She nods. “Yes, Rick does the same job as Ben.”
I raise an eyebrow. “The exact same job?”
She nods. “Took me a while to get my head around it, too.”
“How?” I pause as I try to get my wording right. “How do you make peace with him leaving the house for work?”
She smiles sadly. “These men are above most others, Bridget. Their sacrifice is for our country’s freedom.”
I watch her.
“Look around the room, look at them.”
I look up and across to Ben as he speaks with his friends. His legs are wide apart, his chest is out, and he’s standing tall. He really does wear his uniform with pride. He’s glowing.
She grabs my hand. “Do you want my advice?” She smiles.
I nod hopefully.
“Spend every day with Ben like it’s your last.”
My face falls.
“Because it might be. One day he may go to work and never come home.”
My chest tightens at the thought.
“But that’s his…” She gestures to her husband and corrects herself. “Their decision.”
My eyes search hers.
“We’re just the women who love them. Their purpose is greater than being with us.”
I drop my head sadly. “I just can’t stand the thought of it.”
“Stand the thought of what? Being in love with a man who loves his country so much that he’s prepared to die for it? That’s the definition of a true hero.”
I watch her but stay silent.
“Make peace with it, Bridget. It comes with the territory. He loves you. Enjoy him. Love him.”
My nostrils flare as I try to stop the stupid tears from appearing.
Ben’s hand snakes around my hips and he smiles. “We have to take a seat.” He gestures to the left. “Over this way.” His face falls when he sees my face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he whispers.
I smile and squeeze Ally’s hand, and she smiles knowingly. “Nothing, babe.” I kiss him softly. “Everything’s perfect.”
We walk over and take a seat at our table and the rest of the group starts talking about something else, but my concentration is on Ben and what the hell he’s thinking.
He’s frowning as he stares at something across the room.
“Who are you looking at?” I whisper discretely.
He puts his arm around the back of my chair and fiddles with my hand in his lap. “Look who’s here…”
