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“This is Caleb, my best buddy.”
“Joshuwaaa is my copilot…” he beamed, leaning forward and hugging her tightly around the neck. “What sur name?”
“My name is June, but your copilot calls me Junebug.”
“Ur my Jooonbug, too,” he smiled shyly, before burying his cheek against her shoulder as she hugged him.
“I’m so happy to meet you, Caleb,” she murmured, kissing his forehead and hugging him back as she looked at Joshua. “You look so happy – and I’m glad.”
“C’mon inside and meet my girl…” her brother invited, smiling openly at June… making her realize just how miserable and silent he had been the last several years.
June almost didn’t recognize this relaxed and smiling man before her, compared to the bitter, sedate one that she had kept in touch with. As she walked inside, there was a dark-haired woman on the other side of the living room sitting with her parents… and June marveled as her expression lit up with unfettered joy the moment her brother walked in the room, bringing tears to her eyes once more.
That look, that singular look of joy on the woman’s face, was how Ian made her feel, wholly in her soul. Her entire world came alive the moment his aura brushed against hers. They could talk on the phone, be in the same room, or do nothing at all… and she recognized her better half – making her miss him all the more.
Come home,June thought painfully, swallowing the lump in her throat as she met her soon-to-be sister-in-law.
Later that night, June slept in her bed and cried herself to sleep. It was wonderful and so very hard to see how happy they were… and knowing that her own happiness was just out of reach, praying that Ian’s time in Afghanistan wound to an end soon.
* * *
Three days later…
June pulledinto the brick paver driveway of their home and was utterly exhausted. Her newest client was a taskmaster, and she had been all over God’s green earth showing house after house. The woman knew exactly what she wanted and made no bones about it. Sometimes she would pull up to the house and was immediately told ‘No’… other times, they toured the house, walked the property, then toured it again.
Her shoes were rubbing a blister on her Achille’s heel, and there was a sore spot on both pinky toes from walking so much. These shoes were made for looks, not long treks in the grass to walk a property line…
Getting out of the car, she yanked off her shoes and carried them, before stepping inside and shutting the door. Yanking off her lanyard that she’d looped over her head in exhaustion on the last showing, she padded silently towards the bedroom… only to have her fierce guard dog come bounding through the doggie door, barking angrily.
“Who are you fussin’ at, Terminator?” June hissed at the dog, scooping her up and dropping her shoes onto the wooden floor noisily. “Yeah? Oh yeah? Are you going to lick me to death?”
Gigi was losing her mind, lapping at any exposed skin on her jaw and hands, her entire body twitching and wagging happily with unrestrained enthusiasm.
“Your Mommy hurts,” she whispered, kissing the dog. “How about we go swim for a bit, have some spiked hot cocoa, and…” she saw the phone was blinking on the kitchen counter. Pressing the button, she listened.
“Hey Minx, it’s me. I tried calling your phone, but it wouldn’t go through. I don’t know if you were out of range or not, but I wanted to let you know that I’ll be home late tomorrow night. I’m trying to arrange my flights now. As soon as I land, I’ll call you. I love you and can’t wait to see you, darling…”
“You hear that?” June breathed tearfully. “Mommy is definitely having a spiked hot cocoa to relax, because Daddy is coming home finally. I need to unwind and sleep.”
Opening a tiny can of wet dog food, she fed Gigi and put a mug of hot water in the microwave for herself.
Disappearing into her bedroom, she shucked off her garments and changed into her swimsuit. It was one of her favorites, and had never worn before now. She hated bikinis because of how much it exposed, but here? At home? No one would see her, and it was decidedly more comfortable, considering it was hidden behind the privacy fence that had honeysuckle vines along the top trellises.
Picking up a towel, she hummed and returned to the kitchen to see Gigi had dog food all over her whiskers like a little piggy… and muttered as much under her breath, before wiping her muzzle.
Making her hot cocoa, she put a tablespoon of chocolate liqueur inside that she kept for those moments where she needed to unwind before breaking. Today wasn’t one of those days, and truthfully? She was really relieved that she hadn’t felt like that in so long… but rather, this was sheer indulgence, because her wait was coming to an end – and she needed a bit of something to relax after a long day.
“C’mon Miss Gigi,” she invited in a high-pitched voice. “Let’s go outside…”
June emerged onto the stone patio and sighed happily. She could smell the honeysuckle floating on the air, felt the warm breeze caressing her skin, and saw the sun was deepening in the sky, turning a vibrant, deep hue of blue, like the ocean. Carefully padding along on the hot pavers, she winced and moved to the grass in order to save her feet from more abuse.
Getting to the pool in the back corner, she stepped into the water and sighed happily. This was one of her favorite things to do in the evening. She felt weightless, carefree, like Eve in paradise. There was a magnolia tree that arched over the pool that would occasionally drop a large, waxy leaf that resembled a fairy boat from another world… but was just as easy to clean up too. The way the alcove was tucked away gave it a feeling of escape.
Sighing happily, she stepped down into the water and set her hot cocoa on the edge of the pool away from Gigi – who was making little noises from the steps. She had bought her little furball a small foam boogie board that was the puppy’s perch in the pool.
Miss Gigi was not fond of swimming. She liked to float around and be included, but swimming was not her thing. Laughing softly, she pushed the boogie board towards the puppy… and sure enough, Gigi hopped on, sitting happily as she floated along.
“I am so ready for Ian to come home,” she whispered aloud, laying on her back and floating as she stared up at the night sky. Closing her eyes, she listened to the peace around her for some time, allowing her mind to wander.
