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“Mornin’ Evie-B,” greeted Nora gently.
Evie didn’t return her mother’s greeting, too busy assessing the situation in front of her. Still standing a few paces away, she said, “I wanna snuggle, too.”
“We’ve got room for one more,” insisted Lawson, holding out his hand in invitation.
She accepted his offer, closing the distance between them before she took hold of his hand and crawled into the vacant space in his lap. She then curled up against his chest, resting her face inches away from Nora’s.
“Mornin’ baby,” Nora semi-repeated, grazing the backs of her fingers down Evie’s cheek.
“Hi, mommy.”
“How was your sleep?”
“Good. How wasyoursleep?”
Smiling at her thoughtful child, Nora answered, “I slept pretty good.”
Evie tilted her head back, seeking out Lawson’s gaze as she asked, “What about you? Did you sleep good?”
“Yeah, pretty girl, I slept great.”
“Hey,” she sang, grinning up at him. “Mommy calls me that sometimes.”
“It’s because she’s right. You are.”
Playfully tickling Evie’s belly, Nora asked, “What do you say, mini-me?”
Evie laughed, batting away her mother’s hands as she replied, “Thank you.” Having regained her composure, she went on to add, “I think pretty girls should get pancakes for breakfast.”
Nora-Jean’s mouth dropped as Lawson’s low chuckle rumbled through his chest.
“Is that so?” she inquired, barely containing a laugh of her own.
Evie said nothing in reply, but peeked up at Lawson through her lashes, hope lighting up her golden-brown eyes as a mischievous smile played at her lips. Lawson, in turn, winked at her before shifting his gaze onto Nora. His single raised eyebrow said it all.
“Okay,fine,” Nora relented with an eyeroll. She then lowered her face, until her forehead kissed Evie’s and said, “Tomorrow, you’re gettin’ oatmeal, and you’re gonna like it.”
Evie giggled victoriously in reply.
Ilook back over my shoulder at the expanse of tarmac. I can’t see her, but I can still feel the coolness of her kiss goodbye.
“Here we go again, eh brother?” Tanner pulls me from my thoughts with a nudge of his elbow. When he knows he’s got my attention, he grins and says, “Take a deep breath of this sweet, clear, Carolina air—the dusty desert awaits.”
I smirk at my buddy, then take hold of the straps of my bag, heavy on my back, and close my eyes. I breathe deeply, my booted feet carrying me blindly toward the aircraft that’s getting ready to take my unit overseas. For a fraction of a second, the air bids me a refreshing farewell—and then I see her face, covered in tears. I feel her kiss, cold with disappointment.
I open my eyes, but I can’t escape the memory of last night. I made love to her like I knew I should before I left on deployment. I took my time with my songbird, enjoying the melody she’s only ever sung for me. But intimate as the moment was, the night ended on a sour note.
Nora-Jean has been my girl for a decade. In all our time together, now—on my way into battle—I’ve never felt so unsure about our future.
She wants more from me. She’s ready to be more than the girlfriend left behind, waiting for her Marine to come home. But I’m not ready for that. I’m not ready to make promises I’m not sure I can keep.
I know I’m going to marry her one day, but I’ve got a war to fight now. The purpose I’ve found in the uniform I wear is stronger than I’ve ever felt before. The brothers in my unit mean just as much to me as the brother I’m leaving behind. My focus has to stay sharp. My priorities must remain clear.
I’ve seen enough death to know I can’t promise to stay alive. So how can I promise her forever now? I can’t be any more of a man than I am—no matter how much she demands it. Even so, my heart belongs to her. That much I am sure of. That much I can promise.
But that kiss. That kiss was so cold.
Lawson’s alarm clock sounded, ripping him from sleep, and his eyes snapped open at the sound. He was quick to silence it, then sighed as he stared through the darkness up at the ceiling of his bedroom. He’d spent Sunday night in his own bed, aware the responsibilities that came with Monday would have him out the door well before the sun. It was a decision he regretted.
