Page 102 of Lucky Charm

“No wonder, what?”

“When you were in the hospital after we got back from the mountains, I came in with your sleep blanket and spent the night.”

“I remember.”

“She gave me permission, told me to be good to you.”

Cait smiled. “Apparently, Jo met her Hunt in a war zone. Married him.”

“Did it work out?”

“She says no. But seems like there may be something there still.”

He shifted, taking her other hand. “They aren’t us.”

She squeezed his fingers. “No, they aren’t. Heck, I don’t even know who he is. Besides, comparing them to us doesn’t work. I’ve already spent time away from you, and I hated it.”

“Same here.” He leaned across and lifted her into his lap, holding her close. “I hate you being here. I worry. I’m sorry you had to find me that way.”

“I worry about you too, you know.” She nuzzled into his shoulder and closed her eyes, tiredness washing over her. His arms tightened, holding her close. The long minutes in silence together did something for her spirit, and she went to tell him so, but his phone beeped.

He sighed deeply, with a tad of aggravation, but moved to take his phone from his pocket. She shifted aside to let him, settling to her place on the bed again.

He read the message and then closed his eyes. “I gotta go. What’s that saying? No rest for the weary. I knew I wouldn’t get twenty minutes.”

She rose, determined not to give in to churning emotions or separation anxiety. “Stay warm. Keep focused, you hear me? And get back for Thanksgiving. I hear dinner is going to be phenomenal.”

He stood. “I’ll try. Drink my root beer for me, honey.”

He lifted his arms, and she fell against him and whispered. “Soon, we’ll be done with this and both home where we belong.”

“I belong all over the world, Cait. It’s the job.” His arms tightened around her, like losing her was a real threat.

She rubbed his back. “I know. But I’m going to plant my feet in San Diego and when you don’t need to be all over the world, you’ll be with me. Yes?”

He lifted her chin, his somber eyes studying her face. “Yes. Always. I don’t know how that’s going to work, but we’ll get to that.”

“Go, before somebody decides to start looking for you.”

He kissed her again, then held her close for a minute. “Keep aware.”

“You, too.”

He went out without looking back like usual. She suppressed the need to go open the door and watch him walk away like one more look would ease her worry.

Pfft.

Leaving her can on the floor for later, she took his root beer and sipped, sitting a long time to finish his like he asked. Drawing pad in hand, she found a blank sheet of paper and a sharp pencil. With a piece of candy popped into her mouth, she emptied her mind and worked on wrangling overwhelming feelings into a form she could emotionally work around while drawing Mama Sylvie’s shop from memory.

∞∞∞∞∞

December 2, 2019

Day 28

“If we do one more sneak-and-peek to confirm Special Forces information, I’m going to request to join them. Wouldn’t it be faster?” Doogie’s complaint was not meant for Hunt’s comment.

Nine missions in six days had kept them busy, and they’d missed Thanksgiving and all the hoopla over the president of the United States popping in for dinner. He’d missed snuggling with Cait and sharing pie, too. “They’re looking for one thing. We’re looking for something else. We’re lucky they’re tracking our possibilities.” And none of it involved water or air. He moved through the scrub brush and longed for the ocean.