Page 48 of Stone

She turned, and our eyes met.

“Nearly there,” Connie murmured. “Not long until we see our boy again.”

My heart leaped. “I can’t wait. I know it’s only been a few months since John left for boot camp, but it feels like years. What if he’s changed?” I bit my lip nervously. “What if he sees me and realizes he doesn’t feel the same way as before?”

Constance dipped her chin to look me square in the face. “You know him better than that,” she smiled knowingly, “Stone men love hard, fast, and forever. John’s no exception. Have faith.”

My forehead furrowed. “Stone men love hard, fast, and forever? What does that mean?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “Bandit’s dad married his mom within a week of meeting her. They were together thirty years until the day they passed. My daddy wouldn’t give Don his blessing. Within a week, I was in a courthouse saying I do. John saw you as a woman for the first time when you were sixteen. Hewaited, and here you both are. If you think three months apart will change his mind, then you’ve got a lot to learn about Stone men.” She grinned. “Don’t worry. You’ll learn eventually.”

As the plane descended, my stomach churned with anxiety. Connie’s words lingered in my mind, and my heart warmed at her unwavering faith in her son. The roar from the engines grew louder, and the wheels touched down on the runway, causing a collective sigh to sound through the plane.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

We were here.

One more day and I’d get to see John.

I couldn’t wait.

The following day, I woke up cursing my brain’s inability to sleep and winced at the sight of the dark bags forming under my eyes. It was typical for me to look like a hag when I was finally about to see John.

Connie and I were tired after traveling to San Diego, so we went to a diner and decided to have an early night. We wanted to be up early the next day for our visit.

Visitor’s Sunday was an event held five days before John’s graduation, during which friends and family got to see our boys before they officially became Marines. After twelve weeks of intensive training, we’d finally be reunited, and I could hardly breathe.

I got ready and brushed my hair until it fell in waves around my shoulders. Then, I sprayed my Charlie Naturals perfume and slicked on the iridescent pink Helena Rubenstein lipstick my mom had bought me. Connie and I had already arranged to meet at the hotel reception, so I quickly checked that mywhite summer dress and matching cardigan looked okay before making my way downstairs.

As soon as I got to the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of Constance. She looked beautiful and sophisticated in a black and grey houndstooth dress. Her face was expertly made up, and her hair was loose, with two victory rolls at the front.

I walked toward her, giving her a low wave as I caught her eye.

She stood from the couch where she’d been waiting. “Elise,” she murmured, approaching with her arms open for a hug. “You look pretty as a picture.” She took me into her arms, squeezing gently. “We’ll go for breakfast, then head over to the base.”

I pulled back, pressing a hand to my belly. “I don’t think I could. My stomach’s churning.”

“You can’t turn up at the base without eating. It’s hot, and we’re staying outside to watch John’s platoon do their marching thing. If you faint, he’ll lose his mind,” she deadpanned.

Grimacing, I gave Connie a nod. “You’re right. It’s gonna be a long day. Let’s go eat.”

We went into the hotel restaurant, ate, and grabbed coffee.

My mind was half on Constance and half on trying to overcome the nerves that were making my insides jump. I nodded and smiled as Connie talked, but all I could think of was John. It had been so long since I’d seen him, I worried that, in his case, maybe absence hadn’t made the heart grow fonder. His letters were full of the same love and care he’d always shown me, but what if, when he saw me again, he didn't feel the same way? He wouldn’t be the first man to change his mind when excitement and adventure beckoned.

I chewed my lip as we hailed a cab. Silence fell over the vehicle throughout the fifteen-minute journey to the Marine base. Connie was deep in thought, too, probably for the same reasons I was. By the time we gave our names to the soldiers atthe gates and were directed toward the area where families were gathering, my fingers trembled, and my heart was racing out of my chest.

Sunlight bathed the courtyard, and heat beat down on my shoulders. I removed my cardigan and placed it on a row of chairs that had been laid out for us. Looking around, I took in the low-slung, one-story buildings and the concrete ground, marveling at how the sunlight hitting the sandy-colored brickwork gave everything a golden hue.

People began to fill the courtyard. Excited chatter floated on the breeze as the recruits' families talked about their boys and how desperately they were looking forward to seeing them again. As the minutes ticked by, my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.

A lump formed in my throat as Connie’s hand found mine, offering a silent reassurance. “It’s nearly time.” She smiled kindly. “We’ll be seeing him in seconds—” She was interrupted by the sound of collective boots marching as one in the distance. A buzz went through the crowd as we all craned our necks, peering in the direction of the thumping sound of boots hitting concrete.

A drumbeat began to thud, and the high pitch of bugles filled the air. My heart leaped into my throat as the men came into sight, marching in time to the Military Band.

Leaning forward, my eyes flicked over the men, searching for John among the sea of light brown uniforms. Rows of men trooped into the courtyard, looking identical apart from their various builds and heights. Suddenly, my gaze fell on a tall, straight-backed man marching past, and my skin prickled with awareness.

Connie grabbed my hand. “There he is,” she whispered, but I didn’t need her to point him out. My body responded to John’s presence all on its own because my heart recognized his. I drankin every inch of him, my eyes flicking over his shoulders, broader than before, his trimmed-down waist and sexy butt, seemingly more muscled from all the physical training he’d done over the last few months.

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