Page 42 of Lone Star Longing
“Weird. I never think I love Broken Wheel until I think about leaving it. But when I go see my mom, or my sister, or go to San Angelo, I can’t wait to get back. And then I think about its limitations...I don't know. I guess I have some time to look into it.”
Not much, if the baby was going to be born in October, but he didn't say so.
Chapter Ten
LACEY DRUMMED HER FINGERSon the desk as she waited for the Skype to connect. She framed the sonogram picture in her fingers, shifted it, then glanced back at the computer screen just as Jesse’s image flickered on. He leaned close, his brow creased. The line of his body was impatient, half turned away from her, like he was ready to bolt mid-call. Or find an excuse to end it.
“Hey. Lacey. What’s going on?”
“I, ah, I had my first doctor’s appointment.”
“Doctor’s appointment?”
“With the obstetrician? I thought you might want to see the sonogram picture?” She hated that everything was coming out as a question. But had he forgotten? How had he forgotten? That might explain why he hadn’t contacted her. She didn't know what his mission was. He might have been busy. At least that was what she’d been telling herself, day after day, when she didn't hear. That he was on an important mission.
“Yeah, I know. So, boy or girl?”
“Oh, it’s too early to tell. I just—they told me the due date. The baby is due on Halloween. Do you think—do you think you might be home then? For his birth?
“It’s a boy?”
Maybe it was the connection. “No. Too soon to tell. But he’ll be born the end of October, the beginning of November.”
“Ah. I see.”
“Can you—will you be home by then? Can you ask to come home?” She didn't know if the Air Force had paternity leave, or if they’d offer it to a single soldier.
“I can see what I can do. I do have leave next month. I’ll be home for a week.”
The emotion that ran through her was indescribable—joy and dread all braided together. Maybe, if he was home, without distractions, they could work out whatever this was.
“Oh, yes. Oh, I can’t wait. Look, look, can you see this?” She fumbled the picture and held it to the camera, then craned her head to look so she could show him. “This is his spine, and his head is here. And this is his little butt.”
“I can’t see anything. Looks like a bunch of squiggly lines.”
“Well, it’s only June, he’s only the size of an apple. But this is the first picture of your baby.”
