Page 115 of Forever Fallen

“I’m sure they are probably already on top of things – but that would be great.”

To Ryan’s surprise and shock, all the airmen got up at once and walked over towards his bunk, crowding him. Even the newbies (who weren’t new anymore) were in line to shake his hand, hug him, or pat him on the back. It was like the ‘team’ was starting to reform, building a bond between them all.

“Good luck, brother…” Vapor said, shaking his hand.

“Congratulations, Reaper. Maybe the kid will look like your wife,” X-Ray grinned before winking at him, causing Ryan to laugh.

“I sure hope so – my Sophie is gorgeous.”

“She’s better than him, that’s for sure,” Hot Cakes taunted playfully, hugging Ryan. “I’m happy for you, my friend.”

“What’s she doing withyouthen?” Caboose joked easily. “Congrats, brother.”

“I have no idea,” Ryan muttered, his heart feeling light with joy. “But please don’t tell her she could do better, because I can’t live without her.”

“Congrats man… get out of here,” Houdini chuckled, slapping him on the back as Ghost and Panic joked about how cigars would be a requirement upon the illustrious Reaper’s return.

Ryan nodded.

Heck, he would cheerfully bring cigars or whatever else they requested at this point, because he needed this between them all and to help settle some of the instability between them all.

Slinging his bag onto his shoulder, Ryan saw Handsy get to his feet and nod.

“C’mon. I’ll drive you so we don’t have to wait on anyone else. I forgot I had the keys to one of the jeeps from last night’s drill.”

“You’re the best,” Ryan said gratefully.

“Nope. Just remember those days…” Handsy said softly, his face etched in emotions Ryan didn’t want to acknowledge. The man had a tough past and he hoped things smoothed out for him soon. He was such a good, quiet, steady guy who’d had such a bad run of luck it was heartbreaking.

“Let’s go then,” Ryan urged, wishing he was already in the air.

CHAPTER36

SOPHIE

Sophie wasin the hospital room, watching a gardening show in boredom, and crunching on ice just waiting while her body churned away. Every once in a while, she would get a cramp that would wind around her stomach, but it wasn’t unmanageable. It felt like bad period cramps… but then again? She’d always suffered from them during her time of the month.

She never got an email back from Ryan, so she assumed one of two things had happened – he either hadn’t gotten the email yet? Or he was so in a panic to get here that he bolted, catching the first flight out of town. Seeing a pending charge in their bank account for United Airlines – she would swear that it was the second of the two options.

“Hey Sophie,” Marisol said happily. “How are you feeling, honey?”

“Oh, I’m really good,” she smiled brightly and then let it slip some. “I’m nervous, actually. I keep hearing all these other women in the rooms surrounding me groaning or calling for relief – and I feel like because I’m not dying in pain that maybe something is wrong with me?”

“I’m kinda surprised you’re not hurting badly,” Marisol admitted.

“I mean, it aches terribly, but it’s not unmanageable. I just breathe through it and move on…”

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you, Soph,” the woman smiled. “I just think that maybe you are more prepared than you realize and expecting things to be so much worse than what it is. Women have babies all over the world and some suffer terribly, while others ‘pop’ them out like it’s nothing - and go back to work.

Marisol shrugged before smiling.

“I have to admit that if you are the latter? I’m not calling you Sophie anymore – I’ll have to come up with something creative like ‘Pop goes the weasel’…”

“If it’s like this the entire time? I will happily answer to ‘Pop goes the weasel’,” Sophie grinned. “Valkyrie has Tobias?”

“Yeah, we are getting ready to step out,” Marisol admitted. “I’ve got to get Toby down for a nap – and Valkyrie got an email from Hot Cakes. Reaper is on the way, so he is going to head to DFW to wait for him.”

“I was hoping he was on the way…” Sophie smiled happily and felt her stomach tense. “Just… a … second…”

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