Page 111 of Forever Fickle

Alpo smiled again, shakily, and buried his face against his sister’s shoulder… breaking down.

It took him a few minutes to get control over himself, the two siblings whispering to each other while everyone else stood back slightly, except Thumper. He had a hand on Alpo’s shoulder for support, talking to his best friend and wingman.

Alpo looked up and wiped his face, before smiling shakily at everyone.

“Glory’s okay,” he repeated, as if he needed to say it again, for his sake. “The placenta tore, and they had to give her blood, but everyone’s okay. Madison and Michael are both here safely – and should be coming to the nursery in a few. I’m covered in baby pee and couldn’t feel more grateful or happy about it,” he admitted, grinning, as they all laughed nervously.

“I didn’t want you all to worry… because it all happened so fast. I’m staying tonight with Glory and she’s in recovery right now. I can’t believe all of this and…”

Alpo’s smiling face cracked.

Karen saw the desperation, fear, and relief in his eyes in that moment, and saw several nods of understanding from his friends.

“She’s going to be okay,” Alpo said a third time, shakily, before smiling again. “I love that sweet woman with every fiber of my being, but she’s gotta stop scaring me to death like this. I already told her we aredonehaving children because my heart can’t take it.”

“I can imagine, brother…” Thumper said openly, hugging Alpo.

He turned and quickly hugged, shook everyone’s hand, and then rushed out of the hallway to return to Glory’s side… just as the babies arrived in the nursery window.

Karen saw Alpo in the distance, now wearing a new scrub top that had feet stamped on both shoulders proudly, as he beamed, waving from his position, beside both bassinets that held his children.

She took a photo and emailed it to Jace, wanting to share the good news with him. The relief she felt was palpable at hearing that Glory and the babies were okay, because after saying ‘goodbye’ this morning? She wasn’t sure if she could handle any other destruction to her soul in this moment.

Her emotional glass was nearly empty… and dearly in need of her tall drink of water with the most beautiful smile in the whole world.

“I’m heading home with Mel and Betsy,” Firefly announced, “We are beat and someone’s gotta be at Flyboys in the morning.”

“Yep,” Valkyrie said, nodding. “Same. Thumper, you and Harley stay… we’ll handle things. Don’t worry about Samantha. We’ll watch her as long as you need.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Thumper acknowledged, shaking Valkyrie’s hand.

The group of friends slowly dissipated… including Karen, due to the lateness of the hour. It was late and she hadn’t realized how fast time passed, until she glanced at her watch.

It was nearly one in the morning now, which meant Jace would be landing soon at Heathrow before flying on to Kabul.

As she got to her car, her phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Tink… oh gosh I needed to hear your voice,” Jace said bluntly, and she could hear the relief in his words. “I miss you already.”

“It’s the same for me,” she replied tearfully, smiling, and feeling so happy at just hearing from him.

“What are you still doing up? Did I wake you?”

“Truthfully?” she smiled, knowing she needed to keep things light between them. It would do no good to dump a bunch of fear on him, just before he was isolated and alone on base.

No, the next few months would need to be full of good news, little glimpses of life, and she would need to find a way to stay busy, to make time pass for both of them.

“Glory had the babies. The twins are here, and they are doing well according to Alpo. I just saw him at the hospital.”

“That’s fantastic news, honey…” she heard Jace’s happiness and could practically see his smile on the other end of the line. “Are you headed home now?”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I’m beyond exhausted mentally and emotionally. I think I’m going to go home, crash on the couch, and think of my sexy husband in those gingerbread jammies…”

“I knew the jammies were key,” he chuckled playfully. “I’ll have to get creative with them from now on.”

“Oh, please no…” she laughed easily, unable to help herself as she imagined what other things he would somehow manage to find.

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