Page 112 of Forever Fascinating

CHAPTER30

JANA

She tookseveral deep breaths as they stood at the airport together, realizing they were about to say, ‘Until next time’once again… but it had different meaning now.

They might be apart, but they were still one family.

“How are you holding up,” he breathed against her hair, hugging her. “I’m really going to miss holding my wife.”

She closed her eyes as the past three days flashed before her. They had made love repeatedly, each time different yet wonderful. The touches, the wonder in his eyes, the shared breathless sighs… oh yes, she would never forget those moments they’d shared.

“We’ll need to start moving some of your stuff… home,” she began, trying to keep upbeat. “I’ve got your cologne in the bathroom, and it will be nice to see how our lives blend together, you know?”

“I know,” he whispered – and then laughed. “Will I have one drawer in the dresser?”

“Actually,” she chuckled. “I’m a very loving woman, and there’s a whole empty closet for you in our master bedroom… with three drawers in the dresser.”

“Oh wow,” he teased, kissing her tenderly. “You must really like me.”

“I think ‘like’ is putting it mildly,” she replied, smiling up at him as he kissed the tip of her nose playfully. “Ilovvvvemy gorgeous husband,” she drawled affectionately.

Hearing the intercom announce her flight, she groaned in dismay.

“I know, darling,” he whispered, trying to sound encouraging. “But next visit we can stay home and just hang around the house together. I’m going to see if there are orders coming up anywhere remotely closer, so it’s not so hard being apart.”

“It would be nice to see you more,” she admitted, but wasn’t holding her breath. This was a part of him, a part of who he was, his identity – and she couldn’t expect him to change to satisfy her.

No, she was happy being a part of his life… never controlling it. He wouldn’t ask that of her either – and that was what she loved about him. They just accepted the other as they were.

As they called her boarding group, she swallowed painfully and looked up at him, seeing his beloved eyes watching her.

“You know the routine, mister,” she whispered, reaching up to touch his cheek. “Email me when you get home, so I know you are safe – and I’ll do the same.”

“I’ve got four days left for vacation until October and then my time resets. I’ll put in for those days as soon as I can… and I’ll call this weekend, okay?”

“Sounds good,” she said tearfully, trying so hard to be strong. “I love you.”

“We’ve got this,” he urged, blinking back tears, and clearing his throat. “I love you, Jana Barlow.”

“I love you too… husband,” she smiled tremulously, releasing his hand, to check in at the kiosk for her flight.

Looking up before she entered the pedway, she saw him there, his arms crossed over his chest, as if he was trying to keep from falling apart… and saw the little fluttery wave of his fingers, reminding her of that first sweet gesture.

She immediately smiled tearfully, waving at him – and saw him smile back.

“Love you, Vapor… always and forever.”

“Love you too, my little bride!” he called out proudly, just before disappearing out of sight.

Taking her seat on the plane, alone, she put her phone on airplane mode and began to scroll through the photos, just in the hopes of making herself feel better and giving her a chance to focus on something other than the fact she was leaving half of her soul behind.

There were photos of the two of them making silly faces at the phone, tons of landscape photographs… and then there were the more personal ones.

Matthew had taken a photo of her, sitting up in bed holding her coffee after their marriage. She’d been so groggy, so out of it, that she was smiling wanly in the picture with her hair mussed up and the blankets tucked around her chest.

There was another she’d taken, but he had held the phone for her, of the two of them, lying there together in their Air Force T-shirts, looking at each other, and you could see the affection in their eyes.

Her favorite had to be the one where they were sitting together in the hot tub, with the midnight sun behind them, causing their profiles to be dark against the orange sky filled with purplish-grey clouds. The contrast was incredible, and he’d moved to kiss her in that moment… his lips opening as he’d reached for her.

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