Page 53 of Soaring and Saucy

The mailbox is on the other side of the complex – but that is no biggie to me. What do you think?

It’s a second-floor apartment with a balcony.

Nobody above us.

Calling you in two min…

Stephanie remained right where she was. She was just going to be late coming back from lunch because she was taking this call – no matter what. Her heart was beating happily, scrolling through the photos he’d sent when her phone finally rang.

“Hello?” she began excitedly.

“Well? What do you think?” he chuckled. “I’m standing here beside the complex manager – just FYI.”

Which means I can’t talk much she interpreted and thought for a moment how to phrase what she wanted to ask him before deciding to blurt it out. She was nervous, excited, and a little giddy because it felt like they were truly making an effort to come together as a couple, as parents, and building a relationship that would have never been there except for that chance meeting a few months ago.

“The photos are beautiful, and the scenery outside is nice, but how far is it from the base – and the hospital? Could you see us there, raising a child until we find the next fork in the road?”… and treasured his soft chuckle.

“The drive to the base is about fifteen minutes and with traffic, I’m sure it’s at least half an hour. The hospital is forty minutes from here, and to answer your third question – yes. Someday, we’ll have a house with a yard, but I could see us here with the baby for a while.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, princess – and we can move in as soon as you’re ready. Do you have a timeframe on that so I can set up our date?”

“I just need to pack, rent a U-Haul, and…”

“We’ll handle everything together, I just need to know if you want to wait for a certain event, a doctor’s appointment, or something… or if you are ready to go?” he asked softly. “Did I mention there is a bank two miles from here that is hiring?”

She could practically see the smile on his face in her mind.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yup, Navy Federal – in case you wanted to check out the job postings.”

“I appreciate that. Then I guess I need to give my notice and figure out when to drive to Florida…”

“I’ll drive you. You aren’t driving across country by yourself.”

“Oh, um, well… okay. When do you think you can get a ticket to fly out this way? A few weeks? A month? Six months?”

“I’ll book my flight as soon as I get back – if you are ready?”

“Oh, Lance,” she said breathlessly. “I’m very ready.”

“Grasping at happiness?”

“You know it.”

“I do, love… because I am too.”

And she melted. There was such a tenderness in his voice that there was no mistaking the intent or meaning. He might not have said the words, but he called her ‘love’ instead of ‘princess’ – and she caught it immediately. This was crazy, but it had felt that way from the very beginning. Maybe he saw something in her worth caring about, something beyond the plain appearance she saw in the mirror daily.

“Love? Don’t you mean ‘Princess’?” she said thickly and heard his laugh.

“Oh, you hush over there,” he tsked, chuckling. “Let me finish up the paperwork, and I’ll text you our new address so you can forward the mail.”

“I should see when my lease ends…”

“It ends the moment I get there. We’ll just break it or pay it out, but we’re done being apart. You’re coming home with me, wife.”

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