Page 30 of A Miracle for the Reserved Flyboy

The evening was comingto a close, and the square had started to empty out, its festive lights glowing softly as families trickled away, waving good night and sharing warm holiday wishes. Krista leaned into Gary, resting her cheek against his chest, feeling his heartbeat slow and steady beneath the layers of fabric. She drew in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of him—a mix of faint cologne and the cool, crisp winter air. This would be her last memory of him for a while, and it would be Christmas tomorrow.

He was leaving soon. She tried not to think about it, but her heart felt heavier with every minute that ticked by. Tomorrow morning, he would fly back to Tyler, return the small aircraft he’d borrowed, and then he’d be gone, on a commercial flight bound for Afghanistan. She tightened her arms around him, as if she could hold him here with her, as if that alone could somehow make time stop.

She spoke quietly, her words barely a whisper, “Is it dangerous there?” She tried to keep her voice steady, but even she could hear the tremor of worry beneath her question.Pressing one ear closer to his chest, she let the rhythm of his heartbeat calm her for a moment, grounding her.

Gary’s hand brushed her back in soft, reassuring circles. “It can be,” he answered softly, his voice calm and steady, “but we do everything we can to avoid that. We’re careful.” He dipped his head, pressing a kiss to the top of hers. “I promise, Krista.”

“And… we’ll write each other?” she asked, her voice almost breaking. She could hardly believe how much this mattered to her, but she wanted to cling to any connection she could. The thought of their letters, emails, maybe even a rare phone call, would have to fill the space between them—thousands of miles apart.

He nodded, his hand moving to gently lift her chin so that their eyes met. His gaze was warm, laced with the same mix of longing and sadness she felt in her own heart. “Of course. I’ll call you when I can,” he promised, “but cell service isn’t always great there. I mostly have to use a landline to call home, which means relying on calling cards.” He chuckled, brushing a kiss over her forehead, lingering there. “That’s what I was up to the other day, actually. Stocking up on calling cards so I’ll be able to call you.”

Her heart swelled at his thoughtfulness, a soft smile curving her lips. “I’m glad,” she whispered, her fingers tracing little circles on the back of his neck.

A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes. “But before I go,” he murmured, reaching into his pocket for his phone, “I need to get a few pictures to send to my parents… if you don’t mind. They’re definitely going to want to meet the girl who stole my heart.” He winked, holding out his phone in selfie mode, snapping a quick photo before she could protest.

Krista laughed, scrunching her nose in amusement. They were both still in their costumes from the play, with foam crowns perched askew on their heads, cheeks smudged with pink makeup, and noses dotted with fading black paint. She could seethe sparkle in her own eyes in the photo, the glow of happiness that mirrored Gary’s as they gazed at each other, smiling like two love-struck fools.

Click.

“I wasn’t ready!” she giggled, playfully swatting at his hand as he took another photo, catching her mid-laugh.

Gary grinned and pulled her closer, clicking the camera again and again, capturing each silly, joyful moment. “I want lots of pictures,” he said, his voice warm and low, “enough to last me the whole time I’m gone.”

Click.

Another photo.

Click.

His phone caught their beaming smiles, the shared laughter, the mischievous looks they exchanged as she tried to dodge his phone, only for him to lean in, capturing them both in the frame with his arm wrapped around her.

“Gary…” she said, a little breathless from laughing, “you’ve got to stop that!” She couldn’t help laughing as he held his phone just out of her reach, capturing one more picture of her delighted, exasperated face.

“Just one more,” he murmured, his voice suddenly soft, the playful spark in his eyes giving way to something deeper. “Kiss me, Krista.” His tone held a gentle invitation, one that made her heart skip. “Kiss me under the mistletoe, and let me remember this.”

The air between them shifted, becoming electric, charged with anticipation. She met his gaze, her breath catching as she lifted her hands to cradle his face, gently tracing her thumbs along the rough edge of his jawline. “Anything,” she breathed, her words a whispered promise.

Slowly, she drew him closer, her eyes fluttering shut as their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss that sent warmth blossomingthrough her. His hands slid up her back, pulling her into him, deepening the kiss with a tender urgency, as though he, too, was savoring this last moment, storing it in his memory to carry with him. For someone so reserved, he kissed her with a passion that took her breath away. The world around them faded into a soft blur, leaving only them under the mistletoe, wrapped in each other’s arms.

Her pulse quickened as his lips moved against hers, firm yet gentle, each kiss pulling her deeper into him. They were both fully lost in the moment, as though this kiss, here in the glow of the holiday lights, might somehow make up for the distance that was about to separate them. She shivered slightly, feeling the thrill of it all—the way he was holding her, the way their kiss seemed to say everything their words couldn’t.

When they finally pulled back, Krista opened her eyes, meeting his gaze with a bittersweet smile. “Please don’t forget me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, her heart in her throat.

His eyes softened, his expression growing serious. “I could never forget you,” he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You’re the last thing I think about when I close my eyes and the first thing on my mind when I wake up.” His thumb caressed her cheek, wiping away a tear she hadn’t even realized had fallen.

She swallowed hard, her emotions swirling in her chest. “How long?” she asked, her voice shaky. “Are we talking a couple of months… or years?”

Gary’s expression softened, his gaze steady as he took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. “Months, I promise,” he said, his tone reassuring, filled with tenderness. “Trust me, Krista. I’ve just got to take care of a few things over there, and then I’ll come back. To you.”

She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she leaned forward, burying her face against his chest. She didn’t care that her makeup would likely leave smudges on his costume; she just needed to feel the steady warmth of him, to listen to his heartbeat one last time. His arms came around her, holding her close, gently rubbing her back in slow, soothing strokes.

For a long time, they stood there in silence, wrapped in each other’s embrace, with only the twinkling Christmas lights around them, the quiet murmur of the few remaining families saying their goodbyes in the square. The air was filled with the promise of Christmas and the bittersweet ache of parting, and Krista clung to Gary, memorizing the feel of him, the scent of him, the warmth and strength of him.

Finally, he leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be back before you know it,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

And even though the night was ending, Krista held onto that promise, holding him close as long as she could, knowing it would have to be enough to carry her through until they could be together again.

Chapter 11

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