Page 134 of Mariposa
“Welcome home, soldier.” The stewardess and pilot stand side by side with warm smiles.
“Thank you for your service,” The female pilot says with a polite nod.
I give them a nervous half-smile, then purse my lips as I readjust my army green duffel bag on my sore shoulder. I never know how to respond to those words, but I’m grateful for the gesture.
As I walk down to the tarmac, my phone starts to buzz in my hand.
It’s Slater.
Raising it to my ear, “Hello?”
“How was your flight, old man?”
I chuckle.
Asshole.
“It was pretty good. Smooth with no turbulence.”
“That’s good. Hey brother, I’m giving you a call because I just got an e-mail that says you’re being awarded the Silver Medal with Valor for what you did last year.”
“Really?”
“Yup. Booker is also getting an award. His family will be there to receive it.”
My throat thickens.
My fallen brother. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t carry the weight of losing my best friend. A part of me died that night. And if it weren’t for Violet, I don’t think I would be here today.
Slater catches my silence and changes the subject.
“I’m planning to come by your house this week to go to the range. You’re not telling me no, asshole.”
I laugh and shake my head.
“Sounds like a plan.”
We hang up.
I walk the five minutes from the gate to the lobby downstairs. It’s a small, quiet airport, so I’m not walking far. I didn’t check any bags this time, and I head straight for passenger pick-up.
Then I see her.
The woman who made me believe in love again. Dressed in that same red summer dress she wore to the Drunken Shell. It hugs all of her beautiful curves...and her swollen, nine-months-pregnant belly.
Violet holds up a bright mustard-yellow decorated sign that says: Welcome home, soldier.
She’s such a dork…but she’s my dork.
When I’m about ten steps from her, she takes off sprinting. I laugh watching her waddle-jog toward me. Before she collides with me, I drop my duffel bag, pick her up, and crash my mouth against hers. We kiss like we always do. Full of passion until it’s only us in our own little world. Not giving one single fuck who’s watching. Placing her back down on her feet, I give her one last kiss, a low growl reverberating in my chest.
“Ready for Colorado?” she asks with infinite hope soaring in her teary eyes.
Holding the bottom of her stomach, I smile.
“Never been more ready for anything in my entire life.”
THE END
