BOH 8-21-07 (00178434).DOC (9 page)

lethargy, reveling in Mike’s fingers caressing her back.

“Hey, you awake?” he asked in a gravelly voice.

“Hmm…wallowing in bliss. It was beautiful. My

imagination didn’t do it justice.”

He brought his hands to her face and touched her,

almost as if he were memorizing every line. “We’ve got to

talk. Settle this thing between us.”

“There’s nothing to settle,” she said and realized she

meant it. “I’ll conquer this fear the same way I did my

others. Promise me you’ll stay safe. Katy and I will keep

the home fires burning.”

Cyn buried her face in his neck and hoped no tears

would spill on his skin. “I love you. So damn much.”

Mike rolled to his back and brought her with him.

“Thank God Peter brought us together. Without his

interference, we might never have met.”

Cyn’s insides melted. “Peter was like that. He always

wanted to make things right for people.”

Beneath her belly, his penis stirred to life. Thoughts

of Peter vanished.

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Cyn’s eyes shot open at the magnified creak of

floorboards. The branches tapping on the windows

sounded like fingers. Had the hot water heater always

sounded so loud?

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. Mike had been

gone three hours.

Remembering Katy’s words to Mike last night

brought a smile to her face. He’d woken her to say

goodbye. His daughter had yawned, given him a big hug

and said, “Watch your back.” Then promptly went back to

sleep. Definitely a military child. Cyn, on the other hand,

had wanted to chase Mike out the door, cling to his legs

and beg him not to go.

She jumped out of bed when a low-flying jet rumbled

overhead. Possibly Mike’s ride to the other side of the

world. Panic welled in her chest. At the window, an

overcast sky prevented even a glimpse of the lights on the

transport plane. “God go with you,” she murmured.

Heart heavy, she trudged back and huddled under

the covers and breathed deep of Mike’s lingering scent on

the sheets. Closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.

An hour later, she gave up, climbed out from under

the tangled blankets, and shoved her feet into her warm

slippers.

By the time Katy rose, she’d done three loads of

laundry and washed the kitchen floor. Now they sat out

back on the patio, enjoying breakfast.

Katy licked yogurt off her spoon. “What are we doing

today?”

“You’ve got strawberry yogurt on your nose.” Cyn

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forced a bite of cereal into her mouth. “Haven’t got plans.

Any suggestions?”

“Could we go to a movie? Daddy always says it’s

cheaper to rent a DVD, but I like the big screen.”

With forced enthusiasm, Cyn said, “Sounds great.

We’ll look in the paper to see what’s playing.”

“Can Misty come?”

“If her mother says it’s okay.”

Katy jumped out of her chair. Cyn sucked in the

warmth of Katy’s hug and kiss before she took off like a

small twister. “I love you, Cyn,” she called over her

shoulder. “You’re the best. Gotta go call Misty.”

Cyn drained her cup. She needed to make a call as

well.

****

mistake, she wondered, as she maneuvered her truck

through the military housing complex. She’d not been in

this neighborhood since the night she’d left for the Hope

Bridge. Just the thought of that dark day brought a chill.

In the backseat Katy chattered about the movie

they’d seen this afternoon. “Hey, Cyn, are you listening to

me? Did you like
Shrek the Third
?”

Driving on autopilot, Cyn took a left, managing to

run onto the curb. “Sorry, sweetheart. I thought it was

great.” The lie slipped from between her lips. Truth was

she didn’t remember one damn thing about the movie.

“Tell me again where we’re going?”

“To a get-together for military wives.”

“You mean the support group?”

Was there nothing this child didn’t know? “You’ve

heard of it?”

“Sure. Misty’s mom goes when her daddy’s overseas.”

Cyn parked along the tree-lined street and shut off

the engine. “Mona Kelley said you could play with her

kids while we meet. You okay with that?”

“Sure, but we’re not going to be here for hours, are

we?”

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“You’ll be home in plenty of time to watch your

favorite show.”

“’Kay.”

Hand in hand, they went up the walkway and rang

the doorbell.

Mona opened the door and grabbed Cyn in a hard

hug. “Welcome, Cyn. I’m thrilled you decided to join us.”

Embarrassed, Cyn glanced away. “Thanks. It’s just

that…I’m thinking…I want to...”

Mona ruffled Katy’s hair. “Sue and Angel are

upstairs playing Monopoly. Why don’t you run up and join

the game.”

Once Katy had left, Mona took her by the arm and

led her to the living room where six other women sat.

“Ladies, for those of you who don’t know Cyn, she lost her

husband a while back. She’s been staying with Major

Spencer and today he deployed to Iraq.”

Cyn squirmed amongst murmurs of sympathy. With

a smile she said, “I didn’t come here for sympathy. I came

to share my experiences and to help others.”

Mona squeezed her arm. “Of course, you did.

Learning to accept support is sometimes more difficult

than giving it. Let’s sit down. Rachel was just sharing her

particularly difficult week with us.”

Three weeks later, Mike’s buzzing anticipation

vanished the instant he drove into the yard. The

darkened house and the bright outside porch light didn’t

bode well. Out of habit, his gaze went to the dashboard

clock, although he knew damn well what time it was. Too

damn late for Katy and Cyn to be out.

He slapped his palm on the steering wheel. Why

hadn’t he called when he’d arrived at Fort Drum? He’d

returned home five days early and had wanted to surprise

them. Well, the surprise was his. Where could they be at

this time of night?

Images of hospital emergency rooms zipped through

his mind. Stop it. Don’t look for disasters where they don’t

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Bridge of Hope

exist. With a sigh, he climbed out of the front seat and

grabbed his bag from the back. Once he’d secured the

strap on his left shoulder, he plodded toward the house.

Pausing, Mike saluted the American flag raised on

the pole in Peter’s honor. It waved gently in the night

breeze. Several times in Iraq he’d sensed the young

soldier’s spirit watching over him. Peter had not

materialized so Mike assumed that he no longer had the

ability to do so.

Once inside, he tossed the Army duffle bag on the

floor, sat down and unlaced his boots, kicking them off his

feet. The house was spotless. Had Cyn done nothing but

clean in the time he’d been gone?

Since he’d showered on base, he poured a drink,

dimmed the lights and lowered himself into his favorite

chair prepared to wait—and worry.

Before he had time to work himself into a state of

panic, headlights flashed across the wall. His gut

tightened. Memories of their last night together had been

a constant source of comfort in Iraq. Soon she’d be in his

arms again.

In less than thirty seconds Cyn was in his lap. “God,

I missed you,” she said between kisses. Why didn’t you

call to tell us you’d be home early?” She pulled back and

ran her hands over his body. “You’re okay? Not hurt?”

He buried his face between her breasts and

swallowed the emotional lump lodged in the back of his

throat. “No more than I missed you. I wanted to surprise

you. I’m fine. Great now that I’m touching you.”

Cyn covered his mouth with hers. He threaded his

fingers through her hair, gripped her head to hold her

still. Their tongues tangled, making up for the past few

weeks of abstinence.

Mike dragged his lips away. “Where’s Katy?”

“She’s staying at Mona Kelley’s tonight. She fell

asleep and I didn’t want to wake her.”

He groaned when Cyn pressed her breasts against

his chest. “I didn’t know Mona was a friend of yours.”

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Cyn sighed and stopped nibbling on his neck. “She

wasn’t until right after you left. I’ve joined the military

wives’ group.”

Mike couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d told

him she joined a bungee jumping team. “That’s wonderful.

I’m proud of you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t do it as soon as Peter shipped

overseas. Then I might not have traveled the dark road.”

“And we might never have met.” His hand cupped

her breast.

Her breath hitched. “Keep that up and there’ll be no

more talking.”

“Marry me, Cyn.” The words rushed from his mouth.

He hadn’t planned on proposing tonight. Relief that he

had made him weak.

She pushed back, her hands on his chest. Seeing her

blue sparkling eyes calmed his insecurity. “I’ll marry you

any time, any place. You’re my other half.”

“From this day forward,” he murmured.

“I’m sorry Katy isn’t here. She’d be over the moon.”

Mike tightened his grip. “Tonight is for us. Want to

go upstairs?”

Cyn rolled off his lap and took off at a run. “What do

you think? Last one there has to cook supper for a week.”

Mike grabbed her on the second step.

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Bridge of Hope

The Wedding Day

Cyn scanned the small crowd waiting for her to walk

down the garden path. A hot sun beat down on the late

September day, warming the air to an unseasonable high.

There wasn’t a cloud in sight and no breeze to disturb the

beautifully decorated tables.

Happiness bubbling in her heart threatened to choke

her. She wanted to run wild across the lawns, screaming

her joy.

Katy tugged on her dress. “Come on, Cyn. They’re

starting the song again. People are lookin’ at us.”

Mike paced on the grass ahead. She grasped Katy’s

hand and walked toward her husband-to-be.

The next ten minutes passed in a blur. Cyn had

wanted to savor each moment. Tonight she’d watch the

video to see what she’d missed.

“Cyn?” the minister’s voice penetrated the fog

swirling in her mind.

She gazed into Mike’s eyes. “I do…for always.”

The collective cries of amazement that shot up from

the crowd had nothing to do with the minister

pronouncing them man and wife. Everyone stared in

amazement at the American flag flapping wildly in the

still air.

A sense of peace seeped into Cyn’s soul. She lifted her

gaze to her husband. “It’s Peter wishing us well.”

The love in Mike’s eyes turned her knees weak. “I

know. We owe him. He brought me to the Hope River that

night.”

“You may kiss the bride…” The guests’ excitement

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Pam Champagne

almost drowned out the minister’s words.

Cyn and Mike sealed their union with a passionate

kiss. “Let’s grab some alone time,” Mike whispered.

Hand-in-hand, they started back to the house. Katy’s

young voice rang out in the still afternoon. “Daddy,

Mommy, wait for me.”

Mommy.
Cyn’s heart melted. In that instant her

marriage became real.

Mike trailed a finger down her cheek. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You and Katy are a package deal. I

wouldn’t want it any other way.” She turned in time to

catch Katy as she charged across the lawn. “Come on

sweet pea. Let’s go change so we can enjoy the fantastic

food everyone brought.”

Could life be any better? Cyn didn’t think so.

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