Beneath the Fallen Stars

“Yeah?” he answers, clearing his throat.

“What if they won’t let me go? What if I can’t go see her?”

“We just got back, so they’re not shipping us off again for at least a few more months. They’re going to let you go. I just don’t know how long they’re going to give you.”

I nod and begin to pack a bag. I don’t know what I’m packing, and honestly, I don’t care. If I forget something, I’ll buy it when I get there. All I care about is getting to her.

I just need to get to her.

Chad spends the next couple of hours trying to distract me. He also keeps me updated, thanks to messages from his sister. Finally, at three, she calls. Chad puts the call on speaker this time so we can both hear what she has to say.

“Hey, Cass,” he greets her. “You’re on speaker.”

“How is she?”

“She just got out of the procedure. She’s in her room resting. They’re going to release her in a few hours.”

“Cassie, I’m going to have Chad send you my number. I can’t ask for emergency leave until eight in the morning. As soon as I get cleared, I’m headed your way. I’m going to need you to keep me updated on where she’s staying and how she’s doing. Can you do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“Can you do me one more favor?”

“Anything.”

“Tell her I love her.”

“I can do that. I’m sure she’s going to want to talk to you when she wakes up. I don’t know if she’s going to be upset that she’s not the one who got to tell you, but you were blowing up her phone, and we didn’t get to it to answer in time, and it’s locked with a password. We knew you had to be worried sick, so let’s just hope she’s not mad at me.”

“She won’t be mad at you,” Chad and I say at the same time.

“Cassie, if she wakes up and wants to talk to me, you call me. I don’t care what time it is. If she refuses because of the time, you call me anyway and hand her the phone.”

“You’re a good man, Ford Gregory. I’m so glad that she has you.”

“I’m the lucky one,” I tell her.

Chad and Cassie talk for a few more minutes while I move to the window and look up at the stars. Maybe when she wakes up, she’ll be able to see them and feel me there with her.

Fucking bureaucratic red tape kept me from getting on the road until after ten. I had to have a doctor’s statement about the miscarriage as well as a statement from Shayne stating that I’m the father because we’re not married. To make matters worse, I had to call Cassie to get her to have Shayne approve the request because Shayne’s phone is dead. I’m going to remedy that situation as soon as fucking possible.

So, here I am, finally on the road at half past ten, headed to see my girl. With about an hour left in the drive, I can’t take it any longer and try to call Shayne’s cell. It goes straight to voice mail, so I call Cassie.

“Hey, Ford.”

“How is she?”

“Doing as good as can be expected. She’s in the shower now.”

“I’m about an hour away.”

“Good, she’ll be happy to see you.”

“You have no idea,” I tell her. I was granted five days of leave, and I’m already dreading that day I have to come back to base. It’s going to tear my heart to shreds.

“You want me to have her call you when she gets out of the shower?”

“Nah, I’ll be there soon. I mean, if she wants to, she can. I imagine she’s moving slow.” At least I think she is. I don’t know the procedure other than what I read online last night when I couldn’t sleep. I don’t know how to handle any of this. The only thing I am certain of is that I can love her through it.

“Okay. See you soon,” Cassie says, ending the call.

Tossing my phone into the cupholder, I press a little harder on the gas pedal, sending up a silent prayer that I don’t get pulled over.

Forty-five minutes later, I’m pulling into Chad’s parents’ driveway. The car is barely in Park before I’m tearing open the door and jogging to the house. Before I can knock, the front door opens, and Cassie waves me inside.

“She’s upstairs in Chad’s room.”

“Thanks, Cass.” I squeeze her shoulder as I pass her and take the stairs two at a time. I don’t stop when I reach the door, and I don’t bother to knock. Nothing else is going to keep me from her for another damn minute. When I push open the door, she looks up from where she’s lying on the bed, and tears instantly spring to her eyes.