Chapter Eighty-Five (Incomplete)

 

"Guess I'm the last of the old crowd to be making it back…" Ronnie spoke slowly, almost regretfully. He stood staring at the ship anchored at harbor, holding Benjie in one arm, his other arm wrapped around Rachel's waist. She rested her head against his shoulder, trying not to think of the lonely months ahead.

"Well," he continued, laughing softly. "We did it. Fought the war and won… Never thought I'd make it out alive. And now here I am… going… home again…" his voice trailed off. She pulled away from his embrace and turned to face him. He was crying and her heart ached. "I… hate to leave you…" he whispered.

"It'll be okay," she murmured reassuringly. "We've got a comfortable place to stay… we're safe and free… no danger now. And we'll be joining you again before you know it."

"It'll be an eternity. Six months without… how will I live?"

"You just focus on getting that house ready," she laughed. "And just as soon as it's ready, I'll be there hanging curtains and fussing round the oven. I'll make you… mm… apple strudel or something. We'll have a grand celebration."

"Can't wait that long," Ronnie grinned wryly. 

"We only have a few minutes," Rachel sighed as she glanced toward the ship. 

"You shouldn't have come to the dock. Would've been easier to say goodbye this morning and…"

"We're not going over this again," Rachel shook her head emphatically. "Let's say goodbye and you get moving or you'll miss that ship and then you'll be in trouble."

"I wanna miss it," Ronnie retorted. But he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Benjie wrapped an arm around each of them, crying excitedly in baby chatter. 

"Daddy has to go now," Ronnie told him reluctantly, attempting to disentangle himself from the little boy.