Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Be safe.
Come home to me.
Sending all my love across the ocean and the desert,
Faith
I put today’s letter in an envelope and seal it up tight. I stick it near my purse so I can drop it into the mail first thing Monday morning. With a little luck, it’ll get there by next weekend. The mail system definitely has its ups and downs. Some weeks he receives a bundle with two or three letters in it, and the next week, a group of ten. It’s wild how that all works.
I scan over my list of items I’m going to ask to be donated to the care packages for our troops. With a little luck, we’ll be able to send a bunch of items their way. Not to mention, I’ll have my class start working on their contributions to the boxes. Something tells me, a handmade item and a colored picture will go a long way with those stationed around the world, so far from home.
I have a lot to do over the next two weeks, but with Hannah helping me, I think we’ll make this kindergarten project a success. And who knows, maybe we’ll be able to make it an annual thing.
Of course, that would mean I receive a long-term contract, not just the one-year agreement we signed for this school year.
And I’d be okay with that. I never thought I’d find exactly what I was looking for in the Mojave Desert, but as long as Chad is here, I’m all set.
I just wish he’d hurry home.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
Chad
I’m over the sun. I’m over the sand, and I’m over this fucking sweltering heat.
The only good coming out of this is the relationships I’m building with my unit. While patrolling a local town yesterday, I spotted two little boys out kicking an old soccer ball. I took one look at Erik, and we were both moving. We started kicking that old ball around in the dirt and sand back to the kids, reveling in the sound of their laughter. While taking a few minutes to play with the kids, I realized I wasn’t worried about enemies in the area.
I knew my team had my back.
It wasn’t easy forming those relationships with teammates who weren’t happy with my arrival at base, but as time went on, our trust grew. I’d give my life for any one of these guys—and girls—and I know they’d do the same. That same day, other members of my unit engaged with locals, giving kids pieces of candy and always showing respect to the women and men who looked at us as outsiders, despite the fact we were there to help.
But at the end of the day, I miss my wife. I’m ready to be home with her wrapped in my arms. It’s been two weeks since we’ve received mail. I didn’t realize how much those weekly stacks of letters meant to me until I didn’t receive them. Hopefully, they will get mail to us soon. I crave her words. I crave the feeling of knowing what she’s up to. A few text messages here and there have gotten through, but service has been spotty at best. That might have something to do with my somber mood today. I need my Faith fix.
“Fuck, it’s hot,” Erik says, as we trek our way back to camp. It’s been a long-ass day, and I think he’s feeling the loss of mail and contact from his wife just as much as I am mine.
“Yeah,” I agree. There’s no point in complaining. This is what we signed up for. We knew the kinds of conditions we could potentially be working in. Regardless, it still sucks, and we’re over it.
“I miss my wife,” he grumbles.
“I hear ya, man. This no mail shit sucks, and cell service has been shit. The comms tent is always packed, but if I can’t get her on my cell tonight, I might have to resort to that.” I hate not being able to hear her voice. It’s been too damn long. The comms tent offers us no privacy. There are some guys who can’t get reception at all on their cell phones, even in my spot that I finally shared with them.
“Agreed. I’ve been thinking a lot about getting out,” Erik confesses. “We want a family, and fuck me, Chad. It’s hard enough being away from my wife. I can’t imagine being away from my kids too. I don’t want to leave her there to raise them on her own, you know?”
“I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind,” I confess. “Being married changes your outlook. At least it has mine.” I’m proud to serve my country, but with each passing day that I’m away from her, I’m starting to think once my term is up, I’m getting out. I want a family, too, and just like Erik, I don’t want my wife left behind to pick up the pieces.