The Christmas Wish

Chapter One

Laura's POV

It's been several weeks since I have heard from Luke. He has been away on a mission for the last couple months. His unit was deployed for a year and I miss him so much. He has been calling me as much as he can, usually a few times a week, but it has stopped and I am so worried that something has happened to him. I try to be strong for our daughter, and she misses him too. She asks me all the time when her daddy is coming home and it breaks me every time. I don't know how long I can be strong for her. I tell her that daddy will be home, but he has a very important job to do. When he is finished, he will be straight home. Every time her shoulders just slump and she walks back to her room. I slowly pull myself out of bed to get Keely ready for daycare and myself ready for work. It's just become routine and robotic. I get in the shower and do my morning routine and then go to wake Keely up and get her ready for the day.

"Good morning little bug. It's time to wake up and get ready for school."

She slowly stirs and sits up rubbing her eyes.

"Good morning mommy, Is daddy coming home yet?"
"No, sweetheart. He is still working. He will be home to us soon."
"Is he going to call us?"
"Maybe, but he is really busy right now and can't call."
I try to push down the lump that has formed in my throat and will the tears go away before they fall. I can't let her see me cry. I don't want her to worry about him either. She wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Mommy, don't worry. He will come home to us. He promised and he never breaks his promises, ever." She says as she puts her tiny hand on my cheek and I can't help the tears that fall. "Don't cry mommy. He will be okay."
How can this little girl be so much braver than me? She has so much faith in her daddy coming home and I am trying to find as much as hers. This little girl loves her daddy so much. They are thick as thieves. He is her entire world and she is his. He would do anything for her and anything to keep her safe.

"Come on sweet girl, let's get you dressed so we can get you to school."
"Okay mommy, we need to hurry so we are not late."
"You got it, let's go."
I help her get ready and we are headed downstairs to make breakfast before we go. Once we have eaten and I have my coffee to go we head out and on our way to her school. Not too long after we are parking and I take her inside. The teacher is busy with other children when we arrive but quickly comes to greet us. She asks me about Luke as Keely heads off to her friends and I let her know what is going on. She says she will keep us and Luke her her prayers that he is safe and comes home soon.

"Goodbye Keely, I will see you this afternoon."

"Bye mommy, love you!"

"Love you too, bug."
I head out and off to my studio to start the day. Heading inside, I turn on everything and check my messages for the morning. I have several children's sessions scheduled and a family to do today and not long after I had arrived the first family came in as I am setting up the studio. It's the baby's first year pictures, and it takes a bit to get her ready. She is grumpy today and it takes all of my tricks to get her to smile and eventually get some good pictures. The rest of the morning goes well and it is early afternoon when I finally have a break. I am finally sitting down when I hear the door chime and I wonder who it is since I don't have another appointment till three. I hear heavy footsteps and I look up to see my bestie walk in.

"Hey beautiful, are you free to grab some grub?" Brandon asks as he leans against the door jam of my office.

"As a matter of fact, I am."

"Shall we head over to our fav?"

"Definitely, I'm starving."
I grab my purse and we walk over to our favorite restaurant. Sitting in our usual booth the waitress comes over and we order our usual pizza. The best in town, as far as I am concerned. We have been coming here since we were in high school.