Soldier Boy

10

Cissy's POV

Five months later.

"Have you heard anything from Cameron?" Mom asked.

I shook my head, looking up at her. I was sprawled out on the couch, a bowl of popcorn on my belly and watching Pearl Harbor, tear stains evident on my cheeks.

"I haven't. Have you?" I replied sarcastically. Mom smiled coyly at me, her hands on her hips as she tutted on about how she wanted to hear something from him. She wasn't the only one. At this point, the whole town was waiting to hear any news on missing Cameron Langford.

"I'm going to fry up some chicken. Make some mashed potatoes too. Is that alright with you?" She asked.

I nodded and went back to ignoring everyone, instead focusing my gaze on the movie. Danny just found out he's going to be a father as he's dying. Perfect timing, I think.

Nathan and Nicole came over for dinner and greeted me with smiles. Nathan kissed my head and stole some popcorn. Nicole sat beside me and we chatted about baby names.

I was having a baby boy again, and had no clue what to name him.

The day we found out, Logan had smiled and said, "I told you I had a dream about having a little brother."

I didn't know if Cameron would be here to see the boys grow up together, or even if he was alive. I hoped he was.

"Cissy, come eat!" Gavin said, pulling me off the couch and sending my blanket to the floor. Nicole laughed at whatever Logan had said and joined us in the dining room.

"It smells good, Mom," Gavin said, adding in that Nicole was still learning the ropes in making dinner for the two of them. Nicole coughed uncomfortably in response.

"She'll learn in time," Mom said and smiled warmly at her daughter-in-law. Nicole turned to me and whispered, "Your brother must know everything. He doesn't know that I've been ordering takeout Chinese food and pretending I've made it."

I snickered and Gavin glared at me. "What are you two gawking at?"

Nicole shrugged. "Just girl things you wouldn't understand."

Gavin grinned at his wife. "Okay. Who's the one in med school?"

Nicole sneered at him and looked over at Mom. "It really is an amazing dinner, Sonia. Thank you."

Mom nodded and thanked her and then went back into the kitchen to get the dessert.

"Logan helped me bake some brownies. I bought some ice cream to go with them. He already taste-tested one and said they're really good," she smiled at him and he blushed.

"You're quite the little baker," Nicole said to him and he smiled at that.

We set our empty plates aside for the bowls of ice cream and brownies.

Nothing else was said after dessert. Gavin and Nicole ended up going back home, Julie was upstairs on the phone with a friend, and Logan went to bathe and go to bed, so it just left Mom and I cleaning up in the kitchen.

"If your dad was still alive, he'd be real proud of you. The life you've built for yourself, being a mother to soon-to-be two boys. He would admire your courage. I think if it would have been your dad that was kidnapped overseas, I would have already wound up in the mental asylum. It would drive me off the walls not to have him here."

I finished drying the dishes and put them up in the cabinets before looking over at her. She was wrapping a dish towel around her hands. "I hope I didn't say the wrong thing."

Tears were falling from both of our faces as I wrapped her into a hug. "It hasn't been easy with him not here," I said. "We just have to have faith that he's okay and that he will be back with us soon."

She nodded against my shoulder and smiled softly at me before kissing my cheek.

"Go on to bed. I'll finish cleaning up," she said.

I nodded and bid her goodnight before retreating upstairs. I didn't go to the bedroom right away, instead opened the door to the nursery and looking at the sight before me.

I ran my hands over the mahogany crib, touching the quilt that one of Mom's church friends had knitted for the new baby, and sat in the rocker, staring out the window at the moon-lit pasture.

My hands caressed my belly, my eyes getting heavy. I thought of Cameron, what he would be doing now. It would be mid-afternoon where he was. I imagined him standing in the doorway of the baby's nursery, smiling lovingly at me.

"He'll be here soon," he would say and then come over and kiss my head.

"Are we ready?" I'd ask.

He would laugh and place his hands on my belly, speaking softly, "I'm not sure anyone's ever ready. But we'll do the best we can."

I opened my eyes. Closing the door to the nursery, I made my way to our bedroom and soon drifted off to sleep.

~~~

"There's a letter that's come for you," Mom said to me the next morning over breakfast.

Logan eyed the red envelope rather carefully as I tore it open, my gaze widening as I noticed Cameron's handwriting.

"'Dear Cissy,
The days here are starting to mush together. I have no comprehension of time anymore. The first few weeks of the kidnapping, I and another comrade in my squadron were blindfolded. We've been chained to the wall by handcuffs that cut into our skin. We're fed a diet of watery rice and the occasional spoiled milk. I've had diarrhea twice because of it. The men, the ones who took us, have murdered the second guy I was with. His body stayed in the room for a month before they finally buried him. Talk about a stench. The President of the United States heard of our hostage situation here in Iraq and was able to seal a deal of my release. I'm coming home in a few days. I'll see you soon. I love you.'" I finished reading the letter and tears escaped my eyes. I brushed them away and gave Mom a smile.

"He's alive and coming home," I said. She nodded and hugged me. Logan smiled. "I've missed Dad."

"We all have!" Mom laughed and kissed his head.

I rubbed my belly and smiled. "Daddy's coming home to us."

He kicked in response. Cameron would get to see his boys grow up. He would be around here again, helping with the chores. I wouldn't have to sleep alone in our bed anymore. It was like Christmas.