Love From Afar 🇮🇳

Continents Apart

She watched him leave. Watched him get out of the car, shake hands with the greeters. Watched him walk up the steps and turn to wave at the top. She leaned closer to the tv screen and studied him closely. He looked good, rested. She knew he'd slept well last night, they talked five times already today and as soon as he was airborne and the team were settling in for the long flight she knew he'd ring as soon as he got a break.

Now she watched him step inside. In her mind she could follow the route he'd take aboard Air Force One until he'd settled in his seat for take off. She watched as the huge plane taxied and then took off, feeling part of her heart go with it. She felt lonely and, at the same time, immeasurable pride in her husband as he began his journey to New Delhi, to take his rightful place as leader of the free world.

The coverage turned from Joe's trip and she muted the tv.

She turned to the stack of files Joe had sent over yesterday. Her eyes fell on the beautiful bouquet of flowers that he'd sent over too. He'd picked them himself from their garden and sent them, along with a personal care package. Heavy emphasis on personal, the accompanying note stressed. He'd added so much packing tape she'd barely been able to see any of the actual box.

As it was delivered he rang. 'Keep that one for when you're feeling lonely, babe', he told her, 'when you need some help. And don't open it when anyone else is around. Trust me', he said.

She could only guess what was in there. But she'd wait for when she needed some help as Joe had put it. She thought she had a fair idea what he'd done, but wouldn't be sure until she needed it. She smiled as she'd put it in their bedroom. It was something to look forward to.

She settled down now and pulled her files close. Since yesterday she'd made a lot of progress but she had so much more to do. Quickly she became engrossed in her task, the looming deadline allowed no laxity on her part, and that was exactly what she needed right now.

She only realized how many hours had passed when she had to stop and turn on the lights. She'd no idea it was so late. Her tummy rumbled too, loud in the silence of the house. Commander cocked one eye as if to ask if she was ok. She leaned down and rubbed his fur. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you have a direct line to Daddy', she told the huge dog. 'I know he told you to look after me and you're doing a great job', she assured him, his enormous eyes staring right at her.

Willow came to join them. Lithely jumping down from the cat shelf Joe had made for her.

In the living room, high on the wall he'd crafted a set of shelves for her to climb up and lie on. She had loved it as soon as they had introduced her to it; one Saturday lunchtime when he deemed it ready, toys, treats and a tiny bed adorned shelves of varying heights and widths. It was challenging for her. At first she only tried the lowest two but by that evening when they couldn't find her outside Jill had wondered. She'd crept to the door of the living room and, looking up, caught sight of a tail, gently swishing over and back like the pendulum of a clock. She beckoned Joe over, gestured with finger on her lips for him to keep quiet. He looked at her in curiosity, his face clearing and transforming into a huge, satisfied grin when he realized. He settled his hands on his wife's hips and propped his chin on her head as they watched their little cat enjoy her special space.

'At least she's not on your head', Jill whispered to him and they both returned to the kitchen to laugh aloud. Supposedly it was Jill who was the cat person but in truth Joe spoiled Willow so much their little friend adored him and regularly climbed up to lie across his lap, or head, whichever was accessible at any given moment.

Jill smiled, thinking about the times that they'd wake in the morning and Willow would be lying across her husband with Commander snoring softly on the floor at his side. All the evidence ever needed to indicate the character of a person.