Home Away From Home

Chapter 26

Two months passed and Nick and Valerie wrote to each other every day. When they first started sending each other letters, Valerie would collect it all and keep it in a box. She would look at it every day and cry, but she had to stay strong for her babies, and her brother. Emma and Tony grew everyday and she wished that Nick could see it. All Nick could think about was his family; he tried his best to not get distracted on the field. He needed to stay alive. Nick sat on his bed and one of his friends, Mason, came in.

"You okay, man?" He asked. Nick looked up at him and smiled. "That's not an answer."

"I'm fine." He replied, emotionlessly.

"I know that you miss your family, but that doesn't mean you hide in here like a teenager."

"I'm not hiding." Nick chuckled.

"Maybe you aren't, but you sure are isolating yourself from everybody else. The only time you do something is when we're assigned to."

"I don't want to see anyone, except my family."

"We just have four more months left, you'll see them soon."

"Four months right now feel like a decade." He stroked his thumb against a picture of his family.

"You want some advice?"

"Please." He looked up at him.

"Keep yourself alive, interact with people here, time will pass and before you know it you'll be home with your family." He put his hand on his shoulder.

"It's not as easy as it sounds." He looked back down.

"I never said it is, but follow that advice and you'll be fine."

"You're right." Nick got up. "Where is everybody?"

"In the lounge, let's go."

At home, Valerie was writing another letter. She would write at least five letters every day, but in the end only send one. She wrote as if he was right next to her. She then heard Emma cry so she went into their room and picked Emma up.

"Shh, it's okay, baby." She rocked her in her arms until she fell asleep, and then she put her back in her crib. Valerie looked at Emma and Anthony; she still couldn't believe she was a mother. She smiled at the thought of taking care of two other human beings that were hers. Then she thought of Nick, how he finally became a father, and then he left. He didn't even get a chance to really spend time with them; he tried his best to be with her the most. Tears came down her face. She saw Anthony looking at her and tried to smile, but she just cried more. He started crying as well. He may have been young, but he knew who his mother was, and no one likes to see their mother in pain. Valerie picked him and rocked him, but he didn't calm down. He was a stubborn, just like her. Zack came in and saw them both crying. He came up to her and took Anthony. "Zack, it's okay."

"Go get some rest, Val. Don't worry, I got this."

"But-"

"Go." He commanded.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Go." Valerie looked at them, and then went inside her room. She laid down on her bed, curled into a ball, and cried her eyes out. She grabbed the pillow and hugged it tightly, wishing it was Nick. She was always strong when he left before, but this time it was different. Nick was not just missing Zack and her, now he had two kids. Two kids that are growing without their father. Nick always wanted to be the best father he could be. Valerie knew that he was, but he didn't get to be the best father here with his kids, instead he was thousands of miles away. She just needed him here with her more than ever. Eventually, after crying so much, she fell asleep. Zack came into her room later and woke her up. "Val?"

"Mm?"

"Wake up; I have a surprise for you." He had a big smile on his face.

"What is it?"

"You have to get up to see." Valerie got up and Zack dragged her to the living room. Emma and Anthony were sitting on their chairs next to the computer. Zack sat Valerie down on the computer chair.

"What's going on?" She looked at her surroundings, confused.

"You'll see." Zack clicked a button and Nick appeared on the screen. Valerie's eyes widened and a big smile appeared on her face. The kids also had smiles on their faces.

"Nick?" She quickly fixed her hair.

"Hi Val." Nick said with a big smile across his face.

"How?"

"Guess we have computers." They both laughed. Valerie put her hand on the screen. "I miss you."

"I miss you too, so bad."

"It looks like you've been crying." He scrunched his eyebrows.

"Yeah, um, I ..." She tried looking away.

"Don't tell me you were crying because of me..." He sighed. "Val, I don't want you crying over me. I'll be fine."

"I just really wish you were here."

"Me too. Where are my little angels?" Valerie smiled and put Emma and Anthony on her lap. "Hi Emma, Hi Tony." They both smiled. "They've been growing."

"Every day."

"Make sure they don't walk or say their first words without me." They both laughed.

"Don't worry; you'll be home in time to see that."

"Yes I will. You're all that I think about. The kids and Zack, too."

"You're all that I think about."

"I miss you so much, baby." Valerie started tearing. She heard some yelling in the back. "They're calling me."

"No, please don't go."

"If I could, I would stay here all day and talk to you. I love you, baby. I love the kids and Zack so much. I miss you all. I'll talk to you all soon."

"No, please. I love you." She put her hand on his face, on the screen.

"I love you, Val." He ended the call and she cried. She missed him so much. She looked at her kids and tried to put on a smile. She got up and put them in their eating chairs.

"Time to eat." She said to them. She walked over to the refrigerator and took out their milk she put for them in a bottle. She walked to the microwave and heated it up. Then she fed it to them. She looked at them while they ate. She smiled and was glad that they were here with her and Zack. Nick will be back soon, she knows it, and when he comes back she is never letting him leave again.

aG᨞�>��