Stranger Things Have Happened, I Know

Ch 23 & 24

Chapter 23

I finished up at work and punched out. Since Dave's flight was getting in at a decent hour, he had agreed to let me pick him up at the airport, instead of hiring a car service. I arrived a few minutes early and pulled up to the curb. I pulled down my visor and checked my make up in the mirror. I did a few touch ups before my phone began to buzz.

“You're on the ground?” I asked excitedly.

“Exiting the plane now!” he responded, equally excited.

“I'm right out front.”

“Perfect, I will see you in a few minutes.” I hung up my phone and fidgeting in my seat excitedly. Soon, I saw Dave walking through the automatic doors. He waved, signaling that he saw me. He reached the car and threw his stuff in the back seat before climbing in the passenger’s seat next to me.

“Hey beautiful,” he said, leaning over to kiss me. I grabbed his face and kissed him back before pulling away from the curb and heading home.

Back at home, I changed out of my work clothes. Dave insisted on taking me out to dinner, so I picked a nice Italian restaurant with dim lighting and delicious cocktails not far from home.

“It’s like being back in Virginia,” Dave said as we sat down at a table in the corner. “No one bothers you, you can do things like a normal person and enjoy them.” I smiled at him, knowing how nice it was for him to feel normal.

“So!” He said, “tell me what you thought of the interview. I take it you're not mad?”

“No, no, no!” I said, clapping. “It was so great! I loved the last part the best. The part where you said that all that matters is that we try to be together as much as possible.” Dave frowned.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yeah... why? What's wrong?” I asked, confused.

“Well, that’s the only part of the interview where I didn't tell the truth...” he said, looking down at his hands.

“What do you mean? You don't want to spend as much time with me as possible?” I asked, horrified.

“No! Oh god no!” Dave said, trying to recover. “I meant the part where I said it was enough... because its not. It’s not even close to enough.” I leaned over and kissed him.

“Dave…You're here now, we are together. I know we don't get to see each other enough, but when we do, it makes the time we share that much more meaningful. It works for us right now. Let's try not to think about anything else other than being together, here, now.” Dave smiled, a smile I could tell was forced.

“You're right,” he said, picking up his menu. “What's good here?” He asked, changing topics. We ordered our dinner and a bottle of wine. Over dinner, we tried to keep the conversation light, but I could tell something was bothering him. After dinner, I drove us back to my house and we opened another bottle of wine and curled up on the couch.

“What's wrong with you?” I asked him finally. He sighed.

“I am just frustrated I guess,” he said, running his hands through his hair. “I miss you so much it hurts. You make me so happy and I only get to see you once or twice a month, for a few days at a time.”

“I know,” I said, looking at him sympathetically. “But that is just the way it is. And I am thankful for every second we get together---”

Dave cut me off.

“I am too, but it’s not enough, Kate,” he said, his eyes pleading with me to understand. I slouched in my seat, frustrated. “Is this the way it is always going to be? Or is this separation just temporary until we figure something else out? You can't tell me that you haven't thought about our future.” I pondered that for a second, not sure how to answer.