Moments of Time

Chapter 3

"Need help?" I called up the stairs to my husband who was struggiling to get come down with his two heavy bags of luggage.

"I'm okay," he grunted as he stepped down the last step. He leaned down and kissed my nose.

"I'm sorry again-"

"Don't apologize anymore!" I said, playfully hitting his arm. "That's like the 50th time today. It's fine! You couldn't help it!"

He hold his arm in mock pain, then released his arm and grabbed me by my waist. He laughed and bent his head down to kiss me. I accepted it, before realizing we would be late to the airport. I put my hands on his face and broke away. 

"You'll be late." I said, not wanting to leave, but he had to, and that was final.

"We've got time." He said, closing his eyes and leaning in again. I pulled away, and pulled out my iPhone. 

"I wish we did, but we don't. Hon, it's 7:30. It takes twenty minutes to get to the military airport, not the real airport. And the planes leave at 8:30. I want to make sure everythings okay. We can have some time together before you board."

He frowned, but agreed. 

"Gosh, you're so smart." He said, giving me the most charming smile he possible could. I rolled my eyes, and grabbed one of his bags to take out to the car.

I opened the trunk, and he met me outside with the bag's twin. He heaved them into the trunk, and I  slammed the trunk door shut. We high-fived each other, and got into the car. Me in the drivers seat, him in the passenger.

It took a good 25 minutes to get there, with the traffic and all. I parked the car, and we sat there. He took my hand, and brought it to his lips and kissed it. 

"I really am sorry. I feel horrible."

"Don't, you couldn't help it."

"But I could've said no."

"That wouldn't be the right thing to do. You've been through all the training, you know what you're doing." I pulled him close and touched my nose to his. "I've never been so proud of anyone in my life."

He smiled again, and we just continued to sit there holding hands for a while. 8:15 rolled around the corner, and we got out of the car. Luggage checking wasn't required, so we just decided to skip it. Tony grabbed his bags from the trunk, and we entered the airport. 

Tony presented a pass, which led us into a special room for the Marines and their families only. We sat down near the window, watching planes take off and land. Eventually, his plane was called. We stood up together, hand in hand, and started to walk towards the desk where they would collect his ticket. 

"I guess this is it then." He said, swaying slightly. He looked a little light-headed, but that only mean he was nervous. 

"That's the best you can do?" I said, smiling at him, tracing his military badge that read "Anthony Wood."

He pretened to look hurt. "Ouch, you mean, that's not good enough for you?"

"Just kiss me." I said, rolling my eyes, and getting up on my tippie toes. His lips met mine, and we stood there for a second, before being intereupted by a rude, old man's voice.

"Ticket please."

We broke apart, and looked at each other. He smiled at me, then turned to give the old man his ticket. Tony flipped on his Marines hat, and started walking towards the gate. We were still holding hands, but was separated by a velvet rope. As he reached the entrance, I pulled his hand up and kissed his palm."

"I'll call you whevener possible." He said, once again brushing my hair out of my face.

"I can't wait." I said, letting his hand go as he walked down the hallway.

He turned around, suddenly. 

"I love you."

"I love you too!" I called as he smiled and turned around the corner to enter the plane.

I sat down on the same chair I was sitting on before, and turned to watch the plane my husband was on. 

Ten minutes later, the plane was speeding down the runway. I followed it with my eyes, and let a tear leave my eyes as it took off. 

"I'll miss you." I whispered as is dissappeared between the fluffy white clouds.

"First time?" A woman's voice called. I turned aorund to see a tall, young, pretty woman looking down at me with a double stroller.

"Hi, my name is Emma. Emma White." She held her hand out to shake mine. I felt like an idiot with my mascara running, but proceeded to shake her hand.

"Angelina Wood." I replied, smiling and standing.

"Your husband? First time?"

"Yes," I said 

"What's his name?" She asked, pulling the stroller around to reveal two little identical twin boys.

"Anthony Wood. Marine."

She laughed, and her boys looked up at her. "My husband, Harry White, probably trained him! I rememeber him mentioning a.. Tony, right?" 

I smiled and nodded. She pulled out a picture and showed him to me. He had tan skin, dark brown hair and brown eyes. He looked like he'd been training for years.

"I remember meeting him. Very nice man." I said, remmebering meeting Tony here so he could introduce me to his friends while we were still dating.

I looked down at the stroller, the two boys were fighting. They looked exactly like their father, but had their mother's light chocolate brown eyes.

"Oh! Liam! Chad! Stop fighting!" She said, gently separating the two boys. I laughed lightly, and she smiled at me. "Like some company walking back to the parking lot?"  I smiled and kindly accepted. She pushed the stroller and I walked along side her out the airport. Our cars were in the same section. We had a long talk about everything. Turns out she lived just down the street from me. Great, a friend who I can talk to.

I looked up at the sky, and wodered if Tony was thinking about me like I was thinking about him.