Anticipation

Chapter 20 - Franky

As I finished reading both of Azalea's letters, 5 Seconds of Summer's "Beside You" came on Pandora. I swear Pandora knows exactly how I'm feeling. "She sleeps alone, my heart wants to come home. I wish I was, I wish I was." Home is where the heart is and I just wish I could be home. I miss her so much.

Looking back over her letters, I couldn't help but admire her handwriting. She dots her eyes with hearts, I feel like she only does that because it's me. The way her cursive just runs off the page, makes me love her even more. It's the little things that make me fall deeper in love with her. I never even thought I'd find love, but that changed the night she walked out on me on our blind date. I couldn't help but chuckle at the flashback of our first date.

Okay, I need to write back to her. I took a deep breath as I picked up the pen and twirled it, trying to get my thoughts together. I bent my knees up and rested my notebook on my thighs as I began to write with Izzy sitting at my feet.

Dear Azalea,

Hey babe! I miss you so much. And I love you. Okay let's see where do I start.. What have I been doing? Well I've been spending most of my days in the shop. Working on any car I can get my hands on. It keeps me distracted although you're constantly on my mind. Sometimes I swear I even hear or see you. It's like, although you're not here in my presence, you're still with me.

Every night I lay up in bed with Izzy and we watch a different episode of Spongebob. She misses you too, she'll go to the door, lay down and just wine. I gave her a bath today but when you get back it's your turn! You know how she loves to shake her wet self after we're done bathing her. I swear I had a hairball in my eye.

But anyhow, babe I know one of the reasons you went into the Marines was so that you had a family. And I get that and I'm glad that they accepted you with open arms and loved you. Shit, I love them for that and I don't even know them. But what I'm getting at is.. Well you know, I'm your family too. And I'm never leaving you. I was just thinking..

Maybe we could add to our family? When you get home.. We'll wait a couple months so your body can relax, then we'll get a sperm donor and do an at home insemination. Or we could adopt! Don't freak out babe. Because I know you, I know you don't like needles or anything close. So if we do adopt can it be blasian babies? Please! Oh my goodness. I'm getting real hype about this. I just want us to have our own family. Me, you, the kids and Izzy. That sounds perfect to me.

I know you're dealing with so much over there, I just want you to know that I'm waiting for you to come home. By the time you get home, I'll have surprises for you! Nope, don't you dare ask me because I won't tell you. It's for me to know and for you to find out. Okay, I've got to hurry up so I can drop this in the mailbox and get some sleep. So babe, just know that I love you. I love you more than all the stars you can see in the sky. I looked up at the moon tonight and hoped you were too. Then my heart kind of fluttered.. As if it were God letting me know you were. I've been praying more; every morning and every night, for you. And I'm wearing your favorite hoodie.. Forgetting you are just a tiny bit smaller than me. Sorry if I stretched it out babe. Sweet dreams my love.

Forever yours,

Franky.

I gently folded up my letter and tucked it into the envelope, licking it close. Relieved that I already put the stamp and the address on, I quickly ran down the street and popped it in the mailbox. Walking back to my place, I couldn't help but ask myself, "why couldn't you just send it off in the morning?" Thinking of all possible answers as to why, as if I was talking to a whole nother person. Ah.. Because I feel like the sooner I send it off, the sooner Azalea gets it. Yeah, that's it..