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“He hasn’t regained consciousness yet,” Alice told Kieran. “But at least his other injuries are minor, no organ damage, no broken bones. If the head injury turns out not to be severe, then hopefully...”

There had been too many unfinished sentences like this in her life.

She tried to put on a smile. They were saying goodbye, and all she could do was talk about Jen and Jonah and the accident, which reminded her so much of what had happened with Bruce sixteen years ago. Her heart ached for so many people today, she’d lost count.

“You have my address, my number, all my details,” Kieran said.

“Yes, and you have mine.”

They’d already said this to each other about six times.

“They’ll call the flight soon.”

“Yes, any minute,” Alice agreed.

The base was busy. People and equipment getting shipped around Australia, back across the Pacific and to other locations in the region where the U.S. military kept a presence. She saw some Australian uniforms, too, which at least prompted her to remember a more cheerful piece of small talk to fill in the last remaining minutes.

“Oh! I didn’t tell you! One of my friends from the Tidewater Bar and Grill is getting married!” Now she sounded idiotically chirpy, like a children’s TV presenter who hadn’t taken her medication. “She’s going to stop waitressing and work with him and his brother in their boat business.”

“That’s nice,” Kieran agreed. He reached across at thigh level and slid her hand into his.

Beginning of the end, Alice knew.

“It was cute the way it happened,” she gabbled. “He’s her neighbor and apparently he’d been in l -”

“Stop,” Kieran said. He brushed his thumb across her mouth. “We don’t have much time.”

“I know. And I hate that.” Her voice shook slightly, but she couldn’t control it. “I’m going to hate this part.”

“Yeah, me, too. So let’s say the important stuff and get it over with.”

“Tell me the important stuff, Kieran.” She’d lost sight of it, right now.

“We both have lives in our own country that we can’t leave,” he said. “People we can’t leave, people we love who need us. And I have my career. We’re not free.”

“I know.”

“We’ve had a great time together, haven’t we?”

“Perfect. Just perfect, Kieran.”

“Not a sour note, not a missed beat.”

“And that’s all I wanted,” she agreed. “It is. I know this has to happen. We’ve talked about it all along, and it’s the only way it can be and I don’t regret anything. Not one second.”

“Oh, jeez...” he breathed.

They held each other, their bodies pressed close together. One small movement from each of them brought their warm mouths into contact, and their kiss was slow and sweet.

“I don’t regret a second of it, either, Alice,” he said. He shifted a little, drew away just far enough to lock his gaze on hers. “You know what people say a lot? That life is short.” He quoted in a mocking tone, “Life’s too short to...whatever. But you know what? I think that’s bulldust. It’s just not true anymore, not for most people. In my country, and in yours. Life is long.”

“I guess it is.” She frowned, not quite sure where he was heading with this. “I guess I’ve said it, too, the life’s too short thing.”

“Don’t say it again.” His mouth was only an inch from hers. “Promise me, Alice. It’s important. Say the opposite. Life is long. Situations change. Remember that. And one day something that isn’t possible now...for the two of us...might come to pass. If we want.”

“Life is long.” She said it like a prayer. It felt like one.

The flight announcement came.

“Don’t drag it out,” she told him.

“No, I hate that, too.”

“Bye, Kieran.”

“Bye, Alice.”

They kissed again, then he turned and walked away. She cried all the way home to the Portmans’ place to pick up the twins, and when she’d stopped the car in the driveway and turned off the engine, she sat in it for several minutes without making a move, feeling boneless and drained.

Time. I just need a little time before I go in.

She sat a little longer, then she knew that the interlude had to end, so she unfastened her seatbelt, squared her shoulders and spoke to the steering wheel.

“Life is long.”

Her heart lifted a little, and the strength began to flow back into her limbs. Sliding the keys from the ignition, she climbed out of the vehicle and went into the house, smiling through her tears.

To be continued…

chapter: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20