How She Came Home

Chapter Nine

Another two weeks passed by, interspersed with dinner's at an Italian bistro and Iranian restaurant, Freen showing up at A-Corp one night with phở and goi cuon as Becca worked late and Freen poked around in awe at the office. 

They went to the open air markets on Sunday, browsing stalls of homemade jams and leather wares, Becca buying herself a new moleskine and flowers for Freen.

The weekends had never excited her before, just another day to work from home instead of the office, to sleep in a little bit later and fit in the workouts with her personal trainer, but they were occupied with Freen now. 

Becca thought she would fall behind on her work, as distracted as she was, seeing Freen six times within the last two weeks, but, if anything, she felt more motivated than ever.

On the following Saturday, they had plans. Freen wouldn't tell Becca what, exactly, but her ensemble required casual clothes and comfortable footwear, which Becca took to mean there would be something physical involved. 

She settled on a half-zip olive green running top, grey leggings and her running shoes, putting her hair up and eyeing herself in the mirror with skepticism.

Freen pulled up outside at nine o'clock, driving a silver hatchback and texting Becca to meet her outside. 

Stepping out onto the stoop, Becca locked up and jogged down the steps, slipping into the passenger seat as she smiled at Freen.

"Good morning."

"Hi," Freen smiled, leaning across the centre console to kiss Becca's cheek before she held up a plastic cup. "I got you one of those juices you like. Carrot and ginger."

"Thank you."

Taking a sip as Freen pulled out onto the street, nudging her glasses up her nose, Becca leant against the door and stared out the windscreen.

"So... are you going to tell me where we're going yet?"

"It's a surprise."

"Did I at least dress okay?"

Giving her an appraising once-over, Freen beamed at her, "perfect."

She was wearing a faded Eagles t-shirt and shorts, a plaid shirt tied around her waist and battered sneakers. Becca wasn't sure what to make of the ensemble but figured there would be some amount of walking involved and left it at that. 

The weather was nice, regardless, they sky azure and cloudless, the air the kind of dry that left her grateful for her juice as they took the exit ramp to merge onto the highway, after a series of stops and starts that left Freen grimacing apologetically. 

She was not, in fact, a very good driver, a fact that seemed to amuse Becca.

"So, I, uh, I got the news that I go back to work on Monday," Freen said as she indicated to shift lanes, the news playing over the radio as they had the windows rolled down to let in the breeze.

She had her elbow propped up in the open window, her skin tanned and an air of nonchalance about her that belied the tension in the set of her shoulders. 

Becca slowly sipped her juice before setting the cup in the holder and clearing her throat as she shifted in her seat. "Oh? That's- that's great. So, um, where are you stationed?"

"Fort Rozz," Freen said, biting back a smile.

"That's not too far, right? I mean... we'll be able to see each other on the weekends, won't we?"

"It's only forty minutes out in the desert so I'll be staying with Mind."

Relief flooded through Becca at the prospect of Freen staying close by in National City, and she felt the knot in her stomach unclench as she smiled.