The Only Exception

Book 2 Part 5

Desiree walked in the door and said, “Celeste! Where are you hun?” I heard her set down her bag and said in a weak tone, “I’m in the kitchen Des.” She walks into the kitchen and says, “Now Celeste, you look tired as hell. Have you stayed up all night?” She grabs a glass and the iced tea and tops our glasses off.

“Yeah, I did stay up night, but for some reason, I’m not tired. But I’m hungry and want cookies. We don’t have any here though. I was just afraid that I wouldn’t be able to sleep last night so I stayed up all night.” I took a sip and set my cup down.

"Huh, well I was going to ask if you wanted to go shopping, but you obviously are tired. You know, staying up and pulling an all-nighter isn’t healthy for the baby and it’s definitely not healthy to starve yourself either. Let me fix you something to eat and then you go take a nap or something. I’ll clean up a little here for you as well.” She got up from the little table and started taking out a pan and some ingredients for something that relatively looked like ingredients for Chicken Parmesan.

I stood in the shower, steaming up the room. I was thinking about Noah the whole time and I went back into reality when the water was turning icy cold. I dried off and got out, dressed myself in clean sweats and a t shirt of Noah’s. I pulled my wet hair back into a sloppy ponytail and made my way back into the kitchen, where Desiree had outdone herself with making not only Chicken Parmesan, but a batch of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. 

“Des, you really didn’t have to go through all of this trouble for me.”

“Oh yes I did hun. You and little Carter need a well balanced diet. Cookies and all.” She said with a wink. I laughed and she said, “That’s the laugh and smile I miss so dearly.”

“I just Noah so much, it hurts to smile because he can’t really witness his own child grow inside me. I mean, he gets pictures, but that’s not enough. I can’t be there with him either. At least he only has a year left..” I said with an unsettled sigh, and Desiree just rubbed my back a little.

She spent the night at the house for a few days so I wasn’t so lonesome. This big house gets lonely quick when there’s no one but you inhabiting it. I wrote Noah another letter saying,

Noah, 

I miss you so much. Please come home soon, Carter and I need you. No, he isn’t here yet, so sit back down. This house isn’t the same without you here. For a surprise, I sent a picture of Carter, and some more drawings of us for you. I love you.

Celeste

-P.S. I also got my hair cut, I think it’s a little short. I included a picture for you. Love you.

I had my hair cut, but it’s a little too short for my liking. I can still pull it back at least. I hope Noah doesn’t freak out too much. I sent out the letter, and got another one a week later,

Celeste,

Carter is getting really big, I can’t wait to come home on leave in a few months. I should be coming in October or November. I seen the picture of your hair, it’s still just as beautiful as it was when it was long. Didn’t you say that you were due just before Christmas? Wouldn’t that be weird if we had a Christmas child? I informed my officer about your pregnancy, and he said I only get three weeks of paternity leave. I want to be there for the birth, no matter what. And so you aren’t worrying so much, I haven’t been in combat all that much.  I’ve mainly been working out and training in case we do need to go into combat. I occasionally take guard duty, but all I think about how much I want to be back at home with you, watching our baby grow. I reread the letters you sent and I know how much you miss me, it’s unbearable. I’ll try to come home as soon as I can.