"Wake up darling, I'm about to leave."
I groggily, turned to my side and tried to get my eyes open. My vision was a bit blurry, but I could still make out the familiar face in front of me...the warm grey eyes, the soft, slightly wet brown hair. He probably had just gotten out of the shower. I could smell the musky shower gel on his skin. I traced my fingers along his short stubble, out of habit. He grinned before he pulled me up out of bed.
"Is Paul here yet?" I asked. Paul Harrison, Jonathan's long time friend, was picking him up to head to JFK for a business trip to South Africa. I was use to saying goodbye to him at all hours of the morning, this was nothing new.
"Yes, he's waiting outside." I finally looked him over to see he was already dressed in a light grey suit.
"What time is it?"
"5 A.M."
"Cutting it kinda close, don't you think, babe?"
"Yeah, well you know how Harrison is. He's never on time for anything."
I was wearing sky blue pyjama shorts and a t-shirt. I quickly got on a warm robe, to walk my husband to the door. I didn't say anything just followed as he took my hand and lead me downstairs in the dark. I turned on the front hall light. His suitcase was already there waiting. He let go of my hand and turned to my face me. He pulled me close and began to caress my face.
"I want to hear from you at least once a day... so I know you're OK," I told him as he ran his fingers through my warm dark brown hair.
"You're acting as though it's the first I left for a job before."
"No..but it's your first time doing something like this... I don't know about you, but to me, it sounds very..."
"Very what? They've requested a forger this time and I've never turned down a job before."
I gave him a soft peck on the cheek. "I know...I just want you to be careful."
"I always am."
He picked up his luggage and headed out the front door. I followed and ran down the front steps to catch up with him. "Jonathan, wait." He stopped and turned around. Paul began to honk his horn.
"Eames, come on! Let's go!" He called out.
Jonathan and Paul have done jobs together before in the past, but I expected they would go their separate ways once this job was over. That's how it usually went with my husband. He didn't work with with same team more than once at a time, then he was on to the next one. I supported everything he did. It didn't bother me in the least...what he did for a living. He first introduced me to dream sharing a while after we had started dating. It was unlike anything I had experience before. I was slightly jealous that he got to make thousands in under 30 minutes and all he had to do was sleep.
"I have to go sweetheart. What is it?"
"Never mind." I watched from the sidewalk of the car as he put his suitcase in the back.
We hugged one last time, before he got in the car. "Take care of Char for me," he whispered in my ear. Then, I released him.
"What...no goodbye kiss?" He asked before stepping in.
I smiled. "Here you go." I planted a big kiss on his soft lips."Don't forget to call me as soon as you get there."
"I won't."
"Ready to go Mr. Harrison?" Jonathan asked as he plopped into his seat.
"Hey, not so fast... Paul..." I said as I stepped closer to the driver's side.
"Don't worry love, I'll take good care of him." He replied.
"Yeah, you better. You make sure he comes back to me. ASAP. No fooling around this time, I need him here."
"Yes, mam."
"Come on now...there's no need to worry, darling," Jonathan assured me. "Just get some sleep. I'll be back before you know it."
"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes.
Paul revved the engine. "All aboard!"
Author's Note: Short chapter...kind of an introduction.