Airports

I stand at the arrivals gate of Washington's Dulles International Airport waiting for my son and his family to come off the plane from Colorado Springs, they're visiting for Christmas. I look around me at my fellow waiters, there are quite a few people around; it's Christmas I guess, a time to be with loved ones. I can see all kinds of people hanging around the gate waiting to meet their friends and family. I idly wonder who they're waiting for, what their stories are, when the guy standing next to me catches my eye. He's a very handsome man in military uniform, Air Force - with lots of medals, and stars; so he's a general – obviously waiting for someone. Again I wonder who he's meeting, he looks worried, that's evident and I wonder what's wrong.

I'm still wondering about the man when the first people start coming through the gate, the man immediately tenses, I look too but can't see my son yet, half of me still watching him. More people come through and still no one he recognises, then a tall blonde haired woman comes out of the gate carrying an army duffel bag over her shoulder, dressed in some sort of combat gear: khaki pants, big boots, the lot.

He sees her a second before she sees him, and it's obvious they're meeting each other. When she sees him her face brightens from the tired worn-out look to this amazing smile.

She drops her bag as she reaches him and they just look at each other for a moment before he folds her into an embrace. They just hold each other for a few moments before he takes her face in his hands and looks deep into her eyes.

"I'm ok Jack" I hear her say. He doesn't say anything just traces a cut on her cheek with his thumb. "Really, I'm fine, I'm home." Never looking away from each other's eyes a small smile spreads across his face.

"Yes. You are." He says, anyone around could see the love there as he looks at her.

That's when I finally see my own family coming through the gate, knowing them their bags were the last ones off. I hug them all and we turn to head for the car. I can just see the Air force couple walking towards the exit, her duffel over his shoulder, his arm round her waist holding her to him almost as if he's scared to let go.

I smile to myself, I have no idea what she's been doing or where she's come back from, but my old romantic side is just happy for them that they can spend Christmas together.