Chapter 21 - Diminution
Date: August 10, 2015
Subject: Re: New Email Address
It was SO good to hear from you again yesterday, even though I'm going to be spoiled by all the calls early on. :) I wish you were able to stay at the base in Kabul the whole year. From what you said and what I looked up online, it's obviously so much nicer and safer than any of the places you might have to go. Plus, you'd be able to call me lots on your new cell phone!
We've talked about this before, but I have to say once more for the record that I think it's stupid for someone in the Navy to be deployed to Afghanistan. Okay, maybe the doctors, JAG, and Seabees, but you're supposed to be on a ship, dammit…in the water…hence being called a sailor instead of a soldier.* Yes, I know you'll be doing mostly leadership/admin/training stuff at established bases, but I still wish they picked an Army or Marine Corps officer instead of you. Or hell, even another Navy person…just not you. Anyone in the world but you.
Okay, I'll lay off the whining. You're following your country's orders, and that's amazing. I'm so proud to be your girlfriend. I just miss you a ridiculous amount, already. The bed seems huge without you, and it's weird waking up without your heavy-ass leg squashing me, lol. I love you so much and wish we'd had more time, uh, exploring that love before you left.
I guess I'd better get to bed. That UAS project I told you about is going to be both time-intensive and stressful.* I can't be staying up all night writing to my wonderful man, no matter how much I want to. :)
Talk to you again soon.
With all my heart,
Bella
Date: September 15, 2015
Subject: Re: A few pics from FTX*
Um…wow. Uh, yeah... Just so you know, I'm currently licking my computer screen.
I'm not sure whether to thank you for sending me pics of yourself all hot and sweaty in PT gear or to curse you. Oh, the things I want to do to you right now, but I have months before I can. :( Do they allow conjugal visits over there? If so, I'm booking a flight asap!
I didn't realize there were females in your unit. Are there a lot on base? Curious as to what life is like for them over there. Who's the one with her arm around you in the first pic?
Work today was brutal. Eric screwed something up big-time, and it's going to set us back even further. I got reamed by three different people, which was just icing on the cake considering I'm already beating myself up about it. Yeah, it wasn't my fault, but it's still my responsibility to make sure we meet deadlines, no matter what.
Other than that, nothing's new since I talked to you last night…or yesterday morning in your case with the 9 ½ hour time difference, which is really strange, btw. I hope you get a chance to call again soon (and don't worry about what time it is for me). I want to hear from you as much as I can before you leave Kabul to go…out there.
As always, I love you so so much, and please stay safe,
Bella
Date: October 28, 2015
Subject: Thinking of You
Dearest Edward,
It's been two of the longest weeks of my life, and you've been on my mind nearly every moment of them.
I've been glued to all the news outlets, and since I haven't read about any incidents, I have to believe that you arrived safely wherever it was you were going and are okay. It's great to know you're currently doing humanitarian work instead of something more military-oriented, but I worry nonetheless. I can't help it—you're too important to me.
Alice asked me over for dinner this past weekend. If you didn't already know, Jasper's out to sea for a few weeks, so it was just the kids, Alice, and I. It felt a little awkward being there without you, but it was nice of her to think of me.
Well, that's about it, I guess. Work is the same as usual. It takes up most of my time, but not enough. There are still too many hours left in the day to miss you and wonder how you're doing. I hope you're able to get in touch with me at some point soon—be it by phone, email, or magical owl—but I'd much rather you be overly cautious about your safety and security.
I love you more than anything,
Bella
Date: November 19, 2015
Subject: Re: Re: At Kandahar
Damn, I didn't hear my phone when you called earlier! I was so tired I don't even remember walking into the hotel room. The different time zone in Nevada has screwed me up, and it doesn't help that half of the UAS testing is conducted at night. On top of that, I'm spending way more hours on-site than I'd planned. Obviously, I can't give any specifics on how it's going, but the fact that I had to get behind a computer to fix things myself should give you a clue.
If you can, let me know when you'll try to call next, and I'll do my damnedest to be available.
Love you.
Date: November 26, 2015
Subject: Happy T-day
Sorry I missed your call…again. My phone must be acting up or something. Got home yesterday and have been trying to catch up on sleep before the hell that is work starts back up. Of course, your schedule isn't much better, so I can't complain. At least I don't have to worry about being blown up by the people I'm trying to help.
Hope you got a decent turkey dinner from the mess hall. I'll probably just throw a frozen meal in the microwave. I've never done much for this holiday, anyway.
Since I plan to stick around the apartment for the weekend, I'm sure we'll be able to talk before you leave Kandahar for your next destination.
Until then…
Date: December 2, 2015
Subject: Re: Hey
Don't have much to say, just the same stuff on a different day. Hope you're doing well.
Date: December 9, 2015
Subject: Re: Is everything okay?
I told you I was fine, and I'm sorta pissed that you sent Jasper to check on me. Yes, I'm busy and tired and stressed, but that's just the way things are. I'm dealing. Even if I wasn't fine, what's the point of telling you? There's nothing that you can do about it except worry, and you've got enough on your mind. At least, I'm assuming you do. You don't say much about how you're feeling, either. Maybe you should be the one Jasper's checking up on.
Date: December 20, 2015
Subject: CALL ME
Alice and I had the most interesting conversation about you possibly being in town for New Year's. As you can imagine, I was rather surprised by this information. We need to talk, asap.
-o-O-0-O-o-
* Diminution - the act or process of diminishing; lessening; a decease
* JAG (Judge Advocate General's) Corps – uniformed attorneys of the U.S. Navy
* Seabees – U.S. Navy's construction battalion
* UAS – unmanned aircraft systems
* FTX – field training exercise
* PT – physical training
* Mess hall – military cafeteria
Thanks SO much for the reviews! I'd intended to answer each one of them, but with this chapter already written in my mind, I wanted to get it down immediately! :)