Charles rolled over in the bed he reached out for Molly but, as he woke up he realised she was not there.
She had been gone a week and it felt like the longest week in his life.
Saying goodbye at Brize Norton had been hard, much harder than he could have envisaged. The last time she had gone he was still all over the place going to Headley Court and blindsided by Smurf's death. He had not taken it all in.
But watching her go thru the door had been the worst moment of his life. He felt terrified, he didn't want her out of his sight. But, this was Molly Dawes not a normal woman. More super woman. And she was determined to get back out there.
He had sat in the car for two hours waiting for her plane to take off. He had watched it disappear from view and realised he could not take his eyes away from the sky. Up there was Molly, love of his life, the one person who knew what made him tick.
Finally he had started the car and driven back to Bath. He parked the car and sat outside his parents house. Not wanting to move. He felt desolate without her. Three months was going to be a very hard, he didn't know how he was going to do it.
He leaned his head on the steering wheel gulping in deep breath's. He had sat back and pushed his hands thru his hair.
Slowly he had climbed out of the car and locking it walked away towards the house. He had let himself in and closed the front door. He collapsed onto a sofa in the drawing room. Laying his head back he closed his eyes.
He must have fallen asleep because he came to and the house was in darkness, he looked at his watch 8.30pm. He got up and turned some lamps on. Walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled out a bottle of wine and poured himself a glass. Sitting down at the table he wondered if he should eat something. But realised he couldn't eat a thing. He pushed his hair back and reached into his pocket pulling out his phone. He had five messages on there. He hadn't even heard it, he hadn't looked al it all day.
He scrolled thru and they were all from Molly. She had written them after checking her supplies. He smiled. She had known exactly what he would be like and had issued strict instructions for the next few days of what he needed to do.
Her last one simply said 'love you' he emptied the glass and reached for the bottle. As he did so he noticed something written on the label. Molly again 'do not drink this in one night C!' laughing now he realised she was still looking after him. He put the bottle back in the fridge.
He had struggled to sleep the first couple of nights, he was so used to her curling up around him. The house felt empty without her and he was glad when his Mother called and said they would be back at the weekend.
He had sat for two hours one morning looking at John Dunner's card and finally had placed the call. A woman had answered and he had said who he was. She came back on the line and said Mr Dunner was in a meeting, she took his contact details. He had hung up thinking the worst.
But an hour later John had called him back and suggested they meet for lunch at The Francis the next week.
So here he was lying in bed thinking of Molly and realising that he had to get up and get ready to meet this guy.
He showered and dressed and walked into the kitchen to find his parents sitting at the table eating breakfast.
'Charles your father and I thought we might go out for lunch today. Care to join us dear?'
'Mum, thanks but no thanks am meeting an old Sandhurst buddy'
'Okay, maybe next time or dinner tonight? You know we fly out tomorrow don't you? Sorry its a short trip but we need to check the renovations on the house.'
'It's fine Mum don't fuss.' He said. He stood by the coffee machine looking out to the garden.
His father looked up from the paper. 'Any news from Molly?'
'No, just the email to say she had arrived safe and sound.'
His father got up and walked over to him. Putting his arm around Charles shoulder he said kindly 'She will be fine Charles, you know that don't you?'
'I don't know Dad, thats the thing I know what its like out there. I am not there to look after her.'
His father looked at him and gently said 'well having met Molly and knowing her as I do, I think she is more than capable of looking after herself.'
Charles looked at his father and smiled. 'You are right Dad of course she will be fine.'
Anna James sat looking at the two men she adored more than anything in the whole world. Their mannerisms identical, their hair, their eyes. When she saw Sam with them it was like a mini me of the pair.
She had not been impressed when Charles had announced he and Molly had gotten engaged before she flew out to Afghan. Before Anna could say anything Bill had placed a hand on her arm to stop her saying something she might later regret. He had jumped up from the chair to hug Charles and congratulate him. She had, had no option but to do the same. It wasn't that she didn't like Molly. She liked her very much. But, it was all too quick, too much. And she realised for the first time in her life that she had lost Charles to Molly. He had the relationship she had always wanted him to have. But, now it had happened she was scared Molly would take him away from her.
They had gone out for dinner that night and Bill had insisted on taking lots of photos so Charles could send them to Molly. Anna had tried to smile, she really was happy for him. She was just sad for herself now.
Bill turned back towards her as he ruffled Charles hair. She knew she should say something, he was looking at her to say something.
'Yes, darling of course she is fine, and she will be fine.'
Bill rolled his eyes, and patting Charles shoulder went back to his seat. Charles stood looking out the window.
He finished his coffee and putting his cup in the dishwasher turned to them both and said his goodbyes.
He left the house and started walking thru Bath. He walked for a couple of hours. It was freezing but he needed the fresh air, he needed to keep walking that way he didn't have to talk to a soul.
He finally ended up at The Francis, looked at his watch and walked in. John Dunner was sat in the lounge drinking a coffee. He jumped up when he saw Charles.
'Charles, so good to see you again, how are you?'
Charles brought him up to speed on Molly's departure. John shook his head 'that must be had for both of you?'
Charles shook his head and said 'you have no idea.'
'I thought I would be able to wait out but three months is a long time and its only a week since she left.'
John Dunner smiled at Charles, 'in my experience Charles absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Three months will fly be.'
Charles looked across at John and nodded.
'Come on lets get some lunch Charles what do you say?'
'Sure, yes lets.'
Two hours later and Charles was walking home. His mind was whirring. John Dunner had told him how he got into publishing, and what potential he saw in him. He had suggested Charles write a monthly column in one of his magazines to start off with and he was to go to London next week to meet the book publishing side of the business.
He walked into the house and looked at the post on the table. He could miss the letter from the Red Cross. His Mother had obviously wanted to ensure he didn't walk past it.
He went into the drawing room and sat down looking at the envelope. Finally he opened the letter and they were offering him the a proposed start date of March 1st. A little over five weeks away.
Charles laid his head back on the sofa and sighed. His phone started to vibrate in his pocket and he pulled it out answering it quickly.
'Molly is that you?'
It was and after a ten minute call where she told him she had seen Bashira (he was furious with Qaseem and would email him later), met her trainees and managed to spend some time with 2 section. She sounded happy.
She wanted all his news so he told her his parents were back. He said they were delighted with the engagement news and he had photos to send from the dinner his father had insisted on to celebrate. He neglected to mention his lunch with John and his letter which was sitting beside him on the sofa. He was just not ready to make a decision on either of these right now.
He told her the bed was too big without her, she laughed quietly as she said 'well you will never believe where I am sleeping.' She told him that the camp was now very small with only a few hundred soldiers left. So she had been based in his old quarters. She laughed when she said 'the bed is too bleeding small here I nearly fell out last night.'
She was being called by someone, she said she had to go. The last words he said 'love you' and just before she disconnected he heard her say 'ditto Charles.'
There was a noise behind him and his father was hovering at the door. 'Everything okay with Molly, Charles?'
'Seems that way Dad'
He leaned back and closed his eyes again. His father walked towards the sofa seeing the letter beside him.
'So I take it you didn't get the job? Listen don't worry something will come up. No point worrying Molly with anything like that. You know you can stay here as long as you like. I mean well, I know you want to move into the flat but, if you wanted to delay. Its not a problem Charles.'
Charles reached for the letter and passed it to his father. 'I got the job Dad, the problem is I don't think I want it now.'
Bill took the letter and sat down on the edge of the sofa. 'I don't understand. You talked non stop about this role, how perfect it was. A chance to travel to do something that made a difference. What has changed?'
'Me Dad, I have changed. I don't think I want to go travelling. I want to do something else.'
'Something else Charles, like what? Teaching or something in the military?'
Charles sat up and looked at his father 'okay don't laugh Dad but I met someone who wants me to write a book, thats where I was today. He wants me to write in a monthly magazine and next week wants me to meet his ideas team in London.'
Bill James sat back and looked at his son. 'I think Charles you have to do what your heart tells you to do. You served your country and held a serious job for so many years. Maybe now is the time to kick back and have some fun.'
'Kick back Dad? Charles laughed and his father pulled him close. 'You know that I will be proud of you no matter what you do. Have some fun it's time scamp.'
Anna James carried a bottle and three glasses into the drawing room. She could hear Bill and Charles talking, laughing about something.
'So you two what is going on in here? Are we celebrating?'
'We certainly are Anna, Charles had only gone and got a new job.'
'The Red Cross letter of course, oh darling I am so pleased.'
Bill looked at Charles. A look that said best leave this to me.
'Anna you had better sit down and pour the wine, I have a feeling you might need it.'