"What do you mean missing?" asked Kat in a panic.
"Kat all they know right now is the plane has been shot down and no one on the flight has been found, dead or alive," said Michael.
Claudia Joy knew the situation was serious. This was the first time since they had started working together Michael had called Kat by her name and not Colonel Young/Colonel Richardson.
"So you don't know anything?" asked Kat starting to cry. Michael shook his head, "So my husband could be dead?"
"We don't know for sure," said Claudia Joy rubbing Kat's shoulder, "We all have to be positive here."
"Why should I?" shouted Kat, "I already lost Steve for no reason other than those damn terrorists and now I could lose Chris too?" Michael silently took Connor from Kat and Kat wrapped her arms around Claudia Joy, "Why?"
"It's okay Kat. Everything will be okay," said Claudia Joy. Claudia Joy turned around to find the rest of the party goers sitting and standing around with saddened looks on their faces.
"Kat I think we should go inside," said Denise escorting her into the Holden house with Michael following them.
Claudia Joy turned around to face the crowd, "I think it's probably best if everyone just goes home and we end the party now." Everyone agreed and bid their farewells and prayers. Claudia Joy joined her husband and daughter along with Kat, Jordan, Connor, and Denise inside. Denise left and bid her farewell when she saw Frank. Emmalin came into the living room shortly after Frank and Denise left.
"The last time I talked to Chris, he said he was going to flying over certain hostile areas," said Kat, "I knew this was going to happen."
"Kat, you couldn't have known it for sure…" said Claudia Joy.
"I could feel it in my gut something was going to happen," said Kat taking Connor back from Michael, "I felt it ever since he told me."
"I'm so sorry Kat. I know exactly how you feel right now," said Claudia Joy grabbing her hand.
"You have no idea how I feel right now! Unless, he's gone missing in the middle of nowhere," shouted Kat pointing to Michael. Michael silently motioned for Emmalin and Jordan to leave the room with him.
Claudia Joy took a deep breath, "Actually, a couple of years ago, I was going through the exact same thing you're going through. Michael was deployed to Afghanistan and he went on a mission to visit with local tribal elders. And his plane crashed and he went missing because of hostages. Gosh, I was so scared for those four days. Not knowing whether he was dead or alive. Wondering if he was injured or not…"
"That's the worst part. The not knowing," said Kat wiping away some fresh tears, "I mean when Steve died I never thought I could fall in love again. When I had laid eyes on Steve it was love at first sight. And I think that's partially why I was so apprehensive to open myself up to Chris at first despite the fact that he chased after me for almost a year. And now, I don't know what the hell I was thinking because I could've had that year with him…"
"Kat, until we know further, he's not dead," said Claudia Joy.
Kat squeezed Claudia Joy's hand and asked, "Um, do you mind if we go somewhere?"
Tim and Holly sat in the parking lot of the local Walgreen's, though Holly was a little apprehensive to go inside and buy what she needed to buy. Tim finally spoke, "Hon, either way we need to know."
"I know," said Holly, "It's just extremely unplanned and a big life changer. And what if what happened last time happens again?"
"Hey, if it happens, things we'll work out this time around," said Tim grabbing her hand, "And you and I are going to get through this together."
"Okay," Holly nodded as she finally gained enough confidence to buy what she needed. Once she got back into the car, Tim drove home and then the couple spent possibly the longest two minutes of their lives in their bathroom. When Holly's iPhone beeped, she took a deep breath and looked at the test. And they both cried at the result.
"Congratulations sweetheart," said Tim wrapping his arms around his wife.
"I can't believe it. We're going to have a baby!"
Kat and Claudia Joy both walked into the mostly empty church other than there were a few individuals there for Eucharistic Adoration. They both sat down in one the pews and faced the altar where the Blessed Sacrament was. The two women kneeled in prayer before they left about fifteen minutes later. Kat slowly stepped back outside into the hot July sunlight and stood there a few moments before she made her way back to the car with Claudia Joy. She turned to Claudia Joy and said, "Thank you for coming with me. I, I didn't know where else to go. I went to church when I found out about 9/11 too praying that Steve was alive, but that obviously didn't happen."
Claudia Joy grabbed Kat's hand and asked, "Will you and Jordan be okay on your own tonight or do you want to stay with us?"
Kat smiled slightly and said, "Thanks for the offer but I think I'd rather be at home. Besides all of Connor's stuff is there. We'll be okay."
"Okay," said Claudia Joy.
Blake and Tonya entered their house after the cookout, both worried for the Richardson family. Blake put Julia in her playpen and sat down next to Tonya on the couch. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple before he asked, "You okay babe?"
Tonya looked over at him and sighed, "Yeah just can't imagine what Colonel Richardson is going through right now. Not knowing whether someone is dead or alive. Sometimes I think not knowing is worse than knowing for sure he's dead."
Blake hugged her and said, "I know. But it's not easy knowing for sure either."
Tonya grabbed Blake's hand and squeezed it. They both knew how it felt to loose someone, even if Blake's loss was familial love and hers was romantic love. A crying infant interrupted both of them from their thoughts. Tonya chuckled a little and said, "Come here sweetheart." She picked up Julia from her play pen and cradled her in her arms, "You on the other hand just want fed and changed."
"And lots of attention from Mommy and Daddy," Blake cooed at their daughter.
Jordan went downstairs later that night to find her mother watching TV. Kat had news reports about the missing soldiers and airmen in Afghanistan on the screen, "Mom, I'm sure General and Mrs. Holden will tell us anything important we need to know. You know to take the news with a grain of salt."
"Still doesn't mean I don't want to keep up with the news Jordan," said Kat little snippily to her daughter. Jordan flinched back a little, "I'm sorry honey, I'm just…"
"I know," said Jordan sitting down next to Kat and leaning up against her, "I'm scared too. But they'll find him."
"Yeah they have to find him," whispered Kat to herself.