Chapter twenty:

Eric and I tumble into bed and are asleep in a matter of minutes. In the morning, I am able to get out of bed without waking my husband. I go the bathroom and walk downstairs.

No one is awake, so I start the coffee, and jump into making pancakes for everyone. I brown some bacon and sausage and make a stack of toast. I set out the juice and sit down to wait for the aroma to drift up two flights. I lose a bet with myself, when Godric comes down first, I was sure it would be Alcide.

"Morning Sook, you guys had an eventful evening last night, didn't you?" he greets me. I nod, I am not proud about the parking lot thing. "Don't misunderstand me; I'm proud of every one of you. My Freyda didn't fold under that woman; my children took the high road and let the police take care of that brat." He pats my hand and grabs some bacon.

The other three come down over the course of the next hour. We enjoy breakfast and relax before I have to pack to fly back to Rhode Island. Pam had me leave my car at her house. She will pick me up at the airport. She has Sam's Bronco while he does his two weeks for the Navy Reserves.

Eric drives me to Memphis. He is quiet, but so am I. I don't want to leave him. The idea of not seeing him for five weeks is killing me. We make it, with a ten minute gap for us to say goodbye.

"I love you, remember that. We will talk as much as possible, and we'll be there before long. I will miss you. It's like your tearing out my heart for five weeks." Eric captures my lips and kisses me like a dying man. 'How am I going to live without you for five weeks? I love you so much.'

"I will miss you too; I'll call when I land in Providence. I will protect your heart if you will mine while we're apart. I love you, my cowboy. Good bye Eric. I love you." I kiss him back and walk into the tunnel leading to the plane. I breakdown when I land in my seat. I already miss him.

Three hours later, I land in Rhode Island and Pam is waiting to walk me to the car.

"Honey, I know you miss him. Call him, you know you need to hear his voice." She urges, gently as she drives to her house. I dial his cell and he answers immediately.

"Baby, was your flight alright?" I assure him that it was. We talk for a while. I feel better when we hang up.

I thank Pam for everything. She tells me that she and Sam will be there for the Prom/ Reception.

"We're part of the wedding party; of course we will be there. I plan on catching that bouquet, woman." She teases me.

"I love you girl" we say at the same time and hug goodbye for the month. "Call me when you get back to town."

I rock out to my mp3 player while driving. I make it to Portland by supper time. I stop at the ATM to check my account before going to Friendly's. I call both Pam and Eric, while I wait for my burger.

"I'll tell Alcide you are eating some food. He'll be happy to hear it. Mom is trying a recipe of yours." We make some more small talk before hanging up. Pam tells me to order a huge sundae for her, she's on a diet. She wishes me a good night. I pay and drive home to my hotel room. Eric texts me before he goes to bed.

Our bed is awfully empty.

I love you, Baby.

Sleep well.

I'll see you in my dreams until I can hold you again.

Eric ox xo.

I call him and say goodnight and that I love him too.

I get up and ready for school. I print out my papers to hand in. Hoyt and Jason are waiting for my car to pull in the lower parking lot; so of course, I park along the side of the road by the front office. I strut in the school and text my husband to see what happened at their school this morning.

She has in school suspension until the end of school and a different lunch time. My lawyer said it should be a slam dunk for the restraining orders. Miss you baby. Love ya. Alcide says hi.

Tell him hi too. H and J were waiting at one entrance so I went in another. Handed in my papers. Waiting for my friends to show. Love you with all my heart. I text back

My classes are a welcome distraction from missing him. The weeks go by quickly.

One day at lunch, three weeks later, Pam calls and tells me that Sam finally popped the question. We both screech and I jump up and down. My gals ask what's going on, I tell them and the whole table erupts in squeals.

Claudine and Jess ask me to go to Portland for dresses. I am lucky; I have mine already, my wedding dress. I drive to the Maine Mall, and we descend on the prom sections for perfect dresses for them. I have an ulterior motive behind Claudine's dress.

Alcide still talks about her. I hope he can cough up the balls to ask her out. She is going to University of Tenn., Memphis next fall. The campus is not far from our ranch.

Both girls find dresses and I treat them to supper at the buffet. On the drive back, Claudine asks me my plans for our wedding.

"Well, we already have the ceremony worked out. It's a surprise. We are now talking about the reception and how to pull it off." Yeah, that sounds good.

The next two weeks are flurry of planning and packing and arranging for one more room. I hand in my resignation to my boss. He asks me where I am moving to. When I tell him, he offers to have me transferred and calls the manager down in Tennessee. The store is actually in the same mall that I went to over Christmas. After discussing my schedule, we agree that I will start a week after Eric and I get back from our honeymoon.

The Prom was to take place at the Hilton, as well as the Senior Banquet the night before. I am starting to count the hours until my husband, brother and best friends come to the party.

We get our yearbooks during the joke of the last day. Every guy wants to sign mine. Some are gross, some sweet. The only girls are my group. That's okay, Pam and Debbie and Hadley will sign it.

I walk home and pack the rest of my stuff up. The only things I leave out are; my clothes for the next two days and my purse and makeup. My tickets and keycard are in my purse.