Remember Laughter

by Ginny Sterling

  “Exactly.”

  “I don’t want you to worry about things. Just focus on smiling. I know that I am thinking of those beautiful eyes and how much you mean to me. You, princess, get me through the tough times.”

  “I can do that,” she promised.

  “I know you can, Princess.”

  August

  Ghazni, Afghanistan

  John,

  Can you do me a huge favor? I need you guys to check on Leia and make sure she’s okay. I’m crazy about the woman and can’t thank you enough for introducing us. I think about her all the time and I’m trying to wrap my head around how I’m going to get back to her. I am foregoing my papers to re-up for another tour. I’m gonna marry her, John – so consider this notification that I owe you and Lily more than you could ever know.

  Jason

  Jason,

  When is your date to leave Afghanistan? Do you have a lead on a job yet?

  John

  John,

  Actually, no. I found a job for an explosives tech in Arizona, but that still puts me over a thousand miles away from Leia. I can’t ask her to start her life all over again. It wouldn’t be fair to her and she’s been through so much. Don’t say anything to her about it because I don’t want her to worry.

  Jason

  Jason,

  I might have an idea…

  The fire department is opening an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team and I think you’d be a great fit. It’s in Tyler where we all live – including Leia.

  John

  John,

  Congratulations on the baby! I just heard from Cooper that your daughter is finally here. I envy you, my friend. I’m sure Rose already has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, doesn’t she?

  That job you mentioned would be perfect. I filled out the application online. If I get this position, I’m going to need your help with another plan I have brewing in my mind. This one is a secret…

  Jason

  Chapter 19

  October

  Tyler, Texas

  “Class, we are going to work on a little project,” Leia ignored the groans and whines, smiling to herself.

  “We are going to start working on making Christmas cards to send overseas. We’ve got a month to work on a Christmas poem to put on the inside and we’ll design a fancy picture on the outside. I want you to knock this project out of the ballpark because Mrs. Griffin, down the hallway, has arranged for a few police officers to come by and judge the cards.”

  “The winner gets to spend an afternoon with a private tour of the police station – this includes that you get to fingerprint yourselves! Doesn’t that sound fun?

  “Now, I want you to take time and think of a theme for your card this weekend. Do you want it to be funny? Sweet? Emotional? Uplifting? Or maybe something silly? Remember, we’ll be sending these for Christmas, so think about the things you like to do during the season. If painting ornaments is your favorite, then maybe your poem to go inside the card describes your creation?”

  The bell went off overhead.

  “Okay class. That’s it for today. Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you Monday to talk about some ideas.”

  Leia smiled as she watched the children file out of the classroom. Lily’s idea to have the kids make Christmas cards this year had been an excellent one and would help fill her time as she waited for Jason to return.

  He’d been very vague and evasive regarding a timeframe and knew that the calendar was ticking down quickly. She wondered for a moment if he’d panicked and renewed his military contract for another two years to give them a bit more time. If he did, it wouldn’t be the end of the world; she would just be on pause for a little bit longer. As the class emptied, she glanced out the window and did a doubletake.

  What in the world?

  They were supposed to be having a trick-or-treat event next Friday and Leia wondered if the mysterious performer got the dates mixed up. She stared, dumbfounded, as someone dressed in a Chewbacca costume, was surrounded by children in the schoolyard as they ran out of their bus lines to follow after the man in costume. Seconds later, several police cars pulled into the parking lot, lights flashing.

  Yikes!

  Whatever was going on, it was about to get interesting in front of the school! She heard several whistles being blown and immediately left the classroom, entering the hallway and dashing to the front doors of the school.

  She expected to walk outside and see Chewbacca in handcuffs, with the mask yanked off his head. What she didn’t expect to see was Jason, down on one knee, with the Chewbacca mask on the ground beside him. A bright, white bouquet of roses was in his hand as he posed there, smiling at her.

  Leia glanced around, stunned.

  Daisy was standing there beside Ethan and a minister, Colin and Ava waited not far away. Eva stood at a table that held a massive display of cupcakes, with another couple standing guard nearby to keep the children away from the sweets. Luka and Griffin were in their uniforms, grinning broadly. Lily sidled over towards the officers, picking up the baby from the carrier at his feet. She cooed gently as she cradled the baby against her chest.

  “Princess Leia, you sure look beautiful.”

  “What are you doing here? When did you get in?”

  “I’m here to marry you, princess.”

  “Princess Leia marries Han Solo in the books… not Chewbacca.”

  “This is our fairytale, darling. My girl can marry whoever she wants in this happy ending,” Jason said, getting to his feet. “Do you feel like making this poor soldiers dreams come true.”

  “Right now?”

  “No. Hit it, Cooper,” Jason said, glancing over towards the man she didn’t recognize who was standing beside the table laden with cupcakes. He pressed a button on his phone and out of nowhere, the strains to the theme song of the trilogies began to play.

  “In this episode, Leia marries her favorite Sasquatch and they live happily ever after.”

  “Sasquatch? Then how come you are dressed like a Wookie?”

  “A mere technicality… I assure you,” Jason teased, handing her the bouquet of roses as he dug out something from a hidden pocket. “I’m serious, Leia. I want you to marry me. Our love is a once-in-a-lifetime treasure that I have no intention of letting slip out of my fingers.”

  Opening his hand, she saw that his hands shook as he opened a box containing two simple bands. Both looked to be silver with a blue line that ran around the edges, reminiscent of the small droid from the movies they both loved.

  “Will you marry me, my princess?” Jason breathed, pulling a band from the box. He took her hand and slipped it onto her finger. She glanced down at the band, looked around at their friends, and the commotion they were causing, before looking into Jason’s dark eyes.

  “I thought you’d never get here,” she teased in acknowledgement, pulling the other band from the box. She slid it onto his finger and then laced their hands together. Turning slightly, Leia saw that the minister who had been standing not far from them stepped forward.

  “I think I can handle it from here, you two.”

  Leia married Jason, there in the school yard, under the flagpole, in front of all of their friends. It was a beautiful spring day and the trees seemed to be glowing with all their bright colors, making it seem almost surreal that this was really happening – that Jason was actually here!

  Their wedding vows were spur of the moment and straight from the heart. They were spoken aloud in ‘classic Jason style’, reminding her so much of their emails and conversations. Listening to him promise to pick up after himself, put the toilet seat down, and always tell her she was beautiful, Leia knew life would never be dull with Jason as her husband. His eyes shone with love as he tried to crack jokes, but she saw that he was barely holding his emotions together.

  She felt the same.

  This love, this miracle, between them was unlike anything they’d ever known or expected from their first exchange. This
bond between them, both friendship and love, meant the world to both of them as it was the tipping point of their happily ever after.

  Leia had said she’d wanted something simple, fun, and memorable – and Jason delivered. She would have never guessed that her own personal fairytale would begin with tragedy and blossom into a love that focused on accepting each other, flaws and all. He’d dubbed her princess as a joke, yet treated her like one because he valued who she was deep down inside.

  This wedding was a moment she would never forget!

  The cupcakes were handed out left and right to any children that were still in line and waiting for their busses to arrive. Several parents got out of the car line, in order to come up to see what the commotion was… before congratulating the newlyweds.

  Their wedding and impromptu reception was full of disbelief, amazement, and laughter. Her world centered around the man smiling down at her, sweating in the brown hairy costume. Writing Jason had brought her a second chance at love that she’d never expected, anticipated, or could ever do without ever again.

  Their love story was unfolding… and it began with two little words:

  I do.

  Epilogue

  “JASON MICHAEL HODY! I AM GOING TO SHOVE THAT CUP OF ICE UP YOUR…”

  Leia let out a massive groan of pain as her body contorted painfully against the contractions that wracked her frame. This had been going on for hours now and she must be past the point of exhaustion.

  “She gets a little upset when she’s not feeling good,” Jason said sheepishly at the stunned expressions on the nurses and doctors faces.

  “Do we need to get security in here?”

  “No, no. She’s gonna be fine. Can you give her something to take the edge off the pain?

  “The edge? The EDGE? I feel like that guy in the Alien movie that flopped on the table! I wish this thing would just burst free and run around the room screaming… ohhhh nooooo! Here comes another one!”

  Jason winced as Leia’s nails dug crescents into his skin and ignored everyone around them, as he focused on staring at his wife, who was glaring daggers at him, her cheeks puffing with exertion.

  “Why’d you have to be such a big, hairy buffoon? This kid is gonna come out being three feet tall,” she whined, flopping back against the pillow exhausted, sweating, and gasping for breath.

  “How much longer?” Jason asked quickly, glancing at the nurses who were looking at the monitors again.

  “Medication? Please?”

  “Mr. Hody, your wife signed a form to have a natural birth. We can’t give her any medication.”

  “I’M AN IDIOTOMGJASONTHISISKILLINGME!”

  Leia released his hand and grabbed the stainless steel rail of the bedframe, yanking her body forward and bearing down. Jason had never seen anyone’s face turn that bright purplish-red in his life.

  “Leia, breathe!” he bit out, rubbing her back and feeling utterly helpless.

  “GOOOAWAAAAYYY!” she groaned, trembling with effort.

  “She loves me,” Jason said simply, ignoring the tears running down his face as he struggled with so many emotions. What if she died? What if the baby died? What if she meant what she said? He couldn’t handle any of this anymore and he wasn’t the one in pain!

  “Leia, baby,” Jason began, shoving a nurse to the side desperately. “Baby, I want you to push down like you are trying to snap my head right off my body. Remember when I broke your laptop? I want you to take it all out on me right now and push as hard as you can!”

  Jason saw the purple receed from her face and one of her eyes was red now from a burst blood vessel. This was the scariest thing he’d ever seen in his life and the most helpless he’d ever felt – and he’d seen Ethan lose his leg in the desert!

  Leia’s jaw clenched and she let out a guttural groan that made the hairs on his arms stand on end. Her face darkened once again and Jason realized that if she got through this he’d never put her through this ever again!

  “Baby, I’ll never touch you again. I’m so sorry,” he began whispering, crying unabashedly. The nurse angrily swatted him on the head with a pillow.

  “Tell her to push!” she ordered.

  “Push, honey! PUSH, PRINCESS!”

  “MMMPUSHHHHHNGG” she groaned, her whole body shaking with effort. The bed rattled from where her legs were trembling against the bars.

  “The head’s out!” the doctor announced. The same nurse who’d thumped him on the head grabbed his arm, pushing Jason towards the foot of the table. She slapped surgical scissors in his hand.

  “Now, you are becoming a daddy.”

  Stunned, Jason watched his child emerge from Leia’s body with another painful groan. Their child had a full head of dark hair and let out a mighty scream of outrage as the nurse suctioned the nose.

  “Oh, Jason! My baby, my baby,” Leia began whimpering, crying desperately, her body dropping back against the bedding, limp from exhaustion.

  “Boy, she’s waiting on you to cut the cord on your son,” the doctor said kindly, his warm eyes meeting Jason’s stunned ones. The nurse pushed at Jason’s elbow.

  “Now? Or we’ll have to do it for you.”

  “Is it gonna hurt my boy?” Jason whispered, choking on emotion.

  “No, but she might- if we don’t give her the baby quickly.”

  That spurred Jason into action.

  His princess was a firecracker and he knew better than to cross his woman. The staff quickly clamped off the bellybutton and inspected his son, swaddling him up and putting him into Jason’s arms while they attended to Leia. He walked over to the head of the bed, where she lay completely worn out. Her brown hair was matted to her head, big purple bruises were under her eyes, and the sheer exhaustion in her gaze was the most painful thing he’d seen.

  She never looked more beautiful.

  “We’ve got a boy,” Jason breathed, leaning forward and handing the baby to Leia. “He’s beautiful and fierce, just like his mama.”

  “Look at the hair on him. There’s no mistaking who’s the daddy, is there?” she whispered softly, laughing up at Jason before cooing at his son who lay against her chest. “My goodness you are a sweet one, aren’t you?”

  “You are so beautiful it makes my chest hurt,” Jason whispered against her hair, kissing her tenderly. “I love you more than life itself, princess, but I am never putting you through this again.”

  “Pain and life experiences bring knowledge and growth. They hurt like you wouldn’t believe, I’m not gonna lie. I’d rather push a watermelon through a straw before having another toddler come out of me… but there is no way I’d trade him for the world, Jason. Just look at him!”

  “He’s truly amazing,” he breathed as he watched his son latch on to Leia’s breast. “I could insert a ‘that’s my boy’ joke right here, but I’m too enraptured and relieved its over to think right now.”

  Leia burst out laughing, causing the baby to jerk and throw his arms outward in surprise. She quickly calmed him down and looked up at Jason.

  “We decided to keep it a surprise but I think I want to know ahead of time on our next child.”

  “Next kid?”

  “Oh, yes,” Leia said with a grin. “Luke is gonna be lonely if we don’t give him a bushel of brothers and sisters, remember? You promised me and I’m going to hold you to that, just like you made me go sing karaoke in that dive bar in Anchorage.”

  “It wasn’t a dive bar and you have a beautiful voice.”

  “I sure love the fact that you are biased when it comes to me.”

  “You are my world, princess, and I couldn’t live without you,” Jason breathed, staring into her beautiful, tired eyes. He couldn’t even see the redness of her cornea, or the bruises anymore. All he saw was her soul, the stunning spark of life that held his heart in her hands.

  “I love you, Jason.”

  “You might have competition now, though, for the number one spot.”

  “Oh, I have no doubts,
” Leia said looking up at Jason, smiling.

  Ben glanced around the waiting room and tried to ignore the muffled cries of pain coming from down the hallway. Every time the security doors opened, he got an earful and was relieved when the doors shut once again, giving him blissful silence that was only interrupted by the faint drone of the television.

  John, Colin, and Mike were sitting nearby, trying to get some rest in a variety of different positions on the seats in the waiting area. It had been a long two days since Leia had gone into labor and the flock of friends had decided to pull shifts at the hospital in silent support of the couple having their first child.

  This reminded Ben so much of that night long ago. His world had changed so much, so fast. He’d been so stupid, so immature, and done so much damage.

  “Penny for your thoughts, my friend,” Marigold offered, handing him a cup of coffee. She was so polite, so nice, and so outgoing… and deserved so much more. He wasn’t a vain man by any means, but it wasn’t an understatement to say that he knew Marigold was interested in him.

  She’d told him as much that afternoon, in Anchorage, by the ocean.

  “C’mon, let’s talk,” she offered, extending a hand.

  Ben stood and absently took her offered hand, holding the coffee in the other one. They walked slowly down the hallway to where the inner atrium was. The door slid open and she stepped out into the fresh air. The sunlight was streaming down and made her blonde hair glisten in the sunlight.

  “Maybe we should head back?”

  “Ben, you need to find a way to relax and live a little bit. The baby will come when it’s time and no matter how long you wait in that chair, it will not change.”

  “You just don’t understand,” he said with a ragged sigh, setting down the cup of coffee on a windowsill ledge.

  “Then tell me,” Marigold beseeched sweetly with a smile. “Let someone in to help you. I want to be your friend and I see so much goodness in you. You seem so very nice and right now - my goal in this very moment - is to make you smile. I know there’s got to be one tucked deep down inside and I bet its beautiful,” she teased.