Right Here Waiting (Ward Sisters Book 3)

by Lucy Gage

  “Neil! Someone could hear you!”

  “No one is here yet. We probably had enough time. That’s too bad. Next time, maybe I’ll look at the schedule more closely and pick a time when we can be alone.”

  “Ha-ha, very funny. I’m not stripping for the Army, thanks. I have a feeling your feed isn’t private like the one we use at home.”

  “Good point. That’s probably true. Hey, my time’s up. I’ll email you with next week’s schedule, okay?”

  “Okay. I love you. I miss you. Be careful and stay safe. Come home to me.”

  “I will, sweetheart. I love you too. Bye.”

  208 days, a virtual eternity. UGH, and he meant in Afghanistan. That didn’t include the time he had for debriefing in California before he could get leave to come to Maine. She determined then to meet him in California instead of waiting for him to come back to Maine. Even a few extra days apart was too many.

  **********

  They managed to escape a return to the mountain compound before Thanksgiving because another recon team spotted their target in a village in the foothills. Good news? Temps were warmer. Bad news? A larger civilian population meant a greater risk of collateral damage if they engaged their target. And potentially more IEDs.

  Perched high above the town on a rooftop, Neil saw something unusual. “Hawk, do you copy? This is Crow’s Nest.” His teammate, Hawk, surpassed all but Neil in sharpshooter skills. Closer to the out-of-place movement, Hawk could confirm what Neil had noticed at 50 yards from where Gopher had set up at ground level.

  “Copy Crow’s Nest. This is Hawk. See something?”

  “Affirmative. Fifty yards to the southwest of Gopher’s position. Do you see that glint?”

  “Negative. Wait. Yes. I see it. Shit. Likely an IED. If it goes off…”

  Near an outdoor market, depending on the blast radius, it could take out Neil’s ground team as well as numerous civilians. Much as he would hate to see civilian casualties, his primary job was to keep his team safe.

  “My thoughts exactly. Gopher, do you copy? This is Crow’s Nest.”

  “This is Gopher. What’ve you got for me, Crow’s Nest?”

  “We need to move out, Gopher, and swiftly. Evacuate the team and meet at the rendezvous point. You’ll need to take a different route. There appears to be an IED southwest of you at 50 yards. Hawk and I will wait until you’re all safely at the rendezvous location. Do you copy?”

  “Roger that, Crow’s Nest. Evacuating now.”

  “Hawk, did you catch that?”

  “Affirmative. Waiting on your signal, Crow’s Nest.”

  The minutes ticked by at a snail’s pace, until finally, the voice in his ear spoke again. “Crow’s Nest, this is Gopher. Do you copy?”

  “Copy Gopher. This is Crow’s Nest.”

  “Team is at the rendezvous point awaiting your arrival.”

  “Hawk, do you copy? We are set to head to the rendezvous point…” Neil began just as the explosion threw debris into an arc at least 75 yards wide. Had his team still been in position, they would have been hit by the blast. “Hawk! Do you copy?”

  “Yeah, I copy,” Hawk replied, voice strained. “Fucking metal shards! I’m hit.”

  “Stay there. I’ll come get you.”

  “Negative. I can make it out. It’s just in my arm. Nothing big, but that fucker hurts. I’ll meet you at the rendezvous.”

  “Roger that. Gopher, do you copy?”

  “This is Gopher. Problem out there, Crow’s Nest?”

  “Hawk was hit by the debris field. Have the medic on standby for when he arrives. Crow’s Nest out.”

  Later that night, as he sat with Specialist Nate Hogan, aka Hawk, at the infirmary, Neil couldn’t help but be simultaneously relieved and pissed. He lowered his voice so no one else would hear.

  “How the hell did you get hit? I saw the blast. You shouldn’t have been that close. Did you move?”

  Nate had the good sense to look sheepish. “I knew we’d move as soon as they hit the rendezvous. I got a head start. Sir.”

  “Fuck, Nate, you could have been killed. Don’t pull that shit again. You wait for orders to move unless you’re being fired upon, do you hear?” Nate was a good shooter, but he was young, only 20, and not always the best soldier. He sometimes forgot the taking orders part of his job. This had been Jason’s concern before they left Ft. Irwin.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Make sure you call your parents tonight,” Neil said as he stood to leave.

  “Where you going, Murph? I thought you were going to babysit me?” Nate joked. The little shit didn’t quite see the gravity of the situation. Oh, to still be that young and stupid.

  “I’m calling my girlfriend and my parents. Now I have to act like you didn’t take years off my life today so they don’t worry too much.”

  “Your girlfriend the chick whose picture is next to your bed?” Neil nodded. “She’s hot.”

  “Yes, she is. I suggest you keep any other comments you have about her to yourself or I’ll personally kick your ass. She’s going to be my wife someday. Keep that in mind.”

  Nate smirked. “Yes, sir. Happy Thanksgiving, Captain.”

  Neil left, shaking his head. Hogan might be the death of him one of these days.

  **********

  Thanksgiving came and went and Meg relished the comfort of spending the holiday with Neil’s parents. They’d eaten with Neil’s extended family on his dad’s side and it had been a joy to meet all of them. Neil seemed a little down on their call, but he assured her that it had just been a hard week. She promised more letters in transit and that seemed to cheer him a little.

  She left out that she had his Christmas present in the works and that it would be mailed in a matter of days. Meg had Nina take some photos of her wearing a set of Mrs. Claus lingerie. Thank God she had a photo printer; no way would she have wanted to develop the photos she had taken for Neil at WalMart. She shuddered to think about that.

  The huge package of stuff included an iTunes card so that he could load new music on his iPod; the photos; letters; candy; a pair of lacy red and white panties she bought just so she could send them to him (after she’d worn them a little); the book A River Runs Through It, to get him inspired for the fly fishing trip she’d promised him; a book on fly tying; and a simple, silver cross for him to wear around his neck.

  A week before Christmas, Meg received two things that brightened her day. First, an email from Neil said that his package came and he’d been thrilled, confessing hope that they’d repeat their Halloween Skype call with the Mrs. Claus outfit. That same evening, a package arrived from Afghanistan and she almost didn’t dare open it.

  Inside the box sat the usual letters that always warmed her heart, so she saved them to read after she went through the package.

  He’d included an Army green tee with a red, satin bow pinned to it. A small, red velvet bag attached to the bow held both a note and a white box with heart-shaped diamond drop earrings. The note read:

  To the most beautiful girl in the world, the keeper of my heart who puts the sparkle in my eyes. You are the only Christmas present I ever truly wanted. Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Next year, we celebrate together.

  Always,

  Neil

  Fat tears fell onto her hand, which shook as she lifted the earrings out of the box and hooked them in her ears. She stripped down to nothing and pulled the shirt over her head, inhaling his scent. Then she curled her feet under her body, threw a blanket over her lower half, and devoured the letters.

  Less than six months to go, and May couldn’t be here fast enough.

  Chapter 27

  “I saw a random Honda Accord today. It was silver, like yours. Know what I thought about when I saw it?”

  Meg laughed. “The trip home from Bangor?” Driving her car, she certainly conjured that memory at least once each week.

  “You got it. Best car trip of my life.”

  “Mmm. Me too. I m
iss you, Neil.”

  “I know, sweetheart. I miss you, too. I’m glad we could talk today. I know it’s not Valentine’s Day, but the lines will be swamped then.”

  “Valentine’s is just another day. Long as I get to talk to you, that’s what matters. I know you love me, even if I can’t actually talk to you face to face on the supposedly most romantic day of the year. I’d rather have romance from you the rest of the year instead.”

  “I promise, when we can be together again, that I’ll romance you every day. Okay?”

  “It’s a deal. Besides, you’ve been writing me love letters for nearly six months. How much more romantic does it get than sending love letters from around the world?”

  “I can think of a few ways I could make it more romantic.”

  Meg laughed at the innuendo. “Does that count as romance?”

  “Depends on what you do and how you do it.”

  Oh, my. “You need to illustrate what you mean.”

  “Soon as we’re in the same place, I will.”

  “I’m holding you to that.”

  “Make sure you do. And just so you know, you should expect to get something on the 14th, even though I can’t talk to you then.”

  “Really?” Her heart swelled. From the other side of the world, Neil romanced his girlfriend better than any man she’d ever known.

  **********

  Once again, they were headed out to some remote village in the foothills. Their target had been spotted and this time, Neil knew they had orders to engage, provided there would be minimal casualties.

  So far, in all the recon they’d completed since Thanksgiving, Nate Hogan had followed orders and there had been no additional incidents. Thank God. But just in case, Neil reminded his teammate as he had every mission since the one where Nate could have been killed.

  “Specialist Hogan, a word?”

  “Sir, yes, sir!” Nate saluted.

  Neil returned the salute. “You remember what we talked about before? Stay put until you’ve got orders otherwise unless you’re being fired upon.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Be careful out there, Hawk.”

  “Will do, sir. You, too.”

  “Always. Dismissed. See you back at the rendezvous.” They saluted and parted, embarking to their respective lookout locations.

  Several hours later, Neil wondered if the guy would show his face. Though warmer than the mountains, the temperatures still required more gear than he liked to wear. He debated whether he preferred sweating his balls off. Finally, the voice in his ear spoke.

  “Crow’s Nest, this is Hawk. Do you copy?”

  “This is Crow’s Nest. You see something, Hawk?”

  “Affirmative. Approaching from the east down the alley where the wool merchant stall is located. Two guards, our target and a civilian. Dressed as a woman, but by the stature, I’d guess a man. Could be someone important.”

  “Copy that, Hawk. Hold your fire for the moment. Gopher, this is Crow’s Nest. Do you copy?”

  “This is Gopher. What d’you got, Crow’s Nest?”

  “Hawk has spotted the target, accompanied by two guards and an unknown companion, presumably female. He thinks maybe not. And now I can see them too. I say definitely not female.”

  After a few seconds, “Crow’s Nest, command has given the order to take out the target and his companion. Do you have a clear shot?”

  He sighted through his scope. “Negative. Hawk, do you copy?”

  “Hawk here. I copy. I’ve got a clear shot. I can get both of them.”

  He spotted the targets through the lens, obscured by civilians wandering through the market. Surely, that had been the plan, to use the civilian population as human shields. Apparently, positioning Hawk so that he’d have an unexpected vantage point had paid off.

  “Permission to engage,” Neil said. The first target went down and the second immediately followed, with the two guards firing hidden automatic weapons in Hawk’s direction.

  “Shit! Crow’s Nest, I’m hit. Grazed my shoulder.”

  “Make your way back to the rendezvous, Hawk. Gopher, do you copy? Hawk is on his way back. He’s been hit. Have the medic on standby. I’m headed back to the rendezvous.”

  “Copy that, Crow’s Nest. See you there. Gopher out.”

  Neil’s heart thudded in his chest. In the middle of the day, safe passage to the rendezvous proved more difficult than if they’d been able to wait until sundown, as planned. He finally landed at street level and wound his way through the alleys, headed toward the clearing where the heli would evac them as soon as they sent word.

  A hundred yards from his goal, he saw Nate, twenty yards to his left, and gave the hand signal to proceed toward the rendezvous point. Just as Nate nodded his understanding, Neil caught a glint behind his teammate.

  “Hawk! Get down!”

  A split second passed between the time when he witnessed the blast that launched Hawk into the air and when he felt the shockwave slam into his body and vault him heavenward.

  In his mind, he said, Oh, God, Meghan, I’m so sorry.

  And then the world went black.

  Part 5

  The Aftermath:

  Some Days Are Better Than Others

  Chapter 28

  Stepping into the living room, a bowl of popcorn in one hand, glass of wine in the other, Meg prepared to sit for her annual ritual of watching the Oscars telecast. Her phone played the Peanuts theme and she placed the popcorn bowl on the coffee table, then reached for her cell as she took a sip of wine.

  “Hiya, Charlie Brown! Ready for the show?”

  There was silence for a moment, and then Meg heard a sniffle. “It’s not Charlie,” Dan’s voice croaked.

  Meg’s heart dropped into her stomach and the wineglass slipped from her fingers, splashing red wine on the carpet. Something bad had happened to Neil, because Dan had been crying and Dan never cried.

  She sobbed, “No. No no no no no. No, Dan. Don’t tell me…”

  “He’s alive, Meg. He’s not dead. He’s alive. But he’s seriously injured. Aidan didn’t know many details, but he was hit by an IED.”

  “Oh, my God,” she muttered, her heart in her throat.

  “They performed an emergency procedure in the field to stabilize him, then transported him to Bagram Air Base. He’s in surgery now.”

  Crying, she could barely speak. “So what’s going to happen? Is he going to make it?”

  “They won’t know until after the surgery. It’s not looking great right now. But they have a first-rate medical team there. If anyone can save him, they can.”

  “When will we know?”

  “Aidan said they weren’t sure. The surgery could take a while. He had a lot of internal injuries.”

  “Did he…did he lose any limbs or anything?”

  “I don’t think so. From what they said, his external injuries were miraculously minor. He was thrown pretty far, I guess. They didn’t say how close he was to the explosion. Somehow, he escaped without breaking anything major, but he must have landed on his abdomen or something, because his CO said he had a lot of abdominal injuries.”

  “Promise you’ll call me as soon as you know anything. I don’t care what time it is.”

  “I promise. I told Aidan the same thing. Do you want him to call you himself?”

  “They have so many family members to keep updated, it’s probably easier if you do it.”

  “Okay. Keep the faith, Meg. I know it’s hard.”

  She stifled a sob and swallowed hard. “Okay,” she whispered. “Thank you for telling me, Dan.”

  “I promised you and Neil both that I’d take care of you, Meg. If you need me to come get you, I can. You know, if you want to be up here with Siobhan and Aidan.”

  She sniffed, “I might ask Nin to drive me, actually. Thanks.”

  “Soon as there is word, I’ll call. I promise. No matter the time.”

  “Thanks,” she whispered and they hung
up.

  **********

  Meg had fitfully slept and she could hardly bear to answer the phone unless it was Dan calling with an update. She’d already canceled all her appointments for the day. When Emily called the next morning, she answered, lest her best friend call Charlie or Nina.

  “Hey, Em,” Meg croaked, her voice shot from the crying, which had occasionally veered into agonized screams.

  “Hi, Meggie! Did you see the show?”

  Too chipper. What show? Oh. The Oscars.

  “I take it he won?” she said in a flat voice.

  Emily sounded surprised. “Yes, he did. You didn’t watch? You always watch the Oscars. I figured you’d make sure to watch this year, since Rob was nominated again.”

  Meg had no patience for this right now. “Well, sorry, Em, but sometimes there are more important things in life happening than silly awards shows.”

  “Meg, are you still mad at me for what happened with Liam?”

  “Not everything is about you!” Meg shouted, immediately putting her hand to her mouth. She never shouted at Emily. How had they gone from telling each other everything – including details about their sex life they shared with no one else – to Meg being unable to admit she had fallen desperately in love with a man who could be dying on an operating table as they spoke?

  Emily sounded hurt. “Meg, what is going on with you? Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

  “I just can’t, Em! I can’t!” she exclaimed, breaking down into uncontrollable sobs.

  Emily’s voice grew quiet and soothing. “Meggie, we tell each other everything. Just tell me. Whatever it is, we can get through it together.”

  Meg took a deep breath. “I’m in love with Neil.”

  “Neil? Do you mean Neil Murphy? Dan’s best friend?”

  “Yes,” she said, her breath hitching.

  “How did that happen, Meg? Isn’t he overseas right now?”

  “He…he’s…he was hit by an IED yesterday,” she sobbed.

  “Oh my God, Meg! Is he okay?”