I lay in bed staring at the ceiling as I thought Today! The day I couldn’t wait to come and the day I dreaded the most it was here. Boone was here back in the states he landed in Virginia last night he’ll fly in a few hours. How is he going to react? Boone was my best friend I knew him practically inside out I knew his favorite songs what he ordered nearly everywhere we would eat. I could see him as he shot his bow in the barn up at the extension office. He taught me how to drive how to shoot how to slow dance. I knew his secrets I knew him, at least I did. He had been gone the last 9 months first boot camp then a 6 month deployment, was he still they guy I knew? It had only been 9 months but I knew I had changed. And I had now had a secret well what I wanted to be a secret not that I would be able to hide much longer.

“Kimber you up yet?” My older brother Myles called. I had moved in with Myles and his wife Molly a few months back after my trip to Dallas. I called back “ yes”

“We’re leaving at 11:30”

“Okay, I’ll be ready” I called back sitting up in my bed slowly trying to avoid the nausea I knew would come as soon as I got up and moved around.

What should I say to him? How was I gonna explain?

I picked up my phone from the table beside my bed I had several texts

Hope said

It’s gonna be okay! I’m praying for you today! Don’t let your anxiety get the better of you today

Lexie texted

It’s all gone work out today! I’ll be thinking about you all day.

The first text I had gotten from Boone in 9 months

Good morning beautiful! See you in a few hours 🤟🏻

I took a deep breath Hope and Lexie were right it was all gonna be okay no matter what happened at the airport today one thing could change I had a little one on the way who needed me. I looked in the mirror when I got my jeans on I was starting the show, not a ton I could cover it mostly by wearing a baggy t-shirt. I grabbed one from my closet and finished getting ready, I was headed to see Boone again.

I stood in the middle of the airport Myles and Molly with me along with Boone’s parents Mr and Mrs Rivers and Waylon Boone’s younger brother. We watched the passengers that were arriving, til I finally saw his face. As he got closer my heart beat faster and I felt like I wanted to hide. I might have hidden if I could have gotten my feet to move but they seemed like weights attached to the floor. I leaned against the wall as I watched him make his way to us. His parents and Waylon got to him before he was quite to us. I watched Boone high his mom and dad and younger brother, he talked to them for a few minutes then came to me Myles and Molly hugging both of them. Then it was my turn but I didn’t get a hug he grabbed me and before I could say anything I felt his lips touch mine after that it was a minute or so before I managed to push him away from me and breathlessly I said “Boone stop I have to tell you something”

He looked surprised I couldn’t tell if it was because of what I said or if it was because I pushed him away from me I could even tell if he could hear me.

“I’m pregnant”

“What?” He ask

“I...I... I... it happen in Dallas... he ... he... forced me”

“Forced? Who?”

“I don’t know his name” the tears were now rolling down my face and I felt like running away this was harder than I even thought it would be.

“What happen?” He ask as I felt his arms wrap around me to keep me from shaking to much.

“He attacked me while I was in the stair well of my hotel”

“How long ago?”

“Almost three months ago, you should know I did manage to stab him but not til after he...stopped.”

“Kimber I’m sorry. So sorry” he said stroking my hair.

BLMartinK