I watched my husband check is duffle to make sure he had all he need for his next hitch offshore on the rig. Twenty eight days in the Gulf of Mexico and twenty eight days home was his usual schedule. Dan had switched to a more set time table since we found out I was pregnant.

For the third time within minutes Dan ran his hand over his freshly shaved head. It was a bit of a nervous behavior he had. I just smiled at him. “Everything is going to be fine” I tried to reassure him. Dan’s blue eyes looked up at me with concern. “You have the number to my mom, right?” he asked me for the millionth time. “Yes and both your brothers. I will be ok. Besides, your mom will be here in a week.” Nothing could stop that woman from flying halfway across the country for my first ultrasound, I thought to myself.

Dan grabbed the straps to his worn grey duffle and swung it over his shoulder. After 15 years together that man still made me a tingly inside. I watched as his biceps flexed under the weight of the bag. I looked at clock and sighed. His ride to the heliport would be here any minute.

Not another minute later we heard the car start to drive up the dirt path to our house. Just as Dan reached for the metal security door at the front of the house the driver honked the horn alerting us that he was waiting. I felt like sticking my tongue out at him but decided it was to childish.

As we walked closer to the Lincoln town car parked next to my truck the driver exited to help Dan with his duffle. While the driver went to the truck to stow the bag Dan turned to me. I always loved staring at his eyes. They were a deep blue with a ring of gold in the center. They were always filled with love and I was so excited to have our son or daughter feel that too.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in for a goodbye kiss. Knowing someone was there watching and waiting it was just a sweet chaste kiss. His hand were rested on my hips and he squeezed just a bit to let me know he understood.

“Be safe my love” I told him as I always did.

“As safe as I can be my love” was his reply. It was our thing. Something we did every time he left.

Turning he walk up to and got into the backseat of the car. As the car started to drive away a tear slowly dropped down my cheek.