“All right, ladies, I've got to head out. Let's try to have dinner this week. Jo, give me your number and I'll call you later.” Keisha pulled out her phone, as did Stacy and Britt. I gave them my number and we all went our separate ways. I lingered a bit and watched the buses leave.
“And so it begins, Jo, a new chapter.” I sighed and headed for the jeep.
Chapter 15
Ring ring, ring ring!
I went running for the phone as I had done every time it rang for the last few weeks.
“H...hello?” I was panting from running.
“Joleene. You okay?” The sweetest sound of Colin on the other end. The tears fell as I smiled.
“Yes, I'm okay. I had to run to get the phone. Are you okay? Are you settled? Is everything fine? Oh, it's so good to hear your voice. I have missed you.” I babbled on.
When I finally stopped, I could hear him chuckling. “Yes, babe. I'm fine. All settled. If that's what you call it. It's good to hear your voice too. I miss you. Are you okay? Not working all the time, are you?”
“I'm good.” I giggled. “No. I'm not. Dale won't let me, but I have met up with Stacy and Keisha a few times and us three plus Britt are planning a spa day. I think next week. Layla has come over a few times too. I've stayed busy.”
“Not too busy though.”
“No, not too busy.” I was again smiling as if he could see me.
“Good. Listen, babe. I only have a few minutes, but wanted to say hi and tell you I love you, Joleene. I miss you so much.”
“I love you, Colin, and miss you tons. Please be safe.”
“I will. See ya.” I could hear him smile and almost see it in my mind.
“See ya, Colin.”
It had been several weeks since I had seen Colin off. The first couple of weeks I wrote every day—just random thoughts and tidbits of what was going on, but I found myself not really repeating myself, just babbling. So my letters became more spaced out, every few days. During this time, I waited impatiently for something from Colin. I knew mail wasn’t running yet, but that hadn’t stopped me from damn near running to the mailbox every day in hopes that today would be the day I would hear from him, only to have those hopes dashed when nothing showed.
I found myself almost sulking as I headed back to my apartment with only bills or circulars in hand. Until one day, I saw a worn envelope mixed in with a few advertisements. I held the envelope in my left hand while my right glided over the handwritten address:
Mrs. Joleene Dawson
I closed my eyes and could see Colin’s crooked smile and his steel-grey eyes winking at me saying, ‘See I told ya I would write.’
“Yeah, ya did. I’m just not that patient.” I chuckled to myself as I headed back to the apartment reading the letter.
“Damn it.” I slammed my phone down.
Layla looked up. “What?”
“I missed a call from Colin.” The irritation was evident in my words.
“Oh,” was all Layla said.
“Oh? Oh? That's all you have to say? Oh?” I about shouted the last word.
“What else do you want me to say? Honestly, I don't know what else to say, Jo.”
“I know. I know. Sorry.”
“When did you last hear from him?”
“Don't even know. Phones have been hit or miss.”
“But you have letters, right?”
“I get a few at a time and then nothing for several days. And I'll get like three in one day. It's completely screwy. And it’s driving me bonkers.”
“Yeah. I’d prolly be a bit on edge too.” She plopped down on the couch.
“This is crazy. We were told this would happen, but I guess I thought they were exaggerating.”
Just then: ring ring!
“Hello? Colin?” I answered before the phone was fully up to my ear.
“Joleene.”
That's all it took. I smiled and my shoulders relaxed. Layla excused herself to give me some privacy.
“Sorry. I missed your call. Somehow my phone got switched to silent. I'm so sorry. Is everything okay? Do you need me to send you anything? How are you? Damn I miss you.”
Colin’s laughter stopped my babbling. “I'm babbling again. Sorry.”
“It's all good, babe. I rather like it when you babble.” I could almost picture him laughing and shaking his head. “It's okay. I don't expect you to be able to answer every time I call. Everything is fine. Don't need anything special right now. I am fine. And I miss you. I do want to tell you something, but first I want you to take a breath.” Sighing so he could hear me, I could hear him chuckling. “Okay. Better?” he asked.
“Yes. So tell me what it is.” I was audibly less tense.
“I just got word. I will be sent on RNR in July. So what do you want to do?”
“Yay! What do I want to do? Why are you asking me? You're the one stuck in some other country.”
“Sandbox. We call it the sandbox. And I ask in case there was something on your mind. Honestly, I wouldn't mind checking into getting away for a few days. Maybe rent a cabin at The Land Between the Lakes. What do you think?”
“I think it sounds perfect. Do you have dates? I can make a reservation if you'd like.”
“Not yet. And I'll take care of making reservations. I get some computer time.” I could picture him winking. We'd had a few video chats over the last few months.
“It's settled. Once I get more info, I'll make arrangements and
