15
BECCA
It’s been a week since I last heard from Justin, and I’m freaking out. I know they are probably fine. Emma and the girls would have been notified if something had gone wrong, but I can’t help but worry that something has happened to my friend.
Thankfully, I have Olivia to keep me occupied. We color pictures for Batman every day, although she hasn’t let go of this idea of him being her new daddy. I don’t want to break her heart, but there is no promise he even feels that way about me. However ever since that night, I’ve been dreaming about all of us together, one big happy family.
I am startled from my thought when Olivia comes skidding into the kitchen, holding her latest masterpiece. “Momma! New for Ba’man.”
I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “That picture is so beautiful! We can add it to the stack on my desk. We are going to have to mail him a box soon, okay?”
She wraps her little arms around my legs, giving me a squeeze. “Momma, when I talk Ba’man?”
I choke back the tears that want to escape. If he comes home, when he comes home, I don’t know that he’ll want anything to do with us. He’ll have his life back, have access to everything again. He won’t need us anymore. Letting out a deep sigh, I run my fingers through her hair. “I don’t know, baby. He’s working to keep us safe right now.”
“Cause he Ba-man,” she sighs and let’s go of my leg, heading toward the living room. I place her picture safely with the others.
I hope Justin is okay. Hopefully, it doesn’t take too long for him to respond to my email, I need to know that he’s okay. As if he knew I was thinking about him, my phone chimes with an incoming email. I quickly pull it out of my pocket and open the email app.
From: [email protected]
Catwoman,
You can try to take the grill away from Cowboy, but I have a feeling you’ll have to put up a big fight, he’s from Texas as well. The man knows his way around a BBQ.
I’m sorry to hear that Olivia was sick, I hope she is doing better. How are you doing? I am sure having a sick little one must have been tiring. I hope your new friends were around to help you out. Speaking of friends, I hear your new friend happens to be my one and only baby sister. Don’t believe anything she says about me. It’s all lies, unless it’s good things.
I had some R&R with the guys when we got back, so there are better pictures of me this go around as you requested. There are also some new ones of the guys, if you want to share with the girls.
When we go on missions, we are always as safe as we can be. Now, my definition of safe and yours are probably different, but we take all the precautions we can. Unfortunately, our job is dangerous, and sometimes people get hurt, but we are extremely well trained. Most of these OPS we could do in our sleep as long as nothing went sideways.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Batman
I click the attachment and start scrolling through the pictures, taking a seat on the couch as Livie sits and watches Princess Sofia on television.
“Livie, look! Batman sent us pictures.” The smile that spreads across her face is infectious. She immediately climbs into my lap and begins asking questions about each person in the pictures. I have learned from talking to the girls who each of the men are and quickly point them out to her.
Justin is honestly the most gorgeous person I have ever met with jet black hair and chocolate brown eyes. Now that I can get a closer look at his face, his eyes look like they are peering into my soul. His chiseled jaw and broad shoulders look amazing with no shirt on, I have to glance away and check to make sure I’m not drooling as I sit here with my daughter.
We are still scrolling through pictures as a Facebook video call comes through from a strange name. I get up and walk away from Olivia before I answer. “Hey, Becca.” I gasp in surprise, almost collapsing onto the floor.
“Hey, Batman.” My voice is breathier than I mean for it to be, but damn, he’s even hotter in person.
“I wasn’t sure what time it would be, but you sent me your information, so I figured I would call and let you see that I was okay. You seemed really worried.” I’m turning into a puddle of mush as we speak, this man took the time to think of Olivia and I when he is in an active war zone, fearing for his life.
“You did NOT have to do that. Your email and pictures were enough. Livie and I just got finished looking through them actually,” I respond with a smile, heading back toward the living room and a very excited three-year-old.
“Ba’man?” she asks as she bounces up and down on the couch.
“Yes, it’s Batman.” I barely have time to spin the phone around before her little hands are snatching it out of my hands.
“BA’MAN!” she screams so loud, I’m sure she broke Justin’s eardrums.
“Hello, Robin,” he chuckles.
Suddenly, Olivia’s face falls, and the tears begin. “Ba’man gone, Momma,” she wails as she climbs off the couch. Handing me the phone with hope in her eyes. When I take the phone, Justin is gone. Crap. I really wanted to talk to him some more. We didn’t even get to say goodbye.
“I’m sorry, baby. Something must have happened. He will call us back again another time.” I bend down and pick her up. “How about we go take a bath, and I will read you an extra story tonight?” I know that this won’t make up for Justin, but I have to at least try. It breaks my heart for her to be so sad. She doesn’t even respond, I get a shake of the head against my shoulder as she sniffles.
“Alright, let’s start the water and get you some toys.” I put her down and start the water. Just as I am putting the toys in, a message comes through from Justin.
Sorry, the call got dropped. Internet is spotty around here at best. I’ll try again another time. Tell Olivia ‘Sweet dreams, Robin. Batman will keep you safe.’
I have to smile at his thoughtfulness, he took the time to ease my nerves about his well being by calling as well as saying goodnight to Olivia. However, I never should have let her talk to him, not yet. I have no idea what his intentions are for when he comes home. I have to protect my little girl at all costs.
Once I finish up Olivia’s bath, I sit down to write Justin an email. Tears trickle down my cheeks because of the amazingness of this man that hardly knows us. I have a feeling he is going to be my downfall.