I need to see them, to make sure that Becca knows that I haven’t deserted them. I can’t imagine what she must be thinking since it has been a week since she wrote that email. Without taking the time to think about what I am doing, I shut my laptop and head to the briefing room where the team is Skyping with the girls. I know Cowboy set up a sweet system in his house, so they could all talk on the holidays.

Knowing my sister, there is no way that she would let Becca and Olivia spend the holiday alone. I just pray that they all decided to go to Katie’s and not stay at Jimmy’s place. I burst into the room and look directly at the screen, hoping to just catch a glimpse of my girls. As if on cue, Becca comes bolting back into the room with a frantic look on her face, searching the screen, and hope begins to blossom in my chest.

“Where is he? Is he there with you guys?” Becca whispers as she clasps something desperately to her chest. I know they couldn’t have missed my entry into the room, but Cowboy responds.

“Sorry, Ma’am, LT isn’t around right now. Last time I saw him, he had just gotten off of watch. Maybe he decided to hit the showers before he came for a call.”

“Don’t Ma’am me, that’s my mother. You also don’t need to BS me. It’s alright.” I watch her shoulders sag in defeat as she has a seat next to Emma. I want to bust through all of the guys and scream to her that I am here. I am here for her and Olivia just like I promised in my emails, but she did ask for time and space. Suddenly an idea pops into my head, I run back out of the room and grab the sat phone from the tactical equipment box. I know we are only supposed to use this for emergencies, but this is an emergency to me. I will gladly take the hit for using it.

Once I return to the room, I find a paperclip and throw it at Cowboy smack in the back of the head. He immediately turns and heads in my direction.

“What the hell was that for, LT?” he asks.

“I need your number.”

“Why not just come and Skype with everyone else?”

“Stop wasting my time! Just give me the damn number,” I growl. He must notice something in my eyes because he immediately rattles off his house phone number. I quickly dial it, holding my breath as it begins to ring. I have no idea who answers the phone, but before they can even say hello, I say, “I need to speak to Becca.”

“Momma! Ba’man got me Ba’man!” Olivia squeals as she hugs her new doll to her chest. That doll is going to be her new best friend, I can tell just by the look in her eyes. I take a seat next to Emma again on the couch.

“Thank you,” I whisper. No other words are needed at this point, she has renewed my faith in her brother with these small gifts. I don’t know if they were sent before or after our small email disagreement. But somehow, I just know everything is going to be okay. Maybe not right now, but I just need to have faith.

I sit and watch all my friends continue to speak with their men, the smiles on their faces hide the pain I know they have right now. How the separation is killing them inside, but they keep on pushing forward. The strength in this room will never cease to amaze me, while also bringing me hope that this may just work out.

I’m broken from my thoughts when I hear my name from across the room. “Becca, someone wants to speak to you.” I look up to see Katie smiling at me. I turn to look at the projector, hoping to see Justin’s smiling face but am met with a wink from Charlie and a gentle smile from Logan instead.

“Okay. Not sure why you fellas would want to chat with me instead of your lovely ladies, but what can I do for you?” I say with a smile. They both chuckle in response, suddenly a phone appears right in front of my face.

Katie must sense my confusion because she continues, “Say hello.”

My heart begins to race in my chest as I grab the phone with shaking hands. “Hello,” I whisper.

“Merry Christmas, Catwoman.” Justin’s deep voice comes across the line, bringing tears to my eyes.

“Took you long enough, I don’t like being kept waiting.”

“Sorry, love. I got a little lost along the way, but I promise I’m here now,” he says with a soft chuckle. I want to ask him what he means, but I know there is no time for that. I have no idea how long I am going to be able to have him on the line right now, and I need to make it count.

“Why are you crying?” Justin asks, shaking me from my thoughts, and I begin looking around. If he was here, I would have known, and the guys told me he was not there for me to video call with.

“How do you know I’m crying?”

“I can see you. Damn, you are so beautiful,” Justin responds almost reverently as I snap my eyes toward the screen, squinting my eyes trying to find him. Logan, Charlie, and the girls are all talking to each other around me as if nothing is happening, but he has to be there. There is no other explanation.

“You’ve been there the whole time, haven’t you?’ I whisper into the phone. I try desperately to hold in the torrent of emotions that are threatening to break free at this moment. Even when I thought he had left us, he was there, silently waiting and watching us.

“I will always be here for you, even if you don’t want me to be. I will protect you and Olivia with everything that I am.”

“Thank you,” I manage to get out before I break down, handing the phone off to Emma. She wraps me in her arms, taking a moment to talk to her brother and wish him a Merry Christmas.

“No cry Momma, Daddy say Ba’man home soon.” Livie climbs into my lap and snuggles into my chest. I can’t say that I am too keen on her believing that Justin and I are going to get married because her deceased father said so, but to think that Trent is around looking out for me and our baby girl is comforting. Maybe he did send Justin to take care of the two of us in his stead, I just need to take this all one step at a time. Sometimes the best things in life happen after you take a leap of faith.