Chapter 41
41
The next two months passed at a snail’s pace.
Every mission seemed that much more dangerous, that much more likely to go bad…
But finally I got down to my last week in Afghanistan.
American soldiers talk about being ‘short’ when their deployments are close to an end. As in, their time was short.
I’m so short I could sit on the edge of a dime and swing my legs.
I also heard them talk about I got ten more wake-ups and a glorious arising.
Ten more days in-country, followed by the day they woke up and left.
I had spent most of my military career not caring where I was stationed or for how long –
But now it felt like a matter of life or death.
The only thing that kept me going was Rachel’s emails.
In the final week, we started making specific plans.
I told her there was one thing I had to do before I came to see her.
Rachel,
Just to let you know, I’m going to spend as much time with you as possible – but I need to make a stopover in my hometown in Sweden, just for half a day or so.
But as soon as that’s done, I’m on the next plane out.
Love,
Lars
Her reply was sweet and considerate:
Take as much time as you need to see your family and friends – I’ll be here.
I told her the truth, although I didn’t tell her the details why.
I only need half a day. I can’t wait more than that to see you.
There was one detail that irked me – but it was completely about me, not her.
Lars,
Unfortunately, I can’t have you stay with me.
Sorry about that – has to do with my job.
However, book a hotel and I’ll come stay with YOU. I’ll even pay for it.
I’ll meet you at the airport. Just send me your flight number and time.
I can’t WAIT to see you.
Love and kisses,
Rachel
Not being able to stay with her at her place seemed a bit suspect.
Was her job really so secretive that I couldn’t know where she lived?
Or was it just that she wanted to have a bit of distance in case things didn’t go well and she wanted to bail?
In the end, I got over my petty doubts.
Rachel,
A hotel is great.
Can you recommend one that’s near you and very nice?
I want our time together to be luxurious.
Thank you for the offer to pay for it, but I’ll be fine. I’ve got a lot of combat pay.
I can’t wait to see you either.
Take as much time off as possible – I want you all to myself.
Love,
Lars
She forwarded me a list of hotels, all near the Vauxhall area in London.
Interesting… because Vauxhall was where MI6 headquarters was located, right on the River Thames.
I didn’t know if that meant she lived nearby, or if she wanted to be close to her office in case she needed to drop in from time to time.
It didn’t matter. I made a week-long reservation at a suitably nice hotel – not the most expensive on her list, but near the top – and told her I would email my flight info as soon as I booked it.
Then I settled in for the interminable wait until I stepped on a plane and flew out of Afghanistan…
To her.