Golden Box Book Publishing GBBPub February Magazine | Page 11

Gia peeked up at Antonio. “Can he take care of me all by himself?”
Tess coughed to smother a giggle. “I’m pretty sure he’ll do just
fine.”
“Do you want Mommy to go?” Gia stared him straight in the eyes.
He shook his head. “No, sweetheart, I sure don’t. But I don’t have
any choice either.”
“Can’t you make the Army leave Mommy here?”
“If I could, I would.”
Tess looked up at him. “You know I have to go with my unit. It’s
my duty.”
He dead panned her. “And you’re my duty. Unfortunately, they
don’t complement each other in this situation.”
Gia jumped off the couch. “I don’t want you to go.” She ran from
the room.
Antonio started to follow, but Tess stopped him. “Give her a
minute.”
“You’re very calm about this.”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “Trust me. I’m anything but calm.
I feel like my entire world is exploding and there’s nothing I can do to
stop it.”
He closed his arms around her. “Then you know exactly how I feel.
I understand your devotion and thank you for your service. But right
now, I want to be selfish and demanding and just keep you here.”
She kissed him. “You know I won’t be gone long, right?”
“Anything more than a couple hours is too long.”
Gia reappeared with her oversized Good Luck Care Bear named
Goofy in tow. “We decided you can’t go.”