The order was unnecessary since everyone had already dived for the nearest structure. It was much more difficult now, though, with the enemy above them.
Axur fired on the raiders and called for backup from the other squads. Three soldiers made a break for cover, and one was shot in the leg in the process, leaving them completely exposed.
He didn’t hesitate before charging and dragging the soldier to safety.
“Look out!” someone called out.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a grenade head straight toward them. He tried to move out of the way, but the next thing he knew, he was flying through the air.
His body rolled and tumbled until it came to a violent stop on the ground. Pain engulfed his body, and the last thing he saw before his vision went dark were the faces of Katie and Ayla.
FOURTEEN
KATIE
Katie tapped her foot as she stirred the pot before her. It was the only thing grounding her and keeping her from pacing around the room. It had been much worse the first few days Axur had been gone. The pacing, the blanking out, the tossing and turning at night.
She’d never been this anxious when her dad was deployed. Then again, he’d been in the military before she was born, so it had always just been a part of her life. His coming and going had just been how life was.
It should have been how it was with Axur. He was a military man. She knew it was possible he could be deployed at any moment. And yet here she was, constantly anxious about his safety. Wondering what he was doing or if he was injured or if he was even alive.
Her gut twisted with that last thought.
She didn’t even know where he was or what he was doing. It wasn’t like they got to know his assignment.
There was a sizzling sound, and Katie was jerked out of her thoughts as she realized the pot was boiling over.
“Oh no!”
She quickly moved the overflowing pot off the burner and turned off the heat. Katie groaned at the mess she’d just made for herself.
“Way to go. Very helpful, me.”
Well, at least she didn’t start a fire. The general would probably not be too happy with her if he came back to a burned-down house. If he came back.
He is coming back,she told herself sternly. It was the only thought keeping her sane.
She sighed and taste-tested the pasta in the pot. Yep, definitely done.
Katie put together the rest of the lunch and then called out for Ayla to wash her hands and come eat. Five minutes later, they were sitting at the table enjoying slightly overcooked pasta.
“Have you heard anything about Uncle?” Ayla asked tentatively as they ate.
Katie smiled tiredly and shook her head. “No honey, not yet. I promise if I hear anything about him, you’ll be the first to know.”
Ayla smiled and nodded, but it wasn’t quite as bright as her usual smile. Axur’s absence had affected the young girl just as much as it had Katie. She’d just finally gotten comfortable having him as a parental figure in her life, and now he was gone.
Gone, but coming back. He will come back.
Katie tried to keep them both distracted with games and outings and lots of storybook reading. It worked for a while. They would fall into whatever they were doing, and it would be just like the days when Axur was away at work. But then night would fall, and his absence was very much noticed.
He wasn’t there to sweep Ayla into his arms when he came home. He wasn’t sitting at the dinner table at night. He wasn’t listening as Katie read Ayla a book before bed. Having him gone just made the whole day feel incomplete.
“So, what fun things should we do after lunch?” Katie asked, trying to change the subject to something lighter.
Ayla thought about it for a moment before her eyes lit up. “I know, we should watch a movie!”
A real smile made its way onto Katie’s face now. “That sounds like an excellent idea. I’ll make us popcorn, and we can snuggle up with some big blankets and make an afternoon of it.”
