Army Wives

~Nina Martin-Rutter~

Letters; they come every once in a while when he has the time to send them, which isn't very often considering my husband of six years has been in combat as of late. Each day I open up the mail box with my heart feeling as though it might just beat out of my chest as the anticipation courses through my veins. Today, is no different and as I hold little Lily Martin-Rutter with one arm and open the mailbox with the other. Two weeks and no letters has left me on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but I continue to hold onto my sanity simply for the sake of Lily. Normally, a lack of letters wouldn't bother me as much as it does, but it's been so long.

Lily gurgles as I open the mailbox and pull out the stack of letters that are there. Before I so much as look at any of them I take Lily back inside our home on the base. Next door is where Patricia and Eddie live with their twin boys Michael and James. On the other side of the base, Jerome and Mara live with two Golden Retrievers and a five year old girl, Charlotte and their son Alexander, who is two years old. Amber lives right next door to Mara with her husband Alfie and their three kids. The oldest is a four year old girl by the name of Hailey, next is an almost three year old girl named Hannah, and their new born baby girl is Hope.

"I bet Daddy sent us a letter Lils," I coo to her as I bounce her up and down slightly while walking back to the house and she gurgles again. I had Lily a little bit before Fabian left again for war and she's about 10 months old now. With her dark brown hair, she looks so much like her father that it almost makes me want to cry. She's such a beautiful little girl and I'm so proud she's my daughter, with Fabian.

I take her back inside and set her down in her little playpen before I sit down on the nearby couch to read the letters. Holding her while reading them would be too much of a risk in case there's bad news I don't want to drop her.

Please, don't let there be bad news, I pray silently as I open the first letter. It's merely a bill and I set it down on the coffee table as the anxiety twists my stomach into an even tighter knot. The next letter is another bill. Cable was the first bill and this one is my cellphone bill. Only three more letters are left and both are hand addressed—likely from Fabian or someone else. With shaking hands I open the first letter and slide out a white piece of paper with little balloons and cakes decorating it. It's just a birthday card for Hannah Lewis' third birthday.

You're invited, to Hannah Elsie Lewis' 3rd birthday!

When: May 23rd from 10:30 in the morning till noon

Where: Amber and Alfie's house (you all know where we live if not call me, Amber, and I'll give you our address)

What to Bring: No gifts are needed, but you can bring one if you want. Other than just bring yourselves and get ready to have a good time.

~Amber and Alfie

Beneath that is messy handwriting is a little handscrawled note from Amber in her usual handwriting that reminds me of the "Catholic School Girl" font on Microsoft Word.

Nina, would you mind coming over a little bit early to help me set up the party. I'm asking Mara and Patricia to help out, too.

I set Amber's note aside and make a mental note to call Amber to tell her that I have to take Lily to her doctor's appointment. Next, I pick up the second letter and hurriedly open it up before reading the first page of the very long letter. It's from Fabian and I let out a sigh of relief, so glad that I know he's alright and well enough to send me a letter.

My Beloved Nina,

You have no idea how sorry I am that it's been so long since my last letter and I know that you've probably been worried sick about me. I know that you weren't very excited about me joining the army in the first place, so you won't be too thrilled about me taking so long to write you. Things have been going well, I haven't been in direct combat for the past few days so you don't have to worry too much about me, I'll be fine. Two men were killed by a mine recently and one of them is someone we both know well. Since I'll be returning soon I don't want to have to give you the bad news through a letter and I know she won't want to get the news through someone else.

Moving onto a happier topic, I loved those pictures of Lily you sent me and she looks so cut with her new haircut. She looks more and more like you every day, which only makes me miss you even more whenever I see her. Our house looks great, I love all the changes you've made and I can't wait to see the new furniture for myself.

I'll be coming home soon and by the time you get this letter it'll be less time. On the 23rd of May, is when I get back and I'm so excited to see both you and Lily again. Jerome asked me to ask you to tell Mara that he'll be getting home soon and he wants to remind her to get the dogs taken into the vet for a check-up. Sometimes I think he loves them like they're children.

I set the letter down, my face has drained of all color and all I can think is: who died? Which of my friends lost someone they loved so dearly and why isn't Fabian telling me about this, I really want to know so I can tell this. It's killing me not to know, especially since I have to meet up with the rest of the girls today so our children can spend some time together.

"Who is it?" I think aloud, looking down at Lily, who smiles and gurgles innocently. She is so young and sweet, I hope that the children of whoever's husband died aren't too badly affected.

A/N: I hope that you liked reading the first chapter. There will be at least three more chapters in the next two weeks. This is for m5HOA's Challenge. Please review!