a surprise

I held off from telling Bella.  Because I knew she'd ask me a billion mazillion times about it before it actually happened.  And I wanted to see the look of pure wonder and excitement on her face.  So smart and yet, still so clueless.  I mean, with all the "I *heart* Daddy t-shirts and signs, driving out to the runway to meet his jet.... and she still kept asking, "What's the surprise, Mama??  What IS it??"

And when I saw him walking down the steps, out of the jet, I stopped her dancing, spinning body and pointed her in his direction.  I said, "Look, Bells.  Who is that?"

She looked at him, and then back at me, with eyes as big as saucers.  "Daddy, Mama?  Daddy!!" and then she ran to him.  Past the colonels and airmen.  Pushed her way into my husband's manly, desert-geared arms.  She wrapped those brown little arms around his neck and didn't let go for a long time.  Every now and then, she'd pop her head up to look at him, and then me, and whisper, "It's my Daddy, Mama.  It's my Daddy."  Then she'd nuzzle right back down again, breathing in her Prince Charming.

He's sleeping now; wars (and jet-lag) can work you to the bone.  But he's home... and he got it right on the nose, as he told me:

"I feel like the luckiest man alive.  I have three wonderful girls who adore me."

Yes, my man.  You do.  You are loved.  And you are home.