Nana's Chair

Jillian enjoyed sitting on the porch of her grandparent's farmhouse. Looking out over the golden fields, watching the new foals learning to walk in the barnyard, and listening to the rooster and the chickens made her feel like she was forever home. And now she was. She loved her nana and papa more than anything, so losing them last winter, within two months of each other, was devastating to her. She was the only grandchild, and when the will was read, Jillian became the sole owner of the farm. The only stipulation was she could never sell it. It had to be kept in the Bancroft Family. For Jillian, that would be easy. She wanted to live here for the rest of her life.

Jillian tilted back and forth in her Nana's rocking chair, all the while rubbing her quickly growing belly. She was pregnant, very pregnant. Her baby girl, Bella, was due in six weeks. She felt so peaceful on the porch in her Nana's chair, that she and Bella sat there every evening after dinner. This evening was particularly inviting. It was a brisk fall evening, and the harvest moon was brightly illuminating the corn field. Of course, there was no corn, but the stalks had yet to be cleared. Jillian looked up at the stars, and as she did so, she talked to Bella. "Baby girl, you are so loved. This beautiful world is waiting for you. I can't wait to show you the farm. I just hope daddy will be here when you make your entrance." Jillian's husband Nick was in Afghanistan. He was a Marine, and she felt like he was a million miles away. She looked up at the stars every night, from this same spot and said a prayer. She hoped that he would be home in time for the birth of Bella.

Nick loved the farm just as much as Jillian did, but it's been hard for her since he's been away. Her parents lived up the road, and were always there for her, but her dad was now getting up in years and he couldn't do as much as he used to. They finally had to hire some help. She Skyped with Nick as often as possible, but he sometimes was out on maneuvers and she spent weeks without hearing from him. She was always worrying about him, but she never wanted to think about what life would be like without him. Sitting on the porch, in Nana's chair, looking up at the stars, made her feel close to him.

Once Jillian finished sipping on her chamomile tea, she stopped rocking and went in the house to get her sweater. It was getting chillier now that the sun went down. They soon had to prepare the farm for the first frost. It would also soon be pumpkin season, so while she was inside, she got sidetracked by some business matters. She was also writing a cookbook entitled, Farm Fresh. Jillian wasn't one to sit idly by just waiting for something to happen. She made it happen, and Nick was so proud of her for that.

She had met Nick during one of those times when she was trying to make something happen. Living close to the military base had always made Jillian appreciate her life and the people in it. After talking to some military wives, she realized that a lot of the children that lived on base, spent their holidays without their moms or dads, and sometime both. This saddened Jillian, and she made it her mission to make sure these kids had a wonderful holiday. Not just Christmas, but pumpkins and costumes for Halloween, baskets for Easter, and chocolates for Valentine's Day.

Nick saw her across a crowded room, as they say, and he very quickly volunteered to help. Soon they were soliciting donations, shopping, and planning holiday parties for a hundred military dependents. They enjoyed every second. It was all about giving back. Now without Nick by her side, and with the baby coming, she was hoping to find someone to take over for her, just for this year.

Just as she sat down at her computer, her phone began to ring. She saw right away that Nick was Skyping, and she rushed to answer. "Hi baby," she excitedly answered with tears in her eyes.

"Hi babe! How are my girls?" Nick's voice was so clear. She sometimes struggled to hear him. The connections weren't always the best.

"We are great," Jillian answered. "Bella is moving around a lot, but she misses her daddy. Do you have any idea when your tour will be up? I miss you so much. I'm leaning on my parents for sure, but it's not the same without you."

"I know, J, but we have no idea when our orders might come through. I'm hoping by Christmas. I'm sorry honey, but I don't think I'm going to be there when Bella is born." He could hear Jillian being to cry.

Jillian was crying, but she would never let Nick hear her cry, even though he always did. She was strong, even in the face of challenge. She would just keep going and doing and growing, as usual. They shared some light hearted conversation, talked about the farm, and then Nick told her he had to go back to his unit. Nick proclaimed, "Across a million desert miles, I will always love you. Hugs and kisses to you my love, and kiss my baby Bella."

"I love you, Nicholas! Goodbye." Jillian replied.

Once she hung up the phone, Jillian let her emotions get the better of her, and the tears started to flow from her weepy eyes. She had a lump in her throat, and all of a sudden she felt very tired. What was she going to do if Nick didn't make it home for the birth of Bella? She didn't even want to think about it. She couldn't, there was too much to do. She made herself another cup of tea, and grabbed her sweater from the hook next to the front door. It was completely dark now, and the stars were like crystals in the sky. For Nick's birthday one year Jillian had given him a star. She pretended to know which one it was. Jillian and Bella sat down in Nana's chair, and she began to recite, "Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight." Of course, her wish was for Nick to be home for Bella. Her heart ached. This would be the best early Christmas gift, just having her little family under the same roof.

After making her wish, Jillian looked up to Nick's star. She knew that Nick would be looking at that same star, so she whispered loudly, "Across a million desert miles, I will always love you too, Nicholas.