I felt like skipping when I went downstairs. Everything just seemed…better. The house was brighter, the air crisper, the day more hopeful. It was like I’d rebooted myself, and everything was running a little smoother now. I loved it.

Humming to myself, I started a pot of coffee. God, I missed having a daily cup of good coffee. Bus coffee and diner coffee just didn’t cut it. Kiera was still asleep when the pot finished brewing. Usually, the smell woke her up. Not today though. She was just as drained as me. I drank a quick cup, then grabbed my jacket. My time here was almost over, and I needed to say goodbye to Kiera. For now.

I prepped a cup of coffee for Kiera, since the least I could do was leave her with a treat. Careful to not spill it, I headed upstairs. Wondering if the smell would wake her up now, I squatted by the bed and held it toward her. I grinned as she started stirring. It still worked.

Her eyes slowly opened, then they found me. Ignoring the coffee in my hand, she reached out for me. “Hey,” she said, propping up on her elbow to lean over and kiss me.

“Mornin’,” I told her.

She giggled at my greeting, then grabbed the coffee cup I was still offering. “You are a godsend,” she said, taking a sip.

I laughed softly as I ran a hand through her hair. “You and coffee…”

An intoxicating pink blush ran over her skin. God, I’d missed that too. “What time is your flight?” she asked, glancing at the clock.

Her calm eyes, more brown than green today, returned to me, and my smile widened. She was so beautiful. And still mine. “I have to go soon.”

Her eyes widened with alarm, and she sat all the way up, spilling her drink. “Well, I’ll get ready. I’ll come with you.”

Taking her coffee before she burned herself, I set it on the nightstand. Shaking my head, I told her, “No, I want you to stay here and relax.” She frowned, but I smiled. “Every separation between us seems to be long and dramatic, like we’re never going to see each other again.” I paused to run my knuckle down her cheek. “It’s like we’re…savoring every moment because we both think it might be the last.”

She clamped down on her bottom lip and nodded, like she’d had that thought too. My smile grew. “So, let’s break out of that cycle.” I inhaled a deep breath. “Goodbye, sweetheart. I have to go to work.” That was how normal people said goodbye, right?

Kiera grinned. With a small shrug she said, “See ya.”