lot. Recently one of the other students had flippantly called Cecilia the teacher's pet. She didn't believe it since Mr. Cavanaugh wasn't the sort of teacher who played favorites. But afterward Cecilia had smiled all day. Never in her life had she experienced anything like this sense of approval and success.
She enjoyed telling Ian how well she was doing. They were back to e-mailing and writing. Yesterday, she'd received a postcard from Australia. He hadn't chosen one with a picture of the famous opera house, the outback or even the Barrier Reef. No koalas or kangaroos, either. Instead, Ian had mailed her a photograph of the night sky. It showed the Milky Way and what looked like millions upon millions of stars. His message on the back was full of praise for her high marks and the promise of a celebration once he got home.
Cathy was still keeping the news of her pregnancy from Andrew. It was all Cecilia could do not to tell Ian. Every day that Cathy remained pregnant was a triumph. She'd miscarried the first pregnancy at eight weeks, and the second at twelve. Already this pregnancy had lasted longer than the first two, but Cathy couldn't trust that all was well - not yet, anyway. Cecilia was the only person she'd told. Not even her mother knew, and Cecilia regarded the news as sacred information.
At a little after one, she decided it was time for lunch. With the radio on in the background, she was opening a can of soup, when a news bulletin interrupted the Top 40 song that was playing.
"This is a KVI news bulletin. There's been an explosion aboard the John F. Reynolds, the Bremerton-based aircraft carrier. Details are just coming into our newsroom now. At this early hour we have no idea as to the cause of the explosion. The possibility exists that this is the work of a terrorist group. There has been loss of life, but how many casualties and the extent of damage to the aircraft carrier is unknown at this point. We'll keep you updated."
Cecilia gasped and dropped the soup can. The contents spilled out over the counter, dripping onto the floor. Unrolling some paper towels, she started wiping it up when the phone rang.
"Hello," she nearly shouted as she grabbed the receiver.
"Did you hear?" It was Cathy.
"Just now. What do you know?"
"Nothing...just about the explosion. I called the ombudsman, but she'd just heard it herself. The Navy has set up a meeting area on base for husbands, wives and family members to wait for news. We'll get information there more quickly than we will at home."
"I'm on my way." Cecilia didn't waste time worrying about the appropriateness of being on base. Although she hadn't lived with Ian in many months, she was still his wife.
"That's one of the reasons I phoned," Cathy said, her voice faltering. "Could you swing by for me?"
"I'll be there as fast as I can." Then it hit her. "Cathy, is everything all right?"
Cathy released a sob. "I think so...I don't know."
"Cath? You'd better tell me."
Cecilia heard her friend struggle not to cry. "I...I've started spotting."
"When?"
"This morning."
"How bad is it?" It might be more important to drive Cathy to the hospital first.
"Not bad - much lighter than the first two miscarriages." Cathy made it sound like a foregone conclusion that she would lose this baby, too.
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Oh, Cecilia, I don't know what I'd do without you." The tears were back in her voice.
Dumping everything in the sink, Cecilia didn't change clothes or bother with her hair or makeup. She refused to think of what might be happening to her husband half a world away. If there was one thing she'd learned this past year, it was that she couldn't take anything for granted. She could only hope for the best.
Cathy was sitting on the front porch steps outside her rental house, waiting for her. As soon as Cecilia approached, Cathy stood. She looked shaken and deathly pale.
"Did you hear anything else?" Cecilia asked.
"No. You?"
Cecilia had turned on the all-news radio station on the drive over. "Just what was on the local news."
"A number of...deaths have been reported."
Cecilia couldn't bear to think about that. "I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No, I have to find out what I can about Andrew first," Cathy said. "If we go to the hospital, it'll take hours and they might keep me. I need to know if Andrew's all right. Then I'll go, I promise."
"Are