SthrnZeta~ Be open and honest with him.
But I have a feeling you don't really need to say anything--from what you've said, it sounds like he may be thinking the same thing??? You have lots of time before February...and the holidays are usually a great time for engagements. Why not wait and see what happens, and if no engagement comes by New Years, then talk to him?
On a personal front, I have a long list of situations that have happened that would only happen when my husband is deployed, and this weekend it was a doozy. Possums have invaded my yard, and one of my three dogs got one Saturday morning. At first, I thought it was a frayed rope toy, but then I remembered that we don't have a rope toy right now. Sure enough, dead possum. And of course the dog kept trying to bring it to me!
So I called the city, and they pick up dead animals, but only if they are at the curb. So I act a little "girly" for a while trying to think of a big strong man to call to come take care of the dead possum, before I finally "man up" and take care of it myself. I use a shovel to put him in a bag and the city picked him up from the curb about an hour later. I walked the yard and crawled under the deck to see where the possums might be living, but no sign of anything. Meanwhile, I keep an eye on the dogs to make sure they are ok, and all is well... until last night.
I left for about an hour and left the dogs out in the yard so they could get their last runs in before the week starts. I see the same dog carrying something--yup, another possum! I couldn't find a flashlight so I used to candle to inspect. I get the dogs in the house, get the shovel and a garbage bag, and package the little guy up again. Called the city for pick up in the morning. But something was bugging me. I wondered if he was just "playing possum"--but when I was trying to shovel him up I flipped him over so many times, I was convinced that he had to be dead. Out to the curb, but I left the bag open a little, just in case.
This morning, went outside and the bag was still there, but the possum was gone. Upon inspection of the bag, he had left a little present. Its possible something else got him, but I don't really think so. The possum was gone, and likely will turn up in my yard again tonight! The good news is, I am now an official possum wrangler!
Of course, none of this would happen if my husband were home....
If he came home tomorrow, we would never see another possum again!! Ah, I love deployments...