Epilogue - Hailey
Five Years Later
The Base glows at sunset, pink and orange with the promise of fun – real fun – on the horizon.
Knowing I’ve played a part in it, that my husband and I worked together for the annual veteran event means more than I can express.
He’s still enlisted, still handling big projects even though he moved up from Captain.
He prefers the title of ‘husband’ or ‘dad’ in the house.
With his support and his care, I found that enlisting wasn’t right for me.
I’m meant for caring, for warmth, for gentleness which made the transition program for veterans who’ve been discharged so they can find their footing in the world that hasn’t stopped waiting for them the best fit for me.
Considering the hours are normal business hours, Wes and I have created a wonderful life.
Our three year old agrees, always happy, chasing Wes around.
“Daddy, I wanna see the big planes,” Ashton demands.
“Come here. I’m strong enough to hold you on my shoulders,” I say since Wes has our eighteen month old on his hip. She stares at the sky, pointing at the jets as they race across the sky.
I hoist Ashton onto my shoulders with Wes holding a hand up to make sure he doesn’t fall backwards.
Our children glow. Brynn giggles and leans into Wes.
He kisses the top of her head, then looks at me.
His look is heavy, steady, and the kind of look that still makes my heart flip.
It used to make me nervous and uncomfortable, now feels like home.
His appreciation, his love, his desire for me as intense as the very first time we kissed.
“What do you think, as good as last year?” I ask him.
“Better,” he answers.
It’s the same answer every year, whether I ask about a holiday, an event, or something random. It’s always better.
“Hailey!” Dad calls.
“Grampa!” Ashton yells, wiggling on my shoulders.
With Wes’s help, I set him down and he sprints for my parents. My mom hugs him tightly while Wes pulls me closer, like he’s still afraid my father’s going to steal me from him. It’s not possible. It hasn’t ever been possible.
I kiss his cheek and take Brynn when she reaches for me. We dive into the festivities instead of just watching. Wes laughs with Ryan and Michael while Melissa bounces Brynn and teases her about how fast she’s growing.
Wes takes my hand under the table, then brings my knuckles to his mouth, kissing them gently. We’re together. A family, a true partnership, bound by loyalty and devotion rather than questions and desperation.
No matter what comes up in our future, no matter what divides the path laid before us, we’ll choose it together, we’ll find balance by listening to one another.
Our life is rooting in what’s most important to use, honor, tenderness, and the kind of love that never needs noise or big grand gestures to be powerful.
Consistency, stability, and passion. We blended who we are into a family and I can’t imagine anything better. We have two beautiful children, a future as dazzling as the sunset, and I know that the man beside me will never waver or question what we’ve built.
“I love you,” I say softly, just for him, like every time I’ve said it.
He presses his forehead to mine. “I told you. You’re mine. I’m yours. Forever, baby.”