15. Alex
15
ALEX
I strode across the grass toward the Admiral’s grave. I’d been an angry preteen when Admiral Peter Anderson had taken me and my brothers in, giving us a healthy dose of tough love. It had been exactly what three wayward youths had needed. Until Soledad, the Admiral’s care was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Not that I would have admitted it at the start. But the admiral had taken us from three boys abandoned by our mother and abused by our father to Navy SEALs. We’d become responsible men who had served their country with integrity.
I owed the Admiral more than I could ever repay. As I reached the tombstone, I figured I could at least let the old guy know how right he’d been all those years ago. The Admiral had spoken a lot about trust to me, probably recognizing that I only trusted my brothers. The Admiral had earned Zach’s and Colin’s trust, but never quite mine, not entirely. I regretted that now, but it was never too late to make it right.
“I trusted someone enough to fall in love with her, sir,” I said aloud into the early-morning light. I’d come to the cemetery often over the years, paying my respects, but I’d never come with so much to say. “And you were right: it was scary as hell, but it was worth it, too.”
I’d risked the heartache that came with opening up my emotions and survived. To me, emotional trauma was far more intimidating than any SEAL mission, no matter how dangerous. But there’d be no more missions for me. I’d chosen a different life, one that promised joy and happiness.
“I’m in the process of planting an elaborate garden, sir. You’d like it. I’m planning ahead so I’ll have constant blooms from early spring to late fall, and I need shade for my son, a place for him to play. He’s beautiful. I wish he could know you.”
I would tell Luke plenty of stories about the old man. My favorite, the one I hadn’t believed in as a kid, was about plants. I’d share that one when Luke was old enough to understand. An image of the Admiral, a battered straw hat on his head and gardening gloves on his hands, came to me. I’d been sixteen and difficult, unwilling to listen to advice, but I remembered the Admiral’s words.
The Admiral had told me to treat love like I would plants. Take a chance on a new flower, nurture it, give it attention as it grows. There was no guarantee it would survive, the old man had admitted, but he’d insisted that I should take my joy from the bloom, the good part, and not wallow in disappointment if the plant withered later. I had listened, squinting at the Admiral and wanting to argue that people made choices, but plants didn’t.
Now I understood what the Admiral was trying to convey all those years ago.
“I wish you could meet Soledad. She’s got this capacity for hope that makes her like a plant that never stops blooming. Do you remember that ever-blooming gardenia you loved so much? That’s what Soledad is like. Don’t let her name fool you. She’s not about loneliness, she’s pure sunshine. I feel foolish standing here talking, but I’m going to ask her to marry me, and I wanted you to know that.”
I touched the tombstone before walking back to where I’d parked. The rest of the day was dedicated to making my words a reality. I was taking Soledad and Luke to a hot-air balloon festival that afternoon. But we would be looking, not riding. I’d thought of taking her up in a balloon. It seemed romantic, especially since she loved them so much, but a conversation a few days ago had altered my plans.
Soledad had admitted she was terrified of riding in a balloon due to a recurring dream she’d had about plummeting to her death from one. I was still confused about why she was attracted to balloons, focused so much of her free time on them, if she had such a fear. But whatever, that was Soledad for you. She saw the beauty despite her fears. She was a complicated woman in many ways—but so easy to love.
I couldn’t take her for a ride in a balloon, but I still wanted them to figure into my special day, so I’d made other arrangements to include them. I pulled up in front of the house that we’d moved back into once it was no longer a crime scene. I only gave the street a casual sweep with my eyes. With Bruce in a military prison, I had nothing to fear, but old habits died hard.
“Ready?” I asked, giving Soledad a kiss when she came out carrying Luke.
“I’m excited,” Soledad said once she was settled in her seat and Luke was strapped in the back. Frankie sat beside the infant car seat, thrilled to be going for a ride. “Luke’s having a wide-awake sort of day, so this is a good adventure.”
She had no idea how good.
“Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t want him to sleep through his first hot-air balloon festival.” We drove the half hour to an open field outside of town. Two balloons were already in the air, drifting gracefully over the rolling hills. Others were stretched out on the grass as their crews filled them with gases.
“Oh,” Soledad exclaimed when we entered the grounds. “You didn’t say your family would be here. Wow, all of your family.” My brothers, their wives, and their kids walked toward us. With them were all three of my cousins. Chance with Mandy and Ray; Harris with his wife, Rachel, and their daughter, Jenny, who was about two and a half and who had pink ribbons in her hair to match her mom, whose hair was currently dyed cotton-candy pink; Lee and his wife, Viktoria, who was wearing remarkably high heels with her elegant dress despite being visibly pregnant.
“I suggested that they might like to come,” I said. The truth was that I’d used the family text thread to let everyone know what I had planned, and as soon as they heard about it, everyone wanted to come. Part of me was glad to have them all here to witness the big moment. But by the way they were all smiling, I wondered if they’d give it away in advance. I checked my watch. Twenty minutes until showtime. Colin gave me a nod, indicating that the plans were in motion. All I had to do was relax.
We greeted everyone, and I once again felt how lucky I was to have all of them. I’d looked for problems, expected disappointment my whole life, yet somehow I was surrounded by amazing people who cared about me.
“I think I can find some inspiration here for my art,” Lily said. She was testing her wings as an artist and starting to have some success, selling sculptures and pottery in shops downtown.
“I was thinking the same thing. Look how many people are here to admire the balloons. I wonder if a line of jewelry modeled after hot-air balloons would be successful,” Carolyn, the jewelry store owner, added. “Something to think about.”
“Maybe the two of you could work together to create that,” Zach commented.
"That sounds like an excellent investment opportunity,” Viktoria said.
Jenny, who adored her sophisticated aunt, nodded solemnly as she leaned against Viktoria’s leg. “Eggscent,” she repeated—a tiny businesswoman in the making.
Carolyn and Lily grinned at each other. “Well, it sounds like we have a lot to discuss. Let’s set up a meeting,” Carolyn suggested. “Maybe Soledad could help us out, too, with her retail experience.” Soledad returned their smiles and looked genuinely excited about the idea.
With Luke in a stroller, we walked among the balloons. Soledad stopped often to take pictures.
“I can’t wait to post these on my blog,” she said. “They’re all so beautiful.” Some of the balloons had brightly colored patterns, others were decorated with giant flowers, and one even advertised a nearby winery. They were all awe-inspiring and unique, but I was looking for the one I’d hired, the one that was going to make all the difference in my life.
Luke squealed with excitement when a balloon appeared from the ground near us, rising aloft. Soledad was kneeling next to him, pointing and talking about it, when an excited murmur went up from the crowd.
“What is it?” she asked, looking up at me.
“Come see.” I took her hand, pulling her to me. With my arms around her waist, I turned her to face the other direction. The crowd’s attention was all riveted on one balloon that was rising gracefully upward.
The red-and-blue balloon had a huge white banner draped down one side. In bold letters, a message read, “Soledad, Will You Marry Me?”
She gasped and looked at me, her smile wide. Before she could speak, I dropped to one knee and pulled a jewelry box from my pocket.
“Soledad,” I said, “I never thought I’d love anyone, but I love you so much. Will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?” I flipped open the box so she could see the ring I’d selected for her. I’d gone nontraditional, with a sapphire-and-diamond ring set in platinum. I’d thought she’d like its uniqueness. By the look on her face, I’d been right.
“Oh, my,” she breathed, and then her eyes focused on me. I felt a moment of tension before it melted away when she spoke. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Now, come here so I can kiss you.”
She pulled me to my feet, keeping my hand in hers as she kissed me. “I love you, too,” she whispered against my lips. “I can’t put into words how happy I am right now.”
“I think I understand,” I said and kissed her again.
Around us, the crowd cheered their approval and Frankie barked. I hardly noticed any of it until I heard Luke’s happy squeal.
“Our son approves,” Soledad whispered and reached out a hand to stroke Luke’s hair.
“Smart kid,” I responded, so proud to be a father and excited to be a husband.
“Can we interrupt now?” Lily asked from behind me.
I wanted to stay in the moment just a little longer, but my family was excited for us, so I reluctantly released Soledad.
“Welcome to the family,” Colin said, giving Soledad a hug, “and congratulations.”
I found myself being alternately embraced and slapped on the back by my brothers and cousins, their wives, and even the kids. It was all good, but the best part was taking Soledad’s hand in mine while we watched the balloon climb into the blue sky together.
It felt like my hopes were rising along with it. For so many years, I’d believed that happiness wasn’t in store for me—for anyone in my family. But now here I was, surrounded by the people I loved most in the world, united as a family in a way that felt deep and permanent, like we’d built something important. The future stretched out endlessly for the McCallisters and the Vales—and I couldn’t wait to see what it held.