Epilogue
Liam eyed all of the posters decorating Elaina’s room. Two walls were a tribute to country singers and her new love of cowboys. And the other two were all about superheroes. “Ever since your brother bought her those boots and cowgirl hat last weekend—”
“You have a thing against cowboys?” Emily’s lips pressed into a shaky line as if fighting a smile.
“Only when they’re on the walls of my daughter’s room.” He held his palms open toward the pictures. He’d done his best to handle the superheroes because—well, she’d said the Justice League and Avengers characters reminded her of Bravo and Echo . . . but this?
How would he survive when she hit her teenage years?
Shotgun by the door felt too easy on her future dates. And he also didn’t want a sixteen-year-old to piss himself at the sight of his long gun.
He had time to think about it, he supposed.
“This guy is Luke Bryan.” Elaina pushed her chair in at her desk and pointed to a picture above it. “He’s a really good singer.” She strode past Liam and climbed atop her bed and pressed her tiny palm to the image. “This is Carrie Underwood’s husband. Sort of reminds me of A.J.”
Liam’s stomach dropped. “Tell me she doesn’t have a crush on A.J.,” he whispered into Emily’s ear. “I might have to kill him.”
“Maybe get yourself some not-so-good-looking friends.”
“Funny,” he grumbled and pinched her ass.
But then reality settled in. They weren’t in her room to discuss cowboys or men in tights. “There’s something we need to talk about. You want to sit?”
Elaina’s forehead creased as she sat atop her Wonder Woman bedspread. Thank God she was sleeping with Wonder Woman and not Superman. He’d take that as a win.
“Be right back,” Emily said.
“I have to go on an op.” He sat next to her. “The president needs me.”
Emily came back into the room a moment later but kept her arm behind her back as she approached the bed. “This is his first operation since we’ve become a family, and so, we wanted to check in with you to see how you feel about it.”
He’d been back with Bravo for two weeks, but he’d been able to stick around D.C. during that time. He had no clue where POTUS was sending him or what problem the president needed solved, but he’d anticipated this moment would be pretty damn hard for all of them.
The last operation nearly killed him, and although he’d gotten the all clear from pretty much every doctor on the eastern seaboard—being mentally ready to leave was more challenging than being physically prepared.
But being a Teamguy was part of him, a part Emily and Elaina loved.
It didn’t make this moment any easier, though.
Elaina averted her gaze to Liam. “You’ll be okay,” she said with a nod. “You don’t need to worry.”
“Oh, really?” he asked.
“Yup.”
Emily brought her arm around in front of her. “I want you to have this.” She extended a glass jar to Elaina before sitting on the other side of her.
“An empty jar?” Elaina examined it before meeting Emily’s eyes.
“It’s not empty.” Emily pointed at it. “It’s filled with all the air kisses my dad sent to me whenever he was deployed.” She paused as if struggling to get the words out. “And I thought you might like to have it for when Liam travels.”
Elaina stared at the glass jar for a minute and brought it to her chest. “I love it. Thank you.” She hugged Emily and then turned toward Liam and wrapped her arms around him. “Where should I keep it?”
Emily wiped at the single tear on her cheek and stood. “I kept mine in the nightstand by my bed.”
Elaina pursed her lips in thought. “How about on top of my nightstand next to my pictures? I’d like to look at it whenever I start to miss you, which will probably be a lot.”
Shit. Could he do this? Could he leave them both?
Elaina positioned the jar on the nightstand next to a collage of framed photos. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said when facing the bed, “but you’re a hero. The world needs you. You keep us safe and give me the chance to be a kid.”
He didn’t know what to say, so he forced a nod. She was so special. And theirs to protect.
“Will you be able to have dinner with Grandpa tonight like we planned before you go? We were going to have pizza and play charades.”
“I’ll make time.” He stood and pressed a hand to his chest.
Elaina smiled and grabbed a comic book and headphones before plopping back on her bed like a teenager and not an almost-nine-year-old.
“Are you okay?” Emily asked once they were in the master suite downstairs a few minutes later.
He turned toward her, cupped her face, and kissed her. “I’m more than okay,” he said against her mouth.
“And you’re sure you can stay for dinner?” Her palm smoothed down the center of his black tee. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
He stepped back and eyed his stunning wife before sweeping her into his arms. “I think the president can wait.”