Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Three years later
Ben
“ W hat I experienced is something many men and women experience in combat. The loss, the fear, the pain, the depression, and the sense that there is no way to feel whole again. This organization is something dear to me because it, along with many other resources, has helped show that there is hope, there is wholeness, beyond the moments of pain. Thank you for joining us tonight.”
Applause sounded in the ballroom, the wealth of Nashville’s elite and much of Hollywood dotting the tables. Better yet, many of my old Rambler Battalion friends and leaders had shown up—my old company commander, Luke Waterford, and my first sergeant, now master sergeant, Harrison. And of course, Prince Charming himself, LTC Reese Flint. Thatcher was overseas but had sent his best, of course.
I walked off stage, grinning to myself at what a strange thing it was for me to be the one on stage. But we’d worked for this for three years now, and this was a moment I’d never forget.
“You were perfect,” Whit said, looking painfully gorgeous in a long silk dress in a color that somehow matched those blue-green eyes.
“You are perfect,” I said, placing one hand at her back, and running the other over the swell of her belly. “This is surreal.”
“Finally seeing this come to life? You’ve worked so hard, and I’m so, so proud of you.” She pulled me to her and hugged me close.
I’d worked on this project for almost two years. When I left the Army, I enrolled in a Master of Social Work program. Through that, I began working with some colleagues and Whit, and in the end, we partnered with an organization that gave men and women dealing with PTSD and depression a creative outlet to expand its reach tremendously.
Funny enough, it was one of the organizations I’d looked at with my therapist while recovering in the early weeks. I was happy to be working for them now, bringing my perspective and frankly, Whit’s fame, to their table. Their budget for the year would be fully funded by the end of the night.
“Yes. That. Feeling like I’ve found my purpose for work—” I glanced back at the stage, “—and I’m glad I managed to talk you into marrying me, and having my baby, and making me the happiest sap on the planet.”
“I love you, Ben Holder. ”
“I love you.”
Thank you for reading Whit and Ben’s story! If you’re ready for more sweet military romance, check out Soldiers Overseas Romances , set at a small military base in Germany. You’ll even find some familiar faces in the series, including Bec Jones and Thatcher Wild, who get their own book in the series. Grab your next sweet military romance read today!