Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER…
“ Y ou didn’t tell me your fiancé was a toddler whisperer.”
Kaelie laughed at Gunner’s comment as she watched Buddy play in the kiddie pool with Jessie, Gunner’s daughter, who had just turned three and was growing so fast.
“I’d say he’s a keeper,” Faith, Gunner’s wife, said. She pushed back the lounge chair and rested her feet on Gunner’s lap. “Can we get a Buddy? I could use a full-time Buddy.”
“What’s wrong with a full-time me?” Gunner teased.
“That’s the point, honey. Having him around would give us more alone time together.”
“Alone time is what got us Jessie in the first place,” Gunner said with a big smile. “I’m not opposed to another one of those.”
“Get a room.” Kaelie stared at Buddy. The scars from his burns were healing nicely, though he’d need another surgery after the wedding.
Marriage.
She couldn’t believe how quickly her life had changed. For the better. “You should see him around his sister’s kids. They all think he’s the best thing since sliced bread.”
“He’s pretty damn close,” Gunner said. “The general told me how that man saved his life.”
“Buddy plays it down. He plays everything he’s ever done down, like it’s just another day.”
“It is for him, you know that,” Gunner said.
She nodded. She understood that Buddy, or men like him and Gunner, didn’t like to wear their jobs on their sleeves. They chose their careers because they couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It wasn’t an obligation.
It was a way of life.
One she accepted.
Her eyes welled with tears. “He doesn’t even remember that when he came out of that house, his body was on fire.”
“You need to stop dwelling on that.” Gunner patted her knee.
“I almost said no to his proposal,” she admitted.
“Well, don’t tell him I told you this, but he called when you asked if you could think about it,” Gunner said as he blew a kiss to his little girl, who blew one back, then started begging Buddy to do the same.
“He looked so heartbroken, but the whole thing scares me. Everyone I’ve ever loved has?—”
“You really need to knock that off,” Gunner said with a fatherly tone. “Because I love you, and I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“Me too,” Faith said, poking Kaelie in the side with her big toe. “Jessie loves you even more.”
“I know. That’s why I said yes two hours later. I’ve been trying to make it up to him ever since.”
“I’m sure he understands,” Faith said. She always had a way of making Kaelie feel better about anything and everything.
“Daddy!” Jessie yelled as she ran across the grass. “Why can’t I marry Buddy?” she asked with big tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I didn’t handle that one too well, now did I?” Buddy tapped Kaelie on the shoulder, motioning for her to inch forward. He straddled the lounge chair and eased in behind her, pulling her back to his chest.
Gunner kissed Jessie’s forehead as he smoothed down her hair. “Same reason you can’t marry Daddy.”
“Oh,” Jessie said, her little lip quivering.
“Now I know how to deal with that question if it ever happens again,” Buddy said, holding up his beer bottle. “Did you ask him yet?”
“No,” Kaelie said, glancing over her shoulder and giving him the evil eye. She didn’t know why she struggled with this question, but she worried it would be awkward for Gunner. Or his family.
“Ask me what?” Gunner asked.
“Well, for starters, we were hoping you’d let Jessie be the flower girl in our wedding.” Kaelie took Buddy’s beer, but then thought better of it and handed it back. He gave her an odd look, then shrugged and went back to sipping the brew.
“You’ve set a date?” Faith asked, her feet hitting the ground as she sat up straight.
“You didn’t tell them that either?” Buddy massaged her neck with his long fingers. “Well, I’ll give you some slack since we just decided a few days ago.”
“Aw, thanks, honey,” she said, not hiding her sarcasm.
He kissed her nose playfully.
“Don’t leave us hanging. When is the big day?” Gunner asked.
“This Saturday, May 2nd, at eleven in the morning, on the beach, just family,” Kaelie said, choking on the sob that threatened to escape. Buddy had been so wonderful about the date and time, and even now, he told her he'd understand if she ever changed her mind, even the day of the wedding. But she wanted to make her sister’s death and her father’s suicide mean something special. She wanted to change the dread of that day into the promise of something special.
Something forever.
Gunner cleared this throat. “I think that’s the perfect day for the joyous event. Lucky for you, we planned on staying for the weekend.”
Buddy nudged her in the back.
“Gunner?” she started, her voice thick with emotion. “I was hoping… we were hoping… you’d give me away.” She bit down on her lower lip. Tears, not unlike Jessie’s, dotted her cheeks. Damn hormones.
Gunner’s hand ran up and down his daughter’s back. His eyes glazed over as the corners of his mouth turned upward. “I’d be honored.”
“Thank you,” she said softly as she wiped the tears away. “And Faith, I’d be thrilled if you’d be the maid of honor.”
“Absolutely,” Faith said. “Anything for you. So, what handsome fireman do I get to walk the beach aisle with?
Kaelie groaned. “We need to talk my future husband out of this one.”
“Hell no,” Buddy said. “You picked just about everything. I get this one thing.”
“What’s wrong with the best man?” Faith asked.
“Nothing. My twin sister is amazing, and we made a promise to each other years ago to stand up for each other.”
Gunner broke out laughing so badly he started coughing.
“It’s not that funny,” Buddy said with a scowl. “She’s my best friend. We’ve been through a lot together.”
“It’s not that, son,” Gunner said. “I’m all about family, but what happens when she gets married? I mean, I’m trying really hard not to picture you in a pink taffeta bridesmaid dress.”
“Oh my God. That’s quite the visual,” Kaelie said, covering her mouth.
“I guess I hadn’t thought that one through.” Buddy took another beer from the cooler. “But you can’t talk me out of this one. It’s one of those weird twin things.”
“Do twins run in the family?” Faith asked.
“They do. Mostly fraternal, but I do have one set of fraternal cousins.”
The idea of one baby was enough to make Kaelie run for the hills, but two? What the hell had she gotten herself into?
“So, there is a good chance you guys could have twins, then.” Faith’s wide smile was all-knowing.
“I suppose, but we’re a long way from that happening.” Buddy took another swig of his beer.
“Not to be rude, but your bride to be is?—”
“Faith, can I get you a drink?” Kaelie asked.
“No. I’m good. Really,” Faith said. “And avoiding or keeping things from your husband is never a good idea. Take it from someone who’s been married for a bit.”
“Oh my. Really? You’re?—”
“Don’t say it,” Kaelie said, glaring at Gunner. The cat was halfway out of the bag, but she had to be the one to blurt out the words.
“I’m seriously lost on this conversation,” Buddy said.
She turned in the chair so they could be face-to-face. “I’ve been trying to find the right time and right words to tell you this for the last two days, but we’ve had company, and now the wedding, and honestly, I have no idea how you’re going to take the news.”
“It’s usually me who’s freaking you out, but this time, I’m the one who is freaking right now.”
“It’s not intentional,” Kaelie said.
“She’s the one who is good at avoiding things,” Gunner said.
“That too, but I can’t avoid this.” She took his hand and placed it over her belly.
Buddy glanced down, then back up.
He repeated the head nod five times. His eyes went wide. “No way,” he said. His fingers gently dug into her muscles. “You can’t be. We always use… oh, wait, we didn’t that one time.”
“Children in the house,” Gunner said, laughing as he set Jessie down. She’d become bored with the adult conversation and waddled back to the baby pool, where she climbed in to play with her Barbies.
“One time is all it takes to make a baby, but in your case, it might have made two,” Faith said as she stood, holding her hand out to Gunner. “Let’s give the two lovebirds a minute alone.”
“Yes, dear.”
Kaelie waited until Gunner and Faith settled in the grass near their daughter. “You okay? I know this wasn’t planned and probably way too soon, but?—”
Buddy pressed his index finger against her lips. “The best things in life are unexpected. Like falling in love with you and this.” He patted her stomach. “I love everything about you, Kaelie, and I can’t wait to start a family with you.”
Thank you so much for reading BUDDY’S HONOR. Please feel free to leave an honest review. Next up in the series is DUNCAN’S HONOR.