Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Thursday afternoon, Hunter donned his flight suit, then reported to the simulator bay where a perfect replica of his helicopter's cockpit waited, hatch open. Lieutenant Commander Wong, a tall man with sharp eyes, stood at the control panel.
"Captain Kane," Wong greeted him. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Today's session will run approximately two hours. We'll start with standard flight procedures, then progress to increasingly complex scenarios. Some will mirror aspects of your accident. Our objective is to assess your technical skills and your psychological response to stress triggers. Any questions before we begin?"
"No, sir."
Wong gestured to the simulator. "Let's get started."
Hunter climbed into the cockpit; the familiar environment was both comforting and unsettling. He secured his harness, positioned his headset, and began the pre-flight check sequence. His hands moved over the controls with practiced precision, muscle memory kicking in despite the months away. "Communications check," he said into his headset.
"Communications functional," Wong's voice replied. "Beginning startup sequence. Your first task is a standard patrol along the coast, light winds, clear visibility."
The screens around Hunter came to life, displaying a detailed simulation of Camp Pendleton's coastline. He completed the startup procedure, feeling the simulator rumble to life beneath him. As he lifted off, a sense of rightness settled over him. Whatever else had changed, this hadn't—he belonged in the air.
The first hour progressed smoothly. Hunter executed a series of increasingly challenging maneuvers, navigation exercises, and tactical scenarios. Wong occasionally inserted minor emergencies—instrument failures, weather changes, communication issues—which Hunter handled efficiently. Then came the pivot.
"Captain, new scenario," Wong announced. "Humanitarian mission, mountainous terrain, local intelligence reports area clear of hostiles."
Hunter's heart rate spiked as the simulator screens shifted to display a landscape eerily similar to the one from his final mission with Gary. His palms grew damp against the controls.
"Report status," Wong prompted.
Hunter forced himself to breathe steadily. "Approaching drop zone. All systems normal. Visibility good. Proceeding as planned."
He guided the helicopter toward the designated landing zone, scanning the ridgelines as he had that day. The simulator pitched slightly, mimicking turbulence.
"Incoming fire from ridge position three miles southwest," Wong announced. "Multiple hostiles, heavy weapons detected."
His vision narrowed as memories ran through his head, but he forced himself to stay in the present. "Taking evasive action," he reported, his voice tight but controlled. His hands moved over the controls, banking the helicopter sharply away from the simulated threat.
"Tail rotor failing," Wong announced. "Hydraulic pressure dropping."
Hunter's breathing quickened, but he kept his focus. This wasn't like before. He knew what was coming. He could handle it.
"Implementing emergency protocols," he said, fighting to maintain control of the rapidly destabilizing aircraft.
The simulator bucked and pitched as he guided it toward the clearing, alarms blaring, systems failing one by one. Sweat rolled down his temples, but his hands remained steady. He brought the helicopter down hard but controlled, nothing like the catastrophic crash.
As the simulator settled, Hunter realized he was gripping the controls so tightly his knuckles had gone white. He consciously relaxed his fingers, taking deep, measured breaths.
"Excellent work, Captain. Please exit the simulator."
Hunter disconnected his harness and climbed out.
"How do you feel?" Wong asked.
"Good," he said.
"No flashbacks?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle."
The lieutenant commander nodded. "That's what we needed to see. You're cleared for flight evaluation tomorrow, 0900 hours, with your CO."
"Thank you, sir."
As he left the room, a mix of emotions swirled through him. Relief that he'd passed the simulator test. Pride that he'd maintained control. Anticipation about tomorrow's actual flight.
He pulled out his phone and called Emmalyn. She didn't answer. She was probably still working, so he left her a short message. "I passed. I'm on my way back to Ocean Shores. Hope to see you there."
There was a crowd at the pool when Hunter got home Thursday evening, and he was happy to see Bree and Olivia in the middle of it all. Gabe was cooking up tacos again, reminding him of the first taco night he'd attended two weeks ago. Since then, his life had completely turned upside down, or maybe it was right side up.
As usual, his gaze swept the group for Emmalyn, and he felt a wave of relief when he saw her sitting on a lounger talking to Kaia. He didn't know if her awareness of him was as acute as his for her, but when she turned her head and saw him, their gazes locked together. So much passed between them in that one shared look of remembered intimacy that his body tightened and his nerves tingled.
He made his way around the pool, waving to Olivia and Henry, who were playing in the shallow end and greeted Bree and Paige before joining Em and Kaia. "Hello, ladies," he said.
Kaia shaded her gaze with her hand as the setting sun streamed into the courtyard, casting both her and Emmalyn in a soft glow of light. "Hunter, I hear congratulations are in order."
"I hope it's okay I shared your good news," Emmalyn said quickly.
"It's fine," he replied. "Mind if I share your lounger?"
She moved over to make room for him. "I was so happy to get your text. Was the simulator difficult?"
"It was more challenging than I anticipated, but I kept my head."
"I knew you would."
"It seems like they've tested the hell out of you," Kaia put in. "The Marine Corps is tough."
"They are, and that's one of the great things about it. I know whoever I'm serving with is the best of the best, and hopefully, they feel the same way about me."
"Is tomorrow the first day you'll be back in the air since the accident?" Kaia asked.
"Yes."
"Are you nervous?"
"A little," he admitted. "I know I can do the job. I just have to prove it."
"Nerves are good," Kaia said as she sat up to get her face out of the sun. "Sometimes, being nervous makes you sharper, more focused. Whenever I'm in a high-pressure situation, where the stakes are high, I tell myself to trust my training and do what needs to be done. I have no doubt that's what you'll do tomorrow, Hunter."
He met her gaze with a smile. "Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence."
"You're welcome." She pulled a cover-up over her bikini. "Who needs a margarita?"
"I'll take one," he said.
"Emmalyn?"
"Sure. Do you want help carrying them back?" Emmalyn asked.
"Don't worry, I can handle it. Margaritas coming up."
As Kaia left, Hunter turned to Emmalyn. "God, it's good to see you, Em."
She flushed under his close gaze. "It's good to see you, too."
"How was your day?"
"Oh, the usual. Caden brought in his pet lizard without telling me. It got out of his backpack, and we had to spend half the morning trying to find it. Then it landed on Bella's leg, and she screamed and cried for ten minutes. When that was finally over, Dominic told the class his mommy had a sleepover with his baseball coach. And Kristina mentioned that her grandma stays at home all day and drinks vodka. Apparently, she's Russian and here on a month-long visit."
He smiled. "Wow. That's a usual day?"
She grinned back at him. "Pretty much."
"I'm beginning to think you're the one in the high-pressure job."
"Hardly. You, Kaia, and Ben—you all do really important things. You fight for our country. They save lives every day. I'm just a kindergarten teacher."
"Are you kidding? You're teaching kids about the world. You're giving them skills they can use for the rest of their lives. Don't ever downplay what you do, Em. It's important."
"Well, thanks. I appreciate that."
Kaia came back with margaritas and also with Lexie. They accepted their drinks as the two women sat on the lounger across from them.
"Congrats, Hunter," Lexie said. "Kaia gave me the update."
He hadn't realized how many of his neighbors were following his journey, and he was touched by their interest. "Thanks. How are things going around here? Didn't I hear something about the new owner coming by?"
"He stopped by for a very short visit last weekend. I sent him an analysis of our business that Ava created for us, and he has backed off on his plan to sell, at least for now. He said he's busy with a merger, and he doesn't have time to deal with this, so we can revisit things in a few months, but we still need to get some of our operating expenses in a better place."
"Does that mean our rent will go up?" Kaia asked.
"Probably not any of your rents, but some of the tenants who have been here for over ten years may have to start paying a more equitable rate. Ava made some suggestions that we're going to take a closer look at, but we have a little breathing room, which is great."
He was happy to hear there wouldn’t be any immediate changes. He might not be here much longer, but he wanted Bree and Olivia to have a stable living situation for at least the school year.
"Tacos are ready," Liam called out from across the pool. "Come and get them."
Kaia and Lexie jumped up while he and Emmalyn stayed where they were.
"I'll let the crowd clear out," she said.
"Me, too." He gave her a smile. "I've missed you, Em. Tomorrow night, I'll be done with everything. Can I take you out to dinner?"
Indecision played through her eyes, but finally, she said, "I'd like that."
Relief ran through him. They might be coming to an end, but he wasn't ready for that end to be now. "It's a date." As he finished speaking, a splash of water hit the side of his face. He turned his head to see Olivia giving him a mischievous grin.
"Hey, you got me wet," he told Olivia.
"You should come swimming," Olivia said. "The water is warm."
"Maybe another time. How was school today?"
As Olivia launched into a long story about her new friend, Lucy's cat, Emmalyn excused herself, and his gaze followed her.
The courtyard was crowded now with so many of his new friends and neighbors talking, laughing, and living life. As Emmalyn joined the crowd, she smiled and exchanged a hug with Ben. He knew it was probably just a thank-you for all the help Ben had been giving her, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy. He had no right to feel that way. He had one foot out the door, but the thought of Em with someone else was very hard to swallow.
He reminded himself these were her friends, that she could have dated any of the single guys before now, but Ben had only moved in a few months ago. And there was another guy sharing Skye's apartment who was new. Plus, Liam had some Australian friends over, and they were charming the women with their accents and good looks. He frowned when one of those guys said something to Emmalyn and she laughed. His gut clenched again.
"Hunter," Olivia said. "Are you listening to me?"
He refocused on Olivia's annoyed face. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked if you'd come over tonight and tell me another story about Daddy before I go to bed?"
"Sure, I can do that."
Her face brightened. "About a monkey?"
"Maybe something else," he replied, not sure exactly what he would tell her, but he had a million stories about Gary.
"You need to get out and dry off," Bree told Olivia as she joined him. "Then we'll get a taco before we head upstairs."
As Olivia swam to the steps, Bree gave him a smile. "I heard your good news, Hunter. I'm happy for you."
"I still have to fly tomorrow, and that will be the first time in a long time that Gary won't be by my side."
"He'll be there, Hunter," Bree said. "You'll take him with you, and you won't let what happened to him stop you from flying, because you and Gary were born to fly. And Gary will be there in your head, cheering you on every step of the way. You just have to be willing to hear him. You can't let the pain keep him out of your head. Trust me, I know."
A knot grew in his throat. "I will take him with me. And I'll fly for both of us."
"That will be enough."
"I hope so."