Chapter 35
I'm halfway through cleaning weapons in the armory when my phone buzzes.
Normally, I ignore it until break.
Today I check immediately.
Because Chloe.
Always Chloe.
The second I see her name across the screen, something warm settles automatically in my chest.
Then I open the message.
And freeze.
It's a video.
Ava is sitting in Chloe's lap on the lounge room floor, looking deeply pleased with herself, while Chloe laughs shakily behind the camera.
"Can you say it again, sweetheart?" Chloe asks softly.
Ava grins.
Then:
"Ma."
My entire brain shuts off.
The video ends there.
I stare at the screen like it personally attacked me.
Callahan walks into the armory two seconds later and immediately stops.
"You look emotional."
I hold up a finger without looking at him.
Then replay the video.
Again.
And again.
Callahan slowly walks closer.
"What happened?"
I finally look up at him.
"Ava said her first word."
His face immediately softens.
"Oh shit."
I replay the video again.
Because something about Chloe's laugh in the background is wrecking me almost as much as the actual word.
There are tears in her voice.
Happiness.
Relief.
Like this means more than just a baby talking.
And I get it.
God, I get it.
Callahan watches the video over my shoulder quietly.
Then smirks.
"You're gonna cry."
"I'm not gonna cry."
"You absolutely look like you're gonna cry."
I ignore him completely.
Mostly because my chest feels too damn full suddenly.
Ava said, "Mama."
Not dad.
And somehow that still feels important to me.
Because Chloe deserves that moment.
After everything, she deserves joy.
Safety.
A little girl who looks at her like she hung the damn moon.
I replay the video one more time before finally typing back.
Tell her I'm very impressed with her performance.
Three dots appear immediately.
Chloe:She's very proud of herself.
Another message pops up before I can answer.
Chloe:I cried for like ten minutes.
A smile pulls at my mouth automatically.
"Jesus Christ," Callahan mutters. "You're smiling at your phone now."
"Mind your business."
"You're actually in love. This is disgusting."
I lean back against the counter slightly, staring at the still image of Chloe and Ava frozen on my screen.
And yeah.
I am.
Completely.
Terrifyingly.
Not just with Chloe either.
With all of it.
The apartment.
Movie nights.
Baby toys all over the floor.
Waking up with Chloe tangled against me in bed.
A family.
I never really let myself picture that before.
Military life teaches you not to get too attached to things.
People leave.
Deployments happen.
Life shifts constantly.
But now?
Now I catch myself thinking about stupid permanent things.
Bigger apartments.
Teaching Ava to ride a bike someday.
Chloe stealing my shirts for the rest of her life.
It should probably scare me more than it does.
Instead, it just feels right.
Callahan watches me carefully for a second.
Then quieter:
"You happy?"
The question catches me off guard.
Because the answer comes so fast.
Yeah.
I really fucking am.
I glance back down at the video one more time.
At Chloe laughing softly behind the camera.
At Ava smiling proudly after saying "mama".
Home.
The realization lands deep in my chest.
Not the apartment.
Them.
They feel like home.