Chapter Seventeen – Epilogue
Did there have to be so much blasted sunshine?
Squinting at the bright outdoors beaming through the kitchen windows, Hanson could not help but think this wasn’t Kansas.
Okay, so maybe he was born and raised in California and had never set foot anywhere near Kansas, but the reference to the Wizard of Oz sounded better than declaring he wasn’t in San Jose anymore.
“Enjoying your pie?” Alice Sweet shared a smile that suited her name.
“Very much. Thank you.”
Kade Sweet came through the back door brushing his boots clean. That was another thing that reminded him this wasn’t boot camp. Cowboy boots. And the strangest part, they suited the staff sergeant, as much if not more than his combat boots.
The back door blew open again and laughter entered the kitchen a full minute before Aiden and Colleen.
He’d only met his buddy’s new girl this morning before his equine therapy, but it was clear from the twinkle in both their eyes that the two had found their soul mates.
“Hungry?” Alice Sweet asked the new arrivals.
“Famished,” Kade answered, his arms already around his wife who’d come down the stairs only moments ago, his intentions written all over his face.
“For lunch,” his mother teased, shaking her head.
Cheeks tinged a cute shade of pink, Cassie blushed before easing out of her husband’s hold. “After working the barn this morning I could eat a rhinoceros.”
“Good, because I made enough food to feed a platoon.” Alice swirled around and stirred whatever pot was on the stove.
Hanson had offered to help her when she’d first started cooking, but the family matriarch had shooed him away and told him to enjoy the fresh air. Fresh air. As if that would fix what was broken inside him. As if any of this would.
Seated side by side at the table, Aiden and Colleen held hands.
Nothing overt and in your face. Just a simple clasp of fingers resting on the edge of the table.
A thumb drawing comforting circles on another persons palm.
Fingers entwined. And of course, the accompanying smiles that said more to each other than words ever could.
He’d seen in movies before. Heard it in love songs, but could not remember the last time he’d seen anything like this in person. Soul mates for sure.
“We have something to say.” Aiden squeezed Colleen’s hand and her cheeks bloomed pink again. “Although my hip is doing much better than when I arrived…”
“And it will keep improving,” Colleen added.
Aiden paused long enough to stare down at the woman he was clearly head over heels in love with. “Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us.”
Didn’t Hanson know that. The military could throw crap at a person faster than a two hundred mile per hour hurricane.
“I’ve decided that I’m going to take my medical discharge. I had never intended to do twenty years, I just didn’t know what else to do.” Again his gaze dropped to Colleen and a smile pulled hard at the corners of his mouth. “But I do now.”
Everyone in the kitchen had frozen, listening, waiting. There was a stillness in the room that was almost eerie, waiting for what came next.
“Colleen has graciously agreed to be my wife.”
And with those few words, the room erupted in shouts, cheers, hugs and backslaps. Even Hanson felt inclined to smile for his buddy, and very little made him smile nowadays. At least not for real.
“I know it seems a little fast,” Colleen spoke softly, “but—”
“What’s the point of waiting?” Aiden finished for her. “I’ve been around the block more than once and am old enough to recognize perfection when I find it.”
Her head dipped and those cheeks flushed a pretty pink once again. “Ditto.”
“Well,” Jillian beamed at the couple, “trust me when I say we all understand love has no timeline.”
“Oh,” Colleen sat up a little straighter, “and if it’s okay with Sarah Sue and the relocation service, we’d like to keep Romeo.”
That had to be the German Shepherd who sat at Aiden’s feet with a tail that began swishing the moment his name was mentioned.
“I’m sure she’ll think it’s grand.”
“If you don’t mind,” Aiden turned to Mrs. Sweet, “I’d like to stay here until I can find the right spot for us.”
“Of course,” Alice Sweet beamed. “There’s plenty of room in this big old house for new family.”