Chapter 37
Ricochet
Pretty much from the time I’d met Jordan, she’d started chasing the numbness away.
It was gone now. The pain and grief wasn’t, but the soul searing agony of losing Jack and what I’d had to do in order to protect myself and others was fading.
There would always be a missing piece of my heart.
It belonged with my best friend. The man who’d saved my life.
But I could finally move on and actually live my life.
Holding out my hand, I helped Jordan off my bike.
It was early, but I knew the people we’d come to see would be awake.
I stood outside the house. It was situated inside a community of other homes.
All the stucco buildings looked like each other, rows upon rows of houses, and yet I knew this one like the back of my hand.
Jordan’s fingers linked with mine as she grabbed my hand and held it. She didn’t say anything, just waited for me to be ready. That was what she did for me. A steady ray of light in my otherwise bleak world, urging me to live instead of shutting myself away.
I’d tried this once before, after I’d come home from the deployment where I’d lost my friend. I’d never made it up to the front door. The door had remained closed and I’d just stood outside, staring at the outside of the home. Not today.
It opened and I saw the woman who’d once been a constant in my life in between deployments. Swallowing hard, I watched as she stepped out of her home.
“Took you long enough, Gage.” Her voice was exactly as I remembered it. Her smile was warm, tinged with humor.
The last time we’d seen each other had been Jack’s funeral.
I’d wanted to beg for her forgiveness, but that day hadn’t been about me.
It’d been about laying my friend to rest and helping his widow and children get through the hardest moment of their lives.
I’d remained a stoic, quiet rock for them to lean on as they’d cried.
“You look good, Mary.” I squeezed Jordan’s hand and as one unit we moved up the path until I was standing in front of her. Jordan let go of my hand and waited while I wrapped Jack’s widow up in a hug. “Sorry I stayed away for so long,” I told her.
She held me tight and when she pulled back, I saw the tears in her eyes. “Come inside. The kids will be so excited to see you.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked, voice rough. I’d told her everything. She’d insisted, after the funeral, on hearing everything that had happened.
“Gage Barrett. My husband was a hero. He saved your life. My kids know that and they know that his death wasn’t in vain. None of us blame you for it.” Her eyes softened. “You did enough of that, there was no need for us to pile on.”
“He isn’t here…because of me.” I shoved my hands into my jean pockets, unsure of what to do with them.
“He made the call. Don’t take away what he did by blaming yourself, Gage.” She hugged me again. “He wouldn’t want you to be blaming yourself like this. We don’t begrudge the fact that you lived and he didn’t.”
“You’re a good woman, Mary,” I told her.
“Speaking of, are you going to introduce me to your lady?”
Smiling, I turned and pulled Jordan closer, “This is Jordan. Sunshine, this is Jack’s wife, Mary.”
The women shook hands and we followed her inside. “Steve! Jeremy!” she called out.
Two scrawny pre-teens came barrelling out from the back of the house. They skidded to a halt, eyes comically wide when they saw us. “Uncle Gage!”
Even though it’d been years and they’d grown like weeds, it was like no time had passed. They looked so much like Jack it was heart wrenching. The eleven and twelve year olds crowded around me, peppering me with questions about where I’d been.
Looking up at their mom with an apology in my eyes, I told them, “Sorry it’s been so long. I’ll be coming around more often now.”
All of us sat down at the dining room table and I asked the boys what they’d been up to. Somehow, being here, in Jack’s home again, wasn’t as hard as I’d always imagined. It was comforting to see his wife and sons doing well after so much time had passed.
The last bit of weight lifted off my shoulders.
Somewhere deep inside it was as though the last bit of despair was freed.
I didn’t have to hold it inside anymore.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I smiled over at Jordan.
The love shining there was all I needed to see to know that everything was going to be okay.
We stayed and talked for a few hours. I told the boys stories about their dad, helping to keep his memory alive for them.
I’d keep my promise. This wouldn’t be the last time I visited them.
I should have never waited so long in the first place, but I hadn’t been able to dig myself out of the hole of misery I’d been living in.
Until I had, I couldn’t help them. Now, they’d never want for anything. I’d make sure of it.
It was noon by the time we left the house. I drove us toward my next planned activity for the day. This one, Jordan had no idea about. I grinned beneath my helmet.
We were cutting it close by the time I parked in The Wildlife Sanctuary’s lot. It was mostly deserted though it was almost one p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. There were a handful of cars and a bunch of motorcycles parked near the entrance.
“What’s going on?” Jordan asked. She scanned the parking lot with a frown. “It’s never this slow, even on a weekday.” Her beautiful eyes met mine. “Why are we here?”
“Come on.” I grabbed her hand, linking our fingers and all but dragged her to the designated spot.
I then sat her down on a singular chair in a gazebo, which was mostly only a roof with four poles to hold it up.
Her father had picked the place since he knew the Sanctuary so well.
I left her there while I went into the back where usually only the employees were allowed.
“There you are,” her dad said, motioning me over. “You’re all set.” He handed me a glove, then opened one of the cages where the birds were set.
The male hawk and I eyed each other for a brief moment before Scuff jumped onto my fist. “You sure this is going to work?” I asked him.
Leo chuckled and slapped my back between the shoulder blades, causing both Scuff and I to jostle. The bird shot the older man a look of disdain, as if he didn’t appreciate the abrupt movement. I laughed. “I never knew they had so much personality.”
“Oh yeah. It’s amazing. Trust me. Scuff is a super friendly bird and he works with Jordan almost every day. The plan will work.” He studied me. “You ready?”
“Never been more ready for anything,” I told him. There was no backing down for me. There was no other path for me.
Leo nodded, a pleased smile on his face. “Good luck.” He attached a microphone onto my cut with a clip, then left.
I walked back out to where I’d left Jordan. As soon as I came out of the back, Scuff took flight. He looped through the air, giving my family and hers, all of whom were standing nearby behind a railing, a show. They ooohhh’d and awwww’d as he flew.
“Usually you guys would have a gorgeous woman telling you all about hawks while you watched Scuff fly,” I told them, the mic projecting my voice.
“You’ve never seen my show,” Jordan said with a suspicious smile.
I glanced out at the crowd and saw Leo take his wife into his arms. It was more to hold her back before she could leap over the railing and ruin Jordan’s surprise than anything else. Noah gave me a thumbs up, his arms around his own fiancée, and Jenna held her hands clasped together at her chest.
Gwen mouthed ‘I love you’ as she watched, while I set about proposing to her best friend.
All my brothers were standing around, grinning.
Their old ladies were wiping tears from their eyes while their kids ran around playing.
I knew they were all damn glad to see me back with the living, back with them.
Everyone here—at least my family—knew it was because of the woman in front of me.
I ignored Jordan’s comment and kept going. “But you’re going to have to just put up with me.”
Butcher and Toxic let out loud boo’s. I chuckled.
Moving forward, I knelt between Jordan’s knees.
The shocked look on her face made me smile.
I knew the minute she saw our families here she’d have an idea about what I was up to, but Gwen and the old ladies had assured me that she’d still be surprised and very happy.
“You brought me back from the dead.” Tears filled her eyes.
“I was barely hanging on. Drifting through each day, constantly shrouded in darkness. Then I saw you.” I shook my head in disbelief.
“I know it sounds corny as hell, but seriously, you brought light to my life, Jordan. I never want to live without you.” My body jerked as Scuff landed on my shoulder.
There’d been no cue that I could tell; I cut a look over at Leo, but he was just grinning.
He’d said that once I got close to Jordan, Scuff would end up coming around to investigate. The bird loved her. He’d told me more than once she’d petitioned The Sanctuary to let her keep him permanently. He was confident that one of these days they’d give in and agree.
The bird’s talons tightened around my shoulder, as though to remind me that I had something to finish. My leather cut kept his lethal talons from cutting into my flesh. Thankfully, he was a small bird, so he wouldn’t have done too much damage even without the leather.
“Will you marry me, Sunshine?” I reached over and untied the ring from Scuff’s leg. Leo had secured it tightly in the leather ties, so it took a minute to untangle it. Better than it falling while Scuff flew around.
By the time I looked up again, there were tears flowing down Jordan’s face. Uncertainty crept in, but I held out the ring, waiting on her answer.
“Of course I will,” she cried, flinging her arms around my neck and catapulting her body forward out of the chair. Scuff took off, not wanting any part of what was about to happen next.
Not expecting the sudden movement, I tried to catch my balance, but she took us down in a tangle of limbs. I couldn’t help but laugh while she peppered my face with kisses. Chasing her lips, I caught them in a soul-searing kiss.
The crowd erupted with cheers and she was breathless by the time I came up for air.
I found the appropriate finger and placed my ring there.
My claim. I’d told her once that she belonged to me and she’d scoffed in my face.
Now she really did, for the rest of our lives.
I had every intention of building and living a long life with her.
Hands dragged us apart and up onto our feet.
Jordan was passed around by my brothers, their wives, and my sister while her family pressed close so they could welcome me.
Even though it was just the beginning for us, it felt like the perfect ending.
Somehow, I’d found the one person made for me and I’d be damned if I’d let her go.
Jordan would wear the title of wife and old lady simultaneously and one day we’d add mother to that list. I couldn’t fucking wait.