Epilogue
EPILOGUE
2:00 December 24
Jeff and Lizzie each gave JT a hug goodbye.
“You have my phone number, and my promise,” Jeff reminded the young boy.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Jeff.” JT threw his arms around him one more time. “I’ll never forget you.” He turned to Lizzie.
“Thank you, Miss Lizzie, for letting me come here.” He looked up at Katlin and Alex with a huge smile. “And for letting me stay.”
“You’ll see me at least one more time,” she reassured him. “I have a mandatory thirty-day checkup on you.” Her gaze met Alex and Katlin’s. “That will be the official turnover from Kansas to the state of Virginia…unless your friend the judge comes through with adoption papers first. I wish I could be here for that day.”
Katlin and Alex exchanged a glance before Katlin smiled. “We might be able to make that happen for you.”
Top Cooper kissed Katlin on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. I’ll wait for them in the car.”
Commander Carson shook Alex’s hand then also kissed Katlin on the cheek. “If you ever get down to Virginia Beach, Cindy and I would love to have you over for supper. Thank you for a wonderful lunch. Again, I apologize for eating and running, but I’d like to get home to my own family.”
“Aunt Katlin,” a small male voice called from the crowd gathered at the door.
“Yes, Simon?”
“Can JT and I go play in his room now?”
“Certainly.”
Alex watched the two boys speed-walk to the stairway and disappear. “Before you leave, I want you to clarify something JT told us. He said that his last foster parents were really good to him, but the father had recently gotten hurt. He also mentioned that they didn’t have any money for Christmas gifts so each of the children made something for another child in the family and together they made something for the mother and father. Is that true?”
Jeff glanced at Lizzie to see how she would answer.
“I don’t know about the gift thing but yes, the Cantrells are wonderful people. I wouldn’t have placed JT with them if I’d thought otherwise. They are what my father would call salt of the earth. They don’t have much in way of possessions, but what they have they’re proud of. Mr. Cantrell is a painter. A few weeks ago, he fell off a ladder and broke several ribs. When he doesn’t work, there’s no money, especially for extras like Christmas. Supposedly, his disability checks will start after the first of the year.”
“When I went to pick up JT,” Jeff started, “there were only a few gifts under a scraggly tree. The house was chilly, so everybody wore several layers. But it was spick-and-span clean. Mr. and Mrs. Cantrell were very hospitable with the little that they had.”
“I assure you,” Lizzie jumped in, “JT was loved and treated just like any other child in the household.”
“You said their name was Cantrell?” Alex asked.
“We’d like to do something special for them for taking care of JT over the past two years,” Katlin explained.
“Good luck with that. They’re very proud people, especially Mr. Cantrell,” Lizzie warned.
Katlin and Alex exchanged another one of those silent conversations completely held within a glance.
Jeff looked at his boss who was opening the back door to the limousine. “I’m terribly sorry but we have to go.” He caught Alex’s eyes. “I have duty starting at midnight. Hopefully our helicopter will be able to fly in this snow.”
“I’m sure you have a good pilot,” Katlin said. “Thank you both for bringing us JT.” She looked at Lizzie. “And for letting us keep him.”
“Give him the life he deserves,” Lizzie said and opened the door.
They quickly walked to the waiting limousine, which would drop Lizzie off at the airport then deliver Jeff and the commander to Quantico where the CO’s helicopter had landed. It would be a short flight for the two of them back to Virginia Beach. Jeff was confident he’d be able to make it there in time to stash his gear in his new BOQ room, shower, and change into the appropriate uniform of the day.
Once in the limo, Lizzie started fiercely texting.
“Is everything okay?” Jeff asked her.
“Damn. No. My flight is delayed.” Dejectedly she laid her phone in her lap. It immediately rang. After glancing at the caller ID she connected the call. “Lizzie Hopewell. How can I help you?”
Jeff could only hear her side of the conversation.
“I know. I just found out.” She paused.
“You what?” Her face brightened. “Oh, my gosh. Thank you! Thank you so much. Yes. You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a month.”
Smiling ear to ear, she turned to him. “Katlin and Alex found out that my plane was delayed, and they scheduled me on the executive jet service. I’m going to make it to Florida tonight to see my parents.”
“Top Cooper,” Ned called from the front seat. “We’re splitting up. Another driver is meeting us at the Beltway that is barely crawling due to weather. The commander and lieutenant are going to go with them in a special SUV. I am to take Ms. Hopewell to the Reagan FOB where they are going to hold the plane for her arrival. Which ride do you want to take?”
“I’ll take them to Quantico because it’s closer to my house. The driver can go back to Guardian with you after you drop off Ms. Hopewell. I’ll keep the SUV. If this shit keeps up, I might need it to get to Katlin and Alex’s house tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll report the new plan to logistics,” Ned offered.
“I take it special SUV means it has snow tires?” Commander Carson asked.
Top Cooper smiled. “No. That means it’s bulletproof and has a Quantico base sticker so it’s much easier to get you to your helicopter.”
“Do I want to know why you have a Quantico base sticker?” the commander asked.
Top shrugged. “Let’s just say we escort often to the airstrip on Quantico.”
“Understood.”
Lizzie turned to Jeff. “Thirty-two hours ago I was so mad at you for throwing a monkey wrench into my plans. But after meeting Katlin and Alex, I can see they really want JT to be their son. Thank you for making this happen.” She threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. In his ear she whispered, “Thank you.”
He slipped his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”
They quickly separated and the backseat fell into silence for what seemed like an hour. He had just had serious PDA in front of his new commander. Oh, shit.
“I’ll bet JT gets adopted in record time,” Top Cooper threw out into the silence.
“They seem really happy with the boy,” the commander added.
“Those two deserve all the happiness in the world after the shit they’ve been through.” Top made a point of looking around at where they were. “We’ll meet up with the other vehicle in just a few minutes. Lieutenant Arwood, I’ll jump out and grab your bags. Commander, you can just hop over into the SUV since you didn’t bring any bags.”
Before Jeff knew it, he was alone in the limousine with Lizzie.
“Let’s exchange phone numbers,” she suggested. “If you want. I thought that way I could keep you updated on JT’s status.”
“I want to keep in touch with you.” Jeff cupped her face in both hands and pulled her in for a kiss. From the moment their lips met, it felt right. He’d kissed lots of other women before, but nothing had the power he felt when she opened her mouth to him. All too soon, she broke the kiss.
She handed him her phone. “Give me yours.” She glanced out the window and his gaze followed. Top Cooper was closing the back of the SUV as huge snowflakes came down harder.
Within seconds her phone in his hands rang. Wonderful! He had her number.
His phone rang and she answered it. Even though they were less than one foot away from each other, she ordered him, “Text me when you get to base.”
“I don’t care what time it is, text me when you get to your parents’ house.” They exchanged phones once again. Jeff really needed to go. But he also needed one more kiss. He leaned over and gave her a quick peck before he opened the door.
Thirty minutes later he climbed into the passenger seat on a Navy helicopter next to his new commanding officer who had spent most of the ride to Quantico on the phone with his wife and kids. As they buckled in and the rotors began to turn, Commander Carson leaned over and spoke into his ear.
“Lieutenant, what you did was a wonderful thing. Continue to make the right choices and you will go far under my command. Be safe on duty tonight. As soon as we land, I’m gone.”
It seemed as though the helicopter had barely touched down when the commander leapt out of the door. As Jeff caught a ride to his BOQ room, he wondered if it was too soon to text Lizzie.