Nora shifted on her knees to make room for Liza between the paramedics, and then gave Liza’s shoulders a squeeze. “It’s been a while, Lizzie. I’m glad to see you again. I’m sad it’s under such circumstances.”
Liza could only nod as her eyebrows gathered, and Nora kissed her head before giving her a nudge. Liza turned her eyes to look at Connor.
“I’m sorry, Liza.” His words fogged the mask slightly. “I’m so sorry. For everything.”
She swallowed and shook her head, opening her mouth but lacking the breath to back her words. She leaned forward and laid her cheek on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart and his slowed breathing.
He cradled the base of her neck, thumb stroking and fingers curling in her hair, and maybe the Point wasn’t her home. Maybe New Orleans wasn’t either. But in that moment, not even a shift in the Earth’s axis could shake her conviction that her home was, and had always been, right there in the center of Connor’s chest. And she was prepared to go to war for that.
Liza lifted her head and resettled it in the crook of his neck so her lips were right next to his ear. “Only you get to choose what you want. It’s your decision whether this life is worth living in spite of so many hard things, but I’m asking you,please. Decide on me. Decide on us. Choose the life we promised each other.”
Connor gripped her back and pulled her closer. “I do.”
I do.
There was a time in her life when Liza had dreamed of him saying those words. In her mind, they had stood at the front of a little, white chapel; her in a gown of ivory lace, and him in his dress blues; family and loved ones gathered round, crying tears of joy, while Connor kissed her for the first time as her husband. And Liza realized life had a funny tendency to do things its own, unexpected way.
Because here they were, making a decision, sayingI do, him wearing a different Army-issued uniform, family and loved ones surrounding them while crying tears of relief, as Connor pulled off the oxygen mask and kissed Liza.
Nothing they had envisioned ten years ago had gone according to plan, but somehow plans now seemed less than important. Plans didn’t matter.
What mattered was him, alive and okay. What mattered was her, holding onto him and refusing to let go. What mattered was them. Together. Again.
And this time, it was forever.
29
French Quarter, New Orleans
Tomorrow wastheday.
About a week after Connor had lost his shit and ended up in the river, it was time to pull the trigger, and he needed a little help from his friends. Sitting at a high-top table at the Carousel Bar with Brennan, Luke, Frankie, and Carson, Connor leveled his gaze at his four friends with dead seriousness. Liza was finishing up some things at work before she joined them, and he only had about an hour to lay out the plan and assign everyone their tasks.
“I did something,” Connor announced. “If any of you breathe a word about this to Liza, I’ll cut off your fuckin’ balls.”
Frankie snorted and flipped one of her long braids over her shoulder. “Good luck finding my balls, brother.”
“Shut up, Frankie.” Connor slammed the small velvet box on the table. “You know what I mean. This is serious.”
“Ohshit,” Luke wheezed, eyes wide. “That’s exactly what the fuck I think it is, isn’t it?”
“Yeah it is.” Connor opened the lid, revealing the ring. “And I’m doing the properbrothing by showing all of you ahead of time, but when Liza gets here, mum’s the fuckin’ word.” He pointed at Brennan and Frankie. “I’m pullin’ the trigger tomorrow, and I need y’all to help me.”
“Damn, Sarge,” Brennan said, turning the corner of the box so that the diamond glinted in the low, gold light from the awning above the bar. “That’s a friggin’ten.”
“Yeah you right.” Connor smiled proudly, his chest expanding with pure, unadulterated happiness, and Brennan squeezed his shoulder. “So, tomorrow, Jimmy and me are going to act like we gotta take Oscar to go take some photos around the city or some shit.” He pointed at Frankie. “You’re going to come with us. We’re going to pick up about ten thousand red roses and candles and shit, and then we’re going to set it all up at the label house. When I actually do the deed, I need you to take pictures.”
Frankie offered a mock salute. “Yes,sir.”
Connor dragged his finger to point at Brennan. “And you’re going to have to figure out a way to get Liza out of the house so we can get it all set up.”
Brennan was still staring at the ring, resting his chin in his palm while he stroked his index finger back and forth across his mouth. He didn’t even acknowledge that Connor had said anything.
“Hey.” Connor snapped his fingers in front of Brennan’s face.
Brennan blinked and shook himself out of what looked like a small trance. He coughed into his fist. “What’s that?”
“I need you to figure out how to get Liza out of the house while we get it all set up,” Connor repeated, and then noticed Brennan had taken on a weird expression. “Is that going to be a problem?”
