I glanced at my watch. “Alright, I gotta head out. Gotta pick up my mom from the library and take her shopping. She’s on a mission to find the perfect Christmas gift for my dad.”
Garrett chuckled. “Good luck with that. Tell her I said hi.”
“Will do.” I clapped him on the shoulder, then headed towards the workshop. I pushed open the heavy wooden door, and the warm, sweet scent of pine and cinnamon hit me. Ember was at a long table, her brow furrowed in concentration as she arranged pinecones and berries on a wreath. Laura was humming a Christmas carol, stringing lights around a display of miniature trees.
“Hey,” I said, walking over to Ember.
She looked up, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. “Hey, you. Leaving already?”
“Yeah, gotta go get my mom from the library. She’s probably already got a list of places she wants to go shopping at.” I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “See you later, Firefly.”
“Be safe,” she murmured, her fingers brushing my cheek.
I nodded, gave Laura a quick wave, and headed out into the biting cold. The drive to the library was short, the roads salted and ready for the next round of snow they were expecting tonight. I pulled into a parking spot but left the engine running so the truck would stay warm.
As I waited for Mom to emerge, my gaze fell on the Christmas cards on my passenger seat. I’d been meaning to send them, but kept putting it off. These weren’t just any Christmas cards. These were the final act of letting go of my demons and the regrets I carried for years.
They were addressed to the families of Miller, Riley, and Johnson. My brothers in arms. The men I had fought alongside, bled alongside, and watched die. The men whose ghosts had haunted my every waking moment for years.
I remembered the day like it was yesterday. The overwhelming, crushing guilt that had followed.Why them? Why not me?I had replayed that moment a million times in my head, searching for a different outcome, anything that could have changed what happened. But there was nothing. There was never anything.
My hand trembled as I held the cards. There was no lingering guilt, no self-blame as I thought about them. Alejandro had helped me see it, had helped me understand that what happened that day was not my fault. I couldn’t have done anything to change it. I was a soldier, following orders, caught in an impossible situation. Their deaths were a tragedy, a profound loss, but they were not my burden to carry. Not anymore.
I closed my eyes and imagined their faces, a wave of emotion washing over me. It wasn’t sadness, not entirely. It was a release.
“I’m letting go,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m letting go of the guilt. I’m letting go of the regret. I’m putting the past behind me.” A tear traced a path down my cheek. I closed my eyes. “I’ll always remember you guys. I’ll carry you three with me, always. But I can’t live in the past anymore. I have to live for the future. For Ember. For the family I want with her.” I opened my eyes, a sense of lightness filling me. The weight that had been on my shoulders for so long had finally lifted.
Getting out of my truck with the cards in my hand, I walked over to the mailbox and dropped them in. I was finally laying the past to rest. Now I can focus entirely on my future with Ember. My next step was planning the best proposal I could think of. I wanted to do something that was us.
Chapter 39
Colton
Last night Ember and I had the best night, well one of them. The town had tested the lake, ensuring it was safe for their annual ice skating they planned every year. It was something Cade, me, Ember, Garrett, Owen and all our friends did as kids, and something I missed.
They had a stand for hot drinks and extra skates for those who didn’t have a pair. But what made last nighteven better was being able to skate around the lake holding Ember’s hand because she was mine.
Waking up this morning, I knew what I needed to do. First, I needed to call her dad and ask him, Garrett and Owen to meet me at The Last Chance tonight. There was something I needed to ask Richard, in person, and I wanted them all to be there.
I tried once again to get a hold of Cade, desperate to talk to him and tell him I loved his sister- and not in a sister way. But once again my call went straight to voicemail, now I know how Ember felt trying to get ahold of me. A cold dread was starting to settle in my stomach. It wasn’t just about my confession anymore, it was about Cade himself. He had never been this unreachable, not since the really rough patches overseas. Every unanswered call just ratcheted up my worry.
I spent the rest of the day running around town getting everything ready. I called Avery, Laura and my mom and asked them to meet me at the park. I was definitely going to need their help to pull my plan off without a hitch. I explained to them what I was thinking, and the excitement in their faces was all I needed to know. They were eager to help me with the finer details and even offered up some of their own ideas, while I appreciated it, I wanted this to be all mine.
Now came the hard part, her dad and brothers. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from them.
It was later that night and The Last Chance was bustling for a weeknight. My dad and I were here first and waiting at a table for Richard, Garrett and Owen to arrive. I had already filled my dad in on my plans before we left and he had given me a pep talk. “They love you, son,” he’d said, “Just be honest. Tell them your intentions. They’ll respect that.”
My stomach churned with a nervous anticipation as I watched all three of them walk in. This was it, I thought as Richard, Garrett, and Owen headed our way. Each of them taking a seat across from me, Garrett asking a passing waitress for three beers for them and two refills for dad and me.
“Colton,” Richard said, a nod of welcome.
“Hey, Richard,” I replied, then acknowledged Garrett and Owen with a nod. “Thanks for meeting me here tonight.”
“No problem, Colton,” Garrett grunted, his gaze still holding a hint of suspicion. Owen gave me a smile, like he knew something was up. The kid was way more observant than he let on.
Taking a long swig of my beer to gather my thoughts before I started and stumbled over my words, then setting the glass down, I met Richard’s steadygaze. “I wanted to talk to you all,” I said, looking at all of them, including my dad. “About Ember. And about me.”
Richard nodded slowly, while Garrett narrowed his eyes and Owen continued to hold a big smile on his face, enjoying my discomfort. “We’re listening.”
