clock, although he knew damn well what time it was. Too
damn late for Katy and Cyn to be out.
He slapped his palm on the steering wheel. Why
hadn’t he called when he’d arrived at Fort Drum? He’d
returned home five days early and had wanted to surprise
them. Well, the surprise was his. Where could they be at
this time of night?
Images of hospital emergency rooms zipped through
his mind. Stop it. Don’t look for disasters where they don’t
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exist. With a sigh, he climbed out of the front seat and
grabbed his bag from the back. Once he’d secured the
strap on his left shoulder, he plodded toward the house.
Pausing, Mike saluted the American flag raised on
the pole in Peter’s honor. It waved gently in the night
breeze. Several times in Iraq he’d sensed the young
soldier’s spirit watching over him. Peter had not
materialized so Mike assumed that he no longer had the
ability to do so.
Once inside, he tossed the Army duffle bag on the
floor, sat down and unlaced his boots, kicking them off his
feet. The house was spotless. Had Cyn done nothing but
clean in the time he’d been gone?
Since he’d showered on base, he poured a drink,
dimmed the lights and lowered himself into his favorite
chair prepared to wait—and worry.
Before he had time to work himself into a state of
panic, headlights flashed across the wall. His gut
tightened. Memories of their last night together had been
a constant source of comfort in Iraq. Soon she’d be in his
arms again.
In less than thirty seconds Cyn was in his lap. “God,
call to tell us you’d be home early?” She pulled back and
ran her hands over his body. “You’re okay? Not hurt?”
He buried his face between her breasts and
swallowed the emotional lump lodged in the back of his
throat. “No more than I missed you. I wanted to surprise
you. I’m fine. Great now that I’m touching you.”
Cyn covered his mouth with hers. He threaded his
fingers through her hair, gripped her head to hold her
still. Their tongues tangled, making up for the past few
weeks of abstinence.
Mike dragged his lips away. “Where’s Katy?”
“She’s staying at Mona Kelley’s tonight. She fell
asleep and I didn’t want to wake her.”
He groaned when Cyn pressed her breasts against
his chest. “I didn’t know Mona was a friend of yours.”
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Cyn sighed and stopped nibbling on his neck. “She
wasn’t until right after you left. I’ve joined the military
wives’ group.”
Mike couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d told
him she joined a bungee jumping team. “That’s wonderful.
I’m proud of you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t do it as soon as Peter shipped
overseas. Then I might not have traveled the dark road.”
“And we might never have met.” His hand cupped
her breast.
Her breath hitched. “Keep that up and there’ll be no
more talking.”
“Marry me, Cyn.” The words rushed from his mouth.
He hadn’t planned on proposing tonight. Relief that he
had made him weak.
blue sparkling eyes calmed his insecurity. “I’ll marry you
any time, any place. You’re my other half.”
“From this day forward,” he murmured.
“I’m sorry Katy isn’t here. She’d be over the moon.”
Mike tightened his grip. “Tonight is for us. Want to
go upstairs?”
Cyn rolled off his lap and took off at a run. “What do
you think? Last one there has to cook supper for a week.”
Mike grabbed her on the second step.
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Epilogue
The Wedding Day
Cyn scanned the small crowd waiting for her to walk
down the garden path. A hot sun beat down on the late
September day, warming the air to an unseasonable high.
There wasn’t a cloud in sight and no breeze to disturb the
beautifully decorated tables.
Happiness bubbling in her heart threatened to choke
her. She wanted to run wild across the lawns, screaming
her joy.
Katy tugged on her dress. “Come on, Cyn. They’re
starting the song again. People are lookin’ at us.”
Mike paced on the grass ahead. She grasped Katy’s
hand and walked toward her husband-to-be.
The next ten minutes passed in a blur. Cyn had
wanted to savor each moment. Tonight she’d watch the
video to see what she’d missed.
“Cyn?” the minister’s voice penetrated the fog
swirling in her mind.
She gazed into Mike’s eyes. “I do…for always.”
The collective cries of amazement that shot up from
pronouncing them man and wife. Everyone stared in
amazement at the American flag flapping wildly in the
still air.
A sense of peace seeped into Cyn’s soul. She lifted her
gaze to her husband. “It’s Peter wishing us well.”
The love in Mike’s eyes turned her knees weak. “I
know. We owe him. He brought me to the Hope River that
night.”
“You may kiss the bride…” The guests’ excitement
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Pam Champagne
almost drowned out the minister’s words.
Cyn and Mike sealed their union with a passionate
kiss. “Let’s grab some alone time,” Mike whispered.
Hand-in-hand, they started back to the house. Katy’s
young voice rang out in the still afternoon. “Daddy,
Mommy, wait for me.”
Mommy. Cyn’s heart melted. In that instant her
marriage became real.
Mike trailed a finger down her cheek. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You and Katy are a package deal. I
wouldn’t want it any other way.” She turned in time to
catch Katy as she charged across the lawn. “Come on
sweet pea. Let’s go change so we can enjoy the fantastic
food everyone brought.”
Could life be any better? Cyn didn’t think so.
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