Page 9 of Valor
Phoebe is in Jack’s arms, fast asleep despite the sugar rush, or maybe because of it. Cole is blabbering away at his favorite person, Sofie, who listens with rapt attention. Logan and Piper are beaming at each other, still in the throes of being together. Warmth fills me for these people.
All of them.
“We wouldn’t miss it. Congratulations,” I reply, perhaps a touch more somberly than the situation warrants.
“Hands off my woman,” Scott interrupts.
“Only fair. You’ve got your hands on mine.” I nod to his arm around Livvie’s waist.
“I can’t help it if she loves me,” Scott replies.
“Okay now, that’s enough.” Livvie kisses Scott on the cheek then crosses to my side. “You two best get on with your honeymoon.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Faith says with a laugh. “We’ll call you when we get back and I’ll take lots of pictures!”
The two women hug. Tears are shed. I look away and Scott grabs my arm, pulling me to the side. “I thought you were supposed to be getting on to your honeymoon. You don’t want to let her leave without you, trust me.”
“She’s not goin’ anywhere,” he says with a grin. “Besides I have a little something I wanted to give you before we left.”
He pulls something out of his pocket and at first I think it’s a bottle of whiskey, which wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. But once it’s in the light, I realize it’s a case. He opens it to show a Purple Heart.
“What are you doing?” I ask, confused.
“I want you to have this.”
“C’mon, man, be serious.”
“I am serious. As a heart attack. If I could have recommended you for a Medal of Honor, I would have. You saved my life. I wouldn’t be here; married to the woman I love, if it weren’t for you. I owe you everything. This doesn’t mean anything to me without you.”
I don’t know what to say so I accept the gift and pull him into a hug. I take the box, like something you’d put jewelry in, and tuck it inside my jacket where it’s weight settles against my side, a reminder. I’m no more deserving than any other Marine out there, but I’m grateful nonetheless.
“Just be happy, man. Really.”
“You got it, boss.”
He turns, spots Faith, and throws her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. In seconds, they’re in the limo. With one last wave through the open window, they’re gone. Damn, but it’s good to see him happy. Even if he is a cheesy bastard.
“You sure you don’t mind watching them?” Livvie asks Sofie, who rolls her eyes.
“Of course not. You two have fun.” She nudges me with one hand, expertly balancing Phoebe with the other. “Go, I mean it.”
“I’m going, I’m going,” Livvie replies. “You have my number—”
“If I need anything. I know. You act like I don’t have wild animals of my own. Now get.”
Livvie looks to Piper for assistance, but she holds up her hands in defeat. “You better listen to her. You know how she is.”
“Good seeing you, man. We’ve got to get home. I have an early shift in the morning.”
“Take care.”
I wrap an arm around Livvie as the two couples herd Cole toward the parked cars. When they’re a couple feet away, he pauses, making them all stop, then he runs back to us. He slams into us, one arm going around my waist, one around his mother’s. There’s a second’s pause and then he’s sprinting back to Jack and Sofie with an enthusiastic wave in our direction.
“Ready?” I ask Livvie when they’ve disappeared.
She sends me a tremulous smile. “As I’ll ever be.”
The hotel is fancier than the suit I wore to Scott’s wedding, but it makes Livvie light up like the ten-foot Christmas tree I just took down, so I hand over my credit card to the clerk and follow the directions to the fourth floor room, complete with a balcony and fancy shower with three showerheads. There’s a flat screen the size of my truck in the living area and a bar with enough liquor to serve half of the United States Marine Corps in the kitchenette.