Epilogue
Mercy
Four Months Later
Landon was calling. Excited to hear and see my sexy soldier man, I accepted the call and waited for the camera to load. His face was a little grainy, but just as handsome as ever as he came into view.
“One month,” he said with a grin.
We started all our calls with a countdown. It helped me to know he still planned to come home, reminding me that there was a light at the end of this tunnel.
“One month,” I agreed. “How’s Afghanistan.”
“Touristy. It’s quite the vacation destination. Tons of sand, sunshine, things that go boom.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” I groaned.
He chuckled. “I’m okay, Merce. I’m getting out of here. Four more weeks. God, I can’t wait to see you again. Have you talked to Ben lately?”
I nodded. “He’s doing really well. Just started basic and he said it’s not as bad as he thought it would be. He joked that someone in his squad had already gotten nailed with a rucksack check.”
I chuckled. “I’m glad to hear he’s doing well and getting the full treatment. Any trouble with the WSB?”
“Nope. The Dead Presidents keep a pretty close eye on me, though.” Before Landon left, Tap and Morse had installed a security system in my apartment. Now, if anything happened while I was home, all I had to do was hit a button and a bunch of bikers would show up on my doorstep like my own personal Avengers.
“I owe those guys so much.”
“I’m sure they’ll be happy to collect when you come home.” I grinned. “But they only get what’s left of you. After I’m done.”
“Deal.” He grinned back. “How’s Toby? He still doing well with his new family?”
After Larry’s little stunt and Sheila’s numerous failed drug tests, Toby had been placed in permanent foster care. He now had a brother and two sisters, and he was doing incredibly well. I’d even gotten to meet the family and check on him personally, which I’d told Landon I was planning to do in our last phone call.
“Yes. He looks fantastic. He’s so happy.”
“I’m glad to hear it. What about the other kids? How’s Olivia and her little foul mouth doing?”
I laughed. We covered the rest of the children at the school, and then Landon told me about some of the additional medical training he’d been getting. The call was beginning to wind down, so I asked, “When was the last time you spoke to your mom?”
He tweaked his lips, as if thinking. “Is this a trick question?”
Yep. I already knew the answer. “Two weeks ago, Landon. You know she worries about you.”
“You know, this right here is why she wanted us together. She knew you’d bug me and make me feel guilty any time I don’t communicate regularly with her.”
“And I’m not going to disappoint Beth. Call your mom.”
“All right. On one condition.”
I could already tell by his smirk what that condition would be. “What?”
“Flash me the girls.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “You are incorrigible.”
“Why thank you.”
“Not a compliment, soldier.”
