“She’s right to do that,” he said. “I can’t lie, Jane. I’ve fallen foryou hard and fast. There’s no turning back for me. And I hope I don’t scare you away, but I’m in love with you.”
Jane stared at him wide-eyed, her breath catching. “I feel the same way about you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gabe pulled her to him and kissed her, pouring everything he was feeling into it—the love, the fear, the hope, the grief. Jane kissed him back just as fiercely, her hands coming up to frame his face.
“Ahem.”
They broke apart to see Dr. Park standing in the doorway, a slight smile on her face.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, not sounding sorry at all. “But we’re ready for those tests now.”
The next hour passed in a blur of needles and imaging machines and medical jargon. When it was finally over and they were back in the examination room, Dr. Park reviewed the results.
“Everything looks as expected,” she said. “The shrapnel is stable. If you decide to pursue the experimental procedure, I can put in a referral to Walter Reed. But that’s entirely your choice.”
“What would you do?” Gabe asked. “If you were me?”
Dr. Park considered the question carefully. “I’d probably wait. See how things progress over the next six months. If the shrapnel remains stable and you’re not havingcomplications, leaving it might be the safer choice. But if you start having issues—pain, swelling, reduced circulation—then the procedure becomes more necessary.”
Gabe nodded slowly. It was not the answer he had wanted, but it was honest. And right now, he appreciated honesty more than false hope.
“I’ll submit my report to the PEB by the end of the week,” Dr. Park said. “You should hear from them within a month. In the meantime, continue your physical therapy and take care of that leg.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Gabe said, shaking her hand.
As they left the hospital and walked to the car, Gabe felt strangely light despite the heavy news he had just received. His SEAL career was over. The PEB would confirm it officially, but the outcome was already decided.
And yet, he didn’t feel the crushing despair he had expected. Instead, he felt something that might have been relief.
“You know what they say,” Gabe said as Jane helped him into the passenger seat. “Whenever a door closes, another one opens.”
Jane closed his door and walked around to the driver’s side. “And what door is opening for you?” she asked as she started the car.
“The one that led me to you,” Gabe said simply. “It’s time I stopped missing out on my daughter’s life. I don’t know what I’m going to do for work or where I’m going to live or how I’mgoing to figure out who I am outside of being a SEAL. But I know I want to do it with you and Trinity by my side.”
Jane’s eyes blurred with tears. “I’ll be there with you and Trinity both,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Every step of the way.”
They drove back to Anastasia Island mostly in comfortable silence, holding hands across the center console. As they pulled into the inn’s parking lot, Jane turned to him.
“You have to tell your family, Gabe,” she said gently.
“I know,” Gabe nodded. He squeezed her hand. “I have to tell our family.”
Jane’s smile rivaled the sun as she leaned over and kissed him. “Our family,” she repeated. “I like the sound of that.”
JULIE
Julie sat in the dining room with William, enjoying a late afternoon cup of tea and the peaceful view of the ocean through the tall windows. The inn was quiet at this hour, most guests out exploring St. Augustine or resting in their rooms before dinner.
“Look, William,” Julie said, nodding toward the parking lot visible through the window. “I do believe that’s wish numberthree granted.”
Gabe and Jane had just pulled up in Holly’s car. Even from a distance, Julie could see the way they looked at each other—the tenderness, the connection, the kind of love that came from shared pain and understanding.
“You mean wish number four granted,” William reminded her with a grin. “You keep forgetting I made the very first wish that brought Holly here in the first place.”
Julie laughed and kissed his cheek. “I’m really sorry, my dear. But your wish was a two-part one, so how about I say three and a half wishes granted?”
William smiled and squeezed her hand. They turned back to the window and watched as Gabe and Jane walked into the inn, hands linked, faces serious but somehow peaceful.
