Damon wanted to hear her say that she lovedhim, but she was going through way too much right now for him to expect that. For now, he'd be content that she wanted a future with him.
She continued. "You're a strong Army Ranger, but you're really just a big softy with a heart of gold."
"Shhh...don't tell my buddies. I'd lose all kinds of respect if they knew."
She winked and grinned. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Seriously though, Grace, what can I do for you and your mom?"
She sobered. "Just pray."
She didn't believe that praying for her mom to get better was a good idea at this point, did she?
"I have been all along, but Grace, what exactly do you want me to pray for at this point?"
Her eyes teared up again. "For me and for Gabe. That we can...let go." After wiping her cheeks and blowing her nose, she went on. "And for my mom, that we can keep her out of pain."
He could pray for Grace and Gabe but praying for Marisol to go quickly and peacefully would be the hardest thing he'd ever done.
CHAPTER 19
Damon's heart lurched, and his chest tightened when his cell phone vibrated with a call in the middle of his workday. He wasn't supposed to take calls or even check texts while on duty, but he'd already explained the situation to his CO, who sat fifteen feet away.
He knew Damon was waiting for unpleasant news and had agreed to let him step out and take the call when it came.
Damon pulled his phone from his pocket to find his mom's name on the screen. He looked up to find his CO looking at him. The gruff barrel-chested man jerked his head toward the hallway.
Damon didn't hesitate; he walked toward the door with long strides. He'd planned to go outside, but one look at the sand blowing around, and he retreated to the far end of the hall.
He answered the call and pressed the phone to his ear. "Hey Mom."
"Hi, son." She let out a heavy sigh. "I assume you know why I'm calling?"
"Considering it's two in the morning there, I'm guessing Marisol—" Damon's throat clogged up, and he couldn't finish his sentence. He leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.
"Yes. She's gone. About thirty minutes ago."
Damon swore under his breath and stifled the urge to punch the wall. Marisol had been on hospice for almost a week, so he knew this was coming, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
"How's Grace?"
"She's a wreck, as you'd expect. She cried in my arms for a solid ten minutes. Now she's talking with Gabe and Paige about what needs to be done. She asked me to call you." Mom paused for a moment before continuing. "She wanted to make sure you knew, but I'm not sure she's ready to talk about it yet."
Damon wasn't sure he was ready to talk to her either. What was he supposed to say to the woman who had just lost her mother?
After a lengthy silence, his mom asked, "Are you okay, son?"
"Not really." And with those words the tears started to flow.
"I know this is hard." His mom's soothing voice came over the phone. "You got to know Marisol quite well in the short time you were home." She waited another long beat before continuing. "But you know she's in a better place now, right? That she's no longer in pain."
He and Grace had a lengthy discussion about that a few days ago. His calls with her over this past week had been somber as she sat by her mom's bedside. They'd been full of quiet contemplation and favorite memories of her mom.
"I know." Damon sucked in a sharp breath, trying to quell his emotions. "It still hurts though."
"It's supposed to. If it didn't hurt, that means we didn't love hard enough."
Was that why his heart hurt so badly for Grace? Because he loved her so deeply?
