Enlisted
Page 9
Daniel stopped and stared.
I looked down and saw it. His name engraved into the stone right under a small tree.
“This is for you brother,” I said, opening a bottle of beer with Daniel.
We sat down in front of the tree, drank our beer and laughed about what fun we had with Andrews when he was here. We remembered the good times, instead of his death.
I dropped Daniel off at home and headed back to the townhouse.
“Did you have a good day?” Elena asked me when I got through the door.
I nodded. “It was needed.”
“So, no more sleeping on the couch?” she asked.
“How did you know?”
“Here’s something you should know; I wake up the moment the door shuts. So, every night, as soon as you would leave, I would wake up.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
She shrugged. “I figured you would tell me what is going on when you were ready. Plus, Gina suggested I give you some time to adjust.”
“You talked to Gina?”
She nodded, “She’s really good. She helped me with a few things.”
I smiled. That woman shocked me all the time. She treated me like her son, and I couldn’t be prouder to consider her a mother.
“How’s the packing going?”
She sighed. “How did we gain so much crap in such a short time?”
I laughed, “It happens.”
“Not that I’m not happy that you got a promotion but moving sucks.”
“It does. But the good news is we won’t have to move again until we get stationed somewhere else.”
She nodded, “I guess that’s a good thing.”
“Let’s go grab dinner and then we’ll come back home, and I’ll help you get most of this room packed.”
“Can we just order in? I’m not feeling up to going out.”
I nodded, “Of course, you okay?”
She smiled. “Well actually there is something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
“Should I sit down?”
“No, you should be okay.”
She called Ace downstairs and he came running at her with something attached to his collar. She pointed to me and he was at my feet.
“What’s this?” I pulled the envelope off his collar and opened it up.
“Seriously?” I questioned looking up from the paper.
She nodded, “I just found out.”
“Drop that box woman,” I demanded.
She laughed. “I can still carry a box.”
“Are we ready for this?”
She shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out in about eight months.”
I pulled her close to me. This is not how I thought my life would turn out. Never did I expect to be married and in the military with a kid on the way. I had my demons, and I would be damned if I let them win. Every day I was fighting to keep them locked away, but being Elena’s husband, having good news about a baby, that helped keep those demons at bay.
“I was thinking if it’s a boy we should name him Andrew. If it’s a girl, Andrea.”
I kissed her. “And you thought you wouldn’t be able to handle being a military wife.”
***
Elena gave birth eight months later to a beautiful little boy, Andrew Vincent Brown. Right around the same time, Kate announced that she was going to have a little one of her own. Never thought girls could scream that loud about having babies together.
Her family was more onboard with the military life, and even agreed to attend events on post.
Being team leader definitely came with its challenges, especially when Daniel was moved to a different squad so he could become a team leader.
I hated the thought of moving in a year or so, but I knew that no matter where Elena and I went, our family and friends would always be there for us. For that, I was thankful. Thankful to have this life. Every day I lived not just for myself, but also for my brothers who were killed.
About the Author
All aboard! Romantic adventure awaits!
Travel the world with International Bestselling and Award-winning author Michelle Edwards.
Wife to an Army veteran and fur mom of three, she resides in North Carolina. Born and raised in Maryland, she’s an avid traveler with cruising her preferred way to explore.
Her life and works promise worldwide adventures for curious readers. From military bases to supernatural worlds and back, Edwards brings readers on eclectic adventures that stick with them long after departure.
To date, Edwards is the author of the Hunting the Night Series, Orange Glazed Attractions, Whiskey & Orange Slices and, A Warrior's Soul, Upcoming adventures include:
Enlisted: North Carolina
Hell’s Guardian
Battle-Scarred
Citrus Bay
Demonic Destiny