by Ally James
He laughed as he got up to dispose of the condom, and then returned to pull her onto his chest. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he said, “I knew I was going to go quickly after the long buildup. So I went with something festive rather than baseball statistics. But I couldn’t remember the name of the last one in time.”
“Gabe,” she said, giggling, “you’re so flipping adorable.”
“So it begins,” he grumbled. “I’m no longer your ‘sex God.’ I fail to bring it home once and I’m demoted to ‘adorable.’ Which, I believe, is how you refer to Trouble.”
She bit her tongue, trying to keep a straight face yet finding it nearly impossible. “You’re totally smoking hot, baby. I spend most of my time objectifying you.”
“Go on,” he said, sounding slightly mollified. I can’t help it, he is adorable.
She wiggled against his masculine frame, enjoying the hiss he emitted. “And . . . you have the biggest candy cane I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched porn for years, and have never seen one that compares.”
“You watch skin flicks?” Wow, someone likes that—a lot. He’s bacckkk!
“Well, sure,” she replied nonchalantly. “Doesn’t everyone? How else are you going to fill your shopping basket?”
“Um—come again? You’ve got to stay focused during dirty talk, Angel.”
“I am. Chloe and I refer to that as going to Walmart. It’s more kid friendly than saying ‘masturbate.’ We’ve gotten pretty creative with it. A quickie is the express aisle, and a long session is browsing. When you’re interrupted, the item is out of stock. Oh . . . and when you don’t come, it’s the dreaded rain check.”
“That’s a fate worse than adorable. I refuse to go down as a postponed checkout.” She squealed in surprise as he surged up, taking her with him. “You’ve been upgraded to home delivery, Angel. Get ready to sign for the package.”
And because she was such a good customer, he included the installation at no charge.
* * *
• • •
Sara was relentless in her quest for him to open his Christmas present from her. He’d spent the entire morning making one excuse after another, but she would not be dissuaded. He wasn’t sure what could possibly be in the small box she was holding, but she was literally bouncing on her feet in excitement. Maybe she’s proposing? If she dropped down to one knee at that point, he wouldn’t be surprised. And, of course, Trouble was even worse than her. He seemed to suspect that some of the packages were for him, because every time he was left unsupervised, he pulled one out and tried to tear off the wrapping paper.
He’d sent his family gift cards for Christmas since he wouldn’t be seeing them until the spring. His father hated crowds and wouldn’t consider traveling anywhere around the holidays. And after being deployed for so long, Gabe had no desire to leave Alaska for a while. Luckily, his family knew him well enough not to take offense. They’d long ago learned to live with his absences.
He might have taken care of his own shopping, but Sara had wanted to go to the mall. She insisted that they part ways and meet back up a few hours later. Which was fine with him, since he wanted to get a few surprises of his own. She had mentioned several times that their trip to North Carolina was the best gift he could possibly give her, and she insisted that he not get anything else. He might be new to this relationship stuff, but he knew it was always better to do too much than to risk doing too little. After all, they would never have another first Christmas again. He wanted it to be something she’d always remember, and he was well on his way to achieving that goal. Come on, Jason.
Shit. His pocket was vibrating. He needed to get rid of her for a few minutes . . . but how? He didn’t have to feign panic, since it was genuine. He leaned down to squint at the pile under the tree, then back at Trouble. “Damn, Angel, we’re missing one. I thought I found them all earlier, but we’re definitely short.” The fact that he sounded panicky was clearly unnerving to her, since he was normally so calm.
She put a hand on his arm, squeezing it gently. “It’ll be fine, babe. Where did you find the others?”
In the woods? That would be pushing it. “Oh—um, several different places. One was under our bed, and another in the storage closet . . . and the last one was in my dresser drawer.”
She blinked once, then again, as if processing his words. “How did the dog manage to get into those last two places? He doesn’t have hands.”
“I don’t know,” he said shrilly, “he’s not a normal dog.” Sorry, buddy, you’ve gotta take one for Team Randall.
“Okay, okay, I’ll handle everything.” She led him to the couch and pushed him down onto it. “Just relax, I promise I’ll find it.” She darted one last puzzled look in his direction before walking down the hall with their falsely accused dog at her heels.
When she was out of sight, he jerked his phone out and read the text:
Eta 5
And that was almost four minutes ago. It barely registered before he heard a vehicle. Sara had been watching the Christmas parade on television earlier, so he quickly grabbed the remote and turned the volume up, hoping to block out any other sounds. He reached the door just as Jason stepped onto the porch. Gabe put a finger to his lips as he motioned him inside. They were tiptoeing to the kitchen when Sara appeared out of nowhere. “Baby, Trouble just opened the hand soap and licked some of it. At least his poop will smell like apples for a few—”
She was looking down at the dog, and hadn’t yet noticed anything amiss, until . . .
“Sarie!”
Her head shot up as a startled gasp escaped her lips. Kaylee flew out from behind her father and launched herself at Sara. Gabe knew she was in shock. Her face had gone deathly pale and her entire body was shaking. “Kaylee,” she whispered as she dropped heavily to her knees to pull the little girl into her arms.
Gabe couldn’t make out much of what she was saying, but Kaylee was talking nonstop while tears ran unchecked down Sara’s face. Hell, he wasn’t far from bursting into sobs himself. He felt a hand on his shoulder as Jason stepped forward. “Shit, that’s hard to see,” he mused in a voice devoid of the usual sarcasm.
He turned away to give them some privacy, and got his first real look at her family. He recognized Chris from their brief, awkward meeting in North Carolina. Next to him was a very thin woman with long, sandy hair, and what he would bet was designer wear marketed for the ski-resort crowd. Then there was Sara’s mother. He’d seen a few pictures of her, but he was still surprised at how young she appeared. And ill at ease. Gabe extended a hand to Chris, who seemed relieved at the tension-breaking gesture. “Good to see you again. Trip go all right?”
“It was great, we really appreciate it. This area is beautiful. Kaylee was about to lose her mind when she saw all the snow.”
“We can take her out later if she wants. Trouble will be thrilled to have someone else to chase.” Gabe smiled as the dog in question stood off to the side, clearly wary of the new arrivals. Makes two of us.
He knew it was petty, but instead of greeting Nicole next, he moved on to Sara’s mother. He would attempt to be passably polite for Sara’s sake, but no one would disrespect his woman in their house—or anywhere else for that matter. “Mrs. Ryan, I’m Gabe Randall. It’s nice to meet you.”
She glanced from him to her daughter and niece, then back again. That’s when he noticed the moisture in her eyes and the telltale trembling of her mouth. He knew that Sara had essentially taken care of her mother after her father died, in much the same way she had Kaylee. If he didn’t miss his guess, she was devastated without her. “She’s . . . happy here,” Mrs. Ryan mused quietly. He thought a part of her was relieved to find her doing well, while another part was hurting. Abandoned. It wasn’t logical, but emotions rarely were.
When he could put it off no longer, he moved to make the final greeting. The younger woman studied him curiou
sly, as if searching for some explanation of his appearance in their lives. He was taken off guard when she hugged him briefly. Polite or not, he didn’t return the embrace. Luckily, it was the equivalent of an air kiss, and over before it started. “Thank you for having us. It’s all Kaylee has talked about since you made the arrangements.”
He inclined his head in acknowledgment of her statement. “I appreciate everyone altering their holiday plans to make the long trip here.”
Chris cleared his throat before speaking. “We’re family. We don’t spend Christmas apart. If that means driving down the street or catching a plane, that’s what we’ll do.”
Gabe was glad to hear him offering support for Sara. He wondered when, and if, the other two would get on board as well. Since hiding was no longer necessary, he motioned everyone toward the living room. Jason pulled him aside to say good-bye, no doubt ready to leave the tense environment. He walked him to the door, then returned to find only Nicole and Chris on the couch. He looked around, thinking Mrs. Ryan might have gone to the restroom. But instead, she was standing inches away from Sara and Kaylee, much like a child herself, wanting desperately to join in but not knowing how.
“She’s had a rough time with Sara gone,” Nicole murmured. “We all have.”
Have you? Really? Or is this bullshit? He wasn’t a man who trusted easily, and this woman had given him no reason to believe her about-face. Yet there was something about the way Chris was interacting silently with his wife that made him pause and reconsider. Maybe he’s finally grown a pair after all.
The rest of the day was an awkward blur, although things were slowly beginning to thaw between the Ryans. Chris, Sara, and Kaylee found their stride fairly quickly, but it was a work in progress with the others. Mrs. Ryan seemed to hover on the perimeter of a room most of the time. Clearly wanting to be with her daughter, yet not knowing how to deal with a reunion that would inevitably end in another good-bye. The biggest surprise was Nicole. Kaylee blurted out enough for him to gather that Chris had indeed stepped up to the plate, and “a lot of yelling” had occurred as a result.
Gabe, Sara, and her family took Kaylee outside to play in the snow for as long as they could withstand the cold temperature. Trouble was like an exuberant puppy as they chased each other through the beautiful Alaskan snow. When they came back inside, everyone changed before meeting up in the kitchen. Gabe had picked up a turkey from Maxi’s that morning, with enough side dishes to easily feed everyone. Maxi always sent too much food, so Sara hadn’t questioned it.
Sara leaned over and kissed him softly when he took the seat next to her. Then she smiled shyly at her family. She’s finally at peace. Even if things weren’t perfect, she was centered again. And if he thought her beautiful before, it was nothing compared to now. She was aglow with happiness, and he was humbled to know that a part of that was because of him. God, I don’t deserve her, but I’ll never stop trying to be worthy of the gift you’ve given me.
It had gone so quiet, it was almost eerie. That’s when it hit him. He’d given voice to his thoughts, as she often did. And—she was crying again, but instinctively he knew these tears were the good kind. Strangely enough, it was Mrs. Ryan who broke the silence. She got to her feet and clasped her hands together in front of her. “I don’t think any of us have deserved Sara for a long time, Gabe, but she’s loved us anyway. I . . . spent the last few weeks being mad at my daughter and . . . blaming you for taking her away from us. But—today I looked at her, and I realized something.” She swallowed heavily as she fully faced Sara. “She never belonged to us. She stayed for so long because we needed her. And selfishly, we took advantage of that. She’s been a substitute husband, father, and mother.” There wasn’t a dry eye at the table by this point, including his own. “Now it’s time for us to offer you the same support, my beautiful girl.” And one by one, they each chimed in:
“As a mother.”
“As a brother.”
“As a sister.”
“As a Sarie,” Kaylee added last, bringing some much-needed comic relief. Gabe was working up the nerve to ask Sara a very important question when Kaylee moved to stand next to him. He turned to give her his attention, never expecting to be brought almost to tears by her words.
“I didn’t like you, Mr. Gabe, because my mommy kept telling me that Sarie was a shellfish woman. My Sarie isn’t a shellfish, but I didn’t tell Mommy that. My Sarie is an angel.” He heard Nicole’s surprised gasp, but didn’t bother looking up to see her reaction. This girl. Now I completely get why Sara couldn’t leave. “But I like you now, Mr. Gabe, because you have a doggie. I want to get a doggie one day. You should share my Sarie, though. She teached me that when I was a little girl.” She looked so serious. So utterly adorable. He could see how much love Sara had brought into this little girl’s heart.
“I tell you what, Kaylee. Let’s make a deal.”
Her eyes lit up, and the excitement bubbling out of her was infectious. It made Gabe completely understand why Sara’s face had been radiant and carefree when she was playing with Kaylee in that first photo she sent.
“If it’s okay with your daddy, how about we set up Skype or FaceTime on an iPad so you and your Sarie can still talk each day? She has tried to read books to Trouble, and he isn’t as good a listener as Sara has told me you are. I think she misses reading books to you. What do you think?” Kaylee tossed her arms around his neck and hugged him before running away to get her father’s approval on the plan.
As much as he enjoyed the exchange with Kaylee, he hadn’t yet taken his turn, and everyone but Sara seemed to understand that. This wasn’t the way he expected to do it, but there had never been a more perfect time. So, he slipped from his chair and onto one knee next to his Angel—phrasing his as a question, rather than a statement, “As a wife?”
Thankfully, she didn’t keep him in suspense for long. Less than two seconds later, she was in his lap as she cried, “Yes, yes, yes!”
But it was the furry Randall, who was completely smitten with the woman in their lives, that added, “Woof, woof, woof.”
As he hugged his new little family close, Gabe thought, I couldn’t have said it better myself, buddy.
Epilogue
Sara and Gabe married on Easter of the next year. Her immediate family along with her aunt and Chloe flew to Alaska for the small ceremony in the chapel on the base. Neither of them wanted a big formal wedding. They’d been married in their hearts for so long that making it official was merely a formality.
She still found it hard to believe that she’d gotten everything she’d ever wanted—and more. Not only did she have a husband who never went a day without telling her how much he loved her, but she had a family who was trying to be there for her in every way possible. Their dynamic had been so one sided for such a long time—and it wasn’t a change that happened completely overnight, but it was better than she could have imagined. And last but certainly not least, she had an adorable dog who showered her with slobbery affection so often, she was in need of a bib. But those canine cuddles melted her heart. God, I love my Randall boys.
They’d been married about six months when they had “the talk.” Gabe knew she loved children, so having a baby was a conversation they’d touched on several times. That time, though, Gabe surprised her with his detailed vision for their future. “Angel, I’ve thought about what scenario makes the most sense for us at this point in our lives. I know you want to start a family, and even though we’re not exactly ancient, I realize waiting for years would put you at a higher risk for complications. Which is not something I’d consider doing if there were other options.” He took her hand, lacing their fingers together before saying, “It’s taken a while, but I’ve come up with a workable plan. I—I’m sorry for springing it on you like this, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up and then have it not be possible after all.”
If not for the hint of excitement she cou
ld detect beneath his serious demeanor, she would be nervous. “What is it, baby? You know I hate being kept in suspense.”
“I do know that.” He smirked affectionately. “I’ll be due to change stations in another year. I’m allowed to list my preferences in order and hope for the best. Sometimes that works out, and other times it doesn’t. But in my particular field of expertise, I’ve made some important connections. And that has paid off now.” Geez, spit it out already. She was on pins and needles, while he appeared to be on some verbal Sunday stroll. Finally, he took pity on her and said, “I’ve been given early approval for a move to Fort Bragg—in North Carolina.”
She gawked at him, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. She was thrilled at the prospect of going closer to home, yet she had also grown to love Alaska. “So . . . we just pack up for good when the time comes?”
He released a breath, which had her tensing once again. “Not exactly, Angel. There’s more. You see, Jason and I have been talking for some time about moving into the civilian contractor sector for the Army when we retire. We would still work for Uncle Sam, but not as enlisted men.”
“But how would that differ from what you do now?” she asked, not fully comprehending what he was telling her.
“The main two differences for us would be I’ll no longer deploy, nor will we be forced to relocate. The only thing you might not like is that the job would likely be here, at my current base. In fact, an offer is already in place for when I retire.”
“Would we stay in North Carolina right up until that time, or will there be another stop before we return to Alaska?”
“I’m fairly certain I can remain there for the duration.” He reached out to cup her face as he added, “A big reason behind this is so you’ll have your family close should I deploy one last time. God forbid, it could even happen when you are pregnant.”
“I’ve always understood that, Gabe,” she murmured. “And I know it would be hell for both of us, but you’re doing everything you can to make sure I’m well covered.”