Forever Her Hero

by Belle Calhoune

  At the moment they were shell-shocked and hurting, most likely suffering from hypothermia. There would be plenty of time later for lectures about boat safety and responsibility. For now, they were all just grateful.

  The sound of the medevac reached his ears above the whizzing motor of the surf rescue boat. He glanced up at the sky and saw it circling around, no doubt searching for a clear space to land near the docks. He glanced over at Bridget and Hank, who were sitting with the boys, both of whom were shivering despite being wrapped in blankets. His team was administering an oxygen protocol to stabilize their critical core temperature.

  Experience had taught him that the first half hour during rescue was the most critical for hypothermia victims. As he guided the boat to the dock landing, he caught a glimpse of Ava standing on the edge of the crowd. Although his pulse spiked at the sight of her, he warned himself not to get too excited. He didn’t dare hope she’d made her way down here for him. Those dreams had crashed and burned when she’d ordered him out of her house. Just knowing how she felt about him now caused a sharp pain to travel through him. The hurt was very raw, the wounds still gaping. He didn’t even know if he could look her in the eye without shattering.

  There was a woman standing next to her—auburn hair, a full, round face—he didn’t need two guesses to know who belonged to her. Dawson was the spitting image of his mother. Ava had her arm around her shoulder and seemed to be comforting her. As they drew closer, he saw a look of joy sweep over the woman’s face, followed by tears she was wiping away with a handkerchief. All the while Ava clutched her hand and never let go.

  Disappointment seized him as reality began to sink in. She hadn’t come for him. Clearly, she was friends with Dawson’s mother, and it was for that reason she’d shown up at the harbor. He’d been foolish to think otherwise, especially since she’d made things between them crystal clear.

  It was strange how even when he’d felt depleted of hope, he’d clung to that one, tiny kernel of it. That was love, he realized. It allowed you to hope beyond all reason, to dream of things that might never come to pass.

  When he landed the boat at the pier the medical staff was lined up and ready to board the vessel. Raoul stepped off the boat to debrief Chris’s and Dawson’s families. The medevac would be taking the teens to the neighboring town of Hyannis, one of the few towns that had a full-fledged medical center. The teens were put on stretchers and taken off the boat. Bridget and Hank followed closely behind, wanting to see their mission through till the end. He would stick around on the boat to tie up any loose ends. The sight of the boys being reunited with their families was emotional. He prayed they would all realize how fortunate they were to be getting a second chance. Not all search-and-rescue missions had happy endings. His gaze locked with Ava’s, and his throat convulsed as she began walking straight toward him, her stride full of purpose.

  As she walked down the pier, her every step bringing her closer to him, his heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He felt an overwhelming need to sweep her up in his arms and hold her, to confess all the things he’d been holding back this whole time. He told himself to keep quiet. There was a good chance he might make a fool of himself if he opened up his mouth. Considering the way he felt, how his heart was beaten and bruised, there was no telling what he might say or do.

  “Hi, Sawyer,” she said in a breathless voice as she stepped on board the boat. “You should know that a lot of prayers were offered up on your behalf tonight.”

  He looked at her, slightly stunned that she was even speaking to him. The sight of her was awe-inspiring. It wasn’t until this moment that he’d realized how much her absence had affected him. Just seeing her was slowly infusing life back into him. Her eyes were glistening, her hair glossy, cheeks reddened by the whipping wind. How he loved those beautiful hazel eyes. Need rose in him—a pure longing for this woman he loved—nearly knocking him off his feet. He steadied himself against the heady feeling, bracing himself for the possibility that she might lash out at him again.

  Ava had already trampled over his heart and kicked him out of her life. What more was there to say? He just wasn’t sure he could withstand any more heartache.

  * * *

  “Ava, what are you doing here?” Sawyer’s tone wasn’t exactly friendly. His eyes were dark and inscrutable, his tall frame stiff and unwelcoming. Her throat felt as dry as sawdust. He seemed so cold, not like the Sawyer she knew and loved. After the way she’d lashed out at him, she didn’t blame him for being indifferent. She was standing here with this big, gaping chasm between them and no idea how to cross it.

  “I’m here for you. The same way you’ve always been there for me.” Her voice rang out, full of certainty. Even though his body language made her want to turn tail and run, she held her ground. She was so tired of taking the path of least resistance. Some things were worth fighting for in this life. Sawyer was one of them.

  “No need to worry,” he responded in a gruff tone. “As you can see, I’m in one piece.” He quickly turned his back on her, making it so she could no longer see his countenance. Not being able to read his expression gave her a panicky feeling in her belly. She needed to see his face, to watch his emotions as they moved across his face. His eyes always told her what he was thinking and feeling. More than anything, she needed to see herself reflected in his eyes, to know that they still had something worth fighting to save.

  She reached out and grabbed him by the arm, feeling the corded muscles as she gently pulled it until he turned to look at her. “Sawyer. I need you to listen to me. I know I’ve hurt you. I know I laid some stuff at your feet that you didn’t deserve. Blaming you for Billy’s death—” Her words were swallowed up by shame. She couldn’t even bring herself to finish her sentence. “I love you, Sawyer Trask.”

  Sawyer’s head swung up and his chocolate-brown eyes skimmed over her face. He furrowed his brow, looking as if he were trying to make sense of what she’d just confessed. “You love me?” His voice came out raspy and rife with uncertainty.

  “Always have. Always will,” she answered in a voice full of emotion. “And I realize that I’ve made a huge mess of things. For so long I’ve been blaming myself...and God...for Billy’s death. I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that there really wasn’t anyone to blame. Not myself. Not God. And certainly not you, Sawyer.” She reached up and grazed her fingers across his face, feeling the stubble of a few days’ growth prickling her skin as she worked her way across the landscape.

  “People argue. They have disagreements. Sometimes we say things we don’t mean. It’s all a part of life and being human. I’ve had to face the fact that Billy made decisions that night. Just Billy. And he paid a terrible price for it. What happened when he took his boat out on the water was a sad, terrible thing. An accident. That’s all it was. It’s been a long journey to come to that realization, but I’m finally at peace with it.”

  Her nerves were shot and her pulse was racing. And Sawyer still hadn’t said much at all in response to her declaration. Why hadn’t he said anything? He was just standing there looking at her with a dazed expression on his face. For the life of her, she didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

  “And you were right. I was scared of moving on, of taking a chance on loving someone else. For me, it’s a terrifying concept to love someone so completely and then lose him. But I soon realized that being without you was the scariest thing of all. Because you’re wonderful and honorable and you love my kids. And you have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

  Sawyer was still staring at her, not saying a word. She was beginning to wonder if he’d had a change of heart. Her heart began to beat like thunder at the prospect. How badly had she messed up?

  “I don’t regret a single moment I spent with Billy. Without him I wouldn’t have my two beautiful children. He
helped shape me into the woman I am today. But I also believe that God has something wonderful in store for the two of us.” She was twiddling her fingers now, filled with a nervous energy that she couldn’t contain. If she only had her cross-stitch she’d be able to keep her fingers busy. Maybe she wouldn’t be such a nervous wreck.

  “Sawyer, please say something,” she begged. She was practically handing him her heart on a silver platter. Hadn’t he been moved by a single word she said? When she’d told him to go away, had she lost the opportunity to make a life with him? Had she scared him away for good?

  “Can you just go back to the part about loving me?” he said. She watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. His eyes were brimming with emotion. “Because I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say that.”

  “I love you,” she said in a voice full of conviction. Sawyer took a step toward her and placed his arms around her waist. He lifted her up and spun her around, letting out a wild, exuberant cry in the process. When he placed her back down on solid ground, she had to hold on to his arm to steady herself from the dizzying sensations coursing through her. Or perhaps it was joy that was making her feel as if she were floating on air. Sawyer beamed down at her, his handsome face lit up with happiness.

  “I love you, too, Ava. I always have,” he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. She stood on her tiptoes and reached up toward him, hoping he would get the hint that she wanted to kiss him. Sawyer grinned at her and leaned down to meet her halfway, his lips moving over hers in a jubilant, powerful expression of everything they were feeling. His lips were warm and reassuring. Ava kissed him back with equal measure, wanting to show her undying devotion to the man she adored. As they broke apart from each other, Sawyer cupped her face in his hands, his touch full of tenderness. “And I always will,” he vowed.

  Epilogue

  Ava lifted her face up to the sun and closed her eyes, enjoying the last blast of summer weather as the motorboat zigzagged across Buzzards Bay Harbor. The September wind was whipping through her hair as the salty smell of the ocean filled her nostrils. With Sawyer at the helm and the twins acting as his second-in-command, they were enjoying a leisurely outing at sea.

  Over the past six weeks she’d been out on the water dozens of times with Sawyer. Although she’d been nervous at first, he’d put her at ease by taking it nice and easy on short trips across the bay. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces was the best part of her conquering this particular fear. Being at one with nature and feeling a sense of absolute freedom as they glided across the water was a little slice of Heaven.

  She felt the boat slowing down, and she opened her eyes to find them easing in as they arrived near the shore. They’d landed half a mile down the beach from her house and Sawyer’s lighthouse. This hadn’t been on the agenda, she realized with a frown. They should have landed at the marina.

  “Look, Mama. We’re at our beach,” Dolly announced, looking very pleased with herself. Casey was looking back and forth between her and Sawyer, an expectant look etched on his face.

  She cast her gaze toward him as suspicion swept through her. “Hey, Captain, what are we doing here?”

  Sawyer just grinned and crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look innocent. He threw his hands up in the air. “Don’t ask me.”

  Casey looked at Sawyer and asked, “Now?” Sawyer nodded and Casey dug into his duffel bag and pulled out a scroll of paper tied up with a gold ribbon. He walked over and handed it to his mother, his expression solemn as he said, “A lifetime’s treasure awaits you.”

  “Is this what I think it is?” As she untied the ribbon and unfurled the scroll, she felt three pairs of eyes trained on her every move. She hadn’t seen anything like this piece of parchment since she was a child. It was a treasure map, much like the ones Mr. P had made for her and Sawyer when they were kids. Joy bubbled up inside her. All of a sudden, she felt ten years old again.

  The treasure map had a big X in the middle of it, with instructions laid out at the bottom. She looked up from the scroll. “Am I getting any help with this?”

  Three heads shook, letting her know she was on her own. Treasure map in hand, she stepped off the boat, slipping off her shoes so she could navigate the sand better. Sawyer, Casey and Dolly followed behind her at a discreet distance. Meticulously, she went through the directions, making sure she didn’t make any mistakes.

  “Four steps west,” she mumbled as she moved in that direction. One by one she followed the directions, occasionally reversing herself if she felt she made a mistake.

  At last she ended up by the lifeguard chair. A bright green shovel was sticking out of the sand. A huge X had been made with shells, marking the area where she was supposed to dig. As soon as she began digging in the sand, the twins climbed the rungs of the lifeguard chair, perching themselves on the seat so they could watch her from on high. Sawyer stood a few feet away from her, watching her intently.

  It didn’t take very long until the shovel connected with a solid object. She used her hands to brush the sand away. A brass box lay nestled in the sand. She reached down and pulled it from its resting spot, flipping the lid open with childlike abandon. A small, velvet jewelry box lay inside and it was propped open to reveal a stunning ruby and diamond ring. Sitting next to it was a gold compass, eerily reminiscent of the one Sawyer had carried around with him as a child.

  “Sawyer,” she gasped. “What— Is this real?”

  “It’s real, baby. A ruby for devotion and a diamond for eternity.”

  Sawyer reached over and plucked the antique ring from its throne, holding it high in the air as he dropped to one knee in the sand. His eyes were full of love and admiration as he gazed at her.

  “Ava, you’re the most fearless woman I’ve ever known.” He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles. “After what you’ve lost, you could have hidden yourself away for the rest of your life and licked your wounds. But you’ve embraced life and love. And I’m so thankful for that. You’ve faced your fears and dealt with them with courage and so much heart. I wanted Casey and Dolly to be here so they could bear witness to this moment. I love you, Ava. For most of my life you’ve been my best friend. I’d like to ask you to be my best friend, my compass, my love for the rest of our lives, till death us do part.”

  Ava nodded, tears coursing down her face as she held out her hand and answered, “Yes, Sawyer. A thousand times, yes.”

  How could there be any other answer but a jubilant yes? She wanted to love and be loved by Sawyer for the rest of their lives. The twins began clapping and cheering from up in the lifeguard chair. Sawyer reached out and placed the ring on her slender finger, rising from the sand as he did so. She tilted her head up to him, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. She felt the sun beaming down on her face, rays of healing light that mirrored what Sawyer had brought into her world. Joy. Companionship. Strength. Loyalty.

  “You’re my cornerstone. And my own personal hero. Nothing would make me prouder than to stand at the altar and pledge to you my undying loyalty and love. Forever.”

  Sawyer leaned down and captured her mouth with his in a triumphant celebration of two hearts joined in everlasting love. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she moved her lips against his, wanting the kiss to go on forever. Joy pulsed in the air around them. This was a perfect moment she would remember for all her days.

  “I love you, I love you, I love you,” she murmured against his lips, knowing that against all odds they’d found the love of a lifetime.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HER UNLIKELY COWBOY by Debra Clopton.

  Dear Reader,

  There are few places in the world I love more than Cape Cod. Lazy summer nights. The tangy scent of the ocean permeating the air. Warm sand in my toes. One of the bes
t gifts my family ever gave my four siblings and me was the purchase of a summer house on the Cape. Now, my own children get to experience Cape Cod summers and the allure of Kalmus beach, Katie’s ice cream, miniature golf and Main Street. Although Ava and Sawyer are the main characters, Cape Cod is the perfect backdrop for their love story. And I loved having a pair of twins in my book. Casey and Dolly are something else!

  Forever Her Hero is a story of forgiveness, loss and second chances. Neither Ava nor Sawyer believe they are worthy enough to love one another due to their mutual guilt over Billy’s death. In order to achieve their happily ever after, they first have to forgive themselves so they can embrace a love of a lifetime. In life, love and loss are oftentimes intertwined, and through God’s grace and mercy we find a way to heal. As a writer I greatly enjoy the challenge of creating flawed characters who seek love, truth and understanding. And there’s no ending better than a happily ever after. I am thrilled to be part of the Love Inspired team!

  Thank you so much for reading Forever Her Hero. I truly hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I love to hear from readers. I can be reached at scalhoune@gmail.com and my Author Belle Calhoune page on Facebook. I can also be found on my author website (www.bellecalhoune.com) and on Twitter (@BelleCalhoune).

  Blessings,

  Belle Calhoune

  Questions for Discussion

  Ava had a lot of anger toward Sawyer because he left Buzzards Bay for his mission in Africa. Why was she so deeply affected by his departure?