Troy took Gwen's hand. “From that time, through our time in Virginia, and to our arrival here, I fought my feelings for her because I felt unworthy of her.” Troy held up his other hand to prevent his mom from saying anything. “She knows some of my best and most of my worst. I care for her deeply. We are sharing this home, and she is sharing the master bedroom with me.”He lifted Gwen’s hand to his lips. “Mom, you are welcome as a guest in this home as long as you do not interfere with my feelings for Gwendolen.”
Gwen stood. “Mrs. Bremen, Troy, I hope you’ll excuse me. I'm going to lie down. If you need my help for anything, just let me know.”
Troy stood and pulled her into a hug, whispering into her ear, “You are the best person to ever happen to me, Gwendolen North.” He lowered his head and placed a demure kiss on her lips.
* * *
Alone with his mom,Troy retired to the living room where he refilled her glass. “Mom.”
In Greek, she told him how happy she was to be there, even if it was for another surgery. She admitted her feelings about Gwendolen were misplaced. She was worried she was losing him as her son, but he deserved a life with a beautiful woman and beautiful babies.
“Mom, thank you,” Troy sighed.
She patted her son's face. “When you were accepted to the Naval Academy, you told me the reason you joined was because there was evil in the world. Then, after all that education, you told me you were going to become a SEAL. I asked your sister Evie to find me everything she could on becoming a Navy SEAL after you called me at the end of that terrible time you called hell week.”
She crunched her brows. “I was so proud of you, and you sounded so happy. You even told me you’d made a friend; you called him Ice because he almost froze to death. It was lovely to see Zach again tonight with his Saoirse. And then you served bravely, calling to tell me about missions, even though you played with the truth.
“You came home only to leave again, and like every family, we worried. You told me about your friend Farmer and made me laugh when you told me how he got the name. And you called me from the hospital after he carried you off that mountain with kidney stones and a fever. And you called me every time one of your teammates was hurt or, God forbid, died, and asked me to say prayers. You called home on every birthday or holiday. And you told me how wonderful your friend Smooth was, and Acrobat, and Coop, and Alamo and Tiger, and all the rest. You told me about your leader nicknamed Hornet.
“When those evil men hurt you, you couldn't call me. Ian called me and told me people would pick me and your sisters up and take us to the airport to fly to Silverton, Iowa. That you had been working undercover because you wouldn't let anybody else risk their life to do the job. He said you were in a coma, and that little fire peanut, Beth, worked to save you. Your sisters and I sat at your bedside and prayed.
“The doctors told me they had beaten you so badly, there wasn't a piece of you not hurt. We waited. They had you packed in ice. Your body shook from the cold, yet your fever did not go down.There was always somebody in that room with us every minute of every day.”
Troy chewed his cheek. He didn’t know they were all there.
“And the stories started to come. Beth would sit with you for hours. Patrick read to you. Tucker, Jamie, Eric, Seth and Peter, bless their hearts. They moved you as little as possible, but enough to make sure there wasn't an extra sore on your body. Kieran and Ian split every day and spent twelve-hour shifts with you. Julian checked on you as often as he could. I didn’t know that Martin was sick in the bed nearby. Zach, he prayed at your side. Kip, you call him Acrobat, such a sweet man. He told me how he considered you the big brother he never had by birth. He told me how you made him feel better and stopped him from resigning after a young man died in his arms. And,Wesley, you call him Alamo, told me stories about how he used to make good food out of those canned recipes.”
Troy laughed. “They're called MREs, Mom. Meals Ready to Eat. Wes made those things palatable.”
“He helped me make that delicious moussaka tonight. I can tell you more. The Bravo teammates respected your leadership so. Tighe would come in when someone else would watch Lissa.” Fani took a deep gulp of her wine.
“What I'm trying to say is, when you could, you always told me everything.You have this horrible thing those people did to you. When you came back to us, you didn't tell me. And then more horrible people published your story. My son, I see the pain in your eyes. How scared you seem when you try to talk to me. I know I am difficult. But I love you and would do anything for you.
“Your sister Sofia told me I should give you space. Evie thought perhaps I should tell you I couldn't come until next Thursday. I didn't like those ideas. I needed to see your handsome face. Now, if you'd like me to go back home, I will. If you tell me to stay and mind my own business, I will, but if you want to talk, I'm here.”
Troy swiped at his eyes with a napkin. “I'm sorry, Momma. I couldn’t talk to anyone. I felt like such a failure. Embarrassed. Ashamed. I’m working on that. My friends have supported me and found me good doctors to work with me. My beauty knows everything. Momma, I’ll tell you everything if you want?” He took her hands.
“I want to hear what you want to share. You are my son. I love you to my last breath.”
Troy nodded and began to catalogue his physical injuries as softly as he could. “On Friday, they’re going to try to reverse this.” He lifted his shirt and exposed the colostomy bag to his mother.
She teared up. “I'm so sorry you're suffering. Troy, I’m your momma. I hope you know, if I could, I’d take all your pain away. I will always worry, but that doesn't change how much I love you. And it shouldn’t change how anyone sees you. If you need my help, I’ll be right at your side doing whatever I can.”
Troy swallowed the lump in his throat. “Did you see the film?”
The flash of sorrow flickering in her eyes answered the question. “Yes. I watched it with Evie and Sofia.”
“Those men…” A shudder ran through him. “That’s one of the reasons I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t admit it to myself all that happened.”
Fani put her wine down, stood and leaned over her son. “I never want you to be afraid to tell me something, ever. And you have not one thing to be ashamed of.” She kissed both his cheeks and sat next to him.“Remember what else the announcer said on the tape: you stopped those evil people from hurting more.”
“Momma,” he sighed, “my male parts were seriously injured in the attack.The doctors are trying to make things better, but I may not be able to give you a grandbaby. That's one of the reasons why I was afraid to ask Gwen out. But there was something about her I couldn't stay away from.”
Fani smiled brightly at her son and leaned into him. “Troy Alexander Bremen, that fate remains undecided. Your life is yours to live as you choose. Now, you look tired. Walk me to my room and go be with that beautiful young woman. We have time to talk.”
Troy escorted his mother to her bedroom. “Do you need anything?”
“I’m here. I have what I need.” Fani turned to him. “Tomorrow I want to cook for all of you again. Tell me how many, and you lend me one of those lovely Romeo gentlemen to go to the supermarket, and we will have a feast for dinner.”