Bert took a breath, gathering every ounce of courage he’d earned in a decade of military service. “I care about you. Probably from the day you rolled up to the compound and shook my hand like you were daring me to see you as anything less than capable.”
He saw her lips part, saw shock and something else flicker across her face, but he kept going.
“I’ve been too scared to tell you. Too worried about ruining our friendship, too cautious for a lot of reasons.” His voice dropped, became rougher. “But watching you pack for this trip, knowing you’ll be gone for two weeks, I realized I’m an idiot for not telling you how much you’ll be missed. My life won’t be the same while you’re gone.”
“Bert—” Mary started, but he shook his head.
“When you come back from Canada, I’m asking you for a date. If it’s friendship only, that’s good. I’ll take it. But if it’s more… well, you think about it.” He squeezed her hand, his blue eyes locked on hers. “I’m done being careful, Mary. You’re worth the risk. We’re worth the risk. And I needed you to know that before you left.”
Mary’s smile was radiant despite the tears on her cheeks. “I’ve been waiting months for you to say something like that.”
“Yeah?” Bert’s voice cracked slightly.
She glanced at the airport terminal, then back at him, conflict clear on her face. “I have to go. I have to get through security and?—”
“I know.” He smiled, his heart lighter. “Go on your trip. See Prince Edward Island. Have adventures. We’ll talk every day, ‘cause I can’t wait to hear about your travels where Anne Shirley wandered.”
Her smile widened. “Take care of yourself. And don’t let the compound fall apart without me.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Her gaze held his as she reached out to take his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I promise to test out the lighthouse necklace.”
“I’ll feel better knowing you have it. Just in case.”
“Just in case of what?” Mary asked, her smile morphing into the warm smile that made him feel like maybe, possibly, she understood what he wasn’t saying.
He paused, then added honestly, “Any reason you need to reach me quickly. It’s just a backup.”
Something shifted in Mary’s expression, became softer and more open. “Thank you, Bert.”
He smiled, then climbed from the SUV and grabbed her chair and luggage. For a moment in the cold morning air, with the airport bustling around them, they simply looked at each other.
“I should get checked in,” Mary said finally, breaking the moment. “Thank you for the ride, Bert. And for the necklace. You are so good to me.”
“Have a safe flight,” he managed. “Text me when you land so I know you made it okay.”
“I will.” She hesitated, like she wanted to say something more, then just smiled and turned toward the airport entrance.
Bert watched her navigate through the automatic doors, watched until she disappeared into the crowd, and felt the loss like a physical ache. He worried, but she’d flown with her wheelchair before, so he knew she could handle herself.
Without Mary beside him, the drive back to the compound felt longer than the drive to the airport had been. The sun was rising now, painting the Montana sky in shades of pink and gold, and Bert should have appreciated the beauty of it.
Two weeks had never felt so long, but for the first time in years, Bert wasn’t dreading the wait. He was looking forward to what came after.
By the time he reached LSIMT, the team was arriving for the day. Bert parked and made his way inside, heading straight for the equipment room where he could lose himself in work and stop thinking about blue eyes and warm smiles and two weeks that stretched ahead like an eternity.
He’d been at his desk for maybe twenty minutes when Sisco appeared in the doorway, two cups of coffee in hand. He held one out to Bert, giving him a knowing look.
“Rough morning?”
“Just tired,” Bert said, accepting the coffee gratefully. “Had to get up early to take Mary to the airport.”
“Uh-huh.” Sisco leaned against the doorframe, clearly not buying it. “And how are you feeling about her being gone for two weeks?”
“Fine. She deserves a vacation. She’s been working too hard.”
“That’s not what I asked.”