One final salute of respect from the soldier before he spins on his heel and returns to his post. A moment later, the Pastor offers his closing remarks before everyone’s dismissed.
Fifteen minutes. The whole thing couldn’t have lasted more than fifteen minutes, yet the beautiful burden those minutes held is something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
“I’m gonna check on the food table.” Hannah’s voice grounds me back to the present.
“No. Stay.”
The crease between her brows deepen as her eyes meet mine. “Don’t you wanna catch up with your buddies? I’ll only be a minute.”
I shake my head, refusing to let go of her hand. “No.”
“Ro—”
I throw my arms around her in a desperate hug. Silent sobs shudder through me, and I bury my face in her neck, not caring who sees.
Everything about today, every person who showed up for him—it’s all her. None of it exists without her.
Hannah.The sun, the glue, and the confetti all wrapped up in one perfect woman.
No moment spent with her, thinking about her, making her laugh, drying her tears, kissing her, touching her, falling in love with her—none of it could ever be a mistake. And even though she doesn’t want me to say the words, I’ll make sure she feels them.
Because how can you regret a single moment when you’ve found the one thing so many people spend a lifetime looking for? Something—someone—this special and rare.
You don’t.
All you can do is cherish it and pray like hell it sticks around.
45
you can have this
Rowan
Most of theVFW crowd has cleared out in the couple of hours since the service ended. My family, squad mates, Hannah, and Lydia are all that remain.
Tan berets lay haphazardly on the patio table among an array of empty beer bottles. The guys chatter on about some nonsense, but I can’t stop watching the women on the other end of the deck. Mom, Bri, Hannah, and Lydia lost in their own little world of girl talk.
Lydia doesn’t look any healthier than the last time I saw her, but she smiles, and Hannah’s face lights up like the most beautiful game of call and response. Richard got called in for a consult at the children’s hospital a little while ago, so Hannah and I will need to drive her home tonight.
“Shocked you still fit into your uniform, Shaw,” my fellow soldier, Tucky, chirps. “Figured you’d let yourself go after you left us.”
Then Sweets. “Sorry we were almost late, bro. Someone gave us shitty directions.”
“Not my fault your GPS sucks balls,” Dubs supplies.
My buddy, Taz, who’s had my six more times than I can count, says, “The rest of the squad really wished they could be here.”
I dismiss the comment, knowing all too well the challenges of anentire unit getting simultaneous leave approval. “I get it. I appreciate you guys making the trip. Means a lot.”
Hannah appears at my side, collects all the empty bottles. I wrap an arm around her waist from my seat. “You don’t have to do that, baby.”
“When are you gonna introduce us to your girl, Shaw?” That’s Lucy.
The girl in question snorts as she tosses a few bottles in the recycle bin.
“Depends,” I say. “You assholes gonna behave?”
They all snicker and I tip back my beer, floating an accusatory finger at each of them.Keep it PG, fellas.