“People change.” Then she seemed to hesitate.
“What is it?”
“He’s not immortal, Zach. One of these days, he’ll be gone, along with any chance you have to mend fences. We’ve put the past behind us, haven’t we? Maybe he’s here because he wants a new start, too.”
It was on the tip of Zach’s tongue to say he didn’t want to mend fences with his father, but he could see in her eyes that this mattered to her. Was that because she’d lost her parents?
He drew a deep breath, tried to let his anger go.
“Okay.” With her hand in his, he walked back to the door, to find his father still standing on the steps, looking old and alone. “Listen, Dad, I—”
“You want me to leave. Fine. I’ll go. But first . . .” He reached into his pocket and drew out a box. “I brought you something. This belongs to you.”
Expecting to find a piece of jewelry or other object that had once belonged to his mother, Zach released Natalie’s hand, took the box, and opened it, the breath leaving his lungs when he saw what lay inside. “You . . . you saved this?”
Natalie peered into the box, gasped. “Oh, Zach!”
“Of course, I did. I’m sorry I drove you away from the ceremony. I shouldn’t have brought the media, but I was so damned proud of you, son.” His father’s voice broke. “I meant to give this to you last time I saw you in D.C., but I got so angry that I forgot. It’s yours. Keep it. You earned it.”
Zach stared at his Medal of Honor. Until he’d laid eyes on it, he hadn’t realized how deeply he regretted leaving it behind. In a very real sense, it was all he had left of Mike, Chris, Brian, and Jimmy.
He ran his finger over the silk neckband, touched the thirteen white stars, then traced the anchor and the design in the center of the five-pointed star, where the goddess Minerva raised her shield to drive away Discord.
Struggling to contain his emotions, he looked up, saw his father walking away. “Dad, stay.”
His father turned. “Is that whatyouwant, or just your pretty bride?”
Natalie reached out her hand. “It’s what we both want. Come in. Let’s introduce you to our friends.”
From behind him came Darcangelo’s voice. “We’ve lost the bride and groom. What’s going on? Trouble?” Then Darcangelo’s head peered over Zach’s shoulder. “Holy shit. Is that . . . ? Whoa.”
“Put it on, McBride.” That was Hunter.
“Well, I don’t know if—”
“Let your bride put it on you, Zachariah.” His father stepped through the door.
Taking a deep breath, Zach turned, surprised to find most of their wedding guests crowded into the foyer, the music playing to an empty room behind them.
“Put it on, McBride! You earned it!” That was Joaquin.
His shout was joined by others.
His pulse thrumming, Zach nodded to Natalie, who lifted the medal out of its box with hands that seemed to tremble, then walked behind him, her fingers fastening the neckband in place. He smoothed the medal so that it lay flat, then looked down to see it lying against his tie, the gold star shining.
The foyer erupted in cheers and applause.
He looked down to find Natalie watching him, her eyes sparkling, a smile on her beautiful face. “You’re my hero.”
HER HEAD TICKLING from champagne, Natalie kicked the door to the bridal suite shut with her foot, her arms around her husband’s neck as he carried her over to the bed.
“Thank you,” he said as he set her on her feet. “Thank you for stopping me from sending my dad away.”
“I didn’t stop you from doing anything.” She walked behind him and carefully removed his Medal of Honor, setting it down on top of the antique chest of drawers. Such a beautiful medal, earned at such a price. She didn’t think she’d ever forget the sight of him standing there, medal around his neck, their friends cheering for him. “You made up your own mind.”
He chuckled, reaching up to remove his tie. “Nice try, but I was there, remember? I would have sent him packing if you hadn’t come along.”
“I think everyone liked him.” She sat on the bed, kicked off her heels. “He’s a very charming man.”