Page 150 of Return To You

She elbows me and nods, visibly happy.

“Did you close today?” Shannon asks her.

She shakes her head. “We were going to be open, but everyone canceled.” A worry frown appears between her eyebrows.

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her into me, stroking her arm. Then I lean in and kiss her hair. Shit. I wish there was something I could do about that. More importantly, I wish there was something I could do about her losing her lease. I feel her relax under my touch, and right now? That’s all I can ask for, and all I need.

“Why don’t you run a special?” I say under my breath. “Discount your services for the next couple of days. Or the week.”

She nods. “Good idea. I’ll post it on Echoes. Shoulda thought about it myself. I just…”

She’s in panic mode, unable to think clearly. There’s just been too much on her mind lately.

“Just relax. It’ll figure itself out,” Dennis says.

“It will,” I say.

She gives us a small smile, but I know she doesn’t believe it.

Toward the end of the meeting, I get a text message from my C.O. checking in on me.

Me

Everyone safe and sound, but a lot of damage to houses

Wish I could stick around to help out.

That second message was a little ballsy, but hey. You never know until you try.

My phone rings. “King. ’Sup,” my C.O. says.

I excuse myself from the table, step out of the crowd, and tell him the situation.

“Take four extra days. Then pack your shit and get your ass here.” Before hanging up, he adds, “We’ll chalk that up to Air Force community outreach, so do me a favor, wear your fucking Air Force T-shirts, and post some selfies like a true millennial. Brass’ll be happy to know we’re doin’ something to counterbalance the pushback on the F-35.”

Okay then. Paperwork will follow. I know his word is golden, and I don’t need to worry. I just bought myself four more days with Grace.

I get back to Grace right as the meeting ends. She looks at me, a question in her eyes. “Gonna stick around a few more days,” I whisper in her ear, squeezing her against me. “My C.O. cleared me to help out with the recovery effort.” She holds me tighter against her, as we walk through the crowd to find Lucas. “Hey, man. You’re gonna need help. I’m not qualified, but I’m free.”

Lucas gives me a friendly slap on the bicep. “You’re more than qualified. Appreciate it. When you say free…?”

“Available for the next few days and not charging a dime.”

He nods and smiles. “Cool. Come by tomorrow at seven?” He looks at Grace. “How’s the roof?”

She tilts her head to me. “You have to ask him. It’s not leaking anymore, but it has blue plastic on it.”

“It’ll hold for now,” I say, rubbing Grace’s arm to reassure her.

Lucas lifts his chin. “A’right. We’ll get to you eventually.”

“See you tomorrow,” we both say as we part ways with Lucas.

We say goodbye to the Harpers, then stop to catch up with Chris and Alex. Grace tells Skye about her bedroom, and the child listens with wide eyes.

“We’ll be sure to cut some of the trees around the house so this never happens again,” I tell Chris. The thought that Skye could have been asleep in that bedroom and that the tree could have fallen at a different angle is chilling. I can’t imagine what Chris is thinking right now. He nods and pulls Alex into him like I’m holding Grace. In times of trial, the need to feel our loved ones close by is heightened.

I scan the room, see Kiara passing around trays of tiny pastries, and stop Justin as he whisks by me, carrying empty dishes to the kitchen. “D’you see Mom and Dad?”

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