‘And with my award, I’ve decided to honour someone else. The truth is, after the explosion, I didn’t want to live.’ The sound of the audience cut off, as if someone had muted the volume. Kate could hear nothing but the beating of her head over heels heart. ‘In fact, I was adamant that I was done. Hightower and a few others here know what I’m like when I get my head on.’ A burble of laughter rippled across the room, and Cooper fake scowled at them, causing more deep chortles.
‘My award is dedicated to a stubborn, fiery woman who came into my world on the worst day of my life and forced me to fight. She forced me to fight my body, my mind, and even on occasion, her. The woman has a tongue like a rattlesnake and is as stubborn as an ox, but she was right.’ The audience lapped it up, laughter and soppy grins all around the room. ‘Life for me was the army, I thought it would only ever be the army. She showed me that I had other things to live for. I will never leave the field of battle. Everyone here left a piece there, one way or another, and I can live with that. Because Doctor Kate Harper taught me how.’
He looked down at the award in his hands, and then back at her. ‘I love you for that Kate, and many other reasons. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart.’
Hightower whooped loudly as the audience sprang to life. Ruth nudged Kate, clapping. ‘Check you out, Dr Harper!’
Cooper leaned into the microphone. ‘Kate, I am here, and I’m all in. Marry me.’
The audience gasped and the noise abruptly cut off. Everyone was looking agog from Cooper to Kate, and she felt a tear drop onto her cheek.
Captain Thomas Cooper, the most stubborn, masculine man she had ever met was standing in front of everyone he loved, pouring his heart out and declaring his love. She knew then and there what her answer was, and what it always would be.
‘Yes,’ she said, running to the stage as the audience erupted. He met her at the stairs, and when they crushed their bodies together, he whispered in her ear. ‘You’re stuck with me now, Missy.’
EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER
‘Jamie, dude – get a move on, your transport is on the way!’ Kate was walking through the house, picking up a discarded half-chewed sock that Jamie’s dog had eviscerated. She gave the mischievous labrador a stern look as he looked suitably guilty from his basket in her son’s room.
‘Buddy, this is not cool. Socks are not toys!’
Jamie laughed from his chair as he grabbed his backpack and threw his pencil case into a zip pocket. ‘He ate three yesterday too. He loves the smell of your feet!’
Kate kissed her son, rolling her eyes. Jamie was back in school and living in their adapted bungalow made life so much easier. He had his struggles, but he was happy. He even saw his dad once a month, although things were a little strained. Like Cooper said, ‘it’s a work in progress.’
‘Taxi’s here,’ Cooper said, coming into the hallway. ‘I finish work at the centre early today, and your mum has a late surgery, so shall I pick you up, we can go shoot some hoops?’ He pretended to make a basket with his hands.
‘That’s it, old man, get some practice in, I am so not going easy on you!’ Jamie clipped his pack onto his chair, fist-bumping Cooper on his way out of the door.
‘Bye, Mum, Dad, love you!’ The door shut behind him, and Kate and Cooper looked at each other in shock.
‘Did you hear that?’ Cooper said. ‘He called me Dad!’
Kate wrapped her arms around her husband, pulling him as close to her as she could manage.
‘I know,’ she said, peppering his face with kisses. ‘Might as well get used to it.’
He kissed her back, his stubble rubbing her cheek as he knelt down. Putting both hands on her baby bump, he kissed her tummy.
‘I can manage that,’ he said, looking up at her with a grin that made her heart sing and her stomach flip. ‘Best job I ever had.’