Page 57 of Her Faithful Protector

“The more, the better,” I respond eagerly, turning my head to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

“I thought you’d be the saucy type,” she quips.

As she moves away from me, I reach out and catch her hand, not wanting to let go. “Next time, I’ll cook your favorite. By the way, what is it?”

She looks at me, thinking. “Baked halibut with fresh herbs.”

“It sounds delicious. I’ll make it happen,” I assure her. “Helena isn’t well known for its seafood, but I won’t let that stop me from getting fresh fish.”

“Maybe you can cook me it when we’re in Hawaii?” Ava winks at me as she walks away.

I know she would go to the ends of the earth for me, but she’s happy here. She has her best friend, and there’s a promising job opportunity in the city that may restart her career. And I must confess that Montana is a great place to raise children.

I close Willem’s article and search for seafood markets in Helena where I can find fresh catches. As I peruse recipes for her favorite meal, I recall my days at St. Leo’s monastery. Cooking was a skill I acquired under the guidance of a nurturing nun, though I’ve never attempted a dish with halibut before.

Shortly after, as half the house starts to smell like a steak restaurant, Ava calls dinner. We take our seats at the table.

“I talked to my captain,” I inform her while spreading butter on my bread.

She nervously gazes at me. “And?”

“He’s given me an extra week,” I reveal.

She lets out a sigh of relief and says, “We can use that time to prepare for our move to Hawaii.”

Ava is the type of person who will make sacrifices for her loved ones. Even though she doesn’t get along with her parents, I learned from Morgan that Ava decided to give her relationship with Willem another try because of them. I don’t know the specifics, and I don’t agree with her choice, but it demonstrates her willingness to prioritize others over herself. I won’t ask her to do the same for me. ‘She before me’ applies to more than just our physical relationship. In the face of harm, I’ll stand before her. But anywhere else, it’s her before me.

After the pause, she adds, “Let Quinton and me come with you, Jack.”

I set down my knife to hold her hand. “Deep down, that’s not what you want, is it?”

“That’s what I want. I want to be with you.”

“Look, sweetheart. It’s not just about Hawaii. Living a military life means moving from one base to another. We might be in Oahu for the next few months or weeks, and then it could be California, Florida, North Carolina, or even overseas.”

“We’ll work it out, Jack. How many military families are there? They make it work.”

“Some don’t.”

“Well, we’ll make sure we’re not one of them.”

I admire her belief and optimism. But I’ve witnessed couples and families deeply in love, who believed they had the strength to endure, only to be torn apart by the harsh realities of logistical challenges and prolonged separation.

Growing up, I never had a male role model, and my understanding of what a childhood should be is as blank as a white sheet of paper. The idea of nurturing a family is already adaunting task, let alone leading a family in the demanding context of the military.

I’m not afraid of Ava leaving me—if she feels it’s necessary, I will not stand in her way. What I’m afraid of is that she’ll choose to stay with me no matter what, sacrificing her own well-being for my sake—and there would be no stopping her. And, heaven forbid, if something were to happen to me, I don’t want to leave her and Quinton to pick up the pieces.

“I would give up the Corps for you, Ava,” I assure her. I won’t abandon her. If it means leaving the Marine Corps, then so be it.

“Don’t let me be the reason for ending your career. You love your job, you’re good at it, and you’re needed there.”

Confusion clouds my mind, making it impossible to decide. “I won’t leave you alone. Especially when Willem is still a free man.”

“We can’t live in his shadow, Jack,” Ava says. “We need to uncover the connection between Quinton’s abduction and him. Until then, I don’t think we can plan our future properly. So for now, I’m okay with taking things one step at a time.”

I gently caress her, admiring her practicality. “You’re right.”

“Until Willem is behind bars, please don’t make any rash decisions,” she advises.

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