Page 56 of Soaring and Steadfast

An hour later, after another unexpected feeding, a diaper change for Miss Angel, and then getting stuck in an agonizing snarl of traffic on base—thanks to the return of the fleet—Lila finally spotted the massive carrier looming in the distance.

Her breath caught.

It was surreal to see it there, solid and unyielding, the very heart of the Navy’s power and presence. A steel titan resting on the water as if it defied the very laws of nature. The sheer enormity of it was staggering. How did something so impossibly heavy—laden with fighter jets, intricate weapons systems, and thousands of souls—simplyfloat?

The pier buzzed with energy. Sailors streamed down the ramp in waves, their rucksacks slung over their shoulders, their faces a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and joy. Others still moved about the deck, finishing their duties before their own turn to disembark. Lila’s pulse quickened at the sight of them, her heart thrumming with anticipation as she and Stephanie maneuvered through the chaos.

Stephanie was out of the car in an instant, her hands already reaching for the stroller as if driven by the same urgency that twisted through Lila’s veins. Lila followed, moving quickly to help. The crisp snap of the stroller locking into place sent a shiver through her—because this was it. This was the moment. Any second now, Louis would be walking down that ramp, and she could see him again.

Her phone rang, shattering her spinning thoughts. She fumbled for it, breathless, as she pressed it to her ear.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” Louis’ voice rumbled, low and familiar, sending a delicious wave of warmth through her. Just that one syllable unraveled something inside her. “I just got here…”

Relief flooded her.

“Perfect. Stephanie and I just got to the pier.”

“Oh, cool! I’ll head out with Trophy. He’s leaving now.”

A laugh bubbled in her throat, the kind that barely concealed the emotions pressing at the edges of her control. “Grab your rucksack,” she ordered, her voice breathless with anticipation.

There was a beat of silence. She couldhearthe gears clicking in his mind before his soft chuckle filled her ear.

“Thatkinda weekend?” His voice dipped, teasing. “Maybe we should stop at the chaplain’s office on base.”

Heat coiled in her belly, her fingers tightening around the stroller handle. “I’m game,” she murmured, her voice softer now, thick with something unspoken.

Another pause.

A shared moment suspended between them.

Then, his answering chuckle—deep, knowing,intimate.

“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled. “I’ll go get my things and be right down.”

The call ended, but the electricity lingered, dancing along her skin, making her feel alive, anchored – only to feel Stephanie elbow her slightly, grinning.

“You go, girl…”

“Oh, hush,” Lila flushed. “Don’t tease me about Louis, and I won’t tease you about Trophy. You know that man has a huge ego, right?”

“I love his ego,” she sighed happily, closing her eyes. “His ego, his arms, the way he says my name, his chest, how he steals the blankets…”

“Okay – enough,” Lila muttered. “Don’t make me bring up my breakfast before I get to see Louis again.”

And then Stephanie let out a little shriek right before she was picked up bodily by her husband, Trophy. The man swung her around, then leaned into the stroller kissing his daughter tenderly on the forehead, causing Lila to look up hopefully – and she met Louis’s eyes. He raised a hand to wave, coming down the steps of the gangplank of the massive ship – his bag on his shoulder.

She couldn’t help but smile.

That was the best-looking man on that ship by far – despite the leg of a hastily tossed pair of pants hanging from the bag that was packed in a hurry. It was an obvious sign of how thrilled he was to be reunited with her,and his soul shone from his eyes.

Had anyone ever looked at her that way?

Louis jogged toward her, dropped his bag in the gravel, and snatched her into his arms, kissing her tenderly before pressing his forehead to hers.

“Gosh, I missed you,” he breathed softly.

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