Page 43 of Everybody Needs a Hero

“We were only enjoying the morning air,” Tess said with a wink. “Where is Bryce?”

Ashley nodded toward the hall. “Hit the shower.”

“That sounds like a perfect thing to be doing,” Drew said. “I’m heading that way myself.”

“It’s a life-altering experience after everything,” Ashley said as Drew left the room. Once she was gone, Ashley hugged her mom. They held each other for a full minute, not saying a word, and when Ashley finally stepped back, they both had tears in her eyes. “I love you, Mom. I couldn’t have made it through today without you.”

Tess took Ashley’s face in her hands and kissed her forehead. “The same for me,” she said. “I love you so much. And now, you know what? I think we should share a bottle of wine.”

Ashley raised her eyebrows. “I see nothing wrong with that,” she said. “Because honestly, I could not tell you what time it is if I couldn’t see it’s light outside.” She groaned. “It feels like I’ve been awake forever.”

“We sort of have,” Tess said, going to the refrigerator and fishing out a bottle of white wine. “Help me find some glasses.” Ashley opened a cupboard with a pathetic number of non-perishables inside before moving to the next one and finding what she looked for. Taking down two glasses, Tess opened the bottle and poured them a healthy share. Picking her glass up, Ashley sat at the kitchen table and appraised her mother. Even though it had been an unbelievably hard twenty-four hours, she looked happy.

It must have to do with Drew, Ashley thought as she took a sip. “So, do you want to talk about Drew?” Ashley asked, and Tess playfully narrowed her eyes.

“Maybe,” she answered. “What do you want to talk about?”

Ashley looked at the ceiling, trying to find the words. “Just that the two of you seem to be… I’m not sure. She’s very shy about stuff.”

Tess nodded. “She is,” she replied. “But I’m willing to be patient.”

“Good. I think she’s worth it. She seems pretty wonderful.”

“I agree,” Tess said, taking a sip of her wine before tilting her head and giving her daughter an appraising look. “Now, how about we talk about Bryce?”

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “What do you want to talk about?”

“She is a remarkable young woman,” Tess said. “And honestly, I don’t know if we would all be here in one piece without her.”

Ashley smiled, a warmth grew inside her as she thought about Bryce and all she did for everyone. “Yes, she is my heroic Marine,” Ashley said.

Tess raised an eyebrow. “That leads me to another question,” she said. “Is she still a Marine? Won’t she have to go back?”

Ashley looked at her wine glass while considering the question. “I’m not sure,” she answered. “But maybe it’s time I asked. Right now.” Standing, she kissed her mom on the cheek before disappearing down the hall to the bedroom. The door was ajar, so she slipped inside only to see Bryce still sitting on the bed in her sports bra and boxers. She was holding her cell phone in her hand. “What’s wrong?” Ashley sat beside her on the bed.

Bryce shook her head. “Nothing is really wrong,” Bryce replied. “But I need to tell you some things.”

Ashley was not sure she liked the sound of her comment but wanted to hear Bryce out. “Okay, I’m listening.”

Bryce set the phone beside her on the bed and then turned to face Ashley. She took her hands, meeting her eye. “Actually,” she started. “I haven’t told you, but ever since I met you in college years ago, I have thought about you probably every day. And most especially when times in my life were hard.”

“Bryce…” Ashley started, but Bryce shook her head.

“Let me continue,” she said. “I’m crazy about you, and you are the only reason I came back to Los Angeles.” Bryce hesitated but then seemed to gather her courage. “And when I realized there could be something between us, I felt like I won the lottery.”

Ashley nodded slowly. “I feel like that too,” she said. “Why are you telling me all this right now?”

Bryce looked down at their joined hands. “I got a call from my company commander,” she said. “He’d been trying to call me for hours, but the lines were down. Ashley, they want me to come back to the Marine Corps.”

“Look at me, Bryce,” Ashley said, squeezing her hands. “Are you telling me that I’m going to be a long-distance girlfriend?” She smiled. “Because I’m okay with that if it’s what you want.”

Slowly, Bryce lifted her head. “You’re sure?” she asked, and Ashley nodded.

“I want you in my life, Bryce,” she said. “Whatever that looks like.”

Pulling her closer, Bryce kissed her gently on the mouth. “I want that too,” she murmured. “Whatever that looks like.”

EPILOGUE

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