Page 67 of Hot Soldier's Rescue

Chapter Fifteen

Father Ambrose was as fussy as ever, ushering Elise and Ted into his office and making a production out of preparing tea for them. She sat down, savoring the feel of his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. She’d never get enough of him.

The priest asked, “Are you ready for the big day?”

Ted smiled down at her and she answered for both of them. “Definitely. I’m just sorry my parents aren’t here to share it.”

“Aah, child, but they are. They’re always watching over you from heaven.”

She smiled and took a sip of her tea as Ted asked, “Any news on Grandma’s green card?”

“Why, yes. Her residency documents came through a few days ago. She’s agreed to stay with Mia and Emanuel indefinitely. Sadly, her surviving son and daughter died when the last remnants of the Army of Freedom were destroyed in Mercado last month. With her home gone, she has nothing to go back to Colombia for. She will provide some much needed stability in Mia and Emanuel’s lives.”

Elise nodded. “I think maybe she needs the kids as much as they need her.”

The priest nodded solemnly. Then he asked Ted, “How’s your shoulder doing?”

“Better. I can’t be in the Special Forces anymore, but I have almost full use of it now.”

“Have you decided what you’re going to do next, my son?”

Elise smiled proudly as Ted answered, “I’ve been thinking about medical school. After all those years I spent killing people, I think I’d like to spend a while healing people.”

After a moment of reflective silence, Father Ambrose commented to her, “So what did you think of being a nun?”

She laughed ruefully. “I think I’m not cut out for a life of such hard-core self-denial. You’re made of sterner stuff than I, Padre.”

He laughed gaily. “It was more difficult for you without the calling we people of the cloth answer to. I expect your wedding gown will look much better on you than a wimple.”

“Thank you.” Her heart filled with peace at his words. A wedding. Her wedding. Hers and Ted’s. “It’s almost time, Father.”

“Impatient to become Elise Fisher, are you?” He made a small production of having them each sign their marriage license. As she rose with the intent to go change into her white lace gown, Father Ambrose raised his hand to stop her.

“Before we go and marry you two off, I have a small wedding present for the two you.”

“You didn’t have to,” she and Ted exclaimed in the perfect unison they seemed to do so many things these days.

“Aah, but I did.” He passed them a plain manila envelope with a broad smile. “I need both of you to sign these.”

She pulled out a thick sheaf of legal papers and gasped as she spied the title: Petition for Adoption in the State of New York. Ted swept her in his arms and squeezed her so tightly and so long she thought she might pass out.

Finally he whispered, “Our very own family. Now I have everything I ever dreamed of.”

His shirt front absorbed her welling tears as Father Ambrose continued, “You and Ted were willing to give your lives for Mia and Emanuel, and the children adore you both. Who am I to break apart a family that God has clearly brought together?”

Elise fanned herself vigorously with the papers, unable to stop herself from babbling in her joy. “I’m going to cry and then my mascara will run and I’ll look like a clown and Mia was so hoping I’d look like a princess today.”

Ted passed her a handkerchief and waited while she dabbed at her eyes and collected herself. Then he murmured down to her, “Let’s go make our family official, shall we?”

As she stepped out into the church to the strains of wedding music, Elise reflected on what a funny thing faith was. It was a lot like love. Just when she thought she’d lost them both, they went and found her again.

Thanks to a man with a giant heart, a pair of orphans a lot like her, and a wily old priest who knew her better than she knew herself. Maybe redemption was possible in this world, after all, with a little faith and a lot of love.

Epilogue

Now that the mission to rescue the Garza kids was in the history books, Carter Baigneaux had been released—or kicked out, as it were—from Blackjack Ops. Brady Hathaway had declared it high time for him to get his ass back out in the field and get back on the horse.

Easier said than done.

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