Page 84 of Code Name: Tank
Mom’s eyes widened as she looked at my left hand.
“Oh, Piper. It’s beautiful.” Her voice caught. “I’m so happy for you both.”
After greeting her, Candy immediately sprang into action, setting another place at the table.
As the morning progressed, Tank’s family worked their magic on my mother just as they had on me. Candy drew her into conversations, Bradley asked thoughtful questions about her flight, and the children charmed her by showing off their gifts.
“Mom, where’s Richard?” I asked when she sat beside me on the sofa.
It wasn’t until we were opening presents that I learned why she’d really come.
“Richard and I are getting divorced,” she said quietly as we sat together, watching the kids unwrap what seemed like their fifteenth gifts. “It… it didn’t work out the way I’d hoped.”
“Mom, I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “I’m not. I realized I was trying to fill a void that could only be filled by reconnecting with my daughter.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I’ve missed too much of your life in the last few months, and I don’t want to miss any more.”
“There’s one gift left,”Candy said an hour later.
“Is it for me?” Sophie asked, dropping her new doll to rush over.
“Nope,” said Tank, getting to the small box first. “It’s for Piper.” He sat back down beside me.
“Merry Christmas,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. “Open it, darlin’.”
A hush came over the room as I untied the bow and carefully unwrapped it. I gasped when I lifted the lid and saw a skeleton key attached to a beautiful silver chain.
“What is it?” Sophie asked, leaning in for a closer look.
Tank smiled and cleared his throat. “It’s the key to Cedar Point. I bought the camp for us, Piper, to live in, or use as a vacation home, whatever you want. However you want. This place holds the memories of us falling in love; that’s the important thing.”
The room erupted in excited chatter, but all I could focus on was Tank’s face.
“You bought us the camp,” I said, still processing.
“For our future,” he said, giving me a quick kiss. “Although we’re going to have to beef up security significantly once the K19 Sentinel Cyber team hears about the skeleton key.”
“Biometric locks seem wrong, but they make it work at Kane Mountain,” I said, still in shock over Tank’s amazing gift.
“Happy?” he asked. “You like it, right?”
“It’s perfect,” I whispered. “You’re perfect.”
The rest of Christmas Day passed in a blur of joy and laughter. We played games, took walks in the snow that wasn’t as deep as it looked from inside, and shared stories by the fire. Mom and Candy bonded as they made dinner, while Bradley, Tank, and Carter discussed fishing spots for the spring. Powell and Sophie made plans for summer visits, and Riley napped peacefully in various family members’ arms.
As evening approached and we settled in the living room with hot chocolate and leftover pie, Tank and I talked with our parents about our plans.
“Have you thought about a wedding date?” Candy asked, clearly already making mental lists. “I know you just got engaged last night, but…”
“What would you think about July 4?” Tank asked.
“It’s perfect. Admiral and Alice’s baby is due in April, and I want to ask her to be my matron of honor. What about you?” I asked Tank. “Have you given it any thought?”
“I already asked Atticus to be my best man,” he said sheepishly.
“What did he say?”
“Yes, without hesitation.”
