Page 44 of My Forever Soldier

“Are you sure you don’t mind vegetarian?” Olivia asked.

Luke couldn’t drag his eyes away from Charlie, who had his tongue between his lips as he concentrated. “Not at all. Whatever you make will be great.”

“I usually make chicken pizza, but this is all I had in the fridge.”

“Mine’s cheese and ketchup,” announced Charlie.

“So I see.” As if he could have missed him demanding his choice of toppings before.

“It’s his favorite,” Ollie told him, still busy chopping. “I kind of give in when it comes to pizza. My theory is that he may as well enjoy it, especially if he’s making it.”

Luke liked that she was so concerned about healthy meals that she felt guilty about this one, but he didn’t like that she always justified herself to him. She was a great mom and no one could fault her. Most certainly not him, especially after being gone for so long and leaving all the hard parenting to her.

“Charlie, how about you go wash up? I’ll pop them in the oven.” Olivia helped him down and he ran off down the hall as if his life depended on it.

“Luke, I need to thank you for what you did last night.”

She wasn’t looking at him, her hands busy sprinkling cheese over the pizza.

He shrugged. “It was no big deal.” And it wasn’t. Any man would have done the same for his child. Besides, she’d already thanked him.

Olivia looked up at him then, used her arm to brush away a few stray strands of hair as she locked eyes with him.

“It was a seriously big deal, Luke. You saved his life.” She had tears in her eyes now. “It means everything to me that you came back, especiallywhenyou did.”

He could see the emotion building up within her. Yes, he’d helped Charlie, but the ambulance had arrived fast, so he would have made it anyway. At least Luke hoped so. But thinking about what-ifs, thinking about what might have happened if he hadn’t come back when he did, wasn’t worth it. The only thing he was proud of right now was the fact he’d had the guts to turn down the promotion and ask for more time before he decided what to do next.

“I should never have walked out on the party, Ollie.” And he should have apologized earlier.

“Luke, really, you don’t have to say anything.” She picked up the pizzas and slipped them into the oven, suddenly not able to meet his gaze.

“No, Ollie, it was wrong. You didn’t deserve it. I, well, I just shouldn’t have done it. I behaved like an idiot.”

Ollie shook her head, took a few steps toward him and wrapped her arms around herself. “I forgive you, Luke. It’s water under the bridge. You saved our son’s life, so I’m hardly going to hold it against you.”

It was as if something had changed between them. The smile on her face, the look in her eyes… There was an openness there that he hadn’t seen, not like that, since he’d returned. It was as if she was forgiving him for more than just one argument, giving him a fresh start. Had he read it wrong, or was she trying to tell him something?

“Olivia…”

She smiled at him. The most beautiful, open, genuine smile he’d ever seen.

“Iforgiveyou, Luke. I do.”

All the pain of coming home, all the memories he’d held so tight, all the worries about what to do and how to behave, had all been worth it. That smile meant everything to him, her words the best melody he could imagine. Because now he might actually have a real chance with her. Not at a night with her, not at seeing how things panned out, but a chance at afuture.

14

LUKE JUMPED TO his feet as the doorbell rang. He’d been playing trains with Charlie, building a track that took them right around the living room.

“Coming,” he called.

The door was solid timber, so he couldn’t see who was there. He pulled it open.

“Kelly.” Luke said her name because he didn’t know what else to say. He wished he wasn’t home alone. The last thing he needed right now was a grilling about his behavior, or a lecture about what was best for Olivia again.

“Hi, Luke. Can I come in?” she asked.

He could hardly say no. “Of course.”

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