Page 61 of The Biggest Sacrifice

“Cash.”

She studies me. “How do you know that?”

Taking the coffee from her hand, I nod to the couch. “Have a seat, Jame. We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

* * *

We’ve just finisheddinner with JT’s parents and now we’re sitting in the backyard enjoying the quiet night.

“I still can’t get over that you and Cash are partners.”

“We’re not partners. I’m in charge of him.”

Phil, JT’s dad, barks a laugh. “Sounds like a bad episode of Starsky and Hutch.”

“Or Chips. I’m Ponch, by the way.”

We chuckle and Suzanne, JT’s mom, says, “We’re so glad to see you, Tom. It makes us so happy to have you here, even if just for the day.”

“We should try to make sure we don’t wait this long before seeing each other again. I know you’re busy with work and-”

“Work was an excuse, Phil.”

His face softens. “I know that, Thomas.” He cracks a smile and I shake my head.

“You’re as bad as Frank.”

“Speaking of back home, how’s Farrah?” Jamie questions me with a slight tone in her voice and a raised eyebrow when I look her way.

“Farrah is an angel and I don’t deserve her.” The admission falls from my lips and all three of them stare back at me with wide eyes. Laughing, “What? Have I been that much of an asshole that when I do say something nice, you’re all speechless?”

A slow grin spreads across Jamie’s face. “Stay right here.” She jumps from her chair and runs inside the house. I look back to Phil and Suzanne and they just watch me. I wipe my hands on my jeans, beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable. Just when I’m about to say something stupid to fill the void, Jamie comes out the door again and sits in the chair next to me.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say you love her.”

“I’ve always love-”

“Yes, I know you have. JT told me you had heart eyes every time you mentioned her name.”

I roll my eyes at her. “He was always so dramatic.”

She laughs, “He was. But he was right about you two.” She holds out a small box to me and I reach for it.

“What’s this?”

She begins to speak, stops. Looks at Phil and Suzanne. Then back to me. Tries to speak again.

“Jamie! Spit it out! You’re making me nervous!”

A single tear runs down her face and my heart beats fast. Shaking my head no, I hand the box back. “No. No, I know what this is. I’m not taking it.”

She pushes it back into my hands, then wraps her hand around mine, making sure I hold the small jewelry box securely. “Listen to me. I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you admit you’re in love. And when I last saw you, I was afraid you were never going to feel that again. A true love only comes around once in a lifetime, and you’ve met yours. Don’t lose her, Tom.”

Choking back tears, I pull my hands from hers and open the box. Inside is a men’s simple gold band. “I bought that for JT the last time he deployed. We said when he returned home, we were going right to a justice of the peace and getting married. He told me that when he met me off that plane, I better have a ring in hand because we weren’t waiting any longer.”

The tears come strong and fast now, for all of us. What this family has given me, in the wake of losing their only son, is something I can never return. All I can do is take the love they give and grow with it. Give it back to them and give it to Farrah.

“You’re in love, Tom, and it’s the best thing I’ve seen in seven years.”

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