Page 10 of The Soldier's Final Mission

Becca finished her yoga and was heating amug of water for tea when she heard a knock on her door. Looking at the clock,she wondered who would be here at nearly eight-thirty in the evening.

Hopefully not Patrick. She couldn’t seewhy he’d stop by. And she couldn’t handle anything from him right now.

She walked to the door and looked throughthe peephole, jerking back with shock after seeing Bob on the other side. Shelooked at herself in the small mirror above the sideboard and sighed. Well,what should he expect after the day she’d had? This was her, take it or leaveit.

Becca unlocked the door and opened it, herheart immediately going out to the man standing before her, looking so lost.

“Bob, come in.” She stepped aside,allowing him to pass. She closed and locked the door, turning to him as hefilled her entryway.

“I’m sorry to just show up like this, but…”—hehesitated a moment before continuing— “but I had to see you. I hope you don’tmind.”

“Not if you don’t mind me in the state I’min. I just finished my yoga and wasgettin’ some tea.Would you like anything?” She nervously moved past him through the living room,sensing that he followed.

“You look great.”

She laughed, continuing on toward thekitchen. “Ha, thanks.”

“You do, Becca. You look really great.”

The sincerity in his voice had herstopping to turn and stare at him. If it were possible, it seemed there wereeven more lines etched on his face and a shadow surrounding him. Beccainstantly wanted to chase away that darkness and see his brightness return. Shethought she should approach whatever this was with caution, but that justwasn’t her style. Not after all the thoughts that’d been running through hermind.

“Bob, why are you here?”

“Here at your house, or here in SanDiego?”

“Yes. Both, I guess.”

“I’m here for a possible job.” He took astep in her direction. “That is, if things work out with us.”

“With us? What do you mean?”

Another step brought him closer. “I’m herefor you, Becca. I spent the last six years thinking about you, and latelywondering why I was such a dumbass for not giving us a chance. For letting myown fear and uncertainty ruin what could have been something great. What I hopecould still be salvaged.”

The hope in his voice, now in his eyes,had Becca’s mind reeling. “Why did you never contact me?”

“Tessa told me you had moved on, married,hada kid. I couldn’t disrupt that. I was always gone onmissions, and that seemed to reaffirm my conviction for not getting involved. Butit didn’t stop me from thinking about you, wishing things could’ve beendifferent.”

“There was never anyone else over theyears?” She found it hard to believe that he had never hooked up with anyoneelse. She watched him lower his head and almost blush. “Okay, maybe I reallydon’t want to know about that.”

His head came up and his stare met hers. “Becca,nobody has ever invaded my thoughts like you. I can’t explain it, and itdoesn’t really matter. All that matters is I’m here, ready to beg if I haveto.”

“Bob, I—”

Bob closed the distance between them tostand within inches of her. “Can you give me a chance? Is there any possibleway you could consider loving this broken man?”

Becca reached out her hands to take his,gripping them tightly. “Don’t say that. You’re not a broken man.”

“Becca, there’s a lot you don’t know.”

“Like the scars?” She looked to his arm,seeing much more than she had earlier. “The limp?” she said as she looked downto his legs before returning to his face. “They don’t matter to me. That’s onlysuperficial.” She leaned in closer, releasing a hand to place on his chest. “Whatmatters is what’s in here. Your strength. Your courage. Your heart.”

****

Bob felt the heat of her hand above hisheart through the thin material of his t-shirt. He closed his eyes for amoment, letting her words sink in, enjoying the fact that she was even touchinghim again. When he finally opened his eyes, he saw the hope he longed to see inhers.

“Becca,” he began, his voice strangledwith emotion. “There’s so much I want to say, so much…”

“Bob, there’ll be time for words later,”she said softly.

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