Page 85 of Hello Handsome
“Seriously though,” I said. “I’m only a handful of years older than Fletcher. Will they think poorly of me?”
Gray wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “It’s bullshit women get judged for age gaps when men get praised.”
“Preach,” I muttered.
Then he said, “I can tell you that every single one of my boys has asked me what’s taken so damn long when it comes to you.”
My cheeks warmed at the thought. “Really? They’ve talked about us?”
He reached for my hand over the table, callouses rough over my soft skin. “How could they not when they can see how I feel about you?”
My heart twinged because of all the years I waited for this. “What do you mean?”
He ran his thumb over the back of my hand. “For as long as I’ve loved you, I’ve been afraid of losing you. I’m still afraid, if I’m being honest. Just trying to be brave.”
“You are brave,” I said, remembering what I told Enzo before he enlisted. When you signed up to join the military, you were signing up for the possibility of war. The chance of death. But even truer is the fact that you can’t live without dying.
“Doing something you know could end badly because you believe in it so muchisbrave. You’re trusting yourself to handle the hard times that could come because you know the cause is worth it.” I took a breath. “And it’s harder for you because you know firsthand what loss feels like. It’s so brave of you to know that, to your core, and still choose love.”
Even though it took him a long time, I was proud of him. There wasn’t a timeline on growth or healing. Only steps forward and backward. And Gray had finally stepped toward me.
“Have I mentioned I love you?” he rasped. Then he took a drink of coffee to soothe his voice. “Because I do.”
I lifted his hand to my lips, kissing his weathered knuckles. “I love you, too.”
“Now call Enzo,” Gray said as he nudged my phone closer to me. “It’s not so early where he is.”
“True.” My heart fluttered as I picked it up and unlocked the screen before dialing one of the three people I talked to regularly.
Within a few rings, Enzo answered and said, “What did you say, Mom?”
I grinned at the excitement in his voice. Of course he knew what I was calling about. “I said yes.”
He cheered so loud, I had to hold the phone away from my ear. Then I put it on speakerphone and said, “Gray heard that. And the rest of the barrack, I’m sure.”
Gray chuckled and called, “Thanks for your support, Enz.”
“Of course,” Enzo said, then he added, “I have news, too.”
Gray and I exchanged a look over the table. “What do you mean?” I asked.
Enzo took a deep breath, loud enough I could hear it over the phone. “This injury has really put things into perspective for me. I’m not signing up for more years, Mom. I’m done with the Marines, and I’m moving back to Cottonwood Falls. I’m coming home.”
My lips parted, and I gazed at Gray in shock.Did I hear that right?I mouthed at him, and Gray nodded vigorously.
“Wow, Enzo, that’s a big choice,” I said, selfishly overjoyed he was coming home. Getting to spend time with him as an adult was one of the best times of my life, and I’d love to do it under better circumstances. “You’re not doing this for me, are you? Because I’m okay here.” I squeezed Gray’s hand on the table, and he gave me a reassuring squeeze back.
“Mom, I’ve worked a job. I’ve lived halfway around the world. And I just want to come home.”
The emotion in his voice had tears pricking at my eyes. “You’re always welcome home,” I promised.
54
GRAY
As my fiveboys slid into chairs around the old oak table in the dining room, my mind flashed back twenty years to our meals at the very same table. Lots of canned green beans and hamburgers were eaten here. Lots of almost-fights and actual fights.
If you turned over one of the chairs, you could probably still see a drip of hardened wood glue where I had to secure the leg back in place.
