Page 68 of SEAL's Angel
“Did you need something, Lieutenant Commander?” the nurse asked as she tried to hide her grin.
It didn’t take him long to figure out they’d played him, but he didn’t care. The smirk on Dawn’s face filled him with the love he’d tried to ignore.
Jake took a deep breath and slowly made his way toward the only woman he’d ever loved. Dawn watched him take the first few steps, then met him halfway. She stopped in front of him but didn’t reach out.
He held out his arms, and she walked into them. No hesitation, no pity, just love. “I love you, angel. I’m so sorry.”
Saying the words he’d kept bottled up for so long was a huge relief and released a lot of his pent up anger.
“Thank you for coming back to me, Jake,” she said with tears slipping down her cheeks.
He gently used his fingers to wipe them away. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes, you sexy badass. Now kiss me,” she whispered so only he could hear.
As he kissed her, he swore he heard Nurse Emily say, “it’s about damn time.”
* * *
Two weeks later…
It was Christmas Eve morning, and all Dawn’s wishes were about to come true. Jake was finally coming home. As soon as they’d found out he was being discharged, they had wanted to welcome him home in style. They’d gone shopping, and Chase and Cindy helped her pick out decorations for outside. Then, they’d put up the seven-foot tree in front of the picture window in Jake’s living room.
As Dawn sipped her coffee, she stared at the sparkling, multi-colored lights. Only one ornament hung on the tree, and she’d made it herself. The kids thought it was weird, but she didn’t care. Next year, they could cover the tree with them.
Rafe had told her that Jake never put up a tree. It didn’t surprise her, especially knowing about his childhood. But this year would be different for all of them, and they had so much to celebrate.
After he’d told he loved her; everything had changed. Instead of hiding out in his room, they’d walk up and down the hospital corridor, and he’d steal kisses when no one was looking.
He still hadn’t let her see his scars, but she didn’t care. Dawn loved all of him, and nothing would change it. She wasn’t sure he believed it yet. But tonight they would sleep in the same bed for the first time.
For months, Dawn had prayed for this day, and it was finally here and she was so overjoyed she wanted to jump up and down.
But first, they had to get through the welcome home party. It had been hard to keep the secret about the party from Jake. Rafe, Ryan, Murph, and Cam had helped her plan it when they found out he was coming home. They still hadn’t seen him, not since they’d left him in the doctors’ care in Germany.
Meghan, Miranda, and Sky helped prepare all the food. Chrissy was out of the country but should be back in time for the party later. They’d invited the members of the Red Falcon team and Tony Knox. It would be a full house. Hopefully, Jake would enjoy it.
Finally, Cindy and Chase woke up. They chattered excitedly about Jake, the party, and Christmas while she made pancakes.
“I can’t wait for Jake to come home, Mommy,” Cindy said as she put the last bite of pancake in her mouth.
“Me too, peanut. We have to be careful with him, though. No jumping on him. You’re getting too big for that, anyway.” Dawn reminded her.
“I know, I’ll remember. I promise.”
“Will he have crutches, like I did when I got hurt?” Chase asked.
“Nope, but he is still walking a little slow. We need to remember that this is his house, and he’s let us stay here. So what he says goes, okay?”
“Yup, we know. You don’t have to keep reminding us,” Chase said.
“That’s good then. Okay, go get dressed. Aunt Meghan should be here soon, and there will be lots to do.”
While the kids dressed, Dawn did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. She couldn’t wait for everyone to show up so they could decorate.
Dawn worried the day would drag until she could pick up Jake, but it flew by once all the women of the Black Eagle team showed up. There was so much cheerful chatter as they made sure everything was perfect for Jake’s homecoming.
As she looked around at the huge Welcome Home sign, all the streamers and balloons, she felt truly blessed. Her life would have been so different if she hadn’t opened her heart to love again.
