Page 112 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

Gazing down at Mae’s sleeping form, I smiled. “She really is. I honestly didn’t think it was possible for me to love anyone as much as I love you.” I looked up to meet Amy’s gaze. “But I do. More than my next breath.” Smiling, I shook my head. “I just can’t stop looking at her. She’s so beautiful. Just like her momma.”

Amy sat on her side of the bed and reached her hand out to grasp mine. She didn’t say anything. She just watched me while I watched her.

It had been like that since I’d been back. Just moments of overwhelming emotion, where words had no place. Had no way of conveying the enormity of what was going on inside us.

It was slowly getting easier, but the time we both faced thinking we might not ever see each other again was still too fresh in our minds. It wasn’t far enough in our pasts to be forgotten.

To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if I really wanted it to be forgotten. Having been so close to losing her made me realize just how much she meant to me. And that wasn’t something I ever wanted to forget.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” she asked, worry creeping into her gaze.

It took me a minute to realize she was talking about my service. I’d received my honorable discharge late yesterday afternoon. Even though I’d requested it, it’d still been confusing to accept. I didn’t know who I was without the Marines. That had been what I’d wanted for so long, it made me nervous to think of my life without it.

I felt my brow crease as I thought about her question. “Yeah, I think so. I can’t go back. I know that much. I just have to figure out what’s next for me. It’s a bit disorientating not having any direction.”

Amy grinned. “I know what you mean.” Then she looked down at Mae. “But I have my direction now.”

Mae stirred and opened her eyes. She didn’t cry as she looked at me. She just watched. Amy told me the day I’d come home that she’d never been like that with anyone else. Just me. I liked that. It was as though she just knew where she fit with me.

Giving her a little smile, I clicked my tongue. “What are you doing awake? I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Her bottom lip quivered and her eyes watered.

“Aw, don’t cry, Princess. You’ll make Daddy sad.”

Her face relaxed, but the tears still trickled down her face.

Brushing them away with my thumb, I soothed her worried eyes. “Are you hungry? Do you want Daddy to get you a bottle?”

Amy smirked and shifted off the bed. “I’ll go fix it while you get her up.”

Without taking my eyes off the little porcelain doll beside me, I hummed. “Okay.”

Climbing from the bed in just my pajama pants, I gently scooped Mae into my arms and headed to her room to grab a diaper. I was still trying to get used to the fact that Ryan’s room was now Mae’s nursery. Strangely, Ryan had packed up and left for New York the day after I’d arrived home. The move had shocked everyone, mostly because he’d agreed to take the internship with Dad. As much as I detested the old man, I thought the move would do Ryan some good. He needed a good dose of reality.

Collecting what I needed, I went downstairs to find Amy, but was stopped by the sound of a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” I called, changing direction.

Unlocking the latch, I pulled it open and frowned, confused by the figure standing before me. It was obviously a guy, but I had no idea who. He wore a Lakers cap, dark sunglasses, and a baggy hoodie.

I pulled Mae a little closer. “Can I help you?”

The guy shifted. “I hope so.” Then he pulled off his glasses and gave me a nervous glance. “Can we go inside, though?”

Understanding kicked in immediately. It was Joshua Emerson. The movie star. I’d been a little surprised to see him in my mom’s house the day I’d arrived home, but it had been a passing thought. I’d had more important things to worry about.

After Amy and I had finished crying and were able to stop clinging to one another, we’d found the room had emptied, which I would be eternally grateful for. Her family had given us the time we needed to connect before bringing Mae in, and then, eventually, everyone else.

They hadn’t stayed long. Just enough for us all to celebrate and catch up. Much like the day Amy and I married. They were good people.

Standing to the side, I let him pass before closing the door behind him. With a grunt, he instantly started shedding his disguise.

Amy appeared from the kitchen, bottle in hand, and froze. “Josh. What are you doing here?”

Giving her a smirk, he shrugged. “I was just in the neighborhood.”

I watched her roll her eyes at him before striding forward to hand me the bottle. “Come and sit down, then. Mae’s hungry.”

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