Page 52 of Forever Fallen

“The bank – and the benefits center. I’ve never been married before and not quite sure how to add you on to all of my accounts and things.”

“You don’t have to – besides, it might make things easier later on…”

“Or so…” he prompted, smiling softly and looking away – a silent reminder to what he’d said to her a few days ago.

“Or so…” she agreed, flushing and smiling shyly.

She sat there with him, watching him work, as he changed out the first lock and talked while the phone was on speaker, allowing them both to answer questions. Thirty minutes later, she was added to his bank account and had a new ATM card on the way here.

The benefits center recommended taking her to one of the military installations to get an identification card made – and they could help with adding her to the system.

She would have her photo taken and provide a copy of their marriage license. In the meantime, they went ahead and added her information temporarily in case there was an issue due to Ryan’s current duty assignment in Afghanistan.

‘An issue’…

Sophie felt sick at the thought – and how it was phrased. If Ryan died, she was the beneficiary to everything he had… and that was alarming yet touching at how trusting he was of her.

As they hung up the phone call, Ryan picked up his tools and moved towards the next door… and began speaking.

“I was thinking,” Ryan said carefully, putting the screwdriver to the doorknob, “What if you took the time to make this bed-and-breakfast into your business… and worked for yourself? I mean, you’ll have money coming into an account from my paycheck so there isn’t so much of a panic to find a job. You could work on tackling updating some of the posted signs in the rooms – like Wi-Fi access,” he smiled pointedly. “I’m still not on with my cell phone.”

“Oh really? You should have said something.”

“It’s not a big deal to me – but to a customer it would be. Does your grandmother have a website? Is it updated? Sophie, I think you should try working for yourself and let me help out. We can be a team, together. You deserve to take some time to get your feet underneath you and build a new life for yourself… for us,” he finished softly, glancing at her.

His words, the way he was thinking, was thoughtful and amazing. He was still talking about building a life together for the two of them… and her eyes stung at just how supportive he was being.

“What do you think about maybe going to a movie tomorrow night?”

“There’s no theater here in town. We’d have to drive to Tyler.”

“Okay… so we drive to Tyler?”

“Are you sure?”

“Sharing popcorn, sitting in the dark, and holding the hand of the woman I’m supposed to love… sure, sounds like heaven to me,” Ryan shrugged easily, still working on the doorknob.

Sophie stood there beside the coffee pot, waiting for it to finish percolating… and leaned against the counter, catching herself.

“What did you just say?” she whispered, stunned.

“A movie sounds like heaven to me…” Ryan repeated – but there was an impish smile that curled his lip.

“You know what I’m referring to…”

“I do…”

“This is madness, Ryan…” Sophie hedged, feeling a wild flutter in her chest as she turned away from him.

She was afraid to even give credit to his words, scared to let herself hope that maybe there could be something actually growing between them – and silence greeted her.

Ryan was avoiding repeating it… and she wasn’t going to admit it yet. He sighed heavily and walked past her, heading to change the next doorknob in the house.

“I was thinking that maybe Thursday we could go get your stuff. I’d like to head out to Azle tomorrow so we can get my plane out of storage.”

CHAPTER16

SOPHIE

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