Page 129 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
Feeling my throat burn with emotion, I hug him tightly and bring my lips to his ear, “I love you, Cade Walker. You are the strongest, most honorable man I know, and I thank God every day for bringing you into my life, no matter the circumstances.” Which is true, because even with the hell we all had to endure, I don’t regret going to Iraq two years ago, because if I hadn’t I would have never met Aadil or this incredible man who I will spend the rest of my life with.
He leans back to look at me, and his gaze becomes soft as he swipes at my tears with his thumb. “I love you too, Red. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me and I promise I’m going to take care of you and the kids. I swear, no one will ever hurt any of us again.”
“I know,” I reply softly, because I do. I know that he will protect us with everything he is, and that the four of us are going to have an amazing life together, and I truly believe I have God to thank for it.
EPILOGUE
Cade
2 Years Later
“Come on, Faith. How many more pictures are you going to freaking take?” Christopher complains, as he walks hand in hand with Alissa across our backyard.
“Just one more, I promise.”
He looks at her doubtfully. “That’s what you said the last twenty times.”
“I know but I’m telling the truth this time.”
A bunch of chuckles sound behind me and I can’t stop a smirk of my own. Our backyard is filled with our closest family and friends as we celebrate Christopher’s graduation.
“Oh stop your grumbling,” Katelyn calls out. “This is one of the biggest days of your life.”
Faith nods. “Exactly, and I have not been that bad.”
“Not that bad?” he replies, exasperated. “Are you kidding me? All of you girls stood up and screamed so damn loud when my name was called that the whole town probably heard you.”
“That’s true. You girls were pretty over the top,” Evans pipes in, holding his one-year-old daughter, Hope, while Grace stands next to him, holding the other twin, their son Parker.
“We were excited for him,” Julia argues back, standing next to Jaxson who has their two-year-old daughter, Annabelle, on his shoulders.
“Yeah, and it could have been worse, we could have stolen the sheriff’s department megaphone like we were going to do and really announce you,” Kayla adds, sitting on Cooper’s lap while holding their one-year-old son, Beckett, on hers.
Cooper leans back to look at her. “Why would you have stolen it? Why wouldn’t you just ask me for it?”
“Because it’s much more fun to steal it then see your face when we use it,” she replies with a smirk. Everyone chuckles when he narrows his eyes at her.
“Well, you have to admit that it’s better to have someone cheering for you than no one at all,” Joshua adds, being the logical one as always. His wife smiles up at him while papa grunts in disagreement.
“That’s exactly right, now enough stalling,” Faith says, getting back on topic. “Put your arm around Alissa and smile bigger this time.” The kid huffs but finally does as she asks, and gives her a half-ass smile like he has been all day, but Alissa smiles big enough for the both of them anyway. After Red snaps the picture she gives him a watery smile, and starts wiping her cheeks again.
The kid rolls his eyes but his expression softens. “Come on, Faith, please don’t cry again,” he grumbles before walking over to her and giving her a hug. No matter how much she embarrasses the kid, there is no denying he has a soft spot for her.
“I know. I’m sorry,” she apologizes tearfully. “I’m just so darn proud of you. You have come so far.” He gets uncomfortable with her praise, but pats her shoulder awkwardly.
Suddenly, I feel small fingers grip my hand. “Hey, big guy.”
I look down at the little girl who has healed my heart just as much as Red has, then bend down and swing her up in my arms. “Hey, kid, how’s my girl?”
She gives me a bright smile that still does funny shit to my chest. “Good. She sure does cwy a lot nowadays, doesn’t she?” she says clearly, nodding over at Red. I still find myself impressed at how far she has come with her speech.
Before I can reply, Evans pipes in again, “It’s the pregnancy tears, kid, believe me there’s much more to come.”
All the guys grunt in agreement while Grace elbows him. “Do not even go there, Sawyer Evans.”
“Don’t worry, Cupcake, I wasn’t meaning you. I was talking about every other pregnant woman.” She shakes her head but can’t hide her smile.
I have to say for once I agree with him. Red has definitely become more sensitive since being pregnant, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. She’s carrying my second daughter and our third child, one we have decided to name Mia.
“Okay, one more picture,” Faith says, which has Christopher throwing up his hands in exasperation. She giggles. “I know, I’m sorry, but I want one of our family.”
“Come on, Red, that’s enough, baby. We have lots of us from the school.”
“I know, but I want one of us in front of the tree… Please?” she pleads softly when we don’t budge.
I walk over with Ruthie in my arms, and clap Christopher on the shoulder. “Come on. One more,” I tell him, willing to suffer through anything if it means putting a smile back on her face.
“Here, I’ll take it,” Katelyn says before taking the camera from Faith.
We all head over to the huge oak tree that has my sister’s, Aadil’s and the kids’ mom’s name engraved in it. It’s a tree that Faith had planted in honor of the loved ones we lost. We step underneath and stand next to the names that are carved in the bark. I keep Ruthie in my arms, and shift her to my one side so I can put my other one around Faith while Christopher stands on her other side.
