These past weeks, her memories of love and friendship on the back porch wrapped a comforting embrace around Lacey, as she’d watch the setting sun reflect in the waves and pray for Mick, wherever he was. Sitting in one of Maeve’s wicker chairs, she could close her eyes and picture him there with her, sulking behind a bad set of Scrabble letters, eating a piece of pizza. Laughing. Listening to her. Holding her hand.
As though life were normal.
Putting the car in park, she squinted against the sunlight, certain the fiery beams were causing a mirage. A hallucination, maybe. One that looked like…
Mick.
Sitting on the front steps, the image’s face lifted and eyes met hers. He stood, and her heart nearly stopped.
Mick?
Stepping out of the car tentatively, she wasn’t sure if she said his name aloud. She blinked several times, terrified that all the sleepless nights had taken their toll and she was only imagining him.
But even as tears welled in her eyes and her vision blurred, he was still there.
Frozen at the side of her car, she stood paralyzed. For seconds or minutes—she’d never know. Mick.
He was alive. He was home.
She darted toward his open arms and melted into him, so grateful for the feel of his body against her that she was struck speechless.
They held each other in silence, and when Lacey finally began to pull herself back from him, Mick only squeezed her tighter.
She choked back a sob when he finally let her retreat from his embrace. “You’re okay.” Her voice was breathless as she cupped his face in her hands, still unconvinced he was real. “Thank God. Thank God, you’re all right.”
She leaned in to hold him again, but then stepped back awkwardly, remembering the way their last conversation had ended. Blinking back tears, she longed to erase that last evening from both their memories so that this moment was not clouded with confusion. But he was alive, she reminded herself, touching his cheek cautiously, letting his warmth seep into her chilled hands. Even if he never trusted her again—even if their relationship could never be saved—it should be enough that he was simply alive. “I’ve been so worried. We all have. Jack heard some of your team were admitted to Landstuhl.”
“I know. I talked to Jack en route here from Andrews. He said I better come straight here, and make you promise you won’t kick his ass for the false alarm.”
She shook her head. “Never. He’s been a good friend.” She sent a questioning glance in the direction of the front door. “Maeve’s not home?”
“No, she’s home.” Mick grinned, amusement stirring in his tired eyes. “She gave me a hug, then told me she won’t let me inside till I apologized to you.”
Lacey couldn’t suppress the laugh. A more dedicated friend she would never find.
“I can’t say I blame her, the way I left things with you.” Mick paused. “I’m not sure where to start.”
Lacey averted her eyes. “You don’t have to apologize. I do. What you said to me that night hurt. But it hurt so much because it wasn’t too far from the truth.”
“Lacey, I—”
She drew herself away from him, battling futilely to keep her composure. Her lip trembled. “I did crash funerals to try to get business. And I did volunteer to help Edith because I hoped she might need my services one day. I guess it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for you to assume I slept with you for the same reason. But I didn’t. I hope you already figured that out on your own.”
“God, yes. I said that out of anger. I wasn’t thinking.”
Lacey nodded, feeling a grim sense of closure. “Good.” She pressed her lips together thoughtfully, sadly. “I’m relieved that you’re all right. And grateful. That’s enough.”
“Lacey, please let me finish. I overreacted. I was hurt and shocked. And—” his shoulders slumped, “—scared. I’ve been deployed nearly my entire career. I’ve never really experienced this kind of life. I’ve never gotten so used to watching someone sleep at night or spent time picturing a future together. I’ve never fantasized about having someone waiting home for me. So then when I learned that you had been holding something back from me,” he shook his head, “God, I was so hurt by the thought that our entire relationship may have been nothing more than a way to build your career. It scared the crap out of me—the power you had over me. The power you still have over me. No amount of body armor can protect me from you.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Captain Shey showed up the morning after our argument and recalled me. From that moment on, I could have no contact with you until the mission was complete. Till now.” He took her hand. “It was killing me to not be able to tell you the truth.”