Chapter 131

Home for good after my last deployment, I stood in my dress uniform right beside Rip again, watching with tears in my eyes as Grampa walked my sister down the aisle. I saw Gramma looking radiant as matron of honor, and noticed my wobbly knees, later at the reception. Though petrified to make the toast, even with only thirty people or so in attendance, I got through it.

“If I didn’t believe you two were meant for each other, I’d-a been objecting all up in that church, just so you know. I never had a brother, and my sister, she’s been my shoulder, my rock, my conscience, my heart. She’ll be that for you. You’ll be that for each other, and I’ll try my best not to get in the way.”

When I went to sit, I pretended I remembered something else I’d meant to say.

“Oh, yeah. It’s about damned time!”

I wanted to make more memories with them.

The day they had taken off for a week in Hawaii was the day I’d fallen in love with my Max