Chapter 211: Epilogue, six months later.

"HEY, BLISS? HANNAH? WHERE you want this ice?" Luke hefted a couple bags up under his arms. The cookout was in full swing, and he'd drawn the unlucky straw to replenish the ice mid-celebration. Probably for the best, since he was among one of the only sober ones in attendance. It was going to be one hell of a night, that was for sure.

"Oh, just through there, please?" Bliss pointed at the doorway leading into the laundry room. "Did you see who Molly Turner brought? Who is that guy, Luke?"

"Not sure." The last thing Luke wanted to talk about was Ethan's widow with someone else.

He shouldered through the door. Several empty coolers sat up against the walls, drinks and bottles stacked on top of the washer and dryer. He let the bags drop before ripping open one bag.

Life was...good. Work had cooled off, staying mostly uneventful, though he was pretty sure the admiral was keeping him close to home after the fiasco six months ago. Abigail was settling in nicely. They had a routine.