Page 21 of Rescuing Mary

Mary knew if he didn’t already love her, and she had to put her best foot forward in order to try to woo him, she’d fail miserably. She’d never chased after a man in her life, and would have no idea where to start with Truck if she had to do it all over again. She’d lucked out when it came to Truck. Big time.

Laying her head against the back of the seat, Mary turned to watch Truck drive, and simply enjoyed being next to him. Feeling safe and protected. She didn’t know what she’d do without him.

Chapter Three

The day after the men left for parts unknown for an undisclosed period of time, Emily invited everyone over to her new house. She and Fletch had moved after construction was completed on their old place. Too much had happened there for either of them to be comfortable staying.

They’d purchased a ranch-style house. Fletch refused to live in anything above one story after hearing about how Annie and Sadie had to climb out his daughter’s second-floor window after the house had been hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. It was surrounded by ten acres of land, which Fletch had outfitted with enough cameras and spy equipment to keep the President of the United States safe, if he felt the urge to visit.

It was large, almost five thousand square feet. It had five bedrooms and a gourmet kitchen. The backyard was big, and Fletch had plans to put in a swimming pool at some point. Emily said it felt too big when she’d first moved in, but now she loved the extra space and couldn’t wait to fill it up with more kids.

Mary was sitting with her legs crossed on the floor with Annie on her lap. Rayne was on the couch with Wendy and Sadie. Emily was in one of the extremely comfortable armchairs, and Harley and Casey were squished together in a huge beanbag in the corner. Everyone but Emily and Annie had a glass of wine, and they were all feeling mellow and relaxed.

“How’s Kassie and little Kate?” Casey asked no one in particular.

“I talked to her this morning,” Harley said. “They’re both doing great. They got home yesterday, and Kassie and Hollywood are adjusting to life with a baby.”

“That’s cool that Hollywood didn’t have to go on the mission,” Emily said a little wistfully.

“The guys are fine,” Sadie said gently. “You know there’s nothing that will keep Fletch from getting home to you and your little one.” She gestured at Emily’s belly with her head.

“I know. It’s just…I miss him when he’s gone.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. They all knew exactly how Emily felt.

Mary hugged Annie tighter in her arms. It was almost weird to be with the group during a time like this. She’d been invited in the past when the men went on missions, but because of her health, and the fact she’d been concealing her sickness from them, she’d always declined when the girlfriends and wives got together for a pity party. It was the one and only time they’d do it when the men headed off to their jobs. Afterward, they’d put on their brave faces and get on with life without their men by their sides.

Now that Mary was better and the secret of her marriage to Truck was out, Rayne told her that if she didn’t join them, she’d come over and physically drag her to the gathering. It wasn’t much of a hardship to agree. Mary liked these women. A lot. She’d missed them terribly when they’d found out about her and Truck, and had stopped talking to her for a while.

Taking another sip of her wine, Mary propped her chin on Annie’s head and listened to the chit-chat going on around her.

During a lull in the conversation, Annie dropped a bombshell on them all.

“What happens if Daddy doesn’t come home?”

Emily turned to look at her daughter with big eyes. “What?”

“What happens if the bad guys kill him? Will we have to move back into an apartment? Will we be able to afford food? Will I have to sell my Army man?”

“Come here, baby,” Emily said, holding out her hand.

Mary helped Annie stand and tried to blame the tears in her eyes on the alcohol.

Annie padded over to her mom and climbed into the armchair with her. It was a tight fit since Emily’s belly took up so much room, but they managed. Annie placed her head on her mom’s shoulder and one of her hands on her belly. Her thumb brushed idly back and forth over where her new sibling rested.

“Your daddy is way smarter than the bad guys,” she told her daughter. “Not only that, he’s got all the others there to help keep him safe.”

“Sometimes bad things happen to good people,” Annie said sadly. “Amber’s daddy was killed when he was in AfneyStan and she has to move.”

Amber was a girl in Annie’s class at school. Mary wanted to smile at the mispronunciation of Afghanistan, but there was absolutely nothing amusing about the conversation. Not in the least.

Emily raised tortured eyes to the others. It was more than obvious she was at a loss for words and had no idea how to console her daughter without making promises she couldn’t possibly keep.

“Remember when Harley was missing, and we all made sure Coach was eating?” Rayne asked Annie.

The little girl nodded.

“And when Kassie and her sister disappeared, and your daddy and the others did whatever they could to find her?”