Hazardous Holiday. Liz Johnson

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      And never sent a single response.

      It was so much easier to tag a note on to the end of Cody’s emails, letting Zach know they were well and his house was fine, than to put her real thoughts on to paper. Her real doubts.

      At first she’d wondered every day after their courthouse ceremony if she’d made the right decision. But as the weeks ticked by, life had settled into a new normal.

      Until the call a few days ago.

      Ashley Waterstone, the wife of the senior chief of Zach’s SEAL team, had called with news. The team was coming home.

      “Momma?”

      “Yes, Cody?”

      “Where’s Zach going to stay?”

      Her stomach clenched, her grip on the wheel turning her knuckles white. As promised, Zach’s three-bedroom home was big enough for all of them, but it would be strange to have another person in the space she’d come to see as hers and Cody’s.

      “Because I was thinking he could stay in my room.”

      Kristi couldn’t hold back a giggle.

      “I have bunk beds, and he could have the top one.” Cody met her gaze in the rearview mirror and smiled broadly. “Do you think he’d want to?”

      “Well, bud,” she said as tactfully as she could, “he’s been working hard for a long time. He might need lots of good sleep.”

      Cody shook his head vigorously. “I bet he’ll want to. I’ll ask him. My Chevy night-light is really cool.”

      “That it is. You ask him. But if he says no, then you say okay. Okay?”

      “Okay.”

      They turned left and then followed the road through the lush greenery beneath a cloudless blue sky. The sun shone off the legendary red spires of the Hotel del Coronado to their right. Another sunny-and-seventy day in Southern California, even in December.

      Of all the familiar things she missed about Montana—her friends, Aaron’s family and the beauty of Big Sky Country—she never missed the winter weather.

      As she pulled up to the gatehouse at the entrance to the base, Cody began chanting his excitement. When she rolled her window down, the guard looked into the backseat at the ruckus.

      “Is someone’s dad coming home today?” the big man asked.

      Kristi swallowed the lump in her throat. The same one that seemed to pop up at the oddest reminders of Aaron. “I’m Kristi T—McCloud. I’m here to pick up Zach.”

      The man’s eyes grew bright as he looked at her driver’s license. “Ziggy? Oh, he’s here. In their offices probably.” He quickly handed back her license and gave her directions to a trailer.

      She repeated them to herself over and over. “Left, right, across from the third pier.”

      The building wasn’t much, marked only with a number and a few big trucks in the parking spaces beside it.

      She pulled into a spot and took a deep breath. She could do this. Things were going to change, but it didn’t have to be for the worse. They’d already survived one adjustment. They could get through another. With a firm nod of her head and a silent prayer heavenward, she opened her door, then helped Cody out of the backseat.

      Just as Cody’s feet hit the ground, a small white SUV flew into the spot two over. A gorgeous brunette tumbled out from behind the wheel. She sprinted for the door to the trailer, and it slammed closed behind her.

      Cody looked confused, his little eyes squinting against the sun.

      “I think we’re in the right place,” Kristi reassured him. “Someone is excited to see her husband. Are you excited to see Zach?”

      “Yes.” He pumped his fist in the air as best he could, and she ushered him toward the building, holding open the door as he ambled in.

      Compared with the bright sun, the fluorescent interior lights were almost black, and she had to blink quickly. As soon as her eyes adjusted, she spotted the same brunette from outside, swinging around the neck of a man in brown camouflage. His arms locked around her waist, his eyes closed as they spun.

      “Miss me?” he asked, and she replied with a kiss.

      Kristi suddenly felt very out of place. Maybe they should go wait in the car. Or drive over the bridge and wait for Zach to show up at the house. This was a time for sweet reunions between real loves, not awkward embraces with faux wives.

      But just as she snagged Cody’s arm, a familiar voice made her insides tremble. It was low and filled with concern.

      “Kristi?”

      Cody wiggled free and ran for Zach, who easily scooped the thin boy into his arms. Zach’s smile was genuine but surprised as he patted Cody’s back and ruffled his hair.

      “Good to see you, little man.”

      Cody threw his skinny arms over the broad shoulders and hugged Zach’s neck like they were best friends. “You came back!”

      “Told you I would.”

      “And you’re in time for Christmas!”

      “You don’t say.” Zach’s smile faltered as he looked in her direction and caught her gaze.

      Embarrassment washed over her for no particular reason, and she wrapped her arms around her middle.

      The corner of Zach’s eyes crinkled as his gaze dropped to the floor, and she felt every inch of his survey. He stepped closer and leaned in, his warmth wrapping around her. “Good to see you.” He pressed his lips to her cheek, and her nerves prickled to life, down her neck and right into her already-seasick stomach.

      The best she could manage in response was a trembling smile.

      “The transplant coordinator says I’m almost at the top of the list.”

      She thanked God for Cody every day. And especially when his random outburst drew all of Zach’s attention and a big grin.

      “How’re you feeling?”

      Cody shrugged, wilting into Zach’s shoulder. “Tired mostly. Momma makes me take a break every day. Even when Mrs. Drummond is staying with me while mom’s at work.”

      Zach laughed, a rich baritone that reverberated off the fake-wood walls, at Cody’s euphemism for naps. “I might be able to match you break for break, man. I haven’t gotten a full night of sleep in a while...”

      “What were you doing?”

      “Cody, no,” she interrupted. “Don’t ask—”

      “I was protecting people who can’t protect themselves.”

      Cody’s eyes filled with sadness, and СКАЧАТЬ