“Yes,” she said, going down on her knees to wrap her arms around his neck. “Yes. I love you, Bobby. I missed you so much.”
He framed her face with his hands and wiped tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. This was the first time since he’d returned that she’d said either of those things to him without any sign of hesitation. “Do you know how good it is to hear you say you love me? Say it again.”
“I love you, Bobby.”
He kissed her and slid the ring on her finger.
“It’s perfect,” she said. “But just for the record, this doesn’t mean I’m going to jump out of a plane.”
Bobby pulled her down on the blanket. “You can jump, baby. Because I’m always going to be there to catch you. You have my word. Now, let’s properly mark out our territory. We do have a blanket.”
EPILOGUE
AFTER A WEEK of making love as many times as possible, shopping for a house, visiting her parents and, in general, falling in love all over again, Bobby and Jennifer stood in Marcie and Mark’s kitchen behind the counter with a welcome-home cake for their arrival back from their honeymoon.
“Oh, how sweet!” Marcie screamed. She rushed forward and hugged Jennifer.
“I’ll get the plates,” Mark said. “The flight was long, and I’m starving.”
Marcie surveyed Bobby. “You’re still here. Should I assume you are now a civilian?”
Jennifer leaned in and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I decided to keep him. And…” She bent down and unlatched the cat cage that was hidden behind the counter. She lifted Ella. “And we’re hoping you will keep our wedding gift and give her lots of love.”
Marcie gasped and took the cat into her arms. “She’s beautiful.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Mark, isn’t she beautiful?”
Mark smiled, love in his eyes, an appreciative look cast between Jennifer and Bobby.
Several minutes of spoiling the cat followed until Bobby said, “We hate to gift-and-run, but I have to be back on base for a week, and then Jennifer and I are flying out from there for a little trip.”
Ella purred in Marcie’s lap, and suddenly, Marcie noticed the ring. “You have a ring! A ring! Mark, they’re getting married.”
Jennifer could feel herself glowing. “Yes. Actually next week. On a beach in Mexico. Just the two of us.”
Marcie argued about not being able to attend, but in the end, she hugged Jennifer and Bobby and begged for pictures. Jennifer and Bobby left shortly after, ready to begin their new life together, while Marcie and Mark learned how to take care of baby Ella.
Seven days later, Jennifer and Bobby stood barefoot on the sandy beach of a Mexico resort, the bluest water Jennifer had ever seen as the backdrop. Bobby wore a tuxedo, and Jennifer wore a long, formfitting white dress, with delicate embroidery. It was just the two of them, the preacher and a photographer. There was no music, no fancy frills. Only confessions of the heart. Simple romance, just how they wanted it. Of course, they’d had to promise the families a cake-tasting reception upon their return, which had an ever-growing invitation list. But for now, they had escaped into their own private world.
How Jennifer made it through the ceremony without crying, she didn’t know. She could hardly believe that after all those years they’d been apart, she and Bobby had found their way back to each other. And finally, the preacher pronounced them “man and wife.”
Bobby stared at Jennifer, love brimming from his eyes, and pulled her close. “You’re everything to me, Mrs. Evans.” And then he kissed her. Jennifer cried then—happy tears, joyful tears—and since she’d never replaced her waterproof mascara, she was pretty sure she was going to look like a mess for her photos. But she was too happy to care. She had just married the man of her dreams and they had a lifetime to make perfect pictures.
THE END