Torque leaned down and gently cradled his infant son’s head, and then he stared deeply into Allison’s eyes and whispered something I couldn’t hear. She nodded and kissed him. When she pulled back, her expression was resolute and strong.
“Hey,” Boxer said, drawing my attention to him.
He pressed his body against mine, forcing me against the passenger door of Joni’s car.
“I’m coming home to you,” he said. “I promise.”
My eyes were misty when they met his. “There are some promises you can’t keep, Boxer.”
“I don’t know if you’re the praying type, but if you are, send us your prayers, darlin’. We’re gonna to need it.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “When I get home, I’m gonna do right by you, Linden. I’m gonna propose the way I should have proposed.” He flashed a smile. “And I’m gonna convince you that I’m the man you always wanted. I’m gonna convince you that us meeting wasn’t a mistake, that I’m not something else that you have to regret. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
I touched my lips to his, breathing in his scent, praying in that moment that he came home safely, praying they all came home safely.
Chapter 34
We arrivedat the cabins early in the afternoon.
“I’m so glad to be here,” Joni said, cutting the engine after pulling onto the gravel driveway of the first cabin. “I’m ready for a nap.”
“Sorry I couldn’t share the driving burden with you.”
“Don’t sweat it,” she said with a grin.
There were six cabins, and even though they looked rustic, they had all the modern amenities, including air conditioning and heat. Winter in Louisiana wasn’t like winter up north, so I knew I’d be fine wearing jeans, sweaters, and a light jacket.
The prospects were going to bunk in one of the cabins, the Old Ladies with kids would stay in another, and then Joni, Rachel, and I would take a third.
While the prospects unloaded the grocery bags, the Old Ladies and I got settled. The kids were grouchy and hungry. Darcy fed them while the pregnant women took naps. I sat idly by, feeling useless.
After the kids had been fed and plopped in front of the TV to watch a movie, Darcy popped open a beer and handed it to me.
“Come on,” she said. “We’re going to the lake.”
“We are?” I asked in amusement.
She grinned. “Yeah. Hey, Cam…”
“Yeah, Mom?”
“I’m going to the lake with Linden. Watch your sister, okay?”
“K,” he said with an impish grin and then turned his attention back to the TV.
Darcy and I headed out the back door and took the path down to the lake. It was quiet and pristine, and if we weren’t there for the reason we were, I might’ve enjoyed it more.
“Cop a squat,” she said, sitting down at the bank.
I sank down next to her.
“How are you holding up?” she asked.
“I guess because you’re asking that question, then you already know the answer.” I flashed her a grin and took a sip of beer.
“Waiting for news is bad enough. The fact that we’re in a dead zone of cell service doesn’t help. Sure, we have a GPS phone, so if we need something in an emergency, we have access, but out here, we’re basically cut off from it all.”
“Might be nice for a while, though,” I pointed out. “I don’t feel unsafe here. I just—the last thing I needed was more time to think, you know?”