Aiden knew that was true.
“For the first time in your life, be a selfish bugger,” Thor said to him.
“Excuse me?” The Deltas had been raised to be unselfish and to put God, family, country, and the secret first. It was in his DNA.
“This is the time to be selfish. To do what’s right for you. What’s right for Melene. I want you to prove that you trust in heaven above and I want you to choose the risk of loving and losing. Honestly, bro, what could be scarier than missing out on loving Melene?”
Aiden thought about that. He wasn’t scared of any battle or any man, but missing out on Melene? That was terrifying. But hurting her was even more terrifying.
“She’ll end up hurt and alone,” Aiden fought back. “You can’t expect me to be selfish enough to do that to her.”
“Holy crap, bro, see this clearly. She’s hurting and alone right now. How do you justify that?”
Aiden swallowed. He had no response for that.
“You two have a connection that only comes once in a lifetime. You found someone who makes you feel at home no matter where in the world you are.”
Aiden was impressed that his teasing brother had seen and felt all of that from his and Melene’s interaction. It was all true.
“Let the fear of the unknown go and realize your calling in life can change and adapt. God will make it work out for you and those you’re supposed to help with your specialized skills, talents, bravery, and faith.” Thor drew in a breath. “But dang it all to heck, Aiden, don’t miss out on Melene. Go to her. Figure it out. You’d fight for the underdog. You’d fight for the underprivileged. You’d fight for me. Go fight for the woman you love.”
Aiden clung to the phone. He stopped pacing. Thor was breathing quickly after his speech. Aiden felt it all deeply, but he had no clue how to respond.
“Okay, that’s all I’ve got. If that beautiful speech doesn’t get through your thick skull, you’re uglier and stupider than I thought. Wait, wait, wait, there’s one more thing. Do you believe that scripture you tattooed on your back or not? Fear not. Have faith. I love you, bro.”
Thor hung up.
Aiden was thankful his brother hadn’t demanded a response. He put the phone in his pocket and kept pacing as the night deepened around him. He had no clue how late it was when he hit his knees. Faith not fear. Only his Father above could give him answers now.
ChapterEighteen
Melene spent two weeks experiencing a very different side of Costa Rica than the gorgeous house and fun-filled afternoon and evening she’d spent with Aiden here. She was on the coast, which was beautiful, and she loved spending time in the warm ocean waters. It was drier here and not as green as the cloud forest she’d been close to with Aiden. She was helping in a refugee camp that Health for All sponsored. The refugees were mostly from Nicaragua, fleeing political unrest and seeking to make a better life in the more affluent and stable Costa Rica.
She lifted her long ponytail off her neck and fanned her hand at herself to cool the sweat. Looking longingly at the nearby ocean, she let the soothing sound of the waves wash over her. She wished she could jump in and swim. She really wished her Aquaman would rise up out of that ocean. Silly.
She hadn’t heard from Aiden. Not that she’d expected to. After everything had calmed down the night of Thor’s wedding and General Phillip’s attack, she’d tried to get some answers out of Sheriff Reed about the Delta weapon, but he’d given her nothing. He’d told her if she cared for the Delta family, she should stop asking questions and definitely not spread any rumors. She assured him she did care for all of them, one in particular, and she’d cease and desist. She didn’t need to know some secret. She needed Aiden.
She’d finally gone home late that night and tossed and turned in her old bedroom. Then her family had driven her to Denver the next day. They had eaten a nice long breakfast together and had seen her off at the airport.
She was glad to be back. She loved her work and she loved the children. She was making a difference and fulfilling her life calling, and that was what mattered.
But she was so miserable without Aiden.
What options did she have? He’d never seemed open to any. If he would’ve asked her to leave her work and follow him around, would she have done it? Could a spouse even follow a Navy SEAL around? Maybe the spouse could live on a whatever Navy base the SEAL was stationed at and see them as much as possible.
She let out a frustrated growl. Aiden hadn’t even asked her to pursue any kind of relationship, and here she was trying to figure out how to be his wife. So dumb.
She looked longingly at the ocean. The calm waves broke on the sand and some children were digging in the sand a hundred yards down the beach. She could also see some snorkels over by the reef, but no Aquaman rising out of the waves. No hero coming to carry her back into the water. She’d worked hard not to be overly emotional and had never thought of herself as a romantic. Her longing for Aiden was turning her into a … would Thor call it a simp? She wasn’t even sure what that meant, but she assumed a hopeless case who would do anything to be with the person they loved.
“Melene?” a young voice asked. A sweet girl with large, dark eyes tugged at her hand. “You okay?”
She smiled brightly. “Of course, sweetheart. Now, is that speedy-fast brother of yours going to race me again?”
Talia’s older brother, Tyrell, approached them and rubbed his hands together. “I’m gonna win this time.”
The children’s English was remarkable and Melene had been working with a group of them for countless hours to improve it. Most of the parents only spoke Spanish, and they were also usually full of encouragement for their children to work with Melene and become fluent in English. It could change the entire family’s future for the children to eventually find English-speaking jobs or go on to higher education. When the children were with Melene, they only spoke English. The foot races, and occasionally playing in the ocean, were breaks that helped them physically as well as mentally.
“Wait.” Tyrell held up his hand. “What about a new race?”