Allison Brennan - Sudden Death

His hands held her face. “I know what I want. I don’t play games. When you walked into my life nine days ago, I never wanted you to walk out. Now I’m not going to let you.”

“I-”

“You love me, too, Megan. Say it.”

She couldn’t help but smile and shake her head. “You’re sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

He kissed her lightly, then harder, then his hands were in her hair and her body was flat against his.

She broke the kiss only to say, “Yeah, I love you, Jack. I don’t know how it happened, but I love you.”

“Good. Then we’re getting married.”

“I-Jack. We don’t, I don’t, we should-”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speechless.”

“Maybe we should get to know each other better.”

“Life’s too short. And I know what’s important.” He stared at her, held her chin in his palm. “Life is important. Family is important. You are important to me. You are my family. I know what’s in your heart, Megan. I know what’s in your soul. All the other stuff-whether you leave the cap off the toothpaste or gargle in the middle of the night or sing opera on the weekends-it doesn’t matter. What matters is who you are, and that I know. You’re mine, I’m yours, and nothing is going to change that.”

“I have a cat.”

“You think a furry feline is going to scare me off?” He kissed her. “Okay.” “Okay what?” “I’ll marry you.” He smiled, and her heart melted. “I didn’t ask.”

Three Weeks Later

Jack walked up the pathway that led to his parents’ house. For twenty years, he’d been estranged from his father because they would never agree on what happened in Panama. But after losing Scout and nearly losing Megan and Padre, he couldn’t leave his relationship with his father unresolved like this.

Megan took his hand and squeezed it. “This is the right thing. You won’t regret it.”

Jack wasn’t so sure. He didn’t know if his father would talk to him. Listen to him.

But he wanted Megan to be part of his family, and that meant his entire family. Somehow, with her by his side, in his life, he gained the courage to stand in front of his father and ask for forgiveness.

Not for his decisions, because Jack knew he’d done the right thing in Panama, even if his actions could have gotten him court-martialed.

But for not understanding his father’s role, his need to enforce the rules, and his fear for Jack’s life and career. Maybe if he hadn’t been a rash nineteen-year-old, they could have resolved this earlier. Or maybe if Pat Kincaid hadn’t been an overbearing colonel who couldn’t see that not all orders had merit, and some were flat-out immoral.

Rosa, his mother, opened the door. “Jack!” She hugged him tightly. She smelled of spice and tortillas and cookies.

She turned to his fiancee. “Megan, Megan! Welcome to our family. This is a beautiful weekend to get married.” She hugged her. Megan was a bit overwhelmed by the enthusiastic welcome, but she was smiling.

“Thank you for letting us use your home, Mrs. Kincaid.”

“Rosa! Or Mama. Or Mom. You can start with Rosa, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you, Rosa.”

“Come in, come in!”

“Is Dad here?” Jack asked.

Rosa said, “In his office. He’s waiting for you.”

Jack hesitated a fraction of a moment.

Megan kissed him. “And so am I. Go. Do it now, Jack. Tomorrow we start the rest of our life together.”

Maybe it was loving Megan, or simply understanding forgiveness and letting go of past regrets, or seeing his brother Dillon and Megan’s brother, Matt, put family first, even when they weren’t asked. But for the first time Jack thought he could have his whole family back. Including his father.

He caressed her face with the back of his hand, ran his thumb over her lips, then walked down the hall to make peace with his dad and to reclaim his family.