Page 56 of Forever Flustered

“Nope,” he quickly agreed, rolling over and taking her with him. “This is a safe and peaceful place – and he brings…”

“Chaos?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, nodding. “I don’t know how Flora handles him, but I’m so glad she puts up with him and they're happy.”

“I hope you’re happy?” she asked softly, brushing an imaginary piece of hair from his forehead. He was always so polished, so handsome, so everything – so these rare moments really touched her heart. In fact, it was the new wallpaper on her cell phone – that quick, singular photo she had taken of them when he visited last time. His hair was sticking up in a few spots, and that surprised look had been priceless.

“I’m deliriously happy,” he murmured tenderly. “Do you know, when Bradford came to talk to me, I already knew I was coming home to you.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” he replied, his eyes open and vulnerable. “I remember thinking that I couldn’t do this anymore. I didn’t want to be there; I missed you so much, and was pretty sure you would think I was insane if I quit my job just to go hang around you for the rest of my life… but before I could say something to get me thrown out like Bode – they offered me this spot, and I jumped at it.”

“You would have left the Air Force… for me?”

“Darling,” he whispered thickly, leaning forward to kiss her and pausing just before their lips touched as his eyes held hers. “If you needed my last breath to survive – it would be yours.”

“If it were our last breaths, then I would be dead about forty seconds after you – maybe a minute,” she teased, but his words were making her emotional all over again.

“Good,” he said hoarsely. “Because I can’t live without you – and I wouldn’t want to spend eternity without you either. I love you, Maureen.”

“I’m so glad you’re here, Melon-head,” she teased tearfully, reaching up to close the distance between them. “Psp-psp-psp, my love…”

“’Bout time,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.

EPILOGUE

A few years later

“All right,” Eli grumbled, looking less than thrilled. “Everyone knows the drill?”

“Run now and forget how bad of an idea this was?” Bode shot back, his face pale and pinched – nearly matching Eli’s.

Maureen and Flora exchanged a knowing smile before rolling their eyes. This had been their idea, kind of something they decided together before springing it on the men. Flora was pregnant again, and Maureen had just delivered four months ago. It meant a lot to her to have family in their lives, and Eli’s parents were getting older. Someday they wouldn’t be there, the memories might fade, the relationships – good or bad – would be gone… and all they would have would be photographs. Those photos would be something their children looked back at, their grandchildren, or even someone hundreds of years from now out of curiosity. She had never really been one to delve into family trees before, but the idea of creating one for their children spoke to her – and Flora.

“Seriously,” Bode began again. “I love you, Flora. I think you are hotter than sin is that little green muumuu you insist on wearing as a bathrobe… but daaa-yang, woman – you sure know how to push the limits of this marriage. I really, really think this is a bad idea.”

“I second that,” Eli shot out – and both brothers high-fived each other. “No cursing?”

“Not allowed,” Bode shot back. “Babies are always listening.”

“Austin, would you like to meet Bode’s Mama and Daddy?” Maureen chuckled, hitting below the belt since they were obviously stalling. Bode was crazy about Austin – and Flora was using that to her advantage dragging her husband here to join them for this forced reunion.

“Oh, you play vicious,” Bode glared and then winked at her. “Why am I turned on by that?”

“Because you are sick – or you’ve bumped your head a little too often?”

“Truth.”

“Don’t high-five again,” Maureen quickly spoke up, grabbing both men’s arms. “We’re going inside, or you can stay out here in the heat with flashbacks of Ghazni. The temperature is one-oh-two today, and my butt is going inside for some cool air.”

“Then we’re not going into their room? Sweet!” Bode popped up – and Eli chuckled, shaking his head. “Ain’t nothing but hot air if either of them are talking…”

“Huh, must be genetic,” Maureen clapped back – and Bode laid a hand on his chest in disbelief, before slapping Eli on the shoulder.

“Bro, that’s hot too.”

“Would you back off,” Eli growled protectively, thrilling Maureen to her toes as she laughed at the two men.