But it was the furry Randall, who was completely smitten with the woman in their lives, that added, “Woof, woof, woof.”
As he hugged his new little family close, Gabe thought, I couldn’t have said it better myself, buddy.
Epilogue
Sara and Gabe married on Easter of the next year. Her immediate family along with her aunt and Chloe flew to Alaska for the small ceremony in the chapel on the base. Neither of them wanted a big formal wedding. They’d been married in their hearts for so long that making it official was merely a formality.
She still found it hard to believe that she’d gotten everything she’d ever wanted—and more. Not only did she have a husband who never went a day without telling her how much he loved her, but she had a family who was trying to be there for her in every way possible. Their dynamic had been so one sided for such a long time—and it wasn’t a change that happened completely overnight, but it was better than she could have imagined. And last but certainly not least, she had an adorable dog who showered her with slobbery affection so often, she was in need of a bib. But those canine cuddles melted her heart. God, I love my Randall boys.
They’d been married about six months when they had “the talk.” Gabe knew she loved children, so having a baby was a conversation they’d touched on several times. That time, though, Gabe surprised her with his detailed vision for their future. “Angel, I’ve thought about what scenario makes the most sense for us at this point in our lives. I know you want to start a family, and even though we’re not exactly ancient, I realize waiting for years would put you at a higher risk for complications. Which is not something I’d consider doing if there were other options.” He took her hand, lacing their fingers together before saying, “It’s taken a while, but I’ve come up with a workable plan. I—I’m sorry for springing it on you like this, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up and then have it not be possible after all.”
If not for the hint of excitement she could detect beneath his serious demeanor, she would be nervous. “What is it, baby? You know I hate being kept in suspense.”
“I do know that.” He smirked affectionately. “I’ll be due to change stations in another year. I’m allowed to list my preferences in order and hope for the best. Sometimes that works out, and other times it doesn’t. But in my particular field of expertise, I’ve made some important connections. And that has paid off now.” Geez, spit it out already. She was on pins and needles, while he appeared to be on some verbal Sunday stroll. Finally, he took pity on her and said, “I’ve been given early approval for a move to Fort Bragg—in North Carolina.”
She gawked at him, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. She was thrilled at the prospect of going closer to home, yet she had also grown to love Alaska. “So . . . we just pack up for good when the time comes?”
He released a breath, which had her tensing once again. “Not exactly, Angel. There’s more. You see, Jason and I have been talking for some time about moving into the civilian contractor sector for the Army when we retire. We would still work for Uncle Sam, but not as enlisted men.”
“But how would that differ from what you do now?” she asked, not fully comprehending what he was telling her.
“The main two differences for us would be I’ll no longer deploy, nor will we be forced to relocate. The only thing you might not like is that the job would likely be here, at my current base. In fact, an offer is already in place for when I retire.”
“Would we stay in North Carolina right up until that time, or will there be another stop before we return to Alaska?”
“I’m fairly certain I can remain there for the duration.” He reached out to cup her face as he added, “A big reason behind this is so you’ll have your family close should I deploy one last time. God forbid, it could even happen when you are pregnant.”
“I’ve always understood that, Gabe,” she murmured. “And I know it would be hell for both of us, but you’re doing everything you can to make sure I’m well covered.”
“I know it’ll be hard for you to leave them again, but remember, you can visit as often as you’d like.” She could hear the regret in his voice, and she knew he had been tormenting himself over the upheaval the next few years would cause.
“Baby, I love it here. Yes, it will be an adjustment. But now that Nicole has agreed to Kaylee visiting us for a few weeks in the summer, I think we can build on it even more. I was born in North Carolina, but Alaska is where I found myself—and I found my future as well. It doesn’t really matter, though, because my home isn’t a house with four walls.” She placed a hand over his heart as she added softly, “This is where I belong. Everything else is just a dot on a map.”