“Because I love you,” she says.
The words, though she’s said them before, hit me straight in my heart. I stare at her a moment before simply saying, “And I love you, Molly.”
She closes in, laying a kiss on my lips, staying that way for a moment. When I return the kiss, she releases my face and snuggles back against my chest. Another clap of thunder booms, and we both jump but otherwise don’t acknowledge it.
It’s crazy how I thought I’d never get married, and here I am sitting with a wife in my lap who is stronger and smarter than I could ever aspire to be.
I thought I knew how beautiful and peaceful silence was. But it’s never compared to this kind we’re sitting in. I drift on a few moments longer until she raises her head from my chest.
“Someone tried to hurt me.” The words feel like they come out of nowhere, tumbling from Molly’s lips as soft as the distant thunder and I stiffen; the inside of my chest going cold as I absorb what she said. Before I can ask what she means, she adds, “When I was little. It was during a thunderstorm.” That last word comes out of her mouth shaky and a shroud of darkness falls over my mind and I tell myself to stay calm. I can’t stop myself, however, from folding my arms closer around Molly; completely encasing her as I drop my chin to her head. I use the act to ground me and keep the sparked rage inside me to a flicker.
“Is it… are they still out there?”
“No,” she answers against my chest and her tone is as calm as I’ve ever heard it. She goes quiet; letting out a long exhale and I feel her body depress in my arms. I want to know more, but I reel that in; assuring myself she’ll tell me more when she’s ready. For now, a lot more makes sense and I’m surprised to feel it do my heart good.
We sit through a couple more bouts of thunder before Molly speaks again.
“What’s that?” Her chin tilts to the framed photo resting on the stone ledge.
I lean us both forward as I reach for it, and hold it in her lap for her to see as I settle back. I don’t say anything right away, and instead just let her take it in. Then finally, in a voice that shakes with raw emotion, answer, “My dad.”
Molly wriggles under the blanket, freeing one of her bare arms. Taking hold of the frame, she practically guts me by cradling it to her chest. “You miss him.” The way it coasts out of her as she nestles her head back against my chest has me unable to tell if it’s a question or a statement. But it doesn’t matter.
“I want to make new memories with you too,” I tell her, locking my arms around her and gazing into the fire. “I want to be able to drive down Skyview Road.”
She’s quiet, and I let her sit with that thought for a moment.
“Do you want to try?” she asks. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“Yeah.” I nod, realizing she didn’t ask me to fill in what happened, and I love her for it. But it’s time.
So I tell her.
One of her arms sneaks out of the blanket to wrap around my neck, and I bring my hand up and rub along her skin, trying to keep it warm. Molly’s hand caresses my cheek, and I move to kiss her. And this time the kiss goes on and on, through several crashes of thunder, through countless flickers of lightning. The warmth of the fire and the chill of the rain envelope us in nature’s embrace as we linger in the moment.
“Wolf,” Molly says between kisses.
I reluctantly pull away just enough so she can speak. “Hmm?”
“It feels like we’re married,” she says, her eyes blinking up at mine.
The widest smile that’s probably ever graced my face pulls at the corners of my mouth. “Good…because if we weren’t already married, now’s about the time I’d ask you.”
“Well, I’ll say yes anyway,” she whispers, locking her lips against mine again.
EPILOGUE
MOLLY
Ajolt shoots through my body in response to the piercing blare of the radio that sits docked on the dresser. I feel my shoulders jerk as my eyes fly open, blinking in the dark as my brain plays catch-up; trying at warp speed to orient itself to reality.
The blaring has ceased, but a loud and prominent static fills the room, letting me know I’m not off the hook and there’s a matter that needs my attention.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Wolf grumbles from behind me, and I don’t need to turn over to know his eyes are still closed, he has an arm shoved under his pillow and his features are all pulled tightly into a vexed scowl. “Ignore it,” he gripes, laying a heavy arm over me and pulling me back into his body; close enough that I can feel his disgruntled breath on my neck.
I’m not happy about the hour either, but that’s the job and I love the job.
“Do you ignore it when you’re on call?” I challenge him, my tone dubious but still thick with sleep.
