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“I thought you two weren’t together anymore.” McKittrick studied him through the narrowed eyes of a trained interrogator.
“She and I took a break from our relationship, but I see that was a mistake. A mistake I plan to rectify as soon as I know where I’ll be posted—or if I’m retiring. I’ve served for over twenty-seven years. What I want—is the next forty or fifty years with Erin. I will not ask her to give up her dreams for my career.” When he had proposed their arrangement, he hadn’t accounted for the possibility of falling so in love with her that giving up this command would be the right thing to do. “The men in 3rdGroup will learn to trust whoever replaces me.”
ChapterForty-Five
When Graham arrivedfor the family dinner on Wednesday night, Megan barely gave him time to set the dessert on the counter before engulfing him in a hug. “We’ve missed you! Have you let Erin know you’re back?” she launched right in, her intense gaze fixed on him.
“Not yet.”
“I’m just going to say it. I freaked out thinking McKittrick could kick Reece out of 3rdGroup. But I should have told Erin that you two taking a break, even a temporary one, was a horrible idea. It’s causing me way more stress than a change of station for you or us. And it’s not good for the baby.”
“I agree. The idea of McKittrick having sway over your careers is a major reason I went along with it.”
“And is McKittrick even keeping you here?” Reece looked ready to do battle.
“He offered. However, I’m not willing to go along with his conditions.”
Megan pressed her hands together prayerfully and brought them to her mouth.
“I’ve decided to take an assignment over 10thGroup at Fort Carson.”
“So you can be with Erin?” Jace smiled and gave an approving nod.
“Yes. I spoke with my future commanding general today to be sure Erin’s involvement with the show won’t be a problem. I won’t ask her to give that up. I hate to leave you all, but this is only for a few years.”
“Dad, you never know how long you’ve got. Don’t waste months or more being miserable apart. We’ll be fine.” Tears filled Megan’s eyes.
“Agreed.” He pulled his daughter into another embrace. He knew all too well that his time with someone could be cut short. “I promise we’ll be here every chance we get.”
“Before making promises, you need to get Erin back.” She wiped away a tear. “And, considering how hard you originally worked to track her down, you can’t just text or call her. You need to do something big to show her you want her in your life,” she insisted.
“For sure. You should surprise her with something memorable and romantic,” Alex said.
“I don’t even know where she is right now. She could be at the beach in South Carolina or have to be in California now that the series is a go.” Charlotte, Texas, and even Spain were possibilities.
“I’m sure her daughters would know. Do you have their phone numbers or email?”
“I don’t.” Another downside of not having met them in person. “But we could find them through Erin’s social media account. They might have a phone number listed, or we could message them from there.”
“That’s a—great idea. And you would know that how?” Megan stared at him like he’d spoken another language.
Busted. “I went by the USO like you suggested when trying to find her. Except they wouldn’t give me her contact information or tell me when she’d be working. However, the director mentioned that Erin was active on their social media accounts and that I could contact her that way.”
“You didn’t.” Megan shook her head.
“It was a better option than stalking her at the USO. I set up an account and sent her a friend request—which she didn’t accept right away.”
“Because she thought it was a fake account! We told you—” Megan was laughing now.
“That’s why I never shared that part of the story. And you’re right about that, too. I had to convince her I was really me. It was pretty funny since I had no clue what I was doing. But it worked out.”
“You might be the only Facebook account claiming to be a widowed military officer that’s legit. Though tons of scammers impersonate generals,” Alex said. “I guess it’s easier to find pictures of high-ranking officers from news posts, but seriously?”
“Dad might not be scamming people, but he was trying to romance someone,” Jace teased.
“Operative word being someone. She’s the only one I contacted.”
“Quit giving your dad a hard time and see if you can get in touch with her daughters,” Reece ordered.
