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Refocusing on Mateo, she asked him, “Want to see inside?”
To her delight, she got a nod. Today, he didn’t seem at all afraid of Amos.
As a unit, they filed across the gangplank and through the door. Simon was just slipping out of the stairwell, clutching two stuffed sharks against his chest.
Mateo’s head swiveled left and right as he took in the living area.
“What do you think, darling? Do you want to live here with us?” Grace asked him.
Of course, he didn’t answer. He was too focused on Simon, who walked up to them, holding out the stuffed mako shark for him to take.
“This one’s for you. I’ve been savin’ it for you.”
Mateo’s eyes grew enormous as he accepted the gift. Touched by Simon’s gentleness, Grace glanced at Amos and read pride and approval in his expression. Together, they watched Mateo examine the shark’s stitched teeth, his beady eyes. Then, to Grace’s surprise, Mateo squirmed to be let down.
She lowered him to his feet on the rug where Simon liked to lie to watch movies. At Simon’s suggestion, the rug became an ocean and soon the sharks were swimming side-by-side, hunting a giant octopus. Grace doubted Mateo had ever heard of an octopus. Amos, seeming to read her mind, brought up a picture on his cell phone. He showed it to Simon first, who showed it to Mateo. The wonder on his dusky little face made Amos shoot Grace a grin.
“Hey.” He pulled her closer, nuzzling her neck. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
Hope winged in her as she turned to face him, slipping her arm around his waist and feeling his warmth seep into her. “What’s that?”
“I think we should get married.”
Euphoria flooded her. “I was thinking the same thing.”
At their feet, the two boys continued to play, oblivious to the kiss that ensued, going on and on until they broke apart, breathing hard.
It wouldn’t always be this easy, Grace acknowledged as she looked back at the boys. Amos was bound to test her patience, as he had when they’d first met. They were both stubborn and strong-willed. But they shared a fierce love for their children—a reflection of the Father’s love for them. With His continued help, they could get through any challenges life threw their way.
EPILOGUE
The grassy hill that their landlords were all too happy to share with Amos and Grace was covered in folding chairs brought by their guests as they gathered—allegedly—to celebrate Mateo’s safe arrival in America. The informal party had been Grace’s idea, timed to coincide with her parents’ return to see the baby and enthusiastically received by Amos, who had promptly invited his colleagues.
While standing under the shade of the large oak tree, Grace sent a pitying look at the two SEALs who manned the grill up on the houseboat’s sundeck. Standing under the beating sun, Bambino and Theo were churning out enough burgers and hot dogs to feed a small army. Amos’s colleagues had been the first to show up with their wives, betraying military discipline that Grace’s fellow schoolteachers failed to match. Having helped themselves to the food from the grill along with Amos’s irresistible potato salad, the SEALs stood in a loose knot eating and talking.
Grace’s parents, having just towed their RV down from Maine, were hearing a second-hand account of Grace’s first rescue that summer, told by Commander Monteague, who struck a dashing figure next to his petite, copper-haired wife. Opal proved to be the sister of Bambino’s fiancée, Ruby, a news reporter with a dry sense of humor whom Grace had seen on TV. The towering SEAL named Lucas Strong had also brought along his wife, Charlotte, who chatted easily with the other women, giving Grace to realize they all knew each other. Only Amos’s executive officer, Jonah Mills, had sent his regrets, as he and his wife were taking their daughter Miriam to visit potential colleges. Grace wondered why Jake hadn’t shown up and whether he and Lena, who clearly had a thing for each other, would ever have a future together.
Apart from the three SEAL wives, the only other woman in attendance so far whom Grace already knew was Emma, who had moved into Ben’s rental two weeks earlier. Sitting off to one side, with Carter on her lap, the young mother appeared to be feeling out of place. Grace was about to join her when Ben headed in her direction. Seeing Emma brighten at his approach, Grace turned away and spotted her colleagues, coming down the hill, finally.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” she protested when Ann, another first-grade teacher, handed her a gift for Mateo.
“It’s educational.” Ann sent her a wink. “Where is Mateo?”
Grace pointed proudly at her son, being helped by Christopher to mount the lowest branch of the dogwood tree, while Simon and Colton clambered higher. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Leading the women to Mateo first, then to her mother, Mary, who had gone to sit in a folding chair in the shadiest corner of the yard, Grace glanced up to see her twin, coming carefully down the hill with Fitz cupping her elbow while she carried Mary Mae, who wore a white bonnet. Olivia ran ahead of them to join the boys in the dogwood tree.
Grace met her twin halfway. “There you are! I was worried you wouldn’t make it.”
“Sorry.” Faith sent her a strained smile, even as their mother and father approached to fawn over the baby, whom they’d only met once before.
Grace peered over Faith’s shoulder. “Where’s Grayson?”
“He’s seeing his counselor.”
Her twin’s clipped tone told Grace that Grayson had protested the need for counseling. As Fitz detached himself to greet Commander Monteague and Charlotte, who apparently worked for him, Grace said to Faith, “He’s not going to get anything out of counseling if he doesn’t want to go.”
“I know. Maybe if I go with him. Hi, Mom.” Faith forced a smile and embraced her mother, who looked curious to know what they were saying.
