Damon
The week turned out better than I could’ve ever imagined it would, and I have Liv to thank for it all. She made the transition Harry and I had to make so easy that it barely feels like it was a big deal at all.
But the week is at its end, and my commander has called me to let me know there’s a mission coming up. An Afghan mission. A dangerous one.
I know Liv will have a fit, and that’s why I’m not telling her about it. Instead, I’m going to tell her that I have to go back to the base for a few days to deal with some stuff and then I’ll come back.
She shouldn’t balk too much about that!
I wak into the sitting room the three of us love, with its big windows look out over the grounds. It’s picturesque and calming. And it’s the perfect place to tell them my news.
Grabbing a red rose out of a vase in the hallway, I take it with me into the room where I see Liv is reading a book by the window and Harry is playing with the truck I bought him yesterday. “Evening, my little family.”
Liv puts the book down and looks at me as Harry gives me a nod and continues to run his truck over the floor. She purses her lips as I come to her with the rose in hand and place it on the pages of her open book.
Kissing her hello, I take the seat next to her and take her hand. “I had a call, Liv. Now don’t get mad. You knew I’d have to talk to my superior officers about what I want to do.”
“And?” she asks as her brows raise with worry already.
“And I need to go back to base for a few days to see about things. Then I’ll come right back to you.”
“We’ll go with you.” She places the rose in the center of the book and closes it, laying it on the table in front of us. “Harry’s never been to America. He’ll love it.”
I didn’t account for this!
“Well, you see, I’m going to be busy. I might not get to leave the base at all. Then you’d both be left in a hotel, bored and lonely. You should just stay here, at home. It’ll only be for a few days.”
Then her eyes level on me and she takes in a breath. “Damon, you’re lying to me.”
Shit! How the hell did she know that?
“No, I’m not.”
“You are. Now tell me the real reason you need to go back. And don’t make anything up. I can read you like a book.” She crosses her arms and looks like she’s set her mind to finding out the truth.
But I’m not about to let her in on it, or she’ll throw a fit!
“Liv, stop it. I’m not lying to you,” I say, then run my hand over her cheek. “I’ll miss you while I’m gone. Can’t we just leave things like that?”
“I don’t see why we can’t go with you. And you and I haven’t talked much about what you’ll be telling your superiors about what you want to do. You’ve spent many years in the service. You’ve given more than most do. And you should be up for early retirement.”
“How do you know so much about this?” I have to ask her, as she’s spot on.
“I do my research, Damon. So I think it’s just a matter of paperwork and staying active only until it’s finished. Then you’ll be free.” She taps her long nail on the top of my leg. “Isn’t that what you want? To be free and out of danger?”
“If you want to know the truth, I kind of live for danger, baby,” I say with a sly grin.
“Well, now you live for Harry. And me, if you think about it. What would we do if we lost you?” She runs her hand up my neck, then whispers, “No other man could ever make me feel the way you do. Would you take that away from me to die for some cause no one gives a crap about?”
Anger flashes through me with a vengeance. “Okay, first of all, the cause is real, and everyone should give a crap about it. Even here, in England, the terrorists attack all the time. If you don’t think what I do is important then …”
“You don’t have to yell,” Liv says as she takes my arm and shakes me a bit to make me be quiet. “It’s not that I don’t think it’s important. I know it is. I just don’t want you to do it is all.”
“Well, someone has to. And I’ve been highly trained.”
“Then tell me about what you’ll have to do.” She looks at me like she has the authority to veto my place in the mission that’s already been set.
“I can’t tell anyone about anything. It’s all top secret, Liv. You should know that. You’re not an imbecile. All I can tell you is that I’m being sent out for a few days. That’s it. So, you see, I won’t be on base. There’s no reason for you and Harry to go to Florida with me.”
“I won’t tell anyone, Damon. Just tell me, please,” she pleads with me.
“If I could, I would,” I say then shake my head. “The truth is, I won’t know everything until we’re well on our way. That’s how secret missions work, baby.”
“And how am I supposed to know if anything happens to you? My name isn’t on some list of people to notify if you don’t make it.” A tear forms in one eye and rolls down her cheek.
I use my thumb to flick it away. “Don’t cry. I’ll put you on the list. You’ll be the first one. My father and brother were the only ones on it. Now you’ll be at the top. But I don’t want you to think about things like that. It’s bad luck as far as I’m concerned. I’d rather you think I was lying around on base, doing a whole lot of nothing.”
“I’d rather you be lying around here with me, actually doing a whole lot of nothing. Except maybe making me scream your name a few times.” She smiles, but it’s half-hearted.
Stroking her cheek, I whisper, “I’ve got two nights before I have to leave. We can make the most of them.”
“Why do you have to be on a damn Seal Team, Damon?” she whispers, then buries her head in my chest as she starts crying.
This is exactly what I was trying to avoid!
A sob breaks free from her, alerting Harry to her crying. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks as he comes to us, dropping his truck on the floor.
“Baby, come on. For the kid, dry it up, please,” I beg her.
She sucks in a breath then pulls her head up and looks at Harry. “Daddy has to go away in a couple of days and he’ll be gone for a little while. I’m just going to miss him is all, Harold.”
“Me too!” Harry says as his lower lip pouts and his blue eyes cloud with tears.
“No, it’s okay,” I say as I pick him up.
But it’s too late. The waterworks have begun, and both of them cling to me as if I was about to go in front of a firing squad instead of on a mission like I’ve done lots of times in my time on the Seal Team.
This is not going to go easily, I’m afraid …