“Tell me why you’re here.”

This is my first visit to see Paul Jacobs. After I got his details from Jenna I looked him up, and colour me impressed. He’s not cheap, but dealing with PTSD, particularly in veterans, is his specialty.

“I’m struggling, and I need help.”

Paul smiles. “That’s half the battle right there.”

Over the next hour, I tell him everything—Ben’s death, my injury, my difficulties that Jenna helped me through. And Lily. Like everything else in my life, it always comes back to Lily.

“You’re scared you’ll hurt her again.”

I nod. “I’m not stupid. She’s given me another chance she never needed to, and I made the most of it. Now we’ve got a successful business and a new baby, and she’s been through so much herself.”

“From what you’ve told me, there are things from both your pasts that you’ve skimmed over. If you want to move forward together, you both have to be honest with each other.”

I swallow. “I’ve always been scared. She feels like I abandoned her, and I did. No matter what I do now, I’ll never be able to make up for that.”

“Maybe not, but that you’ve started opening up to each other is a good thing. The past is painful, but it’s what you do with that pain to make the future better that’s important.”

I let out a loud breath. “I just love her so much.”

He nods. “She’s the last person you want to hurt, but you hurt her, and while that’s not a good thing, it’s brought you here. Have you had any other instances of reacting to sounds like that?”

“Not that extreme. A couple of times my ex found me curled up in the corner of the room, but the recent one was the scariest. I was back there, tasting the sand, smelling dead bodies.”

His eyebrows knit. “And it was a gunshot that set it off?”

“My brother shot a possum. My actual memory of what happened is pretty hazy, but Lily twisted her ankle when I shoved her to the floor.”

Paul sits back in his chair. “How much treatment did you have back in the States? Did you get counselling?”

“A bit. My ex works with veterans. That’s where we met. But I always wondered if it was enough, and if my seeming to be mostly okay was just because I lived with her and she’d been around people like me before. She knew how to talk me down, and what signs to look for.”

He nods.

“She taught me some relaxation techniques, and that works when it’s not too loud or when an attack is coming. But the other day I didn’t have time to try anything.”

Paul leans closer. “It’s called an exaggerated startle reflex, and it’s very common in veterans with PTSD.”

“I remember Jenna calling it something like that. What do I do to stop it?”

“There are medications that can help, and I would recommend you keep coming to see me. I know you have to travel, so we could even talk via Skype or phone.”

Nodding, I breathe a sigh of relief. “Whatever it takes. The most important thing to me is to keep my family together, so I need to do everything I can.”

“What kind of counselling did Lily get after her trauma?”

I grin. “Angling for business?”

He laughs. “Caught me. No, it just sounds like there are open wounds on both sides. She went through an incredibly traumatic experience, too.”

“I’m not sure, but she still has a fear of the dark. I set up a night-light system for our bedroom. Have to admit, it’s helped me a little to when I wake up from the dreams.”

“Well, Adam. Apart from this, it sounds like you have a healthy relationship with each other. That’s going to help you.”

I nod, and for the first time in a long time I don’t feel quite so agitated about the past. It’s time to let Ben go and move on with my life.

My life with Lily.

* * *

It’s a long drive home, but I can’t wait to see Lily. She’s not expecting me until tomorrow, and I spent some time doing some shopping before I started the journey.

The plan was for me to stay at Drew’s place, but I couldn’t wait to come home. Copper Creek is a quiet town, but leaving my family alone for the night doesn’t sit right with me. Besides, I miss them.

As I drive into the yard, Lily appears at the back door. She beams as I step out of the car and walk toward the house.

“How did it go? I thought you’d stay the night at Drew’s.”

I let out a loud breath as we walk into the kitchen. “It was good. I stopped off to see Drew, but I just wanted to come home. I think I’ll sleep better with you.”

Her lips curl into a smile. “There are leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry, and you just missed Max. He grumped about you not being here, but he went to sleep pretty quickly once he was in bed.”

“Dad?” Max appears in the doorway.

She rolls her eyes. “Speak of the devil. I thought you were asleep.”

“I was, but you two make so much noise.” Max wraps his arms around my waist. “Where have you been?”

“I had to go and see a special doctor.”

His blue eyes fill with concern. “Are you sick?”

“No, bud. I’ve been talking to him about my days in the army.”

“Can you tell me, too?”

Lily meets my gaze, her eyes so full of love.

“Sure, but not tonight. You need to go and get some sleep.” I bend, and press my lips to his forehead. “Love you, Max.”

“Love you too, Dad. I knew you’d come home tonight.”

“Of course you did.”

He turns and disappears toward his room, and I drape my arms over Lily’s shoulders. “Want to go to bed too?”

“Maybe after we know for sure that Max is asleep.”

I laugh. “I’ve got a present for you. Go sit in the living room.”

A confused look crosses her face. “A present?”

“Something special for my girl.”

I go to the table and open my bag. Sitting right on top is the small velvet box, and my stomach clenches as I take it out.

How’s Lily going to react? Things seem to be okay between us again, but does she trust me enough for this?

I don’t know how I’ll take it if she says no.

“Ready?” I call.

“I don’t know. It might help if you tell me what it is.”

Taking a deep breath, I walk into the living room. She’s sitting on the couch, and her eyes are wide as I cross the room and drop to my knees in front of her.

“What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done a very long time ago.” I open the box, and her mouth drops open.

“Adam,” she says softly.

“You’re it for me, Lily. You always were. I asked you once before and everything went wrong. But everything’s going right for us, and I’m hoping we can try this again. I know we need to be more open, but I want to be more open with you forever. I want to promise that in front of our friends and family. Will you marry me?”

Tears roll down her cheeks, and she nods. “Of course I will.”

I remove the gold ring with the teardrop diamond from the box. “I picked this out because I think I’ve caused you enough tears. This is the last one.”

She laughs, wiping her face with her fingers. “It’s beautiful.”

The old ring I bought the first time around still sits on her finger. She’s told me it carried her through the months her mother abused her, and it brought her comfort for all the years we were apart.

“I don’t want to take this off,” she whispers.

“Then, don’t. I’m sure there’s enough room for both. Something old and something new.”

I slide it on her finger. It’s a little loose, but nothing we can’t get fixed up.

She throws her arms around my neck and I hold her tight.

“Are you two getting married?”

Lily laughs at the sound of Max’s voice, and she plants a kiss on me before letting me go and nodding. “Yes, baby. Your mum and dad are getting married. Come over here.”

Max rolls his eyes. “It’s about time.”

He’s right. It is about time.