Just Like Love (Just Like This Book 2)

by Rebecca Gallo

“You should get dressed,” I told her. “We have to be at the funeral home in an hour.”

  “It won’t take me long,” she assured me before heading into the bathroom. A little while later, she emerged fresh-faced with her curls styled into a braid. She slipped into a simple black sleeveless dress that I helped zip up. I frowned at the way it hung on her; she had clearly lost weight over the last week.

  We made it to the funeral home with time to spare. Jackson was the first to greet us. “Hey, little mama,” he cooed quietly, embracing her tightly. He was dressed similarly in his dress blues, and I noticed a few other members of our unit milling around in front of the funeral home.

  “Don’t squeeze her too tight, Jackson. She might blow at any minute,” I joked. It was crass and totally inappropriate but provided the perfect amount of levity for the morning.

  “Thanks, asshole,” Cami groaned with a roll of her eyes. “I promise not to puke on your pretty dress blues, Jackson.”

  I left Cami in Jackson’s care while I greeted old friends I hadn’t seen since I’d ended my service. We all lamented how it was good to see each other even though the circumstances were terrible. Eventually, we all made our way inside the funeral home where we paid our final respects to Palmer. The chaplain from Ft. Lewis spoke briefly before leading us in a short prayer, and then it was time.

  Jackson and I waited with the other members of our unit inside the funeral home while everyone else filed out. The chaplain blessed Palmer’s casket, and then we all gathered around it, grasping the brass handles on either side. Tim and Lucinda walked ahead of us as we headed out toward the waiting hearse.

  Palmer was to be buried in Tahoma National Cemetery, which was half an hour from Gig Harbor. Cami, Jackson, and I followed behind in our rental car. As we drove, the clouds opened up and unleashed a torrent of rain. It figured that the day would turn to utter shit as we put Palmer in the ground.

  There was a canopy covering the burial site, and everyone seemed to magically produce large black umbrellas from their cars. I placed my hand gently under Cami’s elbow and guided her across the grass. Jackson hovered protectively on the other side, his eyes flicking back to her often.

  Cami stood next to Lucinda, holding her hand tightly while the chaplain blessed Palmer’s casket and led us all in prayer. Members of the honor guard from Ft. Lewis stood by as “Taps” was played before they moved with precision, carefully folding the flag draped over Palmer’s coffin.

  “On behalf of the President of the United States, the United States Army, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.” The words were spoken so softly and reverently. Tim and Lucinda accepted the flag before the honor guard saluted them.

  Just like that, Palmer’s service was over. It all happened so quickly and robotically. Slowly, everyone in attendance departed the cemetery, but Cami, Jackson, and I stayed behind with Palmer’s parents as his casket was lowered into his final resting place. I stood between Cami and Lucinda, holding their hands, providing them my silent strength. Jackson stood on the other side of Cami, giving her additional support. I was in awe of her because even though her tears were an endless stream the entire day, she managed to will herself not to get sick.

  “Thank you for being here today,” Tim said solemnly, shaking first my hand and then Jackson’s. “I think there was some animosity between the two of you at the end, but the fact you’re here means a lot.”

  “I served next to him,” I said. “It’s my duty to be here to honor him, but more than that, he was my friend, and I can’t just forget that. No matter what.”

  “Would you like to join us for dinner?” Lucinda offered.

  I turned back to check on Cami, whose resolve looked like it was beginning to fade. Her face was pale, and she looked exhausted. “We’d love that, but I just want to get Cami back to the hotel room,” I explained honestly.

  “Of course,” Lucinda said with a tight smile. “It’s wonderful to be able to find the rays of sunshine in the darkest of storms.”

  “Please call me if you need anything,” Cami told the Graysons before we left.

  Jackson joined us back at the hotel, and we ordered room service. While Cami showered and changed into warmer, more comfortable clothing, I took the time to catch up with Jackson.

  “How’s the annulment going?” I asked. It had been almost two years since Jackson was served with papers seeking an annulment from a wife he didn’t remember marrying.

  Jackson groaned, running a hand through his sandy blond hair. “I can’t believe it’s taking this long! She’s the one who wanted it, and I’ll sign any paper she sends my way. But she’s demanding that I go to Las Vegas. She won’t send anything in the mail.”

  “So just go to Vegas and get this over with already.”

  “Hell, no. She wants this so bad, then she can work for it.” Jackson was too stubborn for his own good sometimes and part of that was his upbringing. He often ignored problems in his life because no one had been around to teach him how to handle such things.

  “You can end this all, man, with one plane trip. Just do it,” I said again.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Cami stepped out of the bathroom with her hair wrapped in a towel, wearing one of my T-shirts and a pair of yoga pants. She looked even more exhausted and pale.

  “Dinner will be here soon,” I told her with a kiss to her temple.

  “I still can’t get over the fact you two are going to be parents,” Jackson said, looking back and forth between us with a huge grin. “I mean, there is a baby growing inside you right now!” He pointed at Cami who smiled slowly and rubbed her belly.

  “Yeah, well, he or she is making my life pretty difficult,” she stated with a gentle pat on her stomach. “You hear that? I want to eat real food!”

  Jackson left soon after dinner. Cami was already sound asleep, which left me alone with my thoughts for the first time. I removed my uniform and packed it away carefully in the garment bag. My arm brushed my suit jacket from last night and the envelope Lucinda had given me fell from the inside pocket. I picked it up and carried its weight with me around the room as I cleaned up.

  I turned off all but one light and sat down in an armchair by the window, my fingers clutching the envelope tightly until I found the courage to slip one finger into the corner and open it. There was a single sheet of paper folded inside, and I shook it free until Palmer’s words stared up at me.

  Garrett -

  The day I killed Private Taggart was the day my life ended. You were my brother, trying to protect me from the consequences I deserved. It’s time for me to do the right thing. One day I hope you’ll forgive me. - Palmer

  I folded the paper back up and tucked it back inside the envelope. He was wrong; taking his life wasn’t the right thing to do, but I could certainly grant his last request and work toward forgiveness.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Cami

  After Palmer’s death, Garrett and I both seemed a little dazed. Death wasn’t foreign to either of us, and we gave each other the space to grieve separately. He attended more counseling sessions to help process the emotions bubbling to the surface after the funeral. I didn’t question why he wasn’t leaning on me during this time because occasionally, there were moments of total, raw honesty between the two of us.

  Garrett also talked with his father and Avery about hiring more veterans to help at the vineyards and wineries. He wanted Sorenson Cellars to not only be ecologically sustainable but also emotionally sustainable. This was to be a place where hard work helped people deal with emotional trauma.

  And, as if on cue, my morning sickness lessened around the start of my second trimester. It started with a cracker or two and then a nibble of toast until I was eating, and more importantly, keeping down small meals. There were foods that made me nauseated no matter what, like chicken and red meat, so I stayed away. But slowly, I began to s
ee the changes pregnancy was making to my body.

  One morning, I caught Garrett staring at me from the bathroom doorway. I was getting ready for the day because we were finally going out to buy a truck. We’d gotten by with just my hybrid sedan and occasionally borrowing Oliver’s truck when Garrett was running more labor-intensive errands, like delivering cases of wine to the co-op tasting room we were a part of in downtown Healdsburg.

  He grinned like he had a secret, and it was infectious. “What’s wrong with you?” I asked, returning his smile.

  “Pregnancy looks good on you, baby,” he said easily. He walked forward and placed one hand on my waist, which hadn’t expanded much, and ran the other hand through my curls. “You really are glowing.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Hmm. You’re up to something, Garrett Hammond.”

  He bent and playfully nipped at my earlobe, sending a jolt of desire straight to my core. “I’m always up to something.”

  Just when I thought he was getting ready to take advantage of my raging pregnancy hormones, he backed away. “Get dressed,” he commanded. “And wear something pretty.”

  “Garrett, I am not getting all dressed up just to spend four hours in a car dealership buying a truck.”

  “Wear something pretty,” he said again before he pressed his lips to mine in a searing kiss that had me clutching his T-shirt.

  “You win,” I said breathlessly.

  I walked into my closet with damp panties and legs like jelly to find something “pretty.” My eyes landed on a delicate pink sundress. That’s new. The fabric was a beautiful flowing chiffon that felt like heaven when I touched it. It definitely qualified as pretty. I slipped it on over my head and adjusted the top, which fit snugly. I loved how the fabric swished around my legs as I stepped out to inspect myself in the full-length mirror.

  “Wear your hair loose.” I turned to see Garrett also looking quite dapper. He was dressed in a pair of navy-blue trousers and a white button-down shirt that seemed to cling to his chest and arms. He left the top few buttons of his shirt undone and rolled the cuffs of the sleeves neatly up his forearms.

  “We’re not going to buy a truck today, are we?” I asked with a hint of suspicion.

  “No, we’re not,” he answered quietly.

  “What are we doing?”

  His infectious grin returned. “You’ll see. Finished getting ready and meet me out front in fifteen minutes.”

  It didn’t take me long to apply a little bit of makeup and put on a pretty pair of pearl earrings Garrett had bought me during a weekend in San Francisco. I headed out front and stopped at the top of the steps.

  “What’s that?” I asked, pointing toward the slick and shiny black sedan idling in the driveway.

  “A Mercedes,” Garrett stated matter-of-factly.

  “No, I mean, what is it doing here?”

  “That’s for us.”

  I was starting to grow impatient with Garrett’s game. “Can you just tell me what we’re doing?”

  “It’s a surprise, Cami. Now, get in the car.”

  Garrett held the back door open for me while I slid across the supple leather seat and settled myself inside the decadent car. He sat down next to me and gave the driver the order to go.

  “You’re going to need this,” he said, handing me a black velvet jewelry box.

  I popped the lid, revealing an emerald cut blue topaz surrounded by tiny diamonds suspended from a delicate gold chain. “Oh my.” I gasped. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s old and blue,” he told me while helping me to put it on. “It belonged to my mother, and now it belongs to you.”

  Old and blue? A new dress? Surely, Garrett wouldn’t plan a secret wedding.

  “And Avery is letting us borrow his car and driver for a few hours.”

  I turned to face Garrett completely. “Are we getting married?”

  “You’ll have to wait and see,” he said with a tight-lipped smile.

  We weren’t in the car long before we arrived at our destination — Hammond Winery. A banner hung from below the sign at the main entrance, stating that the winery was closed for a private event. As we made our way down the driveway, I saw a small cluster of people gathered under a huge white tent.

  The car stopped, and Garrett helped me exit. There were white chairs set up under the tent along with gorgeous floral arrangements on tall pedestals at the entrance of the tent. Jacob Hammond emerged from the tent, looking sharp in a khaki suit and navy tie. Oliver and Neil, who were dressed similarly, followed him out.

  “It’s about time you got here,” Jacob bellowed. “We thought you were going to be late to your own wedding!”

  I gasped in surprise. “Garrett! I can’t believe you did this!”

  Garrett just winked and held my hand as we walked toward the tent. My mother and Valerie were also there, waiting at the front with Tabitha, who had two tiny little girls chasing each other around her legs. They were adorable in matching floral print dresses.

  “Are you ready to marry me, baby?” Garrett whispered in my ear.

  “You really want to get married, just like this?”

  He nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve waited my entire life to find something just like love. But you gave me something more.” His hand gently caressed my belly as he pressed his forehead against mine. “You gave me forever.”

  Jackson and Valerie will have their turn in 2019! So make sure you’re subscribed to my spam-free, totally infrequent because I’m not that organized newsletter for all of the cover and release details!

  http://www.subscribepage.com/y7a0v3

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you so much for waiting for the conclusion of Cami and Garrett’s story! I know I promised you September, but I wanted to make sure that the story I told was perfect. I originally planned for their story to be three books but as I wrote, the story changed but I’m sure Cami, Garrett and their new little family will pop up again in Jackson and Valerie’s world. We definitely haven’t seen the last of them!

  I still find it hard to believe that this is my fourth book and that there are readers actually reading them! All my life, I wanted to write books and I did write them but only for myself. And, of course, they were never finished. Without the support and encouragement of people like Meghan March, I don’t think I’d ever have the nerve to finish.

  As always, I could not have done this without the love, support, and help of some amazing people.

  Honey Bunny and Peanut – Thank you again for sacrificing your time with me. It’s lonely working on these books, watching the two of you play in the backyard from the bedroom window. Thank you for encouraging me to continue to follow my dreams so that one day, all of ours can come true.

  To the amazing women who helped me put Just Like Love together:

  Amy Queau – Thank you for another gorgeous cover

  Laura Hull – Thank you for pushing me to be a better writer

  Jenny Sims – I don’t even know how you exist. You’re awesome

  Franci Neill – Thank you for being a beta boss babe.

  Amanda Shelley – Thank you for helping me through that plot! So much unnecessary drama was avoided because of you ;)

  My amazing Soul Sisters – Thank you for always being my loudest cheerleaders

  I have made some amazing author friends who have provided me with all of the support and encouragement that a girl could ever want – the Scribe Syndicate members, Maria Luis, Tracey Jerald, Jane Ashley Converse, and Leaona Luxx.

  Home Depot, Lowe’s, ACE Hardware – Thank you for giving my husband and son a place to go when I need peace and quiet.

  Readers, I want to hear from you! If you loved Cami and Garrett, or Georgie and Jameson or if you just want to taco ‘bout cats, then email me: authorrebeccagallo@gmail.com.

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  About the Author

  Rebecca Gallo was firs
t indoctrinated into the romance genre by her babysitter who watched hours upon hours of daytime soap operas. She harbored many inappropriate crushes on fictional characters including John Black from “Days of Our Lives,” Orry Main from the Civil Was mini-series “North & South” and Edward Fairfax Rochester from Jane Eyre. She is still hopelessly in love with Davy Jones of The Monkees.

  Rebecca currently resides in Arizona with her husband, son and tuxedo cat. When she isn’t swooning over book boyfriends or finding inspiration for her next romance, she can be found teaching surly teenagers about literature. Or eating tacos.

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