by Alex Howell
“Love you too,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. “I will never let anything like this happen to you ever again.”
He held her close to his shoulder as she bawled her eyes out. Gently, he stroked her hair as tears of his own fell down. He let out an exhausted breath, kissed her on the forehead once more, and then motioned for her to follow him to a secure SWAT car. With his arm over her, he led her to safety.
No matter what it takes, I will take care of you. No matter what. Even if World War III breaks out. Even if the end of the world comes.
I will forever protect you, Clara.
I love you.
Epilogue
Mason stood in the center of the living room with the camera in his hands, fiddling with it gently, adjusting one dial and playing with another. He couldn’t believe that so much time had flown by so quickly; that his little girl had grown up so much that she was heading out to her senior prom.
There was a knock at the door, and Clara squealed upstairs and called down to her father. “Daddy! Will you get that please?”
Mason rolled his eyes with a sigh, but obliged. He went to the door and opened it to see Tom standing there in a tuxedo, looking better than he ever had, with a corsage in a pretty box held tightly in his hands. He swallowed when he looked up and saw Mason.
“Good evening, sir.” Tom gave Mason a nervous smile.
“Hello, Tom.” Mason replied, stepping back to invite the boy in. Mason flashed back to his own prom, and to his date that night. He’d been nervous and excited, and hoping for a lot of fun after the dance. Mason frowned and met Tom’s eyes with a serious look.
“I want you to show my daughter a good time tonight, and I want the two of you to have fun. There are a few rules, though.”
Tom swallowed hard again. “Okay...” Tom waited.
“No drinking.”
Tom shook his head adamantly. “She doesn’t drink anyway.” He said quietly.
“No drugs.”
“Oh, no sir.” Tom shook his head again.
“Don’t touch her anywhere that I wouldn’t touch her.” Mason’s eyes bored into Tom’s. Tom nearly choked.
“Oh no, sir. I mean yes, sir.” He nodded, and then shook his head, as if he wasn’t quite sure how best to respond. “I mean... I won’t sir.”
“Okay, I’m coming down!” Clara called out from the top of the stairs. Mason held Tom’s gaze a long moment and then they both looked up toward the staircase and waited. Clara came down carefully, a step at a time, with blushing cheeks and a big grin. Her dark hair was pulled up in soft curls, and her green eyes shone with excitement. Mason’s heart melted.
“You look beautiful.” Mason told her as he held the camera up and snapped a couple of photos. “I wish your mother was here to see this. She’d have loved it.” He said tenderly as he smiled wide.
Clara beamed and gave him a sympathetic look. “She’s here in our hearts.” She replied, and then she turned her attention to Tom, who was paler than he had been when he walked in the door.
Tom blushed pink and stared at her. Clara grew slightly coy and looked at the box in his hands. “Is that for me?” She asked lightly. Tom blinked a few times and then nodded and laughed nervously.
“Yes! Yes... this is for you.” He said, handing the box to her. “I hope it’s the right color green. Your dress is so beautiful. It really brings out your eyes.”
She took the corsage out and gave it to Tom, and with trembling fingers he closed it around her wrist. “It’s perfect!” She sighed blissfully. Clara hadn’t looked so happy in longer than Mason could remember.
He took a few photos of the couple and then kissed Clara on the cheek. “You two have fun tonight, be careful, and enjoy yourselves.” He gave Tom one last look of warning, and then watched them as Clara took Tom’s arm and the two of them headed out to the limousine that was waiting on the street.
Mason smiled wistfully as he stood in the doorway. “Ah Bree. We made an amazing girl. I wish you could be here to see her. Maybe you are, somehow, someway, watching over her and me, but I wish you were standing here by my side tonight.” He spoke quietly to himself, missing his wife terribly. “Clara’s right, though. At least you’re here in our hearts. We’ll always keep you there.”
Tom helped Clara into the car and the chauffeur closed the door and drove them away. When the taillights disappeared around the corner at the end of the street, Mason’s heart went them. He took a deep breath and walked back inside, closing the door behind him.
Bonus
Thank you so much for reading The Search!
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If you want the prequel get it here- https://bit.ly/2IQx8dc
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It’s like breathing! I don’t even need to try!
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I was born to be a Navy Seal. I knew it was my calling and wasted no time in joining up.
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My training. My missions. My team. I love every bit of it. But I never knew I would ever want this... A calm, quiet day! Away from it all, including my brothers. Just to be with her. Bree.
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The thought of her name makes my knees weak. How could someone have so much power over me? The navy didn’t prepare me for this. And I never thought making a choice could be so hard! What do you do when love is standing between you and the country you vowed to protect?
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War brought me in. Will love push me out?
