Of all the familiar things she missed about Montana—her friends, Aaron’s family and the beauty of Big Sky Country—she never missed the winter weather.
As she pulled up to the gatehouse at the entrance to the base, Cody began chanting his excitement. When she rolled her window down, the guard looked into the backseat at the ruckus.
“Is someone’s dad coming home today?” the big man asked.
Kristi swallowed the lump in her throat. The same one that seemed to pop up at the oddest reminders of Aaron. “I’m Kristi T—McCloud. I’m here to pick up Zach.”
The man’s eyes grew bright as he looked at her driver’s license. “Ziggy? Oh, he’s here. In their offices probably.” He quickly handed back her license and gave her directions to a trailer.
She repeated them to herself over and over. “Left, right, across from the third pier.”
The building wasn’t much, marked only with a number and a few big trucks in the parking spaces beside it.
She pulled into a spot and took a deep breath. She could do this. Things were going to change, but it didn’t have to be for the worse. They’d already survived one adjustment. They could get through another. With a firm nod of her head and a silent prayer heavenward, she opened her door, then helped Cody out of the backseat.
Just as Cody’s feet hit the ground, a small white SUV flew into the spot two over. A gorgeous brunette tumbled out from behind the wheel. She sprinted for the door to the trailer, and it slammed closed behind her.
Cody looked confused, his little eyes squinting against the sun.
“I think we’re in the right place,” Kristi reassured him. “Someone is excited to see her husband. Are you excited to see Zach?”
“Yes.” He pumped his fist in the air as best he could, and she ushered him toward the building, holding open the door as he ambled in.
Compared with the bright sun, the fluorescent interior lights were almost black, and she had to blink quickly. As soon as her eyes adjusted, she spotted the same brunette from outside, swinging around the neck of a man in brown camouflage. His arms locked around her waist, his eyes closed as they spun.
“Miss me?” he asked, and she replied with a kiss.
Kristi suddenly felt very out of place. Maybe they should go wait in the car. Or drive over the bridge and wait for Zach to show up at the house. This was a time for sweet reunions between real loves, not awkward embraces with faux wives.
But just as she snagged Cody’s arm, a familiar voice made her insides tremble. It was low and filled with concern.
“Kristi?”
Cody wiggled free and ran for Zach, who easily scooped the thin boy into his arms. Zach’s smile was genuine but surprised as he patted Cody’s back and ruffled his hair.
“Good to see you, little man.”
Cody threw his skinny arms over the broad shoulders and hugged Zach’s neck like they were best friends. “You came back!”
“Told you I would.”
“And you’re in time for Christmas!”
“You don’t say.” Zach’s smile faltered as he looked in her direction and caught her gaze.
Embarrassment washed over her for no particular reason, and she wrapped her arms around her middle.
The corner of Zach’s eyes crinkled as his gaze dropped to the floor, and she felt every inch of his survey. He stepped closer and leaned in, his warmth wrapping around her. “Good to see you.” He pressed his lips to her cheek, and her nerves prickled to life, down her neck and right into her already-seasick stomach.
The best she could manage in response was a trembling smile.
“The transplant coordinator says I’m almost at the top of the list.”
She thanked God for Cody every day. And especially when his random outburst drew all of Zach’s attention and a big grin.
“How’re you feeling?”
Cody shrugged, wilting into Zach’s shoulder. “Tired mostly. Momma makes me take a break every day. Even when Mrs. Drummond is staying with me while mom’s at work.”
Zach laughed, a rich baritone that reverberated off the fake-wood walls, at Cody’s euphemism for naps. “I might be able to match you break for break, man. I haven’t gotten a full night of sleep in a while...”
“What were you doing?”
“Cody, no,” she interrupted. “Don’t ask—”
“I was protecting people who can’t protect themselves.”
Cody’s eyes filled with sadness, and the pout of his lower lip quivered. “Did their daddies die, too?”
With a flash of the same sadness in his own eyes, Zach nodded. “Some of them.”
“Then I’m glad you went to help them.” Just like that, Cody assessed that Zach’s work was worthy, and he moved on to the next topic of interest, pointing at the embracing couple. “Who are they?”
Zach turned to look behind him. “That’s Willie G.—I mean, Will Gumble and his wife, Jess. And that’s the senior chief.” A tall, lean man stepped out of an office and walked up to them, holding out his hand to shake Kristi’s.
“Matt Waterstone. You must be Kristi. Zig talks about you all the time.”
A truck full of gravel emptied into her stomach, and she barely managed to shake his hand before her knees began trembling. What had Zach been saying about her? Did they all know she’d been forced to marry a man she didn’t love for the sake of her son? Her hands shook, and she wrung them in front of her, trying not to be intimidated by the steel in his posture.
Zach grunted his disagreement but didn’t get out a word before the door flung open and three towheaded kids raced inside. They shouted and cheered as Matt squatted before them, scooping even the oldest—probably seven or eight—into his arms.
Each child was given a hard kiss on the forehead before Ashley, their mom, arrived. The kids seemed to know the drill, and they parted ways as she reached her husband and held him tightly.
Kristi took several shuffling steps backward. She didn’t belong here. Not with these real family reunions. Grabbing for Cody’s hand, she snagged Zach’s bare forearm instead, and they both jumped at the contact.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice barely carried, but the firm shake of his head told her he’d heard her just fine.
“Are you ready to go home?” he asked.
She looked away. “Anytime.”
“Let me get my bag.”
When she reached for Cody, the boy whimpered and tucked his head into Zach’s neck. Kristi flinched. “I’m sorry. He’s really tired. This is usually one of his rest times.”
Zach didn’t quite smile, but there was a tenderness in his eyes as he readjusted the weight in his arm. “No problem. I’ll be right back.”
True to his word, Zach ducked into an office and returned in less than a minute. The large camouflage bag slung over his shoulder was bigger than her son, but he carried both without any indication of the burden. With a wave to his fully occupied teammates, he ushered her into the bright sunlight and to the car.
Usually she had to wrestle Cody into his seat when he was on the verge of sleep, but Zach made it look easy. And with his bag stowed in the trunk, he looked from the driver’s door to her hands to her face. “Want me to drive?”
“Oh.” Her gaze dropped to the faintly jingling keys