“Also, think about Winnie. My little girl looks up to you with every ounce of devotion I know. Don’t teach her to be afraid. Teach her to take chances, live her life, and be the person Mom raised all of us to be.”
“What do you suggest I do?”
“Take a chance. Live in the moment. Jump in the deep end.”
“What happens if the deep end drowns me? At least now I have structure.”
“You’re not listening to me. You won’t drown because you’re too strong. Give yourself credit.”
I lean into him, putting my head on his shoulder. “I love when you come home to surprise us. When did you arrive?”
Instead of answering me, he shifts to the side and forces me to look up. “I’m sending someone to you. He’s a good man. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. He’ll take care of you. Forever, if you let him. I’m not going to promise life will be easy, but he’ll love you like you were put on this earth only for him. To say I trust him is an understatement, because I’m trusting him with you, my beautiful, golden baby sister.”
“Why are you talking like that?” Panic starts in as the sun rises.
Simon’s body slowly disappears as the light shines, blinding me.
“Simon!” I cry, reaching into the air. “Simon!”
I thrash and roll over, my room bathed in light. My head swims as I realize it was only a dream. I can’t shake the feeling of how real it seemed, and I fight to calm my heart. Every word he said replays in my mind. What did he mean he was sending me someone?
I prop up and look at the clock. Eight forty-five am…
Chapter 1
Finn
What the hell is she up to now? I think to myself, looking around the park for Ember. She’s not at the gazebo where she asked me to meet her so I check the time and take a seat, watching the people all around enjoying the early June weather.
There’s a group in the outer field with a cluster of dogs. Tennis balls and Frisbees fly through the air as each dog chases, catches, and then takes them back to their waiting owners. They look similar in breed, but I can’t tell from the distance.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Ember’s sweet voice rings out behind me.
I turn and smile at Robbie’s wife. Her long auburn hair is tied to the side in a large sparkling clip, and her bright blue eyes shine with her wide smile. She drops the bags she’s carrying on the bench then launches herself into my arms. I squeeze, returning her affection. Robbie Hayes hit the jackpot when he found Ember Walker—now Hayes. Not only is she an incredible person, she has the biggest heart of any woman I’ve ever known.
I couldn’t have picked a better person in the entire world to spend the rest of their life with my best friend.
“Good to see you, babe.”
“I missed you! We’ve been back from our honeymoon over a month. I told Robbie last night I was jealous he got to see you almost every day at work. I don’t care what’s on your calendar, you’re coming over for dinner this weekend!” She leans back, still holding on to my arms.
“I’ll be there.”
“Good.” She turns and starts unloading the bags she dropped earlier.
She sets up a small picnic, offers me a sandwich, and pats the bench for me to sit.
“So, Hero, tell me what’s been happening in your life.”
I shake my head at the ridiculous name she insists on using. For some insane reason, she labeled me a hero when Robbie told her about my part in saving his life in Iraq a few years ago. What she doesn’t understand is I still don’t feel like I did enough to help Robbie or save the men we lost in the roadside bomb that day. We’re Marines, and it’s in my bones to protect. Any of them would have done the same thing for me.
“You gotta stop calling me that.”
“Never. Get over it.” She wiggles her finger at me. “Always my Hero.”
“Tell me about Tahiti.” I change the subject, referring to her recent honeymoon.
“It was heavenly.” Her voice goes soft, and she looks at me with a new sparkle in her eye. “Everything was perfect—the weather, the food, the island. I didn’t want to leave, but Robbie promised we’d go back.”