The girls got the cafe figured out within a few months. They closed on Mondays and got a few local high school girls in town to work for them. They trained them to run the front of the cafe while Noel focused on baking and their new chef that made lunch entrees. Molly supervised the front and Noel adjusted her schedule for baking so they could get to work a little later in the mornings, offering them a little more freedom with their time outside of work.
Nate asked Noel to move in with him a year after I met Molly and they found a cute cottage on the edge of town. Those two went through a lot being young and learning, and their fights got pretty epic sometimes. I saw that he loved her though, and he finally took the next step and proposed to her on Christmas, making all the women in the house cry. I looked at Keith as he wrapped an arm around his wife, seeing his eyes full of emotion as I kept looking towards Molly. She was hugging Noel and crying and I swallowed the lump in her throat. I’d seen them grow closer over the last few years, only building on the time before that while I found Molly fit well into my life with my own friends on the base. I was always a private man and kept my circle small and tight, particularly since I moved a lot.
Not now, though. I moved from the rental and bought a house that had an amazing view of the mountains from the front porch. It had four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a large backyard. I made it clear that I was here to stay and even set a retirement date for when I turned fifty. It felt strange having a solid future as opposed to moving when I wanted to or needed to, but I wanted more to it than what I’d done so far. I wanted Molly to be a part of my life and with each night that we spent together, I knew that I wanted to make her more of a part of it.
We met friends at a bar every Friday since the other girls opened the cafe on Saturdays. They were loved by the regulars as much as Noel and Molly. It gave all of us a chance to get out and relax, watch some music, or shoot pool. Michael was dating a local girl now and she was sweet, fitting in well with the small group. I loved watching Molly, now confident and comfortable, socialize and dance with Noel as the local band played. She was beautiful and free of the pain that Lance caused her now. She was my everything: my submissive when I wanted it and my best friend when I needed her. It was the most serious relationship I’d ever had and as slow as we were taking it, I knew that I loved her more than I was willing to say.
My friends saw it. Her friends saw it. All the women in the cafe asked me when I was going to make an honest woman out of her when Molly wasn’t looking. I was glad that we’d scaled down from the hot topic of the town to a long-term relationship that everyone admired. I was lucky to have Molly and I needed to tell her that in the right way.
I needed to sweep her off her feet in the best way. I needed to show Molly how special she was.
I was leaving the base one night, later than normal due to a problem with some upcoming classes. I was supposed to meet Molly for dinner at the place where we had our first date and of course I was running late now.
Tonight was the night I was going to ask her to move in with me. It was a step towards what I wanted, but Marta and Noel were going to help me with the rest of the process. They knew her best after all.
I was just pulling through the green light when I felt my car twist around, hearing the sound of an impact as my world turned upside down. I hit something and the car started moving violently, closing my eyes as I tried to breathe. Everything hurt and I took a ragged breath as Molly’s face flashed through my mind.
“Molly. I love you, Molly.” Why had I only told her that a few times when I knew how true it was? I heard the sounds of voices around me before my head dropped back and everything went black.
Epilogue 1
Six months later
Molly
I stood at the trees, waiting for my cue. The lilies were in my hand and I was beyond emotional as I glanced back at Noel. She looked beautiful in her white wedding dress with the sweetheart neckline and long, flowing train.
It was her wedding day and despite the planning nearly killing me, I was happy to see it happening before my eyes. It was a hard time for me but I wasn’t selfish. I told Noel to go ahead with her plans and that I was there for her.
I heard the violin and I blew her a kiss before I walked out, turning left to walk towards Nate as he waited for his bride. It was March in Idaho and gorgeous today. There was a light breeze and I felt the curls blow around my head as I made my way down the aisle.
I saw Marta sitting in the front with my parents, sniffling as she clutched a tissue. She wasn’t the only one and I moved my eyes forward to look at the men standing beside Nate, nervously shifting on their feet.
Robert stared at me, his eyes intent on my face. He looked gorgeous in a black suit with a white shirt, blue tie blowing in the breeze. It matched my dress and I smiled at him, taking my place to the left of the minister as I looked down the aisle.
The last few months had been so intense. I’d gotten the call that Robert was in an accident on a night like any other. He’d been hit by a drunk driver and his entire car was smashed up with his broken body inside of it. Keith and Marta took me to the hospital in the next town over right away and waited for news. Noel came with Nate and Michael even showed up to wait.
Robert was my life but I’d held that inside. He was my everything but I was moving along like we had forever and now life proved to me that we didn’t.
Marta sat down beside me and took my hand as we stared forward. I couldn’t talk with my thoughts jumbled together the way they were. I couldn’t make sense of the regret and the pain that was eating me up inside. I couldn’t stand the fear that held me back from committing myself to him completely.
I thought that I wouldn’t have the chance at all.
“I love him,” I'd told her as she looked at me.
“He knows that,” Marta assured me as I gazed at her.
“I haven’t told him enough, Marta. I’ve held back.” I felt tears slide down my cheeks as I dropped my head forward. I’d dressed up for dinner, planning to tell him how much I cared for him. I’d given my body to him so willingly but held my heart back and tonight, I was done with that.
Life might be done with us.
Robert had some broken bones but I sobbed when I found out that he was going to be fine. His family was flying out and got to see him first after a rushed meeting with me. It wasn’t what I would’ve chosen but I knew that we could make up for it later. When I finally walked into the room, I dropped beside the bed and took his hand gently. “Molly,” Robert gasped as he looked at me with tired eyes.
“I thought that I lost you,” I had told him as I started to cry again.
“I’m here. They told me I’m going to be okay. Don’t cry,” he said as I shook my head.
“No, I want to cry. Damn it, Rob. I love you. I am in love with you and I never told you. That was the plan tonight and…” I closed my eyes. “Is it too late?” All the emotions rushed through me and I squeezed his hand as I looked at him.