Dear Gage (Love Letters 2)

“That ‘cause you’re stalking her?” For fifteen years, I’ve been in hell on earth, I know how fuckers like him think.

“No,” he blusters, “she and Tommy never mentioned some has-been soldier in their lives.” His eyes wash over my uniform in disdain.

“Has-been?” My laughter is harsh in his face. Filled with malice, not amusement. He’s uneasy on his feet now. Good. “If a has-been means protecting my country, then sure I am. Care to tell me why you put your hands on my girl? Ever think they didn’t tell you about me because they knew you’d get meaner, really fill out your pansy-ass shoes, and show your true colors as a woman beater? Did it ever occur to you that they would have a protector? Someone who would come back and beat you into the ground like you deserve?”

Shock renders him speechless for a moment, and I can see my threat has him thinking through his response. “That’s my kid. You can’t keep me from him.” Pussy.

“I don’t need to. Tommy can make his own choices. But let me tell you something now. If you ever want to see him from here on out, it’ll go through me. You will never have contact with Paisley again.” This wuss will never touch my woman again.

“You can’t do that,” he snaps.

“I can. And I will. You will see, as soon as they say yes, I’ll be adopting Tommy as my own. Which means I get all the say. This is my family, not yours. You gave up any rights you might have ever had the moment you bitched out and ran away. They’re mine now.” I snarl in his face to drive the point home.

“You can’t do that unless I give up rights.” His voice is uncertain.

“You’re not on the birth certificate, Jack. Tomas is mine.” Paisley speaks up from beside me, her little hand slipping into mine with a firm grip.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, I kiss her temple before turning my glare back on the asshole. “From this day forward, it will be solely Tommy’s choice to see you. Any and all contact will go through me. If I ever find out you’ve gone behind my back to harass either of them, I will end you, Jack.”

“Is that a threat?” His chest puffs out like he could do something to me.

I step forward so we’re nose to nose and murmur, “It’s a fucking promise. I will make you disappear.” Menace laces my voice.

Shooting us each a glare, he walks away pissed off, but I think I’ve driven the point home. After Paisley informed us that Jack wasn’t on Tommy’s birth certificate, it was one of the few things I hadn’t been able to get off my mind. Of course, I’d meant to talk to her in private before announcing it.

Paisley

He’s here. I can’t help the sigh that leaves my lips. Gage came. My bickering with Jack was getting on my nerves, then out of nowhere, he was there. Watching, waiting. My body sang. I don’t know how I knew it was Gage, I just innately did.

He’s huge, easily a foot taller than me. With dark brown hair and the warmest chocolate brown eyes I’ve ever seen.

When he kissed me, I nearly melted. I experienced everything he said he’d been feeling in his last few notes. The longing and uncertainty. The relief to be in his arms.

The way he told Jack off, claimed my son and me without a thought, it made the distance and silence vanish. I was no longer angry at him. I knew he had a reason for losing touch.

“Are you okay?” His hands on my neck are soft.

“You’re here,” I whisper in awe.

His smile, dimples on both cheeks, reaches his eyes to crinkle in the corners. They shine with happiness. “I told you I was coming for you, Paisley.” His smile dims. “I’m just sorry it took me so long to get here.”

Looking down at the reminder, I resolve myself to ask him, “What happened?” Afraid of the answer. Emotion making my voice crack.

“Oh, Paisley,” he lifts my chin, “sweet as a fucking Daisy.” Our lips meet in a small kiss. Our foreheads touch as he pulls back slightly. “There was an attack.” My eyes widen in shock. “We barely made it out. I was shot– “

“Are you alright?” I interrupt before he can finish.

“It was touch and go for a bit, but I am now. After debriefings and recovery, we were always on the go. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t get in touch. I would never abandon you two, and I know you were both thinking I did.”

“But you’re okay?” I can’t seem to focus on anything other than he was shot and could have died, and we never would have known what happened to him. My heart is pounding so heavily I can see my shirt rise and fall.

His arms wrap around me in comfort. He embraces my panic. “I’m not going back, Paisley.” My body freezes at his words. “I realized I could have lost you guys before I ever got to have you, and I won’t risk that again. I’m retired from active duty and saddled to a desk.” He leans back to look me in the eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, ever again, baby.”

It’s with that reassurance that we go pick Tommy up from his friend’s. Gage intent on fulfilling every promise he made to us both and proving he’s in it for the long haul.

Tommy

“Tommy! Your mom’s here.” Cassie’s mom yells for me as we’re playing in her backyard.