A Soldier's Christmas

At the last thought, he felt Emma’s hand as she placed it onto his thigh, and just let it rest against him. “It’s okay, Logan.” She squeezed his thigh. “You’re not alone anymore, and I’m here for you no matter what.”

He pulled the truck to a stop beside the one he recognized as Claire’s, and took hold of Emma’s hand. He kissed her fingers. “Thank you.”

She offered him a soft smile. “Come on. I can see Alice on the porch waiting for you.”

He turned his head and spotted his eight-year-old goddaughter, hovering.

Emma removed her hand and climbed out of the truck while he sat there like a lemon. She walked around to his side and opened his door. “Logan?”

“I’m okay.” He sighed, and climbed out before he took hold of Emma’s hand again, it was his lifeline. “Or I will be.”

“You’ve got this.”

He wasn’t sure he had.

Before he could think, Alice jumped from the porch steps and started running toward him.

He let go of Emma and wrapped his arms around his goddaughter when she buried her face against his chest.

“I knew you’d come,” she whispered, and looked up at him, tears on her lashes. “Daddy isn’t coming home.”

His heart broke. What the hell was he supposed to say? He tried to breathe through his own sorrow, which was close to the surface at Alice’s whispered words. He was over emotional anyway with the visit, but his goddaughter really did break his heart.

It was the comfort of Emma’s hand on his back that helped him pull himself together.

“I know, sweetheart.” He dipped his head and rested his chin against the top of Alice’s head while he held her in his embrace.

He glanced up and caught sight of Claire as she waited where her daughter had been when they arrived—at the top of the porch steps—with her hand covering her mouth. He knew without getting closer that she was crying softly.

“Alice,” he asked, “would you show my girlfriend, Emma, your horse while I talk to your mom?”

“Yes.” She pulled out of his arms and, after a few sniffles, smiled at Emma.

“Do you want to see my new horse? I’ve named her Buttercup,” Alice asked, looking at Emma.

“You okay with that?” Logan asked. The last thing he wanted was for Emma to feel like he was getting rid of her.

“I love horses,” Emma replied, and reached up to kiss his cheek. “I love you.”

Emma held her hand out to Alice. “I’m Emma and can’t wait to meet Buttercup.”

Alice slipped her hand into Emma’s and tugged her toward the stables while he turned and faced Claire.

Matt had loved Claire since the moment he’d met her in high school, and over the years, his love for her hadn’t wavered. She was all he’d talk about when they were on deployment, and they were inseparable when they were on home soil. He couldn’t begin to imagine what Claire must be going through having lost her soul mate.

As he walked toward her, she moved toward him and they met in the middle of the path. Claire’s face broke on a sob and Logan tugged her into his arms. He held her tight and let his own tears flow at the heartache he heard behind Claire’s.

While they stood on the front path, Logan had no idea how long they stayed like they were, or whether anyone else saw them, but he really didn’t care.

“I’m sobbing all over you,” Claire whispered, and pulled back to look up at him. “I’m glad you’re here...and with the Emma.” She offered him a small smile.

“Yeah,” he blew out a breath and looked around him, “she really is my Emma. I love her, Claire.”

“Matt told me you fell in love with her through her letters.”

No way!

“He did not.”