“Yeah, about that,” Ryan muttered.
The front door flew open and a chorus of “Merry Christmas, Percy!” about knocked them backward.
“What the—?” Percy’s eyes went wide as Ryan’s parents and both his brothers spilled out, surrounding them.
“We brought Christmas to you,” he murmured.
His mother, Trisha, wrapped Percy in a hug. “Oh, it’s so good to see you, Uncle Percy.”
“You’re here.” Percy’s voice quavered. “You’re all here on Christmas Day. Why?”
“You refused to come to us and we refused to take no for an answer, you stubborn old coot. We love you. Now come on inside. We’ve got a massive spread and dinner’s just about to come out of the oven.” Not allowing an argument, Trisha ushered him through the door.
At the panicked plea in Percy’s eyes, Ryan lifted his hands in a what-can-I-do? gesture. His mom was taking over now. That was the end of that.
With probably more fanfare than Percy liked and a helluva lot of talking, they finally got him settled in the living room. Duke, released by one of Ryan’s brothers from the crate they’d gotten yesterday, gave a joyful bark and whine, offering up a full-body wag and wriggle, pressing himself against Percy’s legs.
“Hey. Hey there, buddy. I’m happy to see you, too.” He bent low, rubbing and petting the dog, pressing his face into the brown and black fur. “I’m happy to see everybody.”
Ryan met Hannah’s gaze across the room, matching her brilliant smile with one of his own. Filling the house with family to greet Percy when he got home had been her idea, and the moment he’d called his mother to put in the request, Trisha had begun orchestrating the moving of the holiday with all the efficiency of a three-star general. It had absolutely been the right call.
At a few words from Trisha, everybody descended on the kitchen to finish food prep and begin setting the table. Left alone with Percy, Ryan propped a shoulder against the mantle and watched him with the dog.
Hands still buried in Duke’s fur, Percy met his gaze. “Thank you for this. Thank you for everything you’ve done while you were here. I didn’t want any help, didn’t want to admit I needed it.”
“Yeah, I get that. Pot, kettle, and all that. And you’re welcome. It’s been a good little vacation.” With a pang of regret, he straightened. “In less awesome news, I have to head back to Fort Polk tonight to catch a MAC flight back overseas.”
No stranger to the whims of the military, Percy nodded. “What about Hannah? Did you get your head out of your ass? Because that girl is the best thing to ever happen to you.”
An arm slipped around his waist and a grinning Hannah confirmed, “He did. And yes, I am.”
Who was he to argue with the truth? Ryan pulled her close, wanting to keep her by his side as long as absolutely possible, needing to memorize the imprint of her body pressed against his to carry with him on the long, hard road ahead.
“You’re good?” Percy asked, taking in the embrace.
He pressed a kiss to her brow. “We’re good.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Percy pushed to his feet and socked him in the arm. “I told you you needed a woman.”
“Percy—”
“What’s this about a woman?” Trisha came into the den, a kitchen towel in her hands. As she took in Ryan’s arm around Hannah, she clutched it to her mouth, her eyes going suspiciously shiny. “Oh!”
Busted. “Mom, don’t you dare cry.”
“Oh, shut up. I’m allowed to be happy my son’s happy.”
He braced himself for…well, he didn’t know what. He wouldn’t put it past his mother to have a preacher on speed dial.
Hannah squeezed him and lifted her mouth to his ear. “Don’t worry. I give good Mom.” She stepped toward Trisha, hand outstretched. “In all the crazy, I don’t think we really had the chance to be properly introduced. I’m Hannah Wheeler.”
Trisha squeezed her hand. “Trisha Malone, and I am very, very glad to meet you.” Raising her voice, she hollered, “Mike! Boys! Come meet Ryan’s new girlfriend.”
He opened his mouth to say…something, expecting Hannah to balk. Instead, those dimples winked on and she followed his mom back into the kitchen.
“That,” Percy observed, “is one helluva woman.”
“Yes. Yes she is.” He wished, more than anything, that they had more time. That he hadn’t wasted any with his head up his ass. But even that wouldn’t have been enough. And now he had to share his last hours with Hannah with the rest of his family, who he’d shortchanged on this trip stateside. It seemed there was never enough time. Robbie was proof enough that there was never a guarantee of getting more than the moment you were in. That just made him want to cling to this one, to these last hours with Hannah, with his family, all the more.