Protecting Olivia

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

ETHAN

8 years ago

"How did you even find this place?" I ask Drake as I look out over the cliff and to the ocean. There were no noticeable tracks leading to the secluded cliff face, we'd pushed our way through the thick scrub to make it here, but the trek was worth it for the views as far as the eye can see.

"There are so many tracks around here," Drake states as he sits down on the edge of the cliff. "Everyone who comes up here, naturally follows them, it's safe, travelled before. But someone had to be the first one to walk it. You miss a lot if you follow the footsteps of others, I like making my own path."

I nod my head, already knowing that I'm in for a philosophical lesson with Drake. Since I met him six months ago, he has never hesitated to pass on his wisdom. He was the Yoda of our team, something we often joked about, but no doubt respected. In just six months he'd become the big brother I'd never had, someone I trusted without a doubt.

"Something's on your mind, more so than normal." Drake looks out to the ocean as I take a seat beside him. He's not wrong, I have my secrets, something that I have found doesn't exist in the team. It's not that we can't have them, they just can't affect our job, they can't put the team at risk, but my mind has been elsewhere lately, and for the team to notice, it becomes an issue.

Livy would be turning 21 in just three days, it's been three years since I'd seen her, heard her voice and held her. I wondered what she was doing, was she at university, had she moved on with someone else. Did she ever think of me the way I am always thinking about her.

I found myself opening up to Drake, telling him about my parents, about Kate, and about Livy. I hadn't said her name in so long, and the pain I felt the night I left was as fresh as it was then. It was cathartic, getting everything off of my chest, I knew it wouldn't solve anything, but it made me feel a little bit lighter.

"I'm not surprised you had a fucked up past." Drake murmurs after a moment of silence. "That's why you joined the army."

I furrow my brow, wondering if that's true. I know I joined the army to get away, to escape my parents and make sure Kate was nowhere near them.

"You're a fighter," Drake continues, "You've been fighting your whole life. Fighting to protect Kate, to protect Livy. Now you're fighting to protect your country. It's what you know."

I nod my head in agreement, not having looked at it that way before. I'd never considered the army as more than a way out, planning on just doing the minimum time and then moving on. But it fit, everything about the life, being in the thick of war, it felt like home.

"You'll get your girl one day." Drake assures me, though I know that isn't true. "And when you do, promise me you will take the path you don't know."

I didn't know what he meant, but the look in his eye had me nodding my head and agreeing.

*

Present Day

I sit on the edge of the cliff, my feet dangling, the letter crumpled in my hand as I'm pulled out of my memories of Drake. The trail up the cliff is more defined now, others having followed Drake's footsteps to find this place, but I can't help but smile at the thought that Drake was the first one to walk it. He made his own path and others followed. He had no idea where it would lead, but he took it anyway.

I look down at the crumpled paper, I'd had them before, and I'd never hesitated to sign on the dotted line and hand my life over to the army. There was never a question as to whether I would continue with the commandos. Now, I'm not so sure.

Footsteps behind me have me looking over as Seb sits down beside me, looking out over the ocean, the clouds in the distance darkening as a storm forms.

"Thought I'd find you here," he states after a moment of silence. As the team leader he would be well aware that my contract was up. As my friend, he would know that it wouldn't be as straight forward a decision as the last ones. I don't say anything in reply, knowing that Seb would continue eventually.

"I ran into Brett Mathers the other day," I look at him in curiosity. Brett was a commando with Bravo team who was medically discharged a couple of years back. He had shrapnel near his spine, too dangerous to remove, but too much of a risk for him to stay in combat. "Brett and an ex-commando named Mark have started a youth gym." Seb continues. I nod my head in acknowledgement, wondering where he is going with this.

"There looking for a trainer, someone to teach the kids how to defend themselves, give them an outlet. I mentioned that you might be getting discharged."

"Trying to get rid of me?" I ask, earning a chuckle from Seb.

"If I had it my way, you would stay on the team. You're a bloody good soldier, you've saved my life more times that I can count, just like the last mission." I shake my head at that, knowing that the real hero of that day was Jordon. If it wasn't for him, I'd be fish food right now. I was prepared to jump of the cliff I as approaching, knowing the strong current would carry my body away and they would never find me. If it wasn't for Jordon appearing out of no where on a motorbike, I'd be dead. I still don't know where he got the bike from. "But I also know, that this is your chance to have something you have never had."

"And what's that?" I ask

"A house with a white picket fence, a wife and two and a half kids." Seb shrugs his shoulders

"How the fuck do you get half a kid?" I joke, trying to ease some of the heaviness of this conversation.

"Diana would say something about the pull-out method." Seb chuckles.

"And that, that was how Brad was created," I add on as we both laugh. As the laughter dies down, Seb lets out an audible sigh.

"As your team leader, I'm meant to encourage you to stay. But, as your friend, I won't. It's your decision, and I know Livy would support you no matter what. Brett and Mark would be happy to have you, if that's what you decide." I nod my head, knowing that I had options if I were to leave.

Seb doesn't say anything more, eventually leaving to go home to Lucy and the kids. I stay for a while longer, thinking about my life in the army, and what my life could be with Livy. I remember my promise to Drake, the one I didn't understand at the time, but now I know.

With my decision made, and my heart lighter than it had ever been before, I headed home to my family.