The St Patrick Series Book #3: Twin Trouble

Chapter 31: The IT Department

Dani's POV
"All packed already." I gazed at Bruce from the top of the staircase. "I have never seen him in his army uniform. He looks sharp. I slowly made my way down, taking note of the time on the clock. It's almost 4am. We made love like we have never made love before. At least I have something to hold onto. "You look dashing and handsome soldier."

He leaned low to steal a kiss from my sore lips. "I love you and I'm leaving my heart with you. Before I leave, I want to do this again, in front of the people who matter most to me." When he got down on one knee, I took notice of his family. His father, his mother, his sister and of course James. "Daniella will you be patient enough to wait for me? Will you please hold onto this ring as a promise of my eternal commitment to you? Will you marry me?"

I smiled at Bruce. "I'll wait forever Bruce. I'll wait forever because no one will ever love me the way you do."

He slipped the ring on my finger. It's the same ring I gave back. It's still so beautiful!

When he got on his feet he kissed me again, gently. I felt tears spilling from eyes but he didn't stop. He kissed me until I couldn't anymore.

"Lieutenant Colonel!" His father called him. Bruce stood at attention.

"Sir."

"It's time to go."

"Yes sir." He answered.

His mother hugged him and Anna hugged him too. He turned his attention to me one more time. "I wrote you a letter... I have been writing you letters since I found out I'm deploying. Think of me as often as I'll think of you. Bye Dani."

He picked up his bag and he left. His father who is also in uniform followed.

The three women left behind followed after them into the cold morning. James is driving them. We stood at the end of the driveway watching until we couldn't see the taillights anymore.

I felt Courtney's arms around me. "Welcome to the life of an army wife. They leave that fast sometimes and every knock on the door after this will almost cause you a heart attack." She kissed the top of my head. "Let's go back inside."

She draped her arm over Anna and the other over me.

He's gone, for now.

I miss him already.

*
It's noon. I think I have sufficiently rested. It's been eight hours since Bruce left.

"Do we get to call them?" I asked Courtney. She's busy going through the fridge. "Where are the maids?"

"I sent them shopping. I wanted to have a talk with you." She kicked the fridge door closed. "It's sensitive."

I pulled my sweater around myself. "What is it about?"

"It's about the Mafia, what happened with Giorgio, what you had Bruce do, what this means now that you are staying here.  Sit down please."

I took a seat. She passed me a cup of tea. "So..." She's making me nervous. She has sharp eyes just like Bruce and the kind of face that doesn't exude warmth.

"I don't know what is happening between you and your mother. She should be here doing this... I'm not good at this emotional stuff... The Colonel... Chris does the hugging. But Bruce asked me to take care of you like you are my own so... I'm just giving you a heads-up, I will not hug you."

I chuckled. "You're not that different from Yolanda Wu. Don't worry."

"My best friend was once engaged to a man in the Mafia. She didn't know that at the time, the Mafia part. We ran away from home trying to be free from our suffocating parents. That man pursued her. At the end if it, he abducted her. His men almost beat Chris to death. It was a traumatic experience. I can't imagine what you went through in the weeks you were there... in that man's hands. If you ever want to talk about it, I'll listen."