Chapter 12

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Faith

I'm getting married.

Tomorrow.

I have a dress. It's a white spaghetti-strap summer dress with lace around the waist. It's simple and elegant and could easily pass for a wedding dress. It's perfect, and as soon as I laid eyes on it, I wanted it. I was sure it wouldn't be my size, but as luck would have it, it was. I immediately tried it on, and was sold. First dress, first store. I was one and done.

Hannah and I then went to the local florist and were able to order a bouquet that the owner made while we waited. Once we told her I was getting married before my fiancé was shipped off, she insisted.

My fiancé.

Somehow, overnight everything in my life seemed to fall into place. I have the job of my dreams, and the man, the one I've been in love with since the moment we met, dropped to one knee to ask me to marry him. Sure, it's temporary, but maybe, if I'm lucky, we can explore this connection we share, and when he comes home, we can skip the divorce and ride off into the happily-ever-after sunset.

I'll make the house we're assigned a home for him. For us. Chad and I have been dancing around this connection for far too long. It's time to do something about it, and the moment he dropped to one knee, I knew my answer. I was going to say yes to him, and then fight like hell to make this marriage permanent.

My hands are shaking as I reach for the hotel room door. Chad is already back. I saw the rental car in the parking lot. My dress is in a bag, so I don't have to worry about him seeing it. Not that this is a traditional wedding, anyway. Our families are not even going to be here. I hate that they're going to miss this. I only plan to be married once. Maybe, once he's home, we can renew our vows or something?

One step at a time.

Pushing open the door, I step into the room that's been my home away from home, during my time here. "Hey." I smile when I see Chad sitting at the small two-person dining table.

"There's my fiancée. Did you find a dress?" He stands and greets me with a kiss.

"I did." I hold up the garment bag. "And flowers." I hold up the bouquet in my other hand.

"Perfect."

"What are you doing?" I ask as he sits back down at the table.

"Filling out paperwork for the wedding and married housing. They're going to expedite it, but they can't until after the marriage license is signed. We'll have to stop and drop all of this stuff off tomorrow." He signs a few more papers before handing me the pen. "Your turn. Make sure you sign Faith Anthony."

I freeze, my eyes locked on his. "Okay." I slowly nod.

"Date it for tomorrow."

My hand shakes just a little as I sign my name, my new name, next to where the forms require a spouse's signature. We're really doing this. I'm going to be Mrs. Chad Anthony.

Once I'm finished, I hand him the pen. "We're all set. I have my dress blues; they're hanging in the closet. Everything is scheduled for tomorrow. Hannah and Erik will be there as well."

"Is there anything I need to do?"

"Yes, actually. I bought a car today. We need to go pick it up and then take the rental back so you don't have to deal with it on your own."

"You bought a car?"

"I did. You need a permanent means of transportation while I'm gone, and a long-term rental would have been expensive."

"What did you buy?" I don't know how I manage to speak the words with the lump in my throat. He's going out of his way to make sure I have what I'll need while he's deployed. My heart swells to the point it feels too large for my chest.

"A Toyota Camry. It's a couple of years old, but only has twenty thousand miles."

"Wow."

He steps up next to me and wraps me in his arms. "I need to make sure my wife is taken care of."

"You do. You have, I just—I didn't expect you to buy a car."

"A car, a new house, and this." He pulls back and drops to his knee for the second time today.

I watch closely as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small ring box. Opening it, he plucks something out, and rests the box on the floor next to him. Taking my hand, he smiles up at me. "I didn't have this earlier, but that's okay. I have it now. Faith Gregory, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"

My heart pounds in my chest, and tears pool in my eyes. It's the same exact overwhelming emotions coursing through my veins the second time around. This time with a gorgeous diamond ring being offered to me.

"Yes." Tears roll down my cheeks and my hand shakes as he slips the diamond onto my finger.

Chad stands, pulls me into his arms, and kisses me. The kiss steals the breath from my lungs. When he finally pulls away, he rests his forehead against mine. "My wife," he murmurs.

"My husband."

His grip on my hips tightens at the name, and that gives me hope. So much hope and light inside my heart that this isn't just temporary. That this could be—no, that this will be, our happily ever after.

"Nervous?" Chad asks. His fingers are laced with mine as we reach the chapel on base.

"No. Are you?"

He scoffs. "I'm marrying my girl today. What's there to be nervous about?"

His words have my heart melting inside my chest. Sometimes, the things he says, it makes me think this is more than just an arrangement while he's deployed. Either way, I'm pushing that out of my mind, and today, I'm going to pretend. I'm going to give the day my full attention, because I hope with everything inside me, this is my one and only wedding. It's a day I never want to forget.

Pushing open the doors to the chapel, we take a few steps and then I freeze. Standing before us are our families. My parents, my brother with Shayne, Chad's parents and his younger sister, they're all here.

Chad squeezes my hand. Then again, maybe I'm the one doing the squeezing.

"Chad?" I ask, fighting back tears. I want to look at him, but I can't seem to take my eyes off the group of people who are the most special to us standing in front of me.

Chad leans in, placing his lips next to my ear. His words are soft and only for me. "Surprise, wife. We can't get married without our families."

I find the strength to turn to face him as tears well in my eyes. "You did this for me?"

Lifting his hand, he wipes at my tears with his thumb. "Nothing I wouldn't do for you, Faith."

It takes everything I am to not blurt out how much I love this man. Thankfully, my brother steps forward and stops me.

"What's going on?" Ford asks. He watches me closely with suspicion in his gaze.

"You don't know?" I ask my brother.

"All I know is that Chad called and said I needed to get everyone here by noon today."

Chad drops my hand and slides his arm around my waist. "Thank you all for coming. I know it was short notice, but we needed our families here for this."

"Here for what?" my dad asks. He glances from me to Chad, wearing the same suspicious gaze as my brother.

"Chad and I are getting married today." I watch as my father processes that information. He swallows hard and nods. My eyes move to Mom and there are tears in her eyes.

"Married?" Ford asks.

"I asked Faith to marry me and she said yes. I'm being shipped out tomorrow, and we didn't want to wait. She'll be moving into married housing later this week, and I hope that some of you can stay to help her."

"Son, you know we will," Chad's dad speaks up.

"Thank you for being here. All of you," Chad tells them. He releases his hold on me and steps in front of my dad. "I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to you first, but this was so last minute, there wasn't time to do things in order. Sir, I love your daughter. She's my best friend. I want to marry her. I'd love your blessing, but please understand we don't need it."

"Chad," I scold as I try to process what he's just said. I know it's to ease my parents' minds, but my heart didn't seem to get that memo. He sounds sincere, and oh how I wish that's what this wedding's about.

He turns to me and smiles. "We're doing this, Faith. You and me." He holds his hand out for me, and I take it.

"This is what you want?" my father asks.

"Yeah, Chad and I have talked about this. This is what we want." It's not me confessing my undying love, but it's enough for my father if the softening of his eyes is any indication.

"I'm so excited!" Shayne rushes forward and pulls me into a hug. Ford does the same to Chad before they switch.

"You chose well, big brother," Cassie says, drawing me into a hug first.

"Hey!" Chad protests.

"Get used to it, brother. You're giving me the sister I've always wanted." Cassie winks before releasing me from her grip and giving her brother the same affection.

Our parents take their turn, and then it's time. Erik and Hannah are here, and although we asked them to be our witnesses, it's Ford and Shayne who stand up with us. The wedding hasn't even started, and it's perfect. I know this is a day I will never forget.

Standing in front of the chaplain, the ceremony begins. We told him short and sweet, and that's what we get. Tears burn my eyes, but my smile is so wide, I feel as though my face might crack. The conflicting emotions battle with one another. Happy tears, happy smiles, and the man I've wanted to be mine vowing to love me in sickness and in health.

"I do," I say when it's my turn.

Chad smiles. It's soft, and if I didn't know better, full of love.

"I do," he repeats.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

"The best part," Chad says, not bothering to lower his voice, as our family and friends laugh. His hands cradle my cheeks as he stares into my eyes. "My wife." His voice is gruff with emotion.

My hands rise to cover his. "My husband." My voice cracks.

He leans in close, and I lick my lips. His eyes follow the action as his hot breath fans across my face. His eyes shutter closed, and I do the same at the feel of his lips pressing to mine. It's chaste at first, but I moan, because how can I not? I'm kissing my husband.

My. Husband.

Chad groans, his tongue tracing my lips, and suddenly it doesn't matter who's watching. We allow ourselves to get lost in one another. That is until my brother speaks up.

"Come on, man," Ford groans. "That's my little sister."

Chad laughs and pulls out of the kiss that I'll remember for a lifetime, resting his forehead against mine. His chest rises and falls with silent laughter. "My wife," he says loudly, knowing Ford and everyone else will hear him. Then, "I'll never get tired of saying that," is whispered in a low tone. Those words just for me.

Clapping and cheers greet us, and the moment is broken.

Chad stands back to his full height and laces our fingers. He lifts my left hand to his lips and places a kiss over my engagement ring and wedding band. I reach for his left hand and rub my thumb over the band that now sits on his finger. Our eyes lock, and my heart stutters. I open my mouth to tell him that I love him, but before the words can pass my lips, my brother is there, pulling me away from my husband. He lifts me off my feet and spins us in a circle.

"My little sister just made my best friend my brother. Best day ever!"

"Hey!" Shayne scolds him playfully.

"Until we get married, baby." Ford kisses the protest from her lips.

"Thank you all for being here. My wife and I have some paperwork to turn in since I'm leaving in the morning. We have a reserved dining room at the hotel restaurant where we're all staying for the Anthony wedding. We'll meet you there."

We take the time to hug everyone before getting into our new-to-us Camry and driving to the other side of base to turn in our marriage license and the rest of our paperwork. I pinch my thigh to see if I can feel the pain. The pain is there, which means this is real. I'm married.

Chad Anthony is my husband.

Chad pulls into the hotel's parking lot and turns off the engine. Neither one of us makes a move to leave the confines of the car. I can't stop thinking about how we have mere hours left before he has to leave, and it will be at least four months, possibly longer, before I get to feel his strong arms wrap around me.

The process of the paperwork was easy, and then we stopped at the bank to add me to all of Chad's accounts. I fought him on it, but the look he gave me told me what he wouldn't say. There is always a chance something could go wrong and he might not come home. He wanted me to have full access to his life, including his money.

I didn't want to think about it, but I signed my name where necessary and shoved my shiny new Faith Anthony debit card into my purse for safekeeping.

"You okay, wife?"

I turn to glance at him. A swarm of butterflies are flapping their wings in my belly. I'm a wife. Not just a wife, but his. "I'm going to miss you." My voice breaks, and tears start to form in my eyes.

"I'll miss you too. I hate that you're finally mine, and I have to leave you."

"What do I do? While you're gone?"

"You start your new job. You'll be so busy setting up your classroom and settling in that you won't have time to miss me."

"Don't say that. You know that's not true."

"I know, but I want you to enjoy this. It's what you've always wanted. Your dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher is here. I want to hear about it. Every day, emails, letters, and I'll call when I can."

"Do you know how often that will be?"

"No, but I'm hoping pretty often." He rests his hand against my cheek. "I wish I were going to be here to see you live your dream."

"You won't miss it. I'll make sure you hear about every minute. You're going to get tired of my letters, emails, and text messages."

"Never, wife. Never will I get tired of anything that involves you."

I lean into his touch, his words making my heart feel like a gooey mess of love. "How will I get your things to move them to the house?"

"I'm already packed. Everything that I'm not taking with me is in the hotel room."

"That's all you have?"

He shrugs. "I'm a simple man. Living in the barracks doesn't offer a lot of space. Not like a house I'll be sharing with my wife."

"You keep saying that. Calling me your wife."

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No."

"Good. Wife." He grins. "I have a lot of money saved up. They give us everything we need here, so use the account for the car and rent, and whatever else we need to make our house a home."

"Don't you want to pick out what you're going to be living with once you get home?"

"Come on, baby, you know what they say, happy wife, happy life." He smiles.

"Stop." I shake my head. My smile rivals his. So much has happened in a short amount of time, and I already know I'll never grow tired of hearing him refer to me as his wife.

"I'm being serious. I want to return to a home. Not just a house. I want you to be there, and I want it to be everything you dreamed it would be."

"What about what you want?"

"I got the girl, Faith. There isn't a single thing I can think of that I want more."

My heart swells, but I ignore it. I can't let myself fall into the belief that this is anything more than convenience. "But once you're home—" I start, but can't seem to find the words to bring up the fact that we're doing this just for while he's deployed. I don't want to remind myself or him that this isn't real.

"I'll be coming back to the home my wife built for us. Now, we have family who's waiting to celebrate with us. I love them all, but I really want this meal to be over with so I can spend some time with my wife, just you and me, before I have to leave in the morning." He leans over the console and softly presses his lips to mine. "You ready?"

I suck in a deep breath and square my shoulders. I'm not ready, but I have to be. I have to be strong for him. That's my job as a military wife, right? I need to be his anchor in the storm, and I want to be that person for Chad more than anything in the world. "I'm ready." Fake it till you make it, right? I can lose my composure once he's gone.

Hand in hand, we make our way into the hotel restaurant. Our friends and family are there, smiling and cheering. Chad pulls me into his arms and presses a kiss to my temple. We take the only two open seats that were saved for us and visit with those who are most important to us. We enjoy a nice meal, and to my surprise, everyone tells me they're sticking around for a few days to help me get settled. I smile and nod at this new information because words escape me.

I came to California to visit the man I gave my heart to, my best friend, and here I am—not two weeks later—his wife and getting ready to make a home for us. I'm also getting ready to send the man, my best friend and my husband, off for deployment.

No matter where he is in the world, one thing is certain. He'll be taking my heart with him, even if he doesn't know it.