27. Allison

We were home,lying in bed after making love. I gazed at my husband and kissed him again. It felt so good to be back in our own bed, away from the threats of rebels and guns.

"Hey, sweetheart, I still have three weeks off. Would you like to go to Hawaii? We can finish our honeymoon that we didn't get to complete," Ghost suggested, his kisses trailing from my shoulder to my neck.

"No, I want to stay right here. I've had enough excitement this year to last me a lifetime. All I want is to be here, in your arms," I replied.

"But what about food? Won't you get hungry?" Ghost teased, still showering me with kisses.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, finding it difficult to concentrate with his touch igniting a fire within me. Ghost had always had that effect on me. His touch was electric.

"I am hungry," he said, his gaze intense. "Hungry for you," he added before disappearing under the covers. I lost my thoughts when his mouth touched me. We made love until I heard his stomach growl, and then we got up and showered. That made me think back to when we first got back together. Almost all of my showers have been taken with Ghost. I hoped it always stayed this way.

"Is Spartan still at Benni's?" I asked as we sat down to eat lunch.

Rebel glanced over at me before answering, "Yes, they still aren't sure if Robert Knight is dead or alive. It's being investigated. Let's hope they find him if he's alive."

"I'm sure Spartan won't want to leave Benni or Amy; he loves both of them very much," I said, glancing at Ghost and Rebel.

"Yeah," Rebel chuckled. "He's practically moved in there. I doubt he plans on returning here anytime soon, if ever."

"He's certainly mellowed since being with Amy and Benni," I said, feeling a sense of contentment.

"I don't know if I would go that far," Ghost chuckled.

"I think he has. I notice these things," I said with a smile. Ghost leaned in to kiss me. "I'm going to check on a few patients. Would you like to come along?"

"Yes, after our interrupted honeymoon, I don't want to be away from you. Who are we visiting?" he asked.

"Miss Molly isn't feeling well. Charlie called, concerned because she refused to go to the hospital. I said I'd check on her," I explained. Getting up from the table, Rebel decided to walk with us.

"Are you interested in anyone right now, Rebel?" I asked, nudging him playfully. I heard Ghost smirk and poked him in the side.

"Hell no, I don't get serious or interested in women anymore," Rebel replied, shaking his head. "I'm not the settling down type. Most women get too serious too quickly, even after I tell them I'm not looking for anything serious."

"Don't get me wrong, I love women, but most of them want to get serious; after one date, they start calling and driving me crazy."

"Why do you feel that way?" I inquired.

"Allison, I don't want to talk about my nonexistent love life. I'm happy the way I am. Just because you are deliriously happy doesn't mean you get to help everyone else be like you."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I forgot about Trina leaving you for that fireman. She was stupid, plus I heard he got back with his ex, and they got married. So Trina blew it. But that was fifteen years ago," I held up my hand for him not to talk, "You don't have to say anything. I know how that can happen, and the years fly by," I said, thinking about Ghost and myself.

As we approached the house, we saw Marcus painting the house. "I wonder if he misses all that excitement of being an undercover FBI Special Agent," Ghost mused as we got closer.

"I don't think he has time to miss anything. He has twin boys who are now five and a toddler, and Jaz is expecting again," Rebel said. "He's happier than anyone on this mountain; that should melt your heart, Allison."

"It warms my heart to see him so content. Jaz and those twins needed someone, and Marcus stepped up perfectly," I said, smiling. "He bought the Randal sister's home for Jaz. He loves them so much. Every time I see them, they are kissing," I said with another sigh.

"I agree; Jaz has never been happier. Steel said that all the Petersons love Marcus because he loves Jaz so much. Almost as much as I love Allison," Ghost said, pulling me into his arms and kissing me.

"Damn, now I know why I try not to hang out with you two or Marcus and Jaz," Rebel said, chuckling.

While Ghost and Rebel chatted with Marcus, I went inside to check on Miss Molly. Charlie greeted me with a worried look, and we headed straight to Miss Molly's room. She was asleep but woke up when I started checking her vitals.

"I thought you were on your honeymoon," Molly said, smiling weakly at me. "I hope you didn't come home just to see me."

I assured her that she was a priority and shared the details of our interrupted honeymoon. As I spoke, I noticed Charlie's concern. She was Miss Molly's granddaughter, raised believing Molly was her aunt until discovering the truth later in life. Marcus was Charlie's cousin on his mother's side, making our mountain community tightly knit.

"I'm sorry about your honeymoon. You should have gone to Hawaii," Molly said.

"I only wanted to be home. You know I love our mountain," I replied.

"I know you are just like everyone who lives here," Molly said, her eyes reflecting a sense of acceptance. "She reached up and took Charlie's hand. "I've been blessed to have you, and your father, in my life."

"I love you, grandma. I'm so blessed to have you as my grandmother," Charlie said, her voice wavering with emotion.

"Now, Charlie, I don't want you to cry when it's my time to go. I'll get to see Hillary, and I don't want you to call your father, until after I'm gone. There's a letter for him in my drawer. Take anything from my room that you want. I have all of our jewelry in that safe in the closet. The key is in my drawer with the letter, it's all yours.

As I waited in the kitchen with Jaz, she wiped away tears. "Don't cry in front of Miss Molly. She's ready to go. She's tired and wants to be with our Lord," Jaz whispered.

"I won't let her see me cry," she promised. "Charlie will stay here with us so that she can spend time with her grandmother. I'm sorry about your honeymoon. Dang, Allison, this has not been your year."

"I'd endure it all over again to be with Ghost. My life was nothing until I was Shot four times, and Ghost came back into my life. I'll be back in the morning unless you need me tonight. Call me anytime."

"Thank you, Allison. I'm just glad you're here because she wouldn't go to the hospital. I can't blame her. This is where she belongs."

"When is the baby due?"

"In two weeks," Jaz chuckled. "I am so lucky to have Marcus. I have a powerful love for that man. Does that sound familiar?"

"Yes, I used to tell you I had a powerful love for my man. I was sixteen the first time I said that. Now I can say it again. We are both lucky in love, Jaz," I said, feeling a sense of warmth.

We heard little feet running into the kitchen.

"Our little Angel is awake," Jaz exclaimed as the baby girl ran into the kitchen and straight into her mama's arms. She had brown curly hair and those Peterson silver eyes and was absolutely beautiful.

"She's beautiful."

"Daddy,"

"She has her daddy wrapped around her finger. Daddy is outside," Jaz said as we headed outside. She put Mazy down, and she ran to her daddy, who picked her up and threw her in the air.

I watched Ghost to see his reaction to Mazy and Marcus. Ghost smiled and looked over at me. "Are you ready, sweetheart?"

"Yes, I'm ready," I said as I approached him. He put his arm around me and kissed me. I chuckled because I knew he did that because I told him and Rebel, that Marcus always kisses Jaz.