Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
We sat in silence for a few minutes before Ron asked, “You going home?”
I nearly laughed. Where else did I have to go? Sean and Harper had broken up though…so that was at least one good thing about returning. That is, unless she’d started dating someone else already. “Yeah. Moose Village, New York.”
“What will you do? Work-wise, I mean?”
I blew out a breath. “I already talked to an old high school buddy who works for the police department. His name is James. I’ll probably go that route.”
“Be a cop? I thought you’d like to stop having people try to kill you.”
Shrugging, I said, “I don’t know what else to do.”
“Work for the family business?”
I gave him a dubious look. “You want me to be an accountant? I don’t think so.”
Ron started to laugh. “It would be safer.”
“And dull as hell.”
“That’s true. I’m sure your family will be happy to see you either way. When was the last time you were even home?”
I thought about my family. I’d missed them, but it seemed easier to stay away. Maybe not for them, but it had been for me. Now that Sean wasn’t dating Harper, at least I didn’t have to worry about seeing them together. It pissed me off that, even after all of these years, I still couldn’t seem to forget her. That the idea of seeing her with my brother still got under my skin.
And the fact that I’d purposely stayed away because of them, and no other reason, filled me with guilt.
“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “I’m sure they’ll be happy. My mother will be relieved I’m home for good.”
“It’s hard on our parents, doing this job. I don’t know how the guys who’re married even do it. Being gone all the time and away from your family.”
I nodded once again and glanced at Ron. “Do you think anyone would notice if I just slipped out? I hate goodbyes.”
Smiling, he put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “It’s been an honor serving with you, Declan. I’ll miss the hell out of you.”
“I’ll miss you as well. Stay safe, Ron.”
He gave a sharp nod, dropped his hand, then stood and walked away.
Taking one last look, I quietly slipped from the room, leaving behind the part of my life that had defined the man I was today. Starting tomorrow, I would be forging a new journey. I’d be heading to New York and going through the police academy. I had decided not to tell my family that I hadn’t re-enlisted in the Marines for a reason. I knew I would have to go through the academy and my mother would question my new career choice, and I really hadn’t wanted to argue with her. This was my life, my decisions, my choice.
As I took one more look at the past, I smiled and started walking toward my truck. “Here’s to the future.”
Present Day
When I decided to drive down to Washington, D.C., to visit a friend of mine after going through the police academy, I thought it was a good idea at the time. Now, sitting in traffic on Interstate 87, I was wishing I had just gone straight to Moose Village after the police academy.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down to see it was my father. He was the only one who knew I was coming, and I’d sworn him to secrecy. I wanted to surprise my mother. And she would be, considering it had been nearly five years since I’d last been home.
“Hey, Dad.”
“How’s the drive?”
“Brutal,” I said with a sigh.
He laughed. “Where are you?”
“Almost to Albany. Getting through the city was rough. I forgot how much I hate New York City.”
“You’re only two hours away, son. And I can’t wait. I’m excited to see you. I’ve missed you. I know your mother feels the same way, but it’s felt like a piece of me has been missing with you gone all these years.”
Smiling, I felt my chest tighten. My father was one of those guys who wasn’t afraid to tell you how he felt. He’d always told us growing up that real men shared their feelings and didn’t hold them in just to be tough. It was a lesson I needed while in the Marines. I didn’t think I would have sought out counseling if it hadn’t been for my father telling me over and over that it was okay to not have your shit together. Lord knows with the job I had, I’d needed that therapy.
“I’ve missed you, too, Dad. I’ve missed everyone.”
“You’ll be happy to know I talked your mother into lasagna tonight.”
My stomach took that moment to growl. “Damn, that sounds good.”
“Declan…how are you really doing? I would imagine leaving the only thing you’ve ever known was a pretty hard decision.”
“Yeah. But I’m okay, Dad. At least, I will be okay. It’ll be nice not having bullets flying over my head half the time.”