Letters from Home (Love Beyond Reason #1)(28)

Like her mother’s lights, blinking a cadence on the tree in the corner, Lena’s heart beat with excitement. He was the sucker for surprises. This year was her turn.

“Two years ago, you got engaged,” Catalina spoke from her position on the floor next to the fireplace. She looked first at Lena then over to where Zack sat with her brothers at a card table in the corner—beers at their elbows, cards in their hands. “Last year, you married each other…”

Zack turned enough in his chair so he could see her, and he gave her a smile. God, that smile. Still made her blood race, her heart fill. “I think we’re taking it easy this year,” he answered for both of them. “No excitement.”

She knew her family was waiting for an announcement about babies. But they’d both agreed they wanted to wait until she was done with her time in the Army. It hadn’t been an easy decision. She wanted to make a family with Zack more than anything.

“Actually, I have one more gift to give today.” Lena got up and crossed the room to the bookshelf.

“For me?” Cat asked, grinning from her spot on the floor next to the tree. Lena sent her a dry, amused look.

Jaime elbowed Cat. “Don’t be so egotistical. She’s been saving the best for last—an early graduation present for me.”

She smiled at the banter and tsked, waving a finger in their direction. “Now, now. This is for the whole family.”

When she turned with the envelope from the top shelf, she found Zack watching her. He lifted a brow. Lena bit the smile from her lips, went to him, and held out the envelope. “Open it.”

“Open it, hermano.” Mike urged him on.

Zack ran a finger under the sealed flap, broke open the paper, and pulled out a letter. His gaze turned wary then, and she wondered if he recognized the familiar font, the same old paper they’d been receiving their orders on for years.

She kept her gaze on his face as he scanned it, and knew the moment he realized what he was looking at because he looked at her with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Really? You have your orders to ETS?”

“ETS? What does that mean?”

Lena turned to Maria. “End of Time in Service.”

“What? They’re letting you go?” Cat jump up as the rest of the family started hooting and hollering. Lena was pummeled by her sisters. Her mom had gotten up, too, and she stood near Lena, tears filling her eyes. “I am so proud of everything you’ve done, mi amor. But I am much happier with you home.”

“Thank you, Mami.”

“Maybe now we can get some grandkids around here,” Mr. Benson barked from his spot on the wingback chair. There was a moment of silence.

Zack grinned at her. Lena laughed, just like Zack’s dad to take it all to the bottom line.

“This calls for some champagne!” Her dad boasted, as he left for the dining room and the good crystal. Lena almost groaned. She rolled her eyes as Zack finally approached her. He took her shoulders in his hands. “How?”

Lena cleared her throat. “Before I deployed last year, they offered me the chance to end my service by going overseas for the year.”

He shook his head. “You’ve known all this time.”

“Yeah, sorry ‘bout that.” She rested her hands on his forearms and took a step closer. “I wanted to surprise you.”

“I’m surprised.”

“And happy?”

Zack pulled her close. “Definitely happy.”

Maria came around then with a tray of fluted glasses. Zack took two and handed one to Lena. He put an arm over her shoulder, securing her to his side. She leaned her head against his shoulder. Her family, small changes every year, always reminding her of how blessed she was.

And how she’d almost lost it all.

“To my daughter,” Carlos began, holding up his glass. “The strong, loving woman, dedicated to protecting and serving her country. The woman with, sometimes, too much smarts up here,” he pointed to his head, “to always feel down here.” He pointed to his heart.

Mami whacked his arm. He was right though, and Lena loved him for it.

“And to Zack,” her dad continued. “You bring out the heart in her.”

When her dad had to clear his throat, Lena blinked back the unexpected rush of tears.

“To the new chapter in your lives. ?Salud!”

“?Salud!” The family responded.

Zack leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “So much for no excitement.”

She chuckled. “What can I say?”

He took her champagne, setting it on the coffee table. Then he framed her face with his hands. He kissed her, light and tender.

“How about ‘Merry Christmas, Zack’?”

“Oh, right.” She kissed him back with just enough gusto to make him blush. “Merry Christmas, Zack.”

…

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