“Ma’am. Step back, please,” the captain ordered her.
“Sir. I’m Reagan Moore. The acting President of the United States was my father.” The captain was listening but not backing off from his impasse with Danny. “The man you’re pointing a gun at,” she continued. “He’s the man who saved me and my sister and went to talk to Daddy before he died.”
We watched as the captain’s stance began to soften. “That man,” she went on, “was not only shot by the man he’s protecting now, but he is the man who gave the President of the United States, under imminent threat to his own life, the pill he used to end his own life, so no one could ever get into Hawaii from the outside.” She paused to collect herself, but only for a second. “The man you are about to shoot is the reason you are still alive. He kept the enemy from bringing down the shield. He’s the reason every person in Hawaii is still alive. So… maybe… you might want to reconsider your position.”
The clarity and accuracy of her words hit us pretty hard. The captain was looking at Reagan now, and then he finally glanced at Danny. “That true?”
“It is,” Blake replied, stepping up beside Danny, also in front of Lazzo. I joined him a second later, and gradually the rest of the group moved in front of him, too.
“Stand down,” the captain ordered his men. He handed his weapon to one of his crewmen and approached Danny, hand out. Danny shook it. “Sorry, sir,” the captain said humbly. “It is an honor to have you on board, sir.”
Danny looked him in the eye. “Do I have your word you won’t harm this man?”
“He will have to be interrogated on land. There’s nothing I can do about that. But…” The captain paused, extending his hand past Danny to Lazzo. “While I can’t let you in to Hawaii as an African, if you’re interested in becoming an American, I can make that happen right now.”
Lazzo was clearly shocked, both by Danny’s defense of his life and by what he’d just heard. He couldn’t help but think of his brother, and of all Eddie had ever wanted. He accepted the offer with tears in his eyes. “Thank you. Yes.” He was sworn in on the Bible and then turned to Danny. Danny hugged him. Lazzo whispered in his ear, “For Eddie…thank you.”
“You got it, man,” Danny whispered back. “You’re welcome.”
The jets and other Cutter served as our sentries for the remaining miles to Hawaii. We never honestly thought we could make it—not against those odds, not given the incredible lengths we had to go to survive each day. We’d made new friends, but lost loved ones. As I stood on the back of the boat and looked back in the general direction of the former United States, I couldn’t help but shake my head. As emotions coursed through me I whispered, “I’m gonna miss you, Mom. We almost got you here. We’ll take care of Dad. I promise. Give our best to Cameron, Nathan, and Wes, will you? I hope you’re all up there with God right now, looking down at us and happy. We made it. But we couldn’t have made it without any of you!”
Tara walked up beside me and put her arm around my waist. “Talking to yourself again?” she asked, with a slight nudge to my ribs. I glanced over at her and put my arm around her shoulders. “Hey… you okay?” she asked, having noticed my tears.
I nodded. “Just talking to God… to Mom… to whomever.” She leaned her head against mine. I closed my eyes and breathed in her scent. They must have a shower on the boat somewhere. She smelled amazingly clean.
“Wow,” I said.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing. Just wow!” The word meant so many different things to me right now.
She was quiet for a couple minutes, and then finally she spoke. “We made it, Ryan,” she said with a beautiful sigh and ensuing smile. “I can’t believe we made it.”
“I know, babe,” I replied, smiling back. I looked her up and down. Plain white T-shirt and tight denim. Bare feet. A perfect ten. My perfect ten.
I looked back out to sea and let my heart drift off for a minute to the love of my life. Sophie, wherever you are, I miss you so, so much… and I will always love you. I wish I had you here with me more than anything… and I know you know that… but I hope, since I can’t have you, you’re okay with this too.
“Tara,” I whispered, choking up a little.
“Yes?” she glanced up at me.
I squared up with her to better look her in the eyes. “I love you.”
“I know, Ryan,” she said back. “I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
Danny…
There’s something to be said about standing on a beautiful sandy beach, waves breaking in the distance, as you watch a beautiful girl walk across a makeshift aisle of flower petals towards you. There’s music in the background, but you don’t really hear it. There are friends and family beside you, more friends and family standing up in front of you, all turning their heads to watch her too. She’s everything you need. She’s everything you want. When you lost what you loved most, she was with you. When you needed someone to just be there, she always was. You’re marrying the only girl you’ve ever loved… and repeating the words the preacher says before you… “I, Danny, take thee, Kate…”
Me…
There’s something to be said for starting over. Standing in the front row, watching my son marry the perfect girl. It’s hard to explain the pride I have in my beautiful daughter, Hayley, standing up there by my son and the preacher—alive and happy with her boyfriend Sam on the other side, behind Danny. I see the look Hayley and Sam share. I know that look. It’s the look of love Sophie always gave me, the look of love I no longer have to miss because of the angel, Tara, at my side. This angel in a white dress, barely concealing the results of the first night we spent alone in Hawaii. That growing bump, a little boy whose name my future wife has already picked—he’s going to change my life. Again.
Dad…
There’s something to be said about letting go. About living a fulfilling life for almost half a century with the only woman you have ever loved. There’s a comfort in knowing she’s with God, that she’s safer now than ever. She’s watching the same special occasion from above that you’re seeing front and center. A crystal clear, blue-sky day on an island beach. Your adorable soon-to-be step-granddaughter, Emily, throwing petals in the makeshift aisle and laughing at her new best friend, Abbey. You did all you could to save Mom—Grandma Ollie… she knew that. She couldn’t let you do it. And now you couldn’t be a bigger hero to your future granddaughter. Now, you move on. You made it. You’re alive. This is the most important day thus far in the life of your grandson, and an extremely proud one for me, your son, and my pregnant soon-to-be wife. There’s a new generation on the way, Dad, and the name of your future grandchild, Oliver, will always make you love and miss Mom a little more.
Blake…
There’s something to be said for family, and reunions a year in the making with someone you feared you’d never see again. There’s got to be incredible relief in knowing your little sister, Kaci, is alive and in the audience before you. As you ran and picked her up that first day, giving her a ferocious hug, her laugh and smile made the whole journey instantly worthwhile. I can’t imagine you could be happier. And yet there’s another reward waiting for you after the ceremony, just off the stage. There’s another girl here you really care for, Jenna, who could someday be much more. You both miss Cameron, the only man she ever loved, the only man she ever wanted…but I can see that changing. Jenna trusts you. I definitely can see her falling for you. And I know you’d have Danny’s blessing, as close as the two of you have gotten. Jenna deserves someone like you, the quality of man you’ve proven to be. You get to take care of her for Cameron now, but someday she could be yours.