“Oh my God, Ches, you’re a dog!” Julie laughed. “But I love you.”

“Glad you’re here, buddy.” Danny slapped Chester’s arm. “Glad we’re all here.”

***

FOUR DAYS PASSED in a flash as Julie and Anita baked cookies and the men bought the Christmas tree and strung the lights. The five of them hung ornaments, ate massive meals, and opened presents while drinking various cocktails, all holiday themed.

“One would think with three professional bartenders in the house, the drinks wouldn’t be this horrible,” Allan quipped after choking on a peppermint-flavored blend Danny had concocted.

Anita pouted. “Allan, they aren’t all terrible. The one Julie made with the tiny marshmallows was pretty delicious. What was it called?”

“Santa’s Balls,” Julie deadpanned.

Anita hiccupped. “Potent little drink.”

“Woman, I think it’s time for bed.” Allan winked at Chester.

Danny groaned and Julie laughed.

“Okay,” Anita agreed, hiccupping again. As she stood on wobbly legs, Allan scooped his wife over his shoulder and carried her off to their first-floor bedroom.

“Don’t forget you have guests,” Chester called. “So keep it quiet.”

Allan’s profanity was muffled by Anita’s gasp. Danny, Chester, and Julie howled with laughter from the sofa, by the opened gifts and the lit tree. Watching Danny maneuver behind the small bar to pour scotch for him and Chester and club soda with lime for her—she’d had enough to drink for one night—there was no mistaking the tranquility that had eased into his body since their arrival. The fact was, while neither of them had forgotten the loss they’d suffered just a few days before they left, being away from it made breathing easier.

“I don’t want to go back,” she blurted.

The men’s discussion halted, and the weight of their stares was palpable.

“Huh?”

“What?”

Julie blinked. “I don’t want to go back…”

“To where, honey?” Danny crossed the room, handed her her glass, and sat by her side. “Our house or Baltimore?”

“Yes,” Julie answered simply. Her glance shifted from Danny to Chester and back. She inhaled deeply and slowly released the air to bide her time while she organized thoughts she had no idea she’d been thinking. “Our house…every time I walk through it, I see what we almost had but never will. Could we find another house? Sure, of course.” With each word that left her mouth, Julie found strength she didn’t know she had and urgency she couldn’t explain. “But why? Danny, there are forty-nine other states. Frankly, after everything we’ve gone through, I’m ready to start fresh somewhere else. Your dad lives here. Chester”—she looked at her friend who sat quietly in the corner—“lives down south. We’re young, we have each other. Let’s not go back.” Her breaths were frantic as she finished her thoughts.

Her statements were met with silence. Danny appeared to focus on the circles he traced over her denim clad thigh, infusing her skin with his warmth. Slow, hypnotic motions that calmed her racing heart and loosened the knot that had formed in her belly. By the time Danny lifted his gaze to hers, maybe a minute had passed—a few seconds -a serene vibe floated through her blood. Tranquility only Danny could give her.

He cupped her cheek. “I hear what you’re saying, Julie, but I need to ask, ‘cause I’ve been where you are—I joined the Army, for Christ’s sake, and problems followed me even in the jungle. So honey…you running away?”

Understanding struck hard as she shook her head. “No, I want us to find something new. Something special. A dream that’s ours, that we can build together. Not running away, running toward…”

“Then I’m with you, baby.” Small lines etched around Danny’s eyes as his lips curled up. “Anywhere you wanna go. We’ll figure it out, okay?”

“Ahem.”

Julie had forgotten about Chester’s presence until he cleared his throat.

“Not to interrupt this heartfelt moment, but you kids did have it in front of me so…”

Heat suffused Julie’s cheeks.

“No, Julie girl,” Chester said, confirming he may actually have the mind-reading skills she’d accused him of years ago, “there isn’t anything for you to be ashamed of. The two of you, Jesus, fighters the likes I’ve never seen before. Soldiers, warriors, survivors. In this life, I believe survivors are drawn to each other. While we don’t always share our war stories, we still mend each other’s wounds. You both have healed me. From the day we met.” Chester’s clear blue eyes focused on Julie’s. “Even before we met, you offered me a life I thought long gone.”

Julie’s eyes watered with emotion, and Danny’s arms tightened around her torso. Chester swallowed a large gulp of his drink.

“You’re adults,” Chester stated gruffly, the emotion from seconds before little more than a memory. “You make your own damn choices, but if you’re lookin’ to move, I got some suggestions.”

“Let’s hear ‘em,” Danny said.

“There’s a gem of a town ‘bout an hour from Philadelphia—Charistown, it’s called. Peaceful place surrounded by farms and other small towns. Place thrives on local businesses. Passed through it on several occasions over the years, even stayed a time or two.” Chester grinned. “Got people there.”

Laughter bubbled from Julie’s chest. “Of course you do, Ches. Where don’t you have people? Danny, I swear, one day we’re gonna find out our friend here worked as a secret agent or something.”

“Anyway,” Chester drew the word out, “know you two have talked about opening your own bar for years. While Charistown’s farther north, if that ain’t an issue, I could make some calls. I know someone who’s dyin’ to sell his joint and move to warmer climates.”

Judging by the look on Danny’s face, he felt the same tingle of skepticism that filled Julie’s bones.

“Don’t know, man, seems mighty convenient that every time you’ve needed real estate, you’ve had a friend just ‘dying’ to relocate,” Danny probed.

“You lookin’ to start over?” Chester asked.

“Yeah,” Danny stated.

“You and our girl need a fresh start in a place you can trust?”

Julie’s eyes jetted back and forth between the men. She had nothing to add to the conversation. She trusted both men and knew Danny would forever guard her with his life.

“Yeah, Ches, that’d be amazing.”

“Then I got a friend who’s dyin’ to move. End of story.”

Danny turned Julie to face him. “What do you think of Charistown, Pennsylvania, honey? I hear it’s a great little town.” He winked. “Nice place to start over.”

“Charistown,” Julie repeated. The name alone felt like a cozy blanket on a cool day. Charistown tumbled through her mind as thoughts of beginning anew with her husband took shape. “I love it.”

Danny nodded, excitement sparkling in his hazel eyes. The understanding that he wasn’t just entertaining her concerns but was once again on the same page was mind bending. When he ran his knuckles along her jaw, shivers tingled up her spine, but it was his voice that liquefied her insides. The way it had begun to change over their time together—becoming a little rougher, a little more gravelly—seeped with sexiness even when the conversation wasn’t sexual.

“Tell your friend to pack fast,” Danny announced. “My woman and I wanna get our shit settled in Baltimore and our asses to this special place before February one.”

With her back to him, Julie heard the smile in Chester’s tone when he answered, “It’d by my pleasure.”

Taking Danny’s outstretched hand, Julie rose from the couch and faced a still reclining Chester. “There are no words, Ches. At least none that can sum up what I’m feeling. So thank you will have to do.”

“No words needed, Julie girl. But you both are very welcome. I’ll have some details worked out for you before my flight out tomorrow. Now you two go to bed, and I’ll close off all these lights. And remember…I’m right across the hall. While I may be older, I’m not deaf.” His glare aimed at Danny was comical. “She’s like a daughter, you punk. No need to hear the shit I heard last night. Christ, fuckin’ had to bleach my brain.”