“Will wouldn’t have done it.” Josh smiled to himself. “He would have told her that she was safer on the ground, and then he would have kept her there. He would have told her that her fear was unfounded because he was infallible in an aircraft.”

“Will was born with this unconquerable urge to protect, and Morgan has never needed anyone’s protection.” Jagger twisted his ball cap backward. “Morgan needed someone capable of loving her and then getting the fuck out of her way.”

I watched her bounce Peyton lightly and introduce him to Christina as the girls headed back toward us.

“Bottom line, the guy was our friend. Fuck, I miss the asshole every day,” Jagger continued. “But he sure as hell wasn’t perfect, and the biggest thing he got wrong is something you’ve already gotten right.”

“Enlighten me.”

“You chose Morgan. He never did. He chose Peyton. He chose Paisley. When push came to shove, he even chose Josh and me. But he never chose Morgan. You did.” His voice quieted as the girls reached us.

Hell yes, I chose Morgan, and I always would. The fact that someone hadn’t was mind-boggling.

“You done flirting with Auntie Morgan, little man?” Jagger stood and took his son from Morgan’s arms.

She smiled, but it was tinged with sadness, and a corresponding ache flared in my chest. This scene was only possible because Will had given his life for them. Hell, I only had a shot with Morgan for the same reason.

“Oh! I brought something for you!” Paisley exclaimed, dropping to her knees and digging something out of their diaper bag before standing again. “We just sent them out last week, but I wanted to give it to you in person.” She handed Morgan an envelope.

“Thank you,” Morgan said as she took it. She slid a card from the ivory casing, and her entire posture changed as she read it.

“Burgers!” Javier yelled.

I held up my finger in the universal symbol for wait a fucking minute.

“What?” Morgan whispered as her brow scrunched and her shoulders drew inward. Devastated. She looked completely and utterly devastated. What the fuck was on that card?

I rose to my feet.

“I thought you might want to come…you know. If you’re feeling up to it.” Paisley’s smile trembled.

“Kitty?” I questioned softly, coming to her side. I wasn’t going to look over her shoulder or pry into anything she wasn’t ready to welcome me into.

Morgan shoved the card at my chest and stared at the sand a few feet away.

On behalf of the President of the United States, the secretary of the Army requests the pleasure of your company at the awarding of the Medal of Honor to William Carter—

I stopped reading. Holy. Shit. Will was getting the Medal of Honor.

“He would have wanted you there, Morgan,” Paisley said softly.