A Million Wishes by Deanna Felthauser Read Free Book Online

his duty. It was that thought that he drifted to sleep with. His heart was heavy and his body was weak, so as the pain killers took him under he thought of the one thing that always filled him with warmth and made him feel alive. Mikayla . She was so beautiful with her long wavy red hair around her like a halo, her delicate freckled skin and bright green eyes shining up at him. He loved the way she would always touch his face and smile up at him, making him feel like the biggest, strongest man on earth. By the time sleep claimed him, his face was almost peaceful.
     
    Days turned into weeks and he kept training, working out his body and mind. He quickly learned to use the crutches because he sure as hell didn’t want to depend on a wheelchair. His wounds were healing, leaving scars marring his body all along his left side but they would fade more in time. He went to his therapy sessions and said all the right things and put on a facade that he was fine when in reality he wasn’t. He was lost. He had gotten the paperwork that he was being honorably discharged. He had grown up on a plantation that harvested Georgia peaches along with other fruits and vegetables but that was now mostly his brother’s business now. Noah had never wanted that life. He wanted travel, adventure and to serve his country. He wasn’t quite sure what life would hold for him now. At this point in time he knew he had two stops to make in Norfolk Virginia to see McGee and Rich’s families then he’d be going home, home to Sugar Creek, to the Sugar Ridge Plantation, and to his sweet Miki girl. She was living up in Atlanta still, almost finished with school, and she’d be graduating from college this semester.
     
    Funny how life throws you curve balls and makes you realize what is really important in life. He had cared for her since they were kids, fell in love with her before he’d left for the Navy and ran from her ever since. Military life was hard, especially if your husband was a part of an elite force such as the SEALS. We are called a secret society of modern day warriors for a reason, doing the impossible missions, training until all the weak fell and only the few that were strong enough survived. Many times going weeks, or even months without being able to contact family or let them know where you are isn’t an easy life to lead. He realized now that he made the decision for her instead of ever asking her if she would or wanted to be a wife to a man like him. He just assumed she wouldn’t. Now he was going home and going to find out if she had found someone and fallen in love. The last time he’d been home they had gotten closer and then he screwed up again. They hadn’t written as much since then and he figured she had kind of given up on him. He didn’t blame her. He had never been the man she deserved. But, that didn’t change the fact that he loved her still. She was his Miki girl, his babydoll.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Noah and Caleb boarded their flight to the states, first stop would be New York City, then Norfolk Virginia and last, home to Sugar Creek Georgia. Caleb had requested to go with him to visit their fallen brothers’ families. Noah had been touched by the soldiers request and helped make arrangements so he could go as well. For now though they had a long flight, around 19 hours to think about life, past, present and future. Noah laid his head back, flipped the overhead light off, and closed his eyes. Focusing on Miki again he remembered back when he first realized he was in love with her, and how damn stupid it made him.
     
    She was 18 and a senior in high school. Already had her college picked out and was working on scholarships. She had always been so damn smart. She was the editor of her high school paper and had already had many articles printed in the Sugar Creek press paper. Since Callum had moved her in with him, she had thrived. Working a part time job at the paper and doing little odd jobs on the