“What’s wrong?” he asked as he came up next to her.
“I’m just hoping all this snow doesn’t hurt the travel plans for our Christmas Campers.”
“Don’t worry,” Luke said. “They’ll get here. Even if I have to go get them from the airport myself. Okay?”
Riley gave a soldier’s salute. “Yes, sir.”
She still had her hand up to her forehead when the front door flung open, and a pretty girl in her twenties rushed inside. When the girl saw the end of Riley’s salute, she laughed a little. Riley instantly put her hand down, feeling foolish because the girl standing in front of her was wearing an Army combat uniform.
But the girl quickly forgot about Riley when she saw Luke and went rushing toward him. “Luke!” the girl exclaimed with the kind of smile that would light up any room.
As soon as Luke saw her his eyes lit up. “Caylee!”
As Caylee threw herself into Luke’s arms, he exuberantly picked her up and spun her around. There was laughter and tears of joy. Riley felt like she was intruding on a special moment.
By the time Luke put Caylee down they were both breathless.
Comet, who had joined them, was equally excited, barking and wagging his tail.
“You made it!” Luke said, holding both her hands and looking into her eyes.
“Barely,” Caylee said, looking up at Luke.
He instantly looked concerned. “Trouble getting out of Afghanistan?”
Caylee laughed as she slung her duffel bag off her shoulder. “No, trouble trying to get into the Denver airport. Flights are being canceled all over the place because of some snowstorm. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it.”
Luke gave her a heartfelt hug. “But you’re here now, and you’re safe, thank God.”
“I had to come, right?” Caylee laughed. “There was no way I’d ever miss you doing a Christmas Camp at the lodge. I love this idea. It’s brilliant. I don’t know why we haven’t done something like this before.”
“My mom was saying the same thing,” Luke said. “She sends her love from Florida.”
“I’ve missed her so much,” Caylee said.
When Maryanne entered the room, Caylee rushed over and gave her a hug, too. “And I’ve missed you, too, Maryanne. All those cookies you sent me in Afghanistan, I swear you made me the most popular soldier at the base. Every time I got a package everyone would gather around and hope it was from you.”
Maryanne smiled and looked pleased. “That’s why I always sent you an extra-large box. I knew you’d share.”
“Only with my favorite people,” Caylee said with a teasing twinkle in her eye. “But seriously, the cookies and the letters from home mean more than you know.” She turned to Luke. “And thank you for all the updates on what’s happening here at the lodge. I can’t wait to hear more about this Christmas Camp!”
When Caylee gave Riley a curious look, Luke looked apologetic. “I am so sorry,” he said, looking right at Riley. “Riley, please forgive me for being so rude. I just haven’t seen Caylee in more than a year, and . . .”
Riley smiled back. “Please, don’t apologize. I completely understand.” She walked over to Caylee and offered her hand to shake.
“I’m Riley,” she said to Caylee. “Thank you so much for your service.”
Caylee smiled back at Riley, but instead of taking her hand, she gave her a hug, too. “I’m a hugger,” she explained. “And I know exactly who you are. I’m a huge fan of your books. When Luke told me you were hosting this Christmas Camp, I knew I had to come.”
Luke pretended to look hurt. “And here I thought you came home to see me.”
They all laughed.
When Luke led everyone over to the couch to sit down, Comet took his favorite spot by the fire where he could watch them all. Caylee sat on the floor next to him and started petting him, then turned her attention back to Riley. “I really do love your books. There’s a group of us girls on the base who share them whenever we can get them.”
Riley was surprised and flattered. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah!” Caylee continued. “One of the other soldiers in my unit gets your books from her mom, and I trade cookies for books. It’s totally the barter system, and thanks to Maryanne’s amazing cookies, I can get some really good stuff for them.”
Everyone laughed, and Maryanne stood up from the couch. “And that’s my cue to get back to the kitchen. I need to start making some cookies for our Christmas Campers.” Before she left, Maryanne leaned down and gave Caylee another hug. “I’m so glad you’re home safe. We’ve all missed you so much.”
“I can’t believe I’m actually home.” Caylee took a deep breath and smiled. “I love you guys.”
Comet barked and wagged his tail. “Especially you, Comet,” Caylee said and gave him a hug.
As Maryanne left the room, Luke turned to Caylee. “So you’ve really read some of Riley’s books?”
Riley was glad he asked the question because she was curious herself. She had never heard of her books being read by any soldiers in war zones.
“I have,” Caylee said proudly and smiled at Riley. “I haven’t read the latest ones, we’re a bit behind, but your first book, Loving the Dream, was amazing.”
Riley was touched. “Thank you. That’s one of my favorites, too. And thank you for taking the time to read them while you’re in Afghanistan. You’re obviously incredibly busy with much more important things.”
Caylee smiled. “That’s the thing that’s so great about your books. They’re the perfect escape when I want to forget where I am for a while. They also always give me hope that I’ll find my own love story someday.”
Luke looked surprised. “What about that guy, Terry? Larry? The one you were seeing?”
“Gary,” Caylee laughed. “Didn’t work out.”
Caylee turned to Riley. “He was another soldier. Good guy, but at the end of the day, it turned out the only thing we really
