Page 37 of Duty and Desire
Ros rolled her eyes but grinned nonetheless. “Well, we did talk about all the places we wanted to travel to, didn’t we? Europe, New Zealand, maybe even a road trip. We could take our time, see the sights, and just enjoy life.”
Scarlett’s smile widened at the thought. “I’d like that. It feels like we’ve been waiting so long for that kind of freedom. First, we were sneaking around, and then we were navigating all the military red tape. And now, finally, we’re just us.”
Ros brushed a stray curl from Scarlett’s forehead, her touch gentle and full of affection. “That’s what I’ve been looking forward to most, just being with you. No distractions, no obligations. Just us.”
They sat like that for a while, the quiet between them filled with the soft hum of the world outside. The sound of the ocean waves rolling in the distance, the occasional call of a bird from the trees. It was moments like this that reminded them both of how far they’d come, how much they’d fought for this life together, and how much it was worth.
“I was thinking,” Scarlett said after a pause, her fingers absently tracing patterns on Ros's arm. “Once I retire, maybe we could look into buying a little place of our own. Something near the water with a big porch where we can watch the sunsets.”
Ros tilted her head, considering the idea. “A house by the water, huh? Sounds perfect. We’ll need space for all the souvenirs we’ll be bringing back from our travels too.”
Scarlett laughed softly. “I’ll try not to go overboard with the souvenir shopping.”
“You? Overboard?” Ros teased, her voice laced with mock disbelief. “Never.”
They shared a quiet chuckle before falling into a comfortable silence again. Scarlett’s eyes drifted back to the window where the sunlight was beginning to shift, casting long shadows across the room. There was a deep sense of peace in her heart—a certainty that no matter what came next, they would face it together.
The years leading up to this moment had been hard, but they had also been full of growth and of learning to navigate their love amidst the constraints of their careers. And now, with retirement on the horizon for Scarlett, they had a whole new chapter ahead of them. A chapter filled with possibilities, adventures, and the kind of freedom they had once only dreamed of.
Ros pressed a kiss to the top of Scarlett’s head, her voice soft. “Whatever we do, wherever we go, I’m just glad it’ll be with you.”
Scarlett smiled, closing her eyes and sinking deeper into the warmth of Ros's embrace. “Me too.”
The sun was beginning its slow descent, the golden-hour light spilling across the yard in dappled beams. The sky over the ocean transformed from a blazing orange to a deep, fiery red, reflecting off the water like molten glass. The warm breeze that had drifted in from the shoreline earlier had softened, now carrying the faint scent of sea salt and hibiscus flowers. Scarlett and Ros sat side by side on the porch, the simple wooden chairs they occupied creaking gently beneath them.
Ros stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing her ankles as she leaned back into her chair. “You know,” she began witha lazy smile, her hand resting comfortably on Scarlett’s knee, “I always wondered if I’d ever get tired of sunsets like these. But every night, they’re just…different. Stunning.”
Scarlett turned to her, her lips curling into a soft smile. “That’s why we moved here, right? For moments like this?” She gave Ros's hand a gentle squeeze, and though her voice held a playful note, there was a weight beneath it—a gratitude for this life they’d built together.
“That, and to get you out of the cold climates,” Ros teased, her grin broadening. She reached for her glass of wine on the small table between them, taking a sip. “Not that I ever minded those mornings when you came back inside with your cheeks all pink from the cold.”
Scarlett chuckled, leaning into Ros’s touch. “Yeah, you always had a way of warming me up.” She took her own sip of wine, the cool liquid a contrast to the warm air. Her eyes wandered to the horizon where the sky was deepening into purples and blues. “It feels surreal sometimes. Like we fought so hard to get here, and now we have it. This life.”
Ros nodded, her gaze following Scarlett’s. “It’s strange, isn’t it? For so long, everything was about the next mission, the next hurdle. And now, we’ve got nothing but time.” Her voice grew quieter, more thoughtful. “We earned this.”
Scarlett turned toward Ros, studying her for a moment. “You sound like you’re still trying to convince yourself of that.”
Ros glanced sideways, meeting Scarlett’s eyes. She could never hide her emotions from her; Scarlett always saw right through her. “Maybe I am, just a little. I was so used to the structure and demands. It took me a while to stop feeling guilty for not doing something. But now”—she paused, her fingers lightly tracing circles on Scarlett’s knee “now, I think I’ve finally let myself relax.”—
Scarlett smiled, a deep, genuine smile that reached her eyes. “I’ve noticed. You’ve changed, Ros. In a good way.”
Ros chuckled. “Not too soft, I hope.”
Scarlett raised an eyebrow, her smirk teasing. “Soft? You? Never. You’re still the toughest woman I know.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching as the last remnants of the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky awash in purples and pinks. The sound of waves crashing softly in the distance mixed with the gentle hum of the tropical evening, the cicadas beginning their nightly chorus. It was peaceful, idyllic.
Scarlett sighed contentedly. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next.”
Ros shifted in her chair, turning her attention fully to Scarlett. “Oh yeah? What’s on your mind?”
Scarlett glanced down at the glass in her hand, swirling the wine as if gathering her thoughts. “Retirement’s not far off for me now. It’s hard to believe that soon, I won’t be reporting to base every morning. That I’ll have days where I’m not needed there.”
Ros nodded, understanding the sentiment all too well. She remembered how strange it felt when she’d first stepped away, how the loss of routine had been jarring at first. “It’s an adjustment, for sure. But you’re going to love it. I promise.”
“I know,” Scarlett said, her voice soft. “And I am excited. I mean, we’ve talked about all the things we want to do: traveling, seeing the world, having the freedom to just go wherever we want. It’s exciting. But…” “But?” Ros prompted gently.
Scarlett met her gaze, her brow furrowed slightly. “I guess I’m worried I won’t know what to do with myself. I’ve always been so focused on the job, the next task, the next goal. What if I don’t know how to be still?”