Page 107 of The Summer We Mended
“They have a special way of being a safe space for adults without even realizing it,” Lily said.
“Let me help you get things ready.I can run to the store if I need to.”
“I’m certain that Margot made a stop there as soon as she left her house,” Lily answered with a laugh.“I’ll bet money she shows up with grocery bags and donuts for the kids.”
Tom laughed, and the two of them went into the kitchen, where he helped her start cleaning up the dishes from breakfast.
The house filled up quickly.Cody arrived first, his usual composure barely holding together as he hugged his mother fiercely and immediately made his way to Anna, who stood to meet him, wrapped tightly in a blanket.
Then came Margot, breathless and teary-eyed, carrying as many grocery bags as her arms could handle.Tom and Lily shared a look, laughing at how right Lily had been.Margot immediately wrapped Anna in her arms like a protective shield.Jess and Maisie weren’t far behind, along with Claudia and Henry, who brought a stack of Tupperware containers without being asked, meatballs, pasta salad, garlic bread.
“Do you have this stuff on standby?”Tom teased playfully.
“It was dinner last night,” Claudia said.“But, yes, there’s always an overabundance of food in our house.”
“She has always cooked as though we were feeding an army,” Henry interjected.
It was like a magnet had been set off in the heart of the house, pulling everyone close to its center.There was no hesitation, no questioning whether they should come.It was understood.Luke was family.
“Okay, who do we have to bribe to get him home faster?”Henry said, sitting at the kitchen island as he unboxed the food.“Name a general, I’ll make a donation.”
Everyone chuckled softly, their laughter colored by relief and nerves.
Anna shook her head, trying to hide the way her hands trembled.“I need to go to him,” she said suddenly, standing up from her chair.“I need to get on a plane.”
Lily stepped toward her, gently placing a hand on her back.“Sweetheart, let’s wait for the doctor’s report.They’ll call.”
Cody nodded solemnly.“Anna, listen to me.”He met his sister’s eyes.“You’ll go.But not yet.Right now, he’s at Ramstein.If he’s out of surgery soon, he’ll go to the ICU.Depending on his injuries and stability, they may keep him there or transfer him to Walter Reed.They don’t allow family to travel until they’ve stabilized him, especially after a rescue op.”
Anna’s face fell, but she nodded, willing herself to take in the information.
“They’ll give you clearance,” Cody continued.“They’ll coordinate travel for you, even help with accommodations.But right now, it’s about healing him.They’ll have to debrief him, too.”
Lily watched as her daughter closed her eyes and took a deep breath.The weight of waiting, of being helpless, settled heavily across her face, but she nodded again.
“Okay,” Anna whispered.“Okay.”
Claudia wrapped her arms around her.“We’re not going anywhere.We’re staying as long as you need us.”
Maisie and Jess had joined the kids in the yard, and Lily caught a glimpse of them all playing together.June throwing the ball, Maisie chasing after Max, Jess carrying a pitcher of lemonade out with plastic cups.
It was chaos, and it was perfect.
Lily turned to the window, her gaze soft.“David did this,” she whispered to herself.
“What?”Cody asked gently.
She smiled faintly.“Your dad.He’s watching out for Luke.I know it.”
Cody didn’t answer, but he took her hand and squeezed it once.
Everyone filtered into the living room, the kitchen, and the yard.The air buzzed with cautious hope, and Lily watched as Anna slowly unfurled, talking to her brother, hugging her family, drinking coffee that she wasn’t even sure she poured.
At one point, Cody pulled out his phone and began explaining things in more detail, laying out what might be happening.“When a soldier’s found after going MIA, the first thing is transport to a secure base.Ramstein is equipped for trauma.If he was injured badly, he’s already had a field triage, probably something temporary until surgery.”
“Will they let him call her?”Lily asked.
“They will.Once he’s awake.Once he’s lucid enough.It may be a day or two.But they’ll make sure she hears from him.”
