Page 14 of My Forever Soldier

Olivia was struggling notto smile as she finished her work. Charlie often came with her while she was here, but he usually played with his toys or pestered her about what he could do and when they’d be leaving. It was different having Luke here with him.

He’d taken Charlie out for a walk, then come back to wait for her. The two of them were hanging out on the sofa, Charlie tucked into the crook of Luke’s arm, yabbering away. And now that she’d finished dinner for tonight and tomorrow, she was ready to go.

“Mommy, can we take Dad to the ice cream shop?”

Olivia laughed. It seemed that Charlie thought his dad was a playmate rather than a grown-up.

“Sure,” she called out. “Just let me rinse this cloth out and we’re out of here.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

Olivia drew in a deep breath. Luke was watching her, his eyes trained on hers. Too close for her not to feel jittery. “Uh, no, I’m just about done.”

He nodded. “Okay, I’ll tidy up the cushions on the sofa and get Charlie’s sweater on.”

Now it was Olivia who was nodding. She didn’t trust her voice. When Luke was at a distance, with Charlie, anywhere so that she was the one observing him rather than being up close and personal, she was fine. Close range turned her into a ball of knots.

She took one last look around, flicked the light switch and walked toward her son. “Let’s go.”

They stepped into the elevator and Olivia found it hard to breathe. Being with Luke like this, as if nothing was wrong, as if they’d always been this way, was making her uncomfortable. Because it felt as if they were living a temporary lie. With lies always came hurt, and she knew she had more of that coming, by the bucket load.

As they walked out onto the sidewalk, side by side with Charlie in the middle, Olivia couldn’t help thinking how normal they must look to passersby. A mommy and daddy out for a nice afternoon with their child, without any hint of their dysfunctional reality.

“Swing me!” demanded Charlie.

That made Olivia smile. He always wanted to be swung, but she rarely had another adult with her to do it.

“Come on, then,” she agreed.

Charlie held up both hands. She grasped one, then looked over at Luke. He appeared confused.

“We have to each hold one hand, then swing him forward as we walk.” she explained

Luke did as he was told, but Olivia could see from the look on his face that he had no idea what it was all about. She guessed he’d never had anyone swing him as a kid.

Charlie squealed with delight as he launched forward and it made Olivia happy to see him so excited. Having Luke home had been hard emotionally for her, but to Charlie it was like an ongoing party, a sleepover with a friend each day.

“I can see why he likes this.”

Olivia grinned at Luke. “Let’s do every second stride.”

“One, two, three!” Luke was laughing so hard as Charlie swung that he could hardly count out aloud.

“Again, again!” Charlie squealed.

Olivia rolled her eyes at Luke. “One thing you realize with kids is theyalwayswant it again and again.”

Her laughter died when she met Luke’s gaze. His eyes were alive, dancing with pleasure as they continued to swing Charlie. She could feel the same flicker in her own—of hope—and for the first time since Luke had returned, she thought that maybe, just maybe, they actually did have a chance.

“Ice cream,” announced Charlie. He dropped their hands and bounded on ahead.

Olivia fought the urge to look at Luke again before following her son, quickening her pace to keep up with him.

The sun had started to melt their ice cream into a sticky mess. Olivia ate the last of her cone and then went to Charlie’s assistance. He had big globs of chocolate drip- ping down his chin, adorning his fingers and even the tip of his nose.

“You sure taught him how to eat an ice cream well.”

Olivia grinned at Luke as she attacked Charlie with a wad of tissues. “Mmm-hmm.”

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