Page 2 of The Soldier's Homecoming

He hadn’t changed a bit. His hair was thick and rumpled; a hint of stubble grazed his chin, dimple peeking out from the corner of his right cheek.

“It’s great to have you home, Penny.”

She smiled. Reminded herself that she was here for Gabby. For their daughter.

It was all about Gabby.

She had to be strong.

“It’s so good to be back,” she replied, looking at her daughter, conscious that her little ears were listening to every word they said. That she didn’t know anything was wrong. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Gabby grinned up at her, twirling away to sidle up to her father. She wrapped one arm around his leg, curling into him.

Penny ran her hands down her jeans, the denim rough and foreign beneath her fingertips. After so long in army issue clothing, everything about her jeans and T-shirt seemed unusual.

Just like standing here with Daniel was unusual.

“Aren’t you going to hug her, Daddy?”

Gabby’s innocent question made Penny’s head spin. Of course she expected to see her parents embrace, to be happy to see one another.

“Ah.” What was she meant to say?

“Of course,” Daniel said, without a hint of hesitation. “We’ve missed you so much.”

Daniel took a step forward, looked awkward. Penny could feel Gabby watching.

She’d missed him so much, too.

Daniel folded her gently into his arms, his cheek skimming hers as he pressed a barely there kiss against her skin. Penny forced herself to respond, to put her arms around him, too, but it was hard. She so wanted to fall against him, tuck so tight into him that she could hardly breathe, and for everything to be like it always had.

The thought made her pull back and move away, to put distance between them.

Penny glanced at Gabby, to see her smiling again.

“Shall we go home?” Daniel asked.

Penny snapped out of her trance.

“Sure, let’s go.”

Daniel reached for her bag but she stopped him. Gave him a sharp glare that made his hand pause, mid-air. Just because she’d hugged him for Gabby’s benefit didn’t mean she was going to let him off the hook. Was going to pretend like nothing had happened. And she was more than capable of carrying her own bag.

“I’ll get it.”

She reached for the duffel, careful not to let her hand brush against Daniel’s. The pain that crossed his gaze, the way he looked at her, made the dull thud of raw hurt propel through her body again, but she forced it away.

She didn’t want to touch him again. It hurt too much.

“Let’s go,” she said, bag slung over her shoulder.

Gabby reached for her hand, her warm little palm fitting snugly against Penny’s.

“Daddy?”

Penny looked over her shoulder as Daniel quickened his pace, taking the other hand that Gabby held outstretched.

Their daughter giggled and laughed, pausing until she was a step behind them so they could swing her through the air.

---