Page 61 of The Soldier's Homecoming

If she did let Daniel back in again, forgave him for his mistake and tried her hardest to move forward,toforget, would that mean she’d compromised on her principles? Mean that she thought it was okay for a husband to be unfaithful?

Or would it mean that she was big enough to forgive for a sin she’d always thought was the worst a partner could make? That she was a better, more open, loving person than she’d ever thought she could be in a situation that had almost broken her heart into more pieces than a jigsaw puzzle?

Penny let the water run over her face, eyes shut to the bliss of the shower.

Whatever happened, she was ready to forgive herself.

Finally.

And it was herself she needed to forgive in order to move on.

If her heart told her to make room for her husband again, then she was prepared to accept it.

The thought alone made her chest start to pound, made it sound as if the sea was roaring in her ears.

Being in Daniel’s arms again would be like finding a long-lost love, one who it felt like she’d been pining for all her life.

She needed to forgive herself, stop shouldering the blame for what had happened, for abandoning her husband, and give herself the opportunity to embrace the future.

“They were the best pancakes ever.”

Daniel watched as Penny dipped her head to rest on top of Gabby’s. She rubbed Gabby’s belly and laughed.

“How do you fit so much in there?”

Gabby shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think I might pop.”

Daniel slung his arm across the back of the booth seat, his other arm raised to bring the coffee cup to his lips. Strong, black coffee that took the edge of the too-little sleep he’d had last night.

He’d lain awake for hours. Thinking. Trying to figure out what he could do, what he’d do if nothing worked out as he hoped it would.

He’d already lost so much this year. His friends that he saw everyday, the workmates he thought of as extended family—they’d been eliminated from his daily life as if he’d never see them again. The fact that he’d only signed up for an eight-year term didn’t make walking away any easier. Not after almost a decade of serving with the same guys.

So the thought of losing this happy little family scene…it was more painful than he could ever find words to describe. It would always have hurt losing Penny. No matter when it happened, it would take a part of him that could never heal or regenerate.

There was nothing in the world he’d say no to, nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice for either of his girls.

Moments like this were worth anything he had to give.

“Any more pancakes here?”

Gabby groaned and rubbed at her belly. “No,” she said, knowing the question was directed at her.

The waitress laughed and took their plates. “I told you two would be plenty, didn’t I?”

Gabby giggled and leaned deeper against her mom.

“We’ll grab the check, thanks.” Daniel smiled up to the waitress before bringing his attention back to his family.

“What’s on the agenda for the rest of the day?”

“We could go see Uncle Tommy,” suggested Gabby.

Daniel resisted the urge to laugh. She had tiny smears of maple syrup tickling against the edges of her mouth.

“We could, or maybe we could all go see a movie together?”

The look in Penny’s eyes told him it was a good suggestion.

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