Page 3 of The Soldier's Homecoming

“Whee!” she squealed, laughing.

Penny looked over at Daniel, almost smiled to him at Gabby’s excitement, then stopped herself.

This was the sort of thing they’d always done, the kind of family theyusedto be.

But she wasn’t sure how long they’d be able to pretend they were still the happy family of old.

Because Daniel had ripped her heart out, and she doubted she’d ever be able to forgive him.

“How long are you home for, Mommy?”

She smiled bravely down at her little girl as she swung through the air.

“Not long enough, honey. Not long enough.”

Daniel Cartwright waspleased Penny was walking ahead of him.

Because he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

The curve of her back and the sway of her body as she moved; the gentleness of her expression, the twist of her smile when she looked at Gabby; the strength of her shoulders as she kept them straight no matter whether she was standing still or walking. The way her long, dark hair fell over her shoulders in a silky curtain.

He’d missed everything about her.

Only he’d always imagined this day to be different. Had seen his wife with her legs wrapped around his waist, lips pressed to his in happiness. The way it had been the last time. When they’d both finished their tours.

If he hadn’t stuffed up, that’s exactly the homecoming they’d have experienced this time.

“Where’s the car?”

Penny’s voice took him by surprise. He caught up to them again, having lagged behind to sort out the parking charge.

“Just over there.” He pointed ahead.

He tried to catch Penny’s eye, to smile at her, to try to connect with her again, but her gaze skipped past him like it was too scared to stop.

“Mommy, are you back forever yet?”

Daniel’s heart thudded to his boots.

“Sweetheart, we’ve already had this conversation,” he told her.

This time Penny did look at him, like she didn’t want to have to answer their daughter alone. Or maybe like she didn’t want to answer at all.

Daniel took the lead.

“Remember how I told you?” he asked Gabby, crouching down before her, holding her hand. “Mommy is here for your birthday, for thewhole week, but she has to go back.”

“To where?”

Daniel heard Penny sigh, like this was a conversation she wasn’t ready to have. Yet.

“To work,” she said, before crouching down beside him.

Daniel fought not to close his eyes. It was too close. Her body so near to his that he missed her like a fish deprived of water. Even after all this time, he knew how soft her skin would feel against his, the way her body would mold against his.

“Why?” Gabby’s lower lip had started to tremble.

“I promise I’ll only go away one more time,” Penny told her, stroking her hair, “You’ll only have to see me go away once more, and then I’ll be home with you forever. I promise. I won’t leave you again.”

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