Page 24 of The Soldier's Homecoming

“Is it really my birthday today?” she asked, like she wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not.

Daniel laughed, bending down to press a kiss to her cheek. She squirmed but didn’t stop smiling.

“Sure is, kiddo,” he said, grinning at Penny over their daughter’s head as she laughed, too. “And I heard a rumor that you might like a few presents?”

She squealed. “Yes!”

He looked away as Penny adjusted the top of her camisole, not wanting to see her bare skin or even think about the fact they’d shared a bed.

Daniel rolled half off the bed and reached beneath it, pulling out a few small, wrapped gifts before swinging back up to give them to Gabby.

“These,” he said, holding them out of her reach for a second to watch the excitement blur across her face, “are for you. Happy birthday, Gabby.”

She eagerly reached for them, ripping into one straight away.

“I’m just going to get some breakfast,” he said, slipping out of bed. “You open these with Mommy and I’ll be right back.”

Gabby hardly looked up, she was so excited about her presents, but Penny met his gaze. He gave her a wink and a smile, hoping she’d realize what he was up to.

So much had happened yesterday they hadn’t even had a chance to talk about gifts, but he’d made a big effort this year, so he didn’t expect anyone to be disappointed.

Gabby’s laughter and excited chatter followed him as he hot-footed it to the garage.

He couldn’t wait to see the look on Gabby’s face when she saw her main present.

Penny foldedher arm around Gabby and pulled her close. She inhaled the sweet smell of her hair, enjoyed the tiny warm body pressed against hers.

Paper was strewn across the bed, and Gabby was trans- fixed with looking at her things.

“I have something else for you,” Penny told her, reaching for a small package she had placed beside the bed before climbing in the night before.

It was small, but beautifully wrapped. She’d purchased it on a layover on the way home.

“What is it?” Gabby fingered the square present, like she wasn’t sure what could be in there. What could be so small.

“Open it and see.”

Gabby didn’t rip the pink paper. Instead she tugged at the silver bow and slid her little finger beneath the tape. The way a grown-up would, as if she sensed that there was something special inside.

Gabby looked up wide-eyed as she opened it, before staring at the present within.

“It’s a charm bracelet,” Penny told her, taking it from the box and fastening it around Gabby’s wrist. “There are five charms on it now, and every birthday and Christmas I’ll buy you another to add to it.”

Gabby held up her wrist to look at the charms. “Thanks, Mommy.”

Penny pulled her closer for a cuddle and tried not to cry. Her own mother had given her a charm bracelet when she was ten, and Penny had been wanting to do the same for Gabby since she was born. She was probably still too young to have one, but she didn’t care. When Penny missed her mother more than usual sometimes, she still fastened her own back on her wrist.

“Drum roll, please.” Daniel’s playful tone echoed down the hall.

Gabby leaped up, jumping up and down on the bed as if it were a trampoline.

What…?

Gabby gasped as Daniel wheeled in a brand-new pink bike, complete with flowing streamers tied to the handlebars. Gabby’s squeal told them she loved it.

“Happy birthday, Gabs. This is from me and your mom.”

Gabby leaped from the bed and grabbed on to the handlebars like she was never going to let go.

---