Page 4 of The Soldier's Homecoming

Daniel glanced at her, met Penny’s eyes, before she looked away.

They’d said that before. That it was the last time. Only Penny hadn’t had a choice about her involuntary extension of service.

“Mommy has a really important job,” Daniel explained, shuffling closer to Gabby. “Do you remember how I told you that Mommy works for all of America? That she helps to keep everyone safe, with lots of other brave men and women.”

Gabby nodded, but her eyes were full to overflowing with tears.

Penny gave him a sharp stare, like they would be talking about this later, but he didn’t stop. Gabby didn’t know exactly what Penny did, but he hadn’t been able to dodge her questions forever. He’d had to tell hersomething. Skirting around the fact she was a soldier wasn’t always that easy.

“So when your mommy is away, we have to be brave, because even though we miss her she’s a very important woman. Lots of other people need her, too.”

Gabby threw her arms around him, tucked her little face into his shoulder and started to sob.

Penny looked as though her heart was broken in two, like she was shattering into a million tiny pieces inside. She swayed back on her haunches before rising, pressed her palms to her cheeks.

Daniel would have said sorry. Felt guilty that he held Gabby when Penny was clearly so desperate to touch, to hold, their daughter.

But there were only so many times he could say sorry. And the next time he said it, he wasn’t going to stop until Penny was convinced he meant it.

The short car journey home passed mercifully quickly, Penny content to sit in the backseat alongside Gabby and listen to her chatter away about her life. Daniel sat alone in the front, focused on the road, but that didn’t stop him from casting the occasional glance in the rear-view mirror at the tender and somehow blissfully normal scene taking place in the rear of the car.

Penny helpedGabby out of the car and let Daniel get her bag this time. She kept hold of her hand, listening to her babble, pleased she was so happily unaware of the tension in the air. As soon as they were through the front door, Grabby dropped her hand and shot ahead down the hall.

It was a strange feeling, coming home. After so long away and so long imagining what it would be like to be back, it was strangely foreign. It was her home and yet it wasn’t all at the same time.

“It is great to have you home, Penny.”

She turned at Daniel’s words.

“I’m pleased I came back.”

He looked hurt, but she wasn’t going to feel bad.

“Gabby was so excited when she found out you were coming to her party.”

Penny walked to the kitchen bench, spying a cake box. She lifted the lid and smiled when she saw what sat beneath.

“Dora the Explorer, huh?”

Daniel stepped closer. She fought not to move back. Stood her ground.

“It’s her favorite,” he said, voice low.

Penny hated that she didn’t know these kinds of things. What her daughter loved most right now, the things that they didn’t talk about over the phone. The things she’d missed out on. Her favorite television shows, dolls, that sort of thing.

She’d never imagined herself as an absentee mother. Had always wanted to be hands-on and at home, and she still did.

“The cake’s beautiful,” Penny said.

And it was. Pink and purple swirls of icing surrounded the center figure—every little girl’s dream.

“It’s exactly the kind of cake I would have chosen for her, Daniel.”

They stood, not saying anything. Penny’s eyes were still trained on the cake. She didn’t want to look anywhere else. Was too afraid to look elsewhere.

“Penny, do you want me to move out while you’re here?”

Daniel took her by surprise. Move out? She hadn’t even thought beyond arriving home, let alone how they’d manage to spend the coming days together.

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