Page 63 of The Soldier's Homecoming

It was like a repeat of the night he’d taken Penny out for dinner, only he hoped the ending turned out to be completely the opposite.

“Penny?” he called.

“Coming!”

Gabby spun around from the window, eyes alight.

“I’m going to see what she’s wearing.”

He couldn’t help but laugh as she took off to find her mom. “Don’t worry about letting your grandma in, then.”

She either didn’t hear him or didn’t care. Daniel went to let his mother in himself, then frowned as he saw that Tom was with her.

“Geez, don’t you have anything better to do on a Saturday night?” he asked his brother.

Tom glowered at him. “No,actually,” he said sarcastically. “I’ve just had notice that I’m shipping out in a few days and I thought I’d spend some time with my niece.”

Daniel wished he hadn’t snapped.

“Enough of the bickering, you two. Come on.”

His mother emerged, cake tin in her hands as she bustled past.

“How you doing, winning your wife back?”

Now Daniel was angry. “Seriously, Tom, just when I was about to apologize for being rude.”

His brother gave him a slap on the back as he passed. “I’m still pissed at you for what you did, can’t let you off that easy.”

Daniel glared at him, his pulse ticking rapidly in his neck.

“Sorry.” Tom put his hands up in the air. “I’ll be more sensitive next time. And for what it’s worth, Idohope she takes you back. This family is better for having Penny in it, and I want you guys to be happy.”

“Who do you want to be happy?

Daniel looked up at the same time as Tom did.

Geez.

If he’d thought she’d looked good the other night, tonight she looked incredible.

Amazing.

Her dress was shorter than he’d seen her wear in years, but then it had been years since they’d had a night out on the town together, too.

“Wow!” Tom beat Daniel to the punch before he was even able to form words of his own. “You look fantastic, Pen.”

“Thanks.” Her voice was low, shy, but she let Tom kiss her on the cheek.

“You’re going to have a great night out.”

“What are you doing here any way?” Penny asked.

Tom raised his shoulders then let them fall. “Thought I’d hang out with Mom and my favorite niece for a bit.”

“I’m your only niece, Uncle Tom,” said Gabby, sidling up to him and wrapping her hands around his leg, tugging him into the living room.

Daniel found his tongue, managed to make his body work again as Tom started to walk backwards, laughing at Gabby.

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