Page 83 of The Soldier's Homecoming

Penny snuggled her face into Daniel’s chest for a heartbeat, craving his touch, breathing in the scent of him, loving feeling like a featherweight in his arms.

But she wanted Gabby in her arms just as bad.

She reluctantly wriggled from Daniel’s grip and bent to throw her arms around Gabby. “However much you missed me, honey, I missed you a whole heap more.”

Gabby shook her head and looked at her feet. But she held her wrist, adorned with the charm bracelet, up at the same time. Shy.

“Daddy told me to take this off for school but I never did,” she said.

Tears flooded Penny’s eyes but she did her best to blink them away as she fished in her carry bag.

“I bought this for you while I was away.”

Gabby looked up, eyes bright. “But it’s not even my birthday yet.”

Penny looked at Daniel and saw that his eyes had misted up, too.

“This is just for being special,” she told her daughter, holding out a little box with a bow around it.

“Shall we head home?” Daniel asked, reaching for Penny to pull her to her feet, other arm circling Gabby’s shoulders.

“Yeah,” she said, beaming up at him. “I can’t think of anything better than going home.”

“Daddy said he’s going to take you up in a helicopter tomorrow,” Gabby said, wriggling the bow off her present as they walked.

“Oh, really?” Penny thumped Daniel on the arm. “That’s funny, because Daddy knows how much I hate flying.”

Daniel shrugged, grinning even as she thumped him again Gabby laughed, wide-eyed.

“He said it was a special occasion, so you wouldn’t be able to say no.”

“Daniel…” Penny tried to protest.

He grabbed her hand, spun her around and scooped her up. Gabby squealed and ran in front of them.

“Don’t you dare put me over your shoulder, Daniel Cartwright!” she insisted.

“Do it, Daddy! Do it!’

Penny was laughing so hard she couldn’t even fight him.

“Say yes, Penny,” he ordered. “Say yes to the helicopter ride or I’ll carry you all the way to the car.”

She wriggled one more time then gave up.

“Yes!” She laughed. “I surrender!”

“Good,” said Daniel, dropping her back to her feet.

But she couldn’t scold him. Not when he wrapped both arms around her and bent her backwards for a kiss that tingled all the way to her toes.

A round of applause broke out and Gabby opened her eyes as they straightened.

She’d forgotten she was still in her army fatigues. That there were other people around them.

Penny’s cheeks flushed but Daniel responded with a bow before grabbing her hand and Gabby’s.

“Come on, girls, let’s go home.”

---