LITMIR.BIZ

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boy on her own. She’d often needed Matt’s help to keep his brother from getting completely out of hand.

      “What else is in this album?” William flipped through the pages. “The skiing vacation in Utah…the beach trip…the tour of Washington. We did have some good times when the boys were young, didn’t we?”

      “Of course. You made sure we took a special family trip every year.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I knew many Army wives whose husbands made no apologies for missing family times. I always felt lucky.” She got up from the table. “Shall I get dinner?”

      “Whenever you’re ready.” He sat at the table, browsing through the photograph album as she prepared their meal. Only as she set their plates on the table did William speak again. “I’m worried about Matt. He’s taking too long on this decision to get back into Special Forces.”

      “I expect Kristin is behind that delay. I seriously doubt she supports the idea.”

      “You think she would prevent him from returning to his unit?”

      “I think she could make it very difficult for him to do so.”

      “What can we do to help him get back on track?” As William set down his fork, his face reflected his troubled thoughts.

      She reached for his hand. “Perhaps you should talk to Matt alone. Without Kristin listening, you might make some progress.”

      William nodded. “I’ll do that. I bet the boy’ll stop looking so beaten once he’s back in the real Army.”

      Elena wondered, as they finished eating, how a change in Matt’s career would affect his marriage. She’d never thought Kristin truly appropriate as an Army wife, and she had hoped Matt would realize that in time. But then he had gone missing and Kristin had taken up with Luke, which confirmed all of Elena’s opinions.

      The divorce and remarriage, after Matt’s return, had been such a mess, and so embarrassing, that she’d supported him in his plans, just to have things settled.

      Now Kristin would have to realize her responsibilities. If she didn’t…

      That young woman might find herself even further outside Army life than she expected! And as long as the little girls stayed with Matt, Elena wouldn’t whisper the first word of protest.

      EARLY SUMMER was a busy time for recruiters—or what passed for busy, anyway. High-school graduates who didn’t plan on college suddenly realized they needed some means of support, and the military looked like a sure bet. Matt counseled and interviewed and helped with application forms, did the paperwork, and kept his files neat. The easy routine had been a godsend in the months after he came back from Africa.

      Now it just dragged him down.

      When the bell on the door jingled, he braced himself for another round of question and answer. But as he stepped out of his office, he saw his father standing at the front desk.

      They shook hands. “Planning to reenlist, Dad?”

      “Don’t I wish.” The Colonel shook his head. “Life outside the Army never feels right.”

      “Come on back.” Matt led the way and waved his dad into a chair. “Coffee? Soda?”

      “No, thanks. Your mother and I just finished lunch.”

      “What’s Mom up to? She’s always got some project going.”

      “Planning the Fourth of July party. As soon as Memorial Day passes, she starts on that one. How are my granddaughters?”

      “A little bit crazy. Since Luke told them about the trip to the mountains, they’ve been bouncing off the walls.”

      “They’re a lively pair.” William Brennan’s hawkish gray eyes softened. “Enough spirit for several more children.”

      “That’s for sure.” Matt closed the book he’d been reading and set it to the side.

      His father leaned forward. “If you’ve got time to read, son, you need another job. What’s the book?”

      “That new account of the battle at Gettysburg.”

      “You’ve already got it?” He extended his hand and Matt passed him the book.

      “Yes, sir. The guy’s done his homework, and he’s got a way with words. He almost puts you on the front line.”

      The Colonel looked up. “Which is where you should be.”

      “Don’t start, Dad.”

      “It’s time you got back to the job. You owe your country the use of your mind and your strength.”

      “I’ve given the Army most of my life since I was sixteen years old and joined Junior ROTC. That’s nearly twenty years.” He tried not to sound defensive.

      “Some men give their entire life. You can’t ask for a greater honor.”

      “I understand that perspective. But this is a different age from Gettysburg, or World War II, or even Vietnam. Maybe the country needs more than just…more than soldiers.”

      “Like what?”

      “Well…” Think, Brennan. “Teachers? Government leaders? People to see what the future holds and prepare our kids to handle the challenge?”

      “There are plenty of men out there who can teach, make plans. Your combination of skills is what makes the Army work.”

      This conversation was destined to go in circles. Matt leaned back in his chair. “I understand, Dad. I’m giving the whole issue a lot of thought. Anything else I can do for you today?” An abrupt change of subject.

      But effective. His father drew out his pipe and clamped it between his teeth, avoiding Matt’s eyes. “I got to wondering last night what you and Kristin planned to do for your first anniversary celebration.”

      “We haven’t talked about that. I was thinking dinner and that new Broadway show out at the theater. Why?”

      His dad actually looked a little embarrassed. “I just…a little fatherly advice here…Why don’t you and Kristin take some time off? Get away, just the two of you, while the girls are in the mountains with Luke and Sarah?”

      Matt stared at the man across the desk. “What brought this up?”

      “Nothing, really.” The Colonel shrugged. “Well, except it occurred to me that Kristin’s had a rough time these last few years. She might feel…better…if she has you to herself for a while.”

      Matt realized he should have thought of this one without help. Maybe that was part of the problem—maybe he’d been taking Kristin for granted. “You’re absolutely right—we should make our own getaway. Where would be a good place to go?”

      His father held up his hands. “I’m not meddling any further. You take it from here.”

      “I will.” They both got to their feet, and Matt put out his hand again. “Thanks for thinking about us.”

      “My pleasure. Kristin will make a good Special Forces wife.”

      Laughing, Matt pulled back the glass door panel for his dad to step through. “Give Mom my love.”

      The Colonel settled into his beige Cadillac. “Sure thing.”

      Matt turned back inside. The office seemed small all at once, and the air smelled stale. He felt as if he’d been cooped up inside forever. How long had it been since he’d slept out under the stars? Maybe he and Kris should go camping…

      No. Kris worked hard enough at home—she ought to get a chance to simply relax. But they lived in a beach town, with the ocean just a mile away from their house, so a beach trip wouldn’t mean much. He didn’t like the idea of following Luke to the mountains—sure, there were lots of mountains, but did he have

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