I did not answer. I only rolled my shoulders once and watched his feet.
-
Left heel heavy.
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Right knee stiff.
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Hands too high.
Pride makes people predictable, and Derek had more pride than balance.
Caleb stood behind me now, breathing through his nose, one hand wrapped around his scraped wrist. Emma still held my watch like it was something breakable.
Then my husband finally spoke. “Laurel,” he said quietly, “maybe don’t.”
Not Derek, stop. Not Caleb, are you okay? Not even Everybody calm down. Just: Maybe don’t.
That was when Mallory’s face folded. She turned away from the grill, one hand pressed to her mouth, and for the first time all day she looked less embarrassed for Derek than afraid of what he had just invited.
A new sound cut through the backyard—my phone vibrating on the patio table. Emma looked at the screen before anyone else did. “Mom,” she whispered. “It says Colonel Harris.”
Derek’s eyes flicked toward the phone.
My old commanding officer’s name sat glowing under the paper plate, bright as a warning he did not understand.
I looked at Derek, lowered my hands, and said—
