Chapter 2: The Soldier Who Came Home Early
Chapter 2: The Soldier Who Came Home Early
The bucket slipped from Claire's hand.
It struck the tile floor with a loud crack.
For a heartbeat, no one moved.
Daniel stood frozen in the doorway, still wearing his camouflage uniform, his duffel bag lying at his feet.
His eyes weren't on his wife.
They were locked on his mother.
She was sitting on the kitchen floor, soaked from head to toe, trembling as she tried to wipe dirty water from her face.
"What..."
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
"...happened?"
Claire forced a nervous laugh.
"Oh my goodness! You're home!"
She hurried toward him with open arms.
"I wanted to surprise—"
He stepped backward.
She stopped.
It was the first time in their marriage he had ever refused to let her touch him.
Daniel slowly walked past her.
He knelt beside his mother.
"Mom..."
His hands shook as he helped her sit upright.
She tried to smile.
"It's all right, sweetheart."
"It was just an accident."
Claire immediately nodded.
"Exactly!"
"The bucket slipped."
Daniel looked down.
The red fingerprint marks on his mother's cheek told a different story.
"So..."
He asked quietly.
May you like
"The slap was an accident too?"
Claire's smile disappeared.
