Page 134 of Sloane

“Off-limits? Why?”

“They’re for the care packages Ashley sends to soldiers overseas.”

She was still writing to servicemen?

I mean, it made sense. I knew she’d been involved with Military Angels before writing me. I guess I just assumed that she wouldn’t continue after me.

Because I’d been special.

Apparently, I hadn’t been that special.

“Why doesn’t she keep them in her apartment?”

“My guess is that her kitchen isn’t anywhere as large as this one, and she has bottles, formula, and bibs and stuff that she has to put in her cupboards. There’s plenty of space down here,” Crash explained.

“Good grief, there’s a lot of jerky in here. How often does she write him?”

I remembered when she started sending a package a few times a week instead of the monthly one required by Military Angels. Back when we were writing each other daily. Was she writing someone daily now?

Stu shrugged. “I don’t know. I only pay attention when she’s baking something to send and makes extra for us.”

I eyed the packets of dried meat and felt territorial. I was the one who got those thoughtful, colorful care packages. Nobody else should be getting anything from her.

Reaching for a bag, I muttered, “I mean, she won’t mind if we just take one, will she?”

“Don’t be a dick. If you want jerky so badly, there’s some in the pantry. You don’t have to take from her stash.”

But I wanted to take the entire stash. Those should be for me. Never mind that I sent her letters back unopened.

I was grumpy as we ate our lunch and didn’t partake in the spirited discussion between Crash and Stu over the professional football season that had just gotten started.

In spite of my surliness, they were nice and loaded my dishes into the dishwasher when we were through.

“Do you think Dr. Connolly will show up today?” Crash asked as he closed the dishwasher door.

Stu rinsed the rag he’d been using to wipe the counters with.

“Probably not, unless he doesn’t know Ashley’s at the VA.”

That piqued my interest.

“Who’s Dr. Connolly?”

“He’s our orthopedic doctor who comes here once or twice a week.”

“Oh, that’s great. One less appointment to have to arrange transportation for.”

“Yeah, it’s convenient. And he’s a good dude. He seems really committed to improving his patients’ quality of life.”

He sounded like just the guy I needed in my corner.

****

Ashley

I pulled into the beach house to see Jeff’s Porsche parked in the circular drive and muttered, “Oh, shit.”

We were supposed to go to the WWP carnival at the VA tonight, and I’d forgotten to arrange for someone to watch Millie.

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