Page 170 of Sloane

“Damn right you can.”

I felt like a proud mama helping her little bird leave the nest. Crash was ready, and I felt privileged to have played a role in his recovery.

“Language!” Bobby reprimanded.

Stu interjected, “I think she’s going to hear a lot worse than ‘damn’, living here.”

I looked at Crash, still on the floor entertaining Millie, and asked, “Do you need help packing?”

“No.” He nodded toward the stairs. “Go read your letter and let us know what it says.”

I rolled my eyes, then asked, “Who’s helping me with dinner tonight?”

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Even though I was dying to read Sloane’s letter, I purposefully put off opening it until I’d gone through my entire nightly routine. As if not tearing into it the second I had a chance proved that it was no big deal.

His familiar block penmanship made me smile.

Dear Ashley,

I wanted to thank you again for sending the photo of Millie yesterday. Ryan agrees that she is the most beautiful baby he’s ever seen, and Grace is already trying to arrange a marriage between our daughter and her nephew in Boston.

Don’t worry—I told her over my dead body.

I hope you’re doing well, and that the Jeep is running good for you. Promise me you’ll let me know if you have problems with it. (I paid good money to ensure you don’t, so if you do, someone’s going to hear about it.)

I’m making nice progress here. I’ve had my permanent orthotic for a week and I’m still getting used to it, but I think it’s going to work out great. Three months ago, I never would have believed it, but I can honestly see myself running again, just like you and Judy, my PTA in San Antonio, said I would.

I’m scheduled for another skin graft on my face after the holidays. The doctors are optimistic that more of the scarring can be minimized, but I’m not going to get my hopes up. I guess we’ll see. I think the rest of me is a lost cause, though. LOL

If you think about it, would you mind sending me a picture of Millie’s first Thanksgiving? Do you have plans with the guys at the beach house or are you spending it with family? I’ll have dinner here on base with my regiment. Both Ryan and Craig have to work, so I’ll celebrate with them on Friday or Saturday. I feel like a lottery winner having two Thanksgivings! Last year, my dinner was a turkey and mashed potato MRE in a tent in the middle of nowhere.

Anyway! I just wanted to thank you again for the photos and wish you a happy holiday.

Take care,

Sloane

I pulled out my stationery without a second thought.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Sloane

Three days after I mailed my letter to Ashley, I found a pink envelope sitting on my bed when I returned to my barracks after a counseling session, and a few thoughts immediately popped into my head.

One—she’d written back, and two—she’d used her pink stationery. That felt significant since the letter she’d written to me when I was in San Antonio had been on white paper and sent in a plain, white envelope.

Grace was a fucking genius.

Although, I was disappointed that the envelope didn’t smell like her perfume, especially now that my sense of smell had returned.

Three—mail was definitely quicker when you lived in the same city.

I noticed my heart beating a little faster than normal as I ran my finger under the envelope flap. It was an action I’d done so many times before, it was like muscle memory took over.

An actual photo of Millie in a pink outfit lying on a mint-green blanket and smiling brightly at the camera greeted me when I unfolded the pages. It was the first picture I had of her that wasn’t digital, and I knew exactly where I was going to put it—on my mirror, opposite the one of her mama. The one I’d dug out of the banker’s box Colonel Swartz had brought me in San Antonio.

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