My heart leaped.
Jeremy?
I turned, already smiling.
But it wasn’t him.
A soldier stood behind me.
Dress uniform.
No suitcase.
“Are you Jeremy’s wife?”
“Yes. Where is he?”
His throat moved.
“He’s not coming.”
I laughed.
It came out wrong.
“What?”
“He was never on that flight. You should go home immediately.”
I stared at him.
“Is my husband dead?”
The soldier’s expression changed.
“No, ma’am.”
“He’s alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then where is he?”
“He’s receiving medical care.”
The airport seemed to tilt.
“What happened?”
“There was a complication.”
“What kind?”
He hesitated.
One baby began crying.
Her sister followed.
I bent over the stroller, fumbling for a pacifier.
My hands shook so badly I dropped it.
“Please,” I whispered.
“I have his children here. Don’t make me guess what’s happened to their father.”
He looked at their outfits.
