Chapter 9 - Six Emails
Michael placed the laptop on the kitchen table.
Daniel remained standing.
Anna sat beside him.
Michael opened a folder.
“I recovered these from Mom’s browser history.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“You accessed her computer?”
“She asked me to fix it last month.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Michael looked guilty.
“I still had remote backup access.”
Anna interrupted.
“What did she send?”
Michael opened the first message.
It was addressed to Anna.
She had never received it.
The subject line read, We Need to Be Realistic.
The email claimed Daniel had decided the overseas command was “best for everyone.”
Anna stared.
“Why didn’t I get this?”
Michael pointed to the address.
One letter was wrong.
“It bounced.”
The second email had gone to Rachel.
The third to Daniel’s old friend.
The fourth to a base-family coordinator.
Daniel’s face changed.
“What did she tell them?”
Michael hesitated.
“She said Anna was planning to relocate.”
Anna whispered, “I wasn’t.”
“I know.”
Michael opened the fifth.
It was worse.
Evelyn had written to a real estate agent.
She asked about listing Daniel and Anna’s house.
Daniel’s chair scraped backward.
“She tried to sell our house?”
“She asked for an estimate.”
Anna stared at the screen.
The sixth email had no subject.
Michael clicked it.
The recipient was General Holloway.
Daniel read silently.
His face lost color.
Anna leaned closer.
Evelyn had written that Daniel’s “domestic situation” was unstable.
She suggested he might accept Stuttgart if the family relocated first.
Anna stopped reading.
“That’s enough.”
Daniel closed the laptop.
Michael looked miserable.
“I didn’t know.”
Daniel turned toward him.
“You gave her access.”
“I know.”
“You knew she was angry about the command.”
“Yes.”
“And you still helped.”
Michael swallowed.
“I thought it was family stuff.”
Daniel laughed once.
“This is family stuff.”
Michael looked down.
Anna watched the brothers.
She had always thought Michael was careless.
She now realized carelessness could be destructive without being malicious.
Daniel stepped away.
Anna knew he needed movement to control his anger.
Michael spoke quietly.
“I’m sorry.”
Daniel turned.
“Stop saying that like it fixes access you shouldn’t have given.”
Michael nodded.
“You’re right.”
Daniel stopped.
The simple agreement took some heat out of him.
Anna asked, “Did Evelyn send anything to the airline?”
Michael frowned.
“I don’t know.”
“Why?”
“She knew my flight.”
Michael looked through the folder.
“I didn’t see anything.”
Daniel turned toward Anna.
“Rachel may have told her the itinerary indirectly.”
“She said she didn’t.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
Anna hated those words.
“They always mean later.”
Daniel heard the frustration.
“This time I mean today.”
He sat again.
Michael looked between them.
“Are you two okay?”
Anna almost laughed.
Daniel answered first.
“No.”
Michael blinked.
Daniel continued.
“But we’re talking.”
Anna looked at him.
That was true.
Michael nodded.
“I’ll go.”
Daniel stopped him.
“Leave the laptop.”
Michael did.
At the door, he turned back.
“Mom really does love you.”
Daniel’s expression went cold.
“That isn’t the defense you think it is.”
Michael left.
Anna closed the door.
Daniel stood in the living room.
The house felt different now.
Like Evelyn’s interference had entered every room.
Anna touched the suitcase by the door.
Daniel saw.
“Do you want to leave?”
The question was direct.
Anna appreciated that.
“I don’t know.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not going to argue?”
“I want you here.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Daniel nodded.
“No.”
He took a breath.
“I’m not going to argue.”
Anna looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because if you stay because I cornered you, we’re just repeating the same problem.”
Anna’s eyes softened.
Daniel went upstairs.
A few minutes later, she heard the boys laughing.
She remained beside the suitcase.
Her phone buzzed.
A notification from St. Anne’s Hospital appeared.
Interview Confirmation.
Tomorrow, 10:00 a.m.
Video option available.
Anna stared.
She did not need to fly to Denver.
She could interview from here.
That somehow made the decision harder.
Daniel returned downstairs.
Anna showed him.
He read the message.
“You can do it here.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want privacy?”
She smiled faintly.
“Are you offering to take the boys?”
“Yes.”
“Can you handle them?”
Daniel looked offended.
“I commanded eighty-seven people last year.”
“None of them refused pants because the tag felt weird.”
Daniel paused.
“That happened?”
“Twice.”
He nodded solemnly.
“I withdraw my confidence.”
Anna laughed.
Real laughter.
It surprised both of them.
The sound faded slowly.
Daniel looked at her.
“I missed that.”
Anna’s chest tightened.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Make one laugh mean we’re okay.”
“I wasn’t.”
He stepped back.
“I’m sorry.”
Anna nodded.
That mattered too.
Later that evening, they made dinner.
Nothing fancy.
Pasta.
Frozen vegetables.
Toast.
The boys talked over each other.
Daniel listened.
Really listened.
After dinner, Noah climbed into his lap voluntarily.
Daniel froze for half a second.
Anna saw.
Noah rested his head against his father’s chest.
“Are you sleeping here tonight?”
Daniel looked at Anna.
“Yes.”
Noah nodded.
“Tomorrow too?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then answered carefully.
“I plan to.”
Noah looked satisfied.
Anna did not.
She heard the uncertainty.
She knew military life made guarantees dangerous.
But she also knew children needed more than plans.
After the boys were in bed, Anna found Daniel in the kitchen.
He had opened the laptop again.
“What are you doing?”
“Documenting everything.”
“For what?”
“To protect us.”
Anna looked at him.
Daniel added quickly, “Not deciding for you.”
She nodded.
“Good correction.”
He almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Holloway.
Daniel answered.
“Yes, sir.”
Anna watched his face change during the call.
When it ended, he remained still.
“What happened?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Holloway wants my answer tomorrow.”
“To Fort Carson?”
“Yes.”
Anna’s heart sped up.
Daniel continued.
“And there’s something else.”
“What?”
“He wants to meet you.”
Anna stared.
“Why?”
Daniel looked at the laptop.
“Because my mother brought our marriage into my career.”
Anna folded her arms.
“And now your career wants to bring itself into our marriage.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Pretty much.”
Anna took a slow breath.
“Fine.”
“You’ll go?”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked surprised.
Anna continued.
“But I’m not going there to save your promotion.”
“What are you going there to do?”
May you like
She met his eyes.
“Tell the truth.”
