No Longer The Foolish Wife

ht, streamed through the bedroom window.

, my heart hammeri

the nightstand

nny' s application for the after-school program

lat. No, not flat, just... no

from the hallway. "

nn

loved, worn-out teddy bear, Barnaby, t

ed and pulled him into a crushing hug, burying my f

squishing Barna

acing. This wasn't a dream. T

le' s existence, it all came flooding back, sharp a

t be a victim. This

t phone calls," I said, my voice surprisingly st

and trotted off

ying. First, the Department of De

geant First Class Tom Barnes," I stated, my voice cold and precise.

hesitation. Jeans, a t-shirt

him I' d be back soon and to stay in

drive to the local community center

's Army Reserve unit he

ial-looking building, my heart

Specialist sat a

aid, my voice ringing with an authority I didn't possess

urprised by my intensity.

I said, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. "And it

t his a