Shirley stood. “I expect things should wrap up quick with Jules in custody. We’ll call when you’re cleared to come back to work.”
The thought of going back to work didn’t inspire Anna with the happiness it should’ve.
The lab was so far away, that crazy place where she’d desperately tried to define herself after her marriage failed.
Instead, it felt like some mystical, fake place of bad memories.
Then she remembered meeting Jackson in the parking lot, and the smell of the cookies made her nauseous.
And that was before Kaci slid a familiar-looking envelope onto the table. “Messenger duty again,” she said with an uncertain smile.
Anna was teary-eyed before she broke the seal. Mom paused to hover over her shoulder.
“You want to be alone?” Kaci asked.
She shook her head. What she wanted wasto have gone home over Thanksgiving and not come back.
Would’ve been easier that way. For once, easier sounded better than right.
The message was simple.
Anna Grace,
I will always believein you.
Love,
Jackson
P.S. Turns outthatwasRadish snoring. Sorry for—you know.
Kaci squeezed her hand. “He’s not doing too good. Misses you a lot. Sad, what with him not moving for at least a couple years.”
“That’ll make it easier.” Anna swiped at her eyes. “How about I go burn my school books and dedicate my brain to science now? They can figure out what kind of mutant gene makes me want to continually sacrifice my ability to take care of myself by marrying men who only want someone to put their life in order every time they move.”
“It’s okay to not want him, but don’t lie to yourself about why.”
“You love this one?” Mom asked.
More prickles attacked her eyelids. Her mom still thought Neil might come over for Christmas dinner.
Wouldn’t that be fun.
“Doesn’t matter.” Anna dabbed at her nose. “He called OSI on me.”
“Sugar, he didn’t callonyou, he calledforyou. And I’m right glad he did, because Lance was supposed to be flying that night. I’da had to beat you silly if you let my husband get on a plane with bad fuel.”
Yeah, Anna hadn’t had any heart palpitations overthatthelast few nights either.
“The news last night said the military doesn’t think the fuel would’ve caused long-term problems,” Mom said. “It wasn’t done to bring planes down.”
Anna wanted to kick her. Kaci’s lips went bloodred against the sudden paleness of her face.
“We don’t put those words in the same sentences around pilots’ wives,” Anna hissed at her mother.
“Well, it wasn’t,” Mom insisted.
“I vote we strapherto a firecracker,” Anna grumbled.
