Having Lily, who now played tug of war with Charity, eased her loneliness and made her get outside more often, but she was going to gain weight if she kept spending time with Damon's mom.
Charity loved Lily almost as much as Grace did.
"You're making a dessert every day too?"
Charity gave her a confused look. "Of course we are. It's the holidays after all."
"Of course." Grace grinned. She'd never met anyone quite so generous with their time and talents as Damon's mom and aunts.
Hope and Charity treated Grace like she was their own daughter, and Faith was always serving one person or another. Sometimes, more than one at a time.
Grace pointed at the paper. "Well, in that case, add flan to go with the enchiladas I'm making on the eighteenth."
"Oh, I'd love to have you teach me how to make a good flan. Mine always turns out runny." Charity pulled the paper toward her and added the dessert.
"I thought Faith was joining us this afternoon." Grace helped herself to another pecan bar.
"Oh, she's helping Edith Turner wrap Christmas gifts for her grandkids. She's anxious to get them in the mail, but she has such terrible arthritis, that she has a hard time with the wrapping." Charity glanced at the clock. "I'm sure she'll be here soon. Now, can you think of anyone else we should add to our list of recipients?"
"Don't you think six is enough?"
"It's not about the number; it's about making sure we don't overlook anyone who is alone at Christmastime."
"Right, sorry." Grace grinned again. She could learn a lot from these women. "I haven't met?—"
She was cut off by the ringing of Charity's cell phone.
The older woman picked up her phone and frowned. "No caller ID. Who on earth could this be?" She swiped up and pressed the phone to her ear before Grace could explain that it was probably a scammer. "Hello?"
Grace watched the color drain from Charity's face. "Yes, this is she."
The person on the other end of the line continued.
"No!" Anguish deepened Charity's voice as tears flooded her eyes. She clapped a hand to her mouth, and Grace's stomach plummeted. "Is...is he okay?"
It's about Damon.
"W-wait. Can you repeat that please? G-give me a second."
Charity fumbled with her phone, dropping it to the table as she attempted to put it on speaker.
Heart in her throat, Grace gingerly picked it up as though careful handling of the phone would change what she was about to hear.
"Okay," Charity said with a sob. "Tell m-me again, please."
"This is Captain Evan Moore from the Rear Detachment of..." He rattled off Damon's Battalion and Ranger Regiment. "I'm calling to inform you that Sergeant First Class Damon Knight was injured while deployed."
Grace's chest squeezed so tight it pushed all the air from her lungs. That wasn't possible. She got two texts from Damon yesterday morning. He was fine then.
"At this time, his condition is listed asseriousbutstable. He will be transported within the next twenty-four hours to Landstuhl Germany. Where he will be further assessed before being sent to the states."
Charity's tears increased, and desperation filled Grace, tightening her chest to the point that she struggled to speak.
"S-serious but stable. What does that mean exactly?" Grace's hand tightened around the phone. "Can we talk to him?"
"He is heavily sedated at this time." Captain Moore's deep voice grew gravelly as he continued. "You should know...he lost the lower part of his left leg due to the injury."
What? No!
