“Get outta here. You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
“Sure we do,” one tried. “Bunch of cowards. Killing innocent people, raping women, destroying homes…”
“We were sent to do a job, and we did it,” Daniel informed them, steely-eyed. “We offered our lives for yours, and that’s what you get out of it?” He scanned the young man up and down, curling his lip with disgust. “We did our job,” he repeated. “Looking at you, I doubt you know what a job is.”
Marion glanced at the others, who looked ready to jump on the hippies and make this a very real situation. She had no doubt they would, given the opportunity.
“Daniel,” she murmured for only him to hear.
He huffed violently, but he got her message. “Let’s go home, boys.” He hiked both their bags over one shoulder and shoved through the hippies. Stu and Hal followed quietly, but Joey stood his ground. As Daniel had done, he went almost nose to nose with one of the men.
“You wanna know what a coward is?” Joey growled through clenched teeth. He shoved him back a few steps, rolling his sleeves up as he went. “Look in the goddamn mirror.”
Marion swooped in and took Joey’s hand, leading him out of reach. “Let’s go see Sassy.”
He was hot with anger, but he let her lead him out of the jungle, a little calmer with every step.
“That won’t be the last of it,” Daniel told his friends. “People don’t like us much.”
“B-but we’re vets,” Hal said. “We’re supposed to be heroes.”
Daniel nodded. “No heroes in this war, my friend. Everybody here hates the Vietnam War, and we’re the face of it. I’ve been spat on, shoved,cursed…” He held Joey’s gaze. “But you gotta hold back the demons, Joey. The police will lock you up, vet or not. It’s not worth it.”
“That’s FUBAR, man,” Joey muttered. “Guy’s begging for it. I’ll take them all.”
“You’ll learn,” Daniel said. “It’s a war here, too. Just different. Over here, we’re the enemy.”
They continued down the echoing corridor without a word, until Marion gave them a grin. “At least you’re all home. Let’s figure that out first.”
“Joey!” Sassy’s shout shattered the quiet, and Marion saw her struggling against a security guard, needing to get past. “Joey!”
All the anger dropped from Joey’s face, and he ran. “Sass!”
By the time Marion reached them, they were hugging each other, crying and laughing, oblivious to the rest of the world. Sassy’s sheer joy over seeing her brother again filled Marion’s heart to overflowing. After a moment, she left her brother’s arms and hugged Marion, still crying.
“I missed you!” she exclaimed. “Oh, we have so much wine to drink to go with your stories. Those short little postcards you sent only whet my appetite.” She snuck a glance behind Marion, and when she looked back, she was batting her eyelashes. “Tom and I… Gah! I have so much to tell you! But not here. Come on. So many people want to say hello.”
Taking their hands, Sassy dragged Marion and Joey toward the waiting room and a familiar-looking crowd of people. Tom stood at the back, holding up a handwritten banner that saidWelcome home!and Marion laughed out loud.
“Mrs. Levin? Mr. Romano?” She took in the group of friends. “I can’t believe you’re all here! This is such a wonderful surprise!”
“It’s everyone from Isabella, see?” Sassy leaned in conspiratorially. “Even that guy with the scars. I’ll tell you all about him later.”
“I can’t believe you did all this,” Marion said, hugging Sassy again.
“This is just the beginning. Mrs. Romano wants everyone to come for dinner tonight.” She winked. “We’ll see. I have something else up my sleeve.”
“What are you—”
“Dad?”
Marion stepped back, startled by Daniel’s exclamation. A man and a woman had appeared at the side of the group, and right away Marion knew the man was his father. The resemblance was unmistakable. She saw the split second when his father took in the eye patch, but he was quick to recover.
“Dad? What are you… Mom?” His voice cracked. “How did—”
“Daniel!” his mother cried, rushing to him. Daniel buried his face in her hair, holding her tight, then he looked up, his eye glassy with emotion as his father approached.
“Welcome home, son,” he said.
