I never told my sister-in-law that I was a Colonel in Army Intelligence!

“I’m not unemployed,” I said. “I’m on leave. I didn’t want my job to define our marriage. But we’re past that.”

Three days later, Lily was home—weak, but improving. Wrapped in a blanket on the couch. The house felt different, not because Sarah’s absence was deafening, but because Emily’s voice had changed.

Sarah had been removed from the home under a protective order while the case moved forward. Her ex-husband picked up Tyler. She called Emily once, demanding bail money and blaming everyone else. Emily didn’t pay. She didn’t argue. She blocked the number.

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