s been Chloe and Ethan. Since

outside. She was the popular, bubbly girl

Or maybe she' d just liked the

d to hide. She' d told her grandfather, a respected man in town, and he' d pulled strings. That'

is champion then

er for her laughter, her energy, the

ummer after they graduated college

que. She wanted it to be successful before they settled down. T

king, was just stress. He was a firefighter paramedic; he understood stress. He

alked about for their future kids, for their dog. But she preferred staying at her pa

ky Varga

n, all the deep, tender care in the world for someone

n went from being her rock, her fu

had been a slo

sound in the quiet guest ro

momentarily forgotten. This was what

the door

in soot and exhaustion, he foun

as a friend of Sarah' s late husband, had

resignation," Ethan said,

sed. "Resignation? Ethan,

y. It' s... I go

face. "Married! Well, I' ll be! You finally tied the knot with

mself to correct the Chief. Let him have this

. Being deployed soon. I' m going with her, to her

and Maya had agreed

lucky girl. You' re a good man." Chief Thompson stood up, clapped

a weak smile.

cheerful words echoing in hi

was a bi

All he wanted was a

from the living room. Chloe' s, high and

Leo' s room. He just wanted to grab a few of hi

ajar. He pu

toppe

om. He was holding Ethan' s most prized possession:

liner cracked with age. It was the only tangib

r to draw bright blue squiggles

here the shield with his father' s unit number should have b