Free Return to Glory (Hqn) by Sara Arden

with fighting a war.”
    “That’s a mean thing to say. You know that’s not what I meant.” She bristled and straightened her spine, obviously gearing up for a fight.
    “Isn’t it?” He laughed, but the sound was cold and empty. “I feel as if there’s not a piece of me missing. In fact, it still feels like it’s on fire. So you should really know what you’re talking about before you make that comparison.”
    “You know, Jack, you’re not the only person who’s ever suffered. Your pain isn’t so much bigger and worse than everyone else’s. You’ve got it worse than some, but better than others.”
    “Really? Who do I have it better than?”
    “The ones who didn’t come home.”
    “If I could trade with any one of them, I would.” Jack watched as Betsy deflated. All the fight seemed to just wilt out of her, faded away with an exhaled breath.
    “I wonder if they’d say the same, if they could speak.” Betsy turned and went back into the house, carefully pulling the door closed behind her.

CHAPTER SIX
    T HE BRIEF GLIMPSE of the old Jack was gone and in its place was this hard, angry man who’d come home in his stead. Maybe Betsy shouldn’t have been so hard on him, but she couldn’t stand to see him like this. Their conversation earlier had felt as if she was being cruel, but he needed someone to tell him these things. Didn’t he? She wished she could just take away his pain, Betsy thought as they ate dinner.
    His gaze met hers over the mashed potatoes, and she was surprised to see how unguarded his expression was. His eyes were pools of sorrow, and they were so clear she could see all the way to the bottom.
    She wondered again if maybe she was pushing too hard and too fast.
    Betsy had to look away first and she cast a glance over at India, who was drawn and pale. Her brother’s mouth was set in a grim line and his jaw was clenched.
    Lula Lewis, who’d slaved in the kitchen all morning for the family Sunday meal, wasn’t the kind to let that go unremarked upon. “Is there something wrong with the chicken?” She arched a perfectly groomed brow and inclined her recently colored, curled and coiffed dark head.
    “No, Ma.” Caleb shoveled another bite of potato into his mouth.
    “The potatoes?” she continued.
    “Everything tastes great,” India said flatly.
    “Well, something’s wrong because no one seems happy to be here.” She put her fork down, which in the Lewis household meant things were about to get dicey. “I haven’t had all of my kids at my table in years.” She focused on Jack. “And yes, Jack and India are both mine, too. So I want some happiness to see each other and I want it right now.” Her tones were dulcet, but Lula obviously meant business.
    Jack was always the best at talking them out of trouble with Lula, but he didn’t say anything. It was India who jumped to their rescue. “We’re all too busy eating this chicken.”
    “I call bullshit.” She eyed each of them in turn. “But I’ll let it slide for now.” Lula took a bite of her corn on the cob and after chewing said, “So, Jack, what are your plans now that you’re home? Have you considered joining Caleb and India as one of Glory’s finest?”
    Betsy was on tenterhooks waiting to see what he would say. She hoped he wouldn’t be as angry with her mother as he was with everyone else. The old Jack never would be, but he’d made it clear he wasn’t the old Jack.
    “No, ma’am. I hadn’t given it much thought. I really didn’t plan on staying in town very long.”
    Betsy noticed he didn’t say home. He wasn’t planning on staying in town, not home. Glory wasn’t home to him anymore.
    “We’re glad you’re home no matter how long you stay, right, Betsy?”
    Betsy looked up at her mother and at the quiet understanding on her face. “Yes, Mama.” She looked back to Jack meaningfully. “We are.”
    He didn’t say anything but took another bite.
    “There was some mention of buttermilk chess