“Yes.”
Patricia looked surprised.
“He grabbed you.”
“I know.”
“He humiliated you.”
“I know.”
“He accused you of being fake in front of hundreds of people.”
“I remember.”
“Then why does it bother you?”
Jessica stared at her water bottle.
“Because consequences can be necessary and still be sad.”
Patricia said nothing.
Jessica continued.
“A career is years.”
She looked toward the memorial again.
“Families depend on those years.”
Her mother waited.
“But none of that means you ignore what happened.”
“No.”
Jessica’s voice sharpened.
“You don’t erase misconduct because consequences are painful.”
Patricia nodded.
“That sounds fair.”
“It’s supposed to be.”
The sun had shifted by the time they began walking toward the parking area.
Jessica carried her cap.
Still not wearing it.
Patricia noticed.
“You’re committed to that.”
Jessica glanced down.
“I told you. No salutes.”
“You already got half the field wanting to salute you.”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
They crossed a paved walkway lined with small flags.
A group of Marines stood near the exit.
Jessica saw them straighten.
She gave them a warning look.
One of them grinned.
“No salute, ma’am?”
“No salute.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Patricia laughed.
Jessica shook her head.
They reached Patricia’s SUV.
Before opening the door, Patricia stopped.
“Jess.”
Jessica turned.
Her mother looked at the marks on her arm.
“They’re darker.”
“I know.”
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
Patricia touched the skin carefully.
Her anger returned.
“He had no right.”
“No.”
“You really would’ve let him keep going until security arrived?”
Jessica looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew what I could handle.”
Patricia’s eyes flashed.
“That’s not reassuring.”
Jessica smiled sadly.
“I know.”
“What if he had done worse?”
Jessica’s expression changed.
The operator disappeared.
The daughter returned.
“I wouldn’t have let him.”
Patricia understood immediately.
That answer frightened her more than anything else.
She looked away.
Jessica regretted saying it.
“Mom.”
Patricia opened the car door.
“No. I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“I said I’m fine.”
Jessica leaned against the SUV.
“Now you sound like me.”
Patricia almost smiled.
Then her face folded.
“Do you know what it was like watching him grab you?”
Jessica went still.
Patricia’s voice trembled.
“You weren’t scared.”
“No.”
“That was the worst part.”
Jessica frowned.
Her mother wiped at one eye.
“You looked like you’d been there before.”
