He was wearing his school uniform. Khaki pants. White shirt. Navy blazer with the gold crest. Jess had laid it out for him the night before. She’d told him we were going to drive him to school early. That was all.
He walked into the hallway.
He saw me.
He froze.
He stood there for a long time. In his navy blazer, with his backpack hanging off one shoulder. Staring at me.
At the dark uniform. At the ribbons. At the gold buttons and the gold stripes and the white cap I was holding under my arm.
His mouth was open.
“Grandpa,” he said finally.
His voice was very small.
“You look exactly like Dad,” he said.
I knew what he meant.
He’d seen pictures. Danny in his dress blues at his corpsman school graduation. Danny in his dress blues at his wedding. Danny in his dress blues in the photo the Navy sent home after he
