“I’m sorry,” Jessica said.
Patricia shook her head.
“I didn’t ask for an apology.”
“It’s all I can give you.”
Her mother looked at her for a long time.
Then stepped forward and hugged her.
Jessica froze for half a second.
Then wrapped her arms around Patricia.
Her mother whispered, “You came home.”
Jessica closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“That has to be enough today.”
Jessica held her tighter.
“Yes.”
They stood there beside the SUV while cars rolled slowly out of the ceremony grounds.
No applause.
No witnesses paying attention.
No rank.
Just two women beneath a hot North Carolina sky.
Later that afternoon, Jessica received a call from Colonel Bennett.
She stepped away from her mother before answering.
“Dalton.”
“Major, Bennett.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I wanted to give you a preliminary update.”
Jessica glanced toward Patricia, who stood near a roadside diner menu studying pie options.
“Go ahead.”
