I was medically retired. My one month trip turned into four months in the hospital, three surgeries, months of physical therapy and a return to civil...an status. The scars were ugly. Marie cried every time she saw them for almost a year after I came back. We moved into a rental house four miles from our parents homes and I went looking for work. A friend from church found me a job. It was interesting, challenging work and it paid pretty well. I figured Momma would finally be happy. I was out,. Cameron played the role of a loving insatiable husband well, and Josie knew that it was a crock of shit. He was going to be sorry for provoking her like this; she would make sure of it. “Honey, hurry up and eat so that you’re not late for school today. I also expect you to stay there for the entire day. No leaving during lunch like you did yesterday, and Cameron told me that he’s taking you out for dinner tonight. I’m happy that you both are finally getting along, I’m sad that I have to work. “Yes,” said Tim, “I know about you and Jim. He told me that you've been seeing each other. Are you ready to face what he’ll also endure from this? Are you prepared that you might lose him? Jenna, this is no game, this is serious fucking shit. I will not be able to stop anything that goes down, you know that. You’ve been around long enough, you know what goes on, least most of it. Are you ready for that?" Tim glared at me. "One last question, Jenna: are you ready for the way Mom and Dad will. ‘2115, 10-4, go ahead.’ Burnett listened with zero interest as O’Reilly wrote down the details of his next call on the little steno-pad strapped to his knee, then he stepped back as O’Reilly dropped the transmission into drive. ‘Seeya later, pal. Gotta run.’ Burnett tapped the roof twice and the Ford slipped out of the parking lot and disappeared down the street, leaving Burnett alone with his discordant feelings once again. He turned and reached for the box in the trunk as another car came.