A Soldier's Return Read Online Free PDF Page A

Joey tonight.”
    Jeff sat down on the bed and put his arm around his wife. “That’s right. Tell him I’ll be there after Rebecca goes to sleep. And I’ll bring him in the morning to see his baby sister.”
    With calls of goodbye, the others left the room. Rachel asked if someone could give her and J.D. a ride because they didn’t have a car. Vanessa volunteered at once.
    “We’ll see you at the house,” Vivian said.
    Carrie noticed that Jim seemed to hang back on the short walk to the car. She kept looking over her shoulder to be sure he was following.
    They got in the car and started the drive back to the house. Vivian sighed. “My, it’s always a relief when a baby arrives healthy.”
    Jim remained silent in his side of the backseat.
    “Are you two hungry?” Vivian asked, looking back.
    Jim nodded. After a minute he said, “Yes, I am. I missed lunch.”
    Vivian gasped. “Why didn’t you say something?”
    “There wasn’t time. Besides, I’ve gone without meals before. It’s no big deal.”
    “We’ll have dinner as soon as we get home,” Vivianassured him. Then she took out her cell phone and dialed the housekeeper. After giving rapid-fire instructions, she clicked off the call and smiled over her shoulder at Jim. “Betty was appalled. She doesn’t like for anyone to miss a meal. She’ll probably meet you at the door with hors d’oeuvres.”
    “I don’t want to be any trouble,” Jim replied.
    Carrie thought if he moved any closer to the car door, he’d open it and escape. He looked so uncomfortable.
    To make him feel better, she said, “It’s true. Betty lives to feed a hungry man. If Will hadn’t married Vivian, she would’ve started carrying food to his apartment.”
    Jim’s laugh was strained.
    “She’s right, Jim,” Will said. “And nothing pleases Betty more than compliments. That’s a good thing to remember.” As he finished speaking, he slowed down to pull into the driveway of their home.
    Vivian took Jim’s arm again and led the way into the house. Betty met them, telling Jim she had hors d’oeuvres ready in the morning room. “You come right in, you poor man.”
    “Thank you, Betty,” Jim said.
    “They should be right behind us, Betty,” Will told her.
    “No matter. This man needs nourishment at once.”
    Jim selected a sausage roll off the plate Betty offered. He took a bite and said, “These are great, Betty.”
    He was a quick learner, Carrie chuckled to herself as she saw Betty beam at his compliment.
    When the rest of the family arrived, the housekeeper herded them all into the dining room. Carrie was seated next to Jim, who was barraged by questions from his curious sisters and Vivian. Even though Carrie had only met the man hours ago, she seemed to be able to read his mind. Surrounded by so much family, he was overwhelmed, even downright scared. She sympathized with Jim, though there was little she could do.
    After the meal, when everyone returned to the morning room for coffee, Jim remained standing by the doorway. She knew what he was up to.
    As if on cue, he said, “I really enjoyed meeting all of you. Be sure and thank Rebecca for me. I hope to see you again sometime, after I’ve gotten settled in.” And with that, he turned on his polished heel and left.
    As everyone sat there, stunned, Carrie looked at Will, who nodded his head. At his unspoken direction, she knew what she had to do.
     
    J IM CLOSED his hotel room door soundly and leaned against it. He let out the breath he’d been holding since he walked into Will Greenfield’s office earlier that day.
    He was exhausted. He’d had long days and nights of combat that hadn’t left him this tired. Then again, the enemy didn’t frighten him the way his newfound family had, he thought wryly.
    He was glad he’d found his sisters. They were everything he’d imagined them to be all this time. Beautiful, kind, generous. Exactly the way his parents would’ve wanted them to grow up.
    But he was just