Chapter 14 - THE UNIFORM AND THE HOUSE
David had spent his whole adult life in uniform.
Leaving felt like losing part of himself.
Staying meant Maya might watch him pack another duffel.
He asked his commander for time.
Nobody pressured him.
At home, Maya watched everything.
When David folded a uniform shirt, she asked if it meant he was leaving.
When his phone rang from base, she stopped playing.
Trauma had taught her that ordinary objects could become warnings.
David finally sat her down.
"I need you to know something."
She grabbed his hand.
"You're going?"
"Not now."
"Ever?"
He refused to lie.
"I don't know. But nobody is going to disappear without telling you what's happening."
Maya considered that.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He requested reassignment to a training position closer to home while the custody case stabilized.
It was not surrender.
It was a different mission.
Sarah began supervised visits twice a week.
The first visit was awkward.
Maya would not hug her.
Sarah did not force it.
She sat on the floor and colored.
Twenty minutes later, Maya moved closer.
At the end, Sarah said, "I'm sorry I didn't keep you safe."
No excuses.
No mention of Marcus.
Maya looked at her.
"Are you still his girlfriend?"
"No."
"Forever?"
Sarah swallowed.
"Forever."
Maya nodded.
It was not forgiveness.
But it was a beginning.
Outside, David waited with Eli.
Sarah approached him.
"Thank you for letting me see them."
"The court let you."
She accepted the correction.
Then she handed him a folder.
"I found this in an old email account."
Inside was a message from Dana sent months before the deployment.
Attached was David's name, address and financial profile.
The subject line read:
GOOD TARGET. WIFE IS ISOLATED. HUSBAND LEAVES IN MAY.
David stared at the date.
May you like
It was sent before Sarah had ever met Marcus.
Someone had sold his family's information.
