I Loved The Wrong Man All My Life 10

I Loved The Wrong Man All My Life 10

Chapter 10 

Two hours later, flashlights sliced through the parking lot darkness. The children stumbled into the backseat

Grandpa! Grandma!Liam’s voice cracked like a misfired round as they stumbled toward the VA hospital entrance

Fiona wailed into Martha’s cardigan, You finallyfinallymade it!” 

Alright, let’s bail,Grandpa Robert them toward the exit. This hospital’s giving me the creeps.” 

Grandparents and grandchildren stumbled through Fort Belvoir’s unshoveled paths, frost biting arthritic joints as Fiona and Liam whined about the cold

At discharge processing, the clerk’s voice cut through their exhaustion, Outstanding balance: $3,840. Insurance lapsed last month.‘ 

Mr. Reynoldscane struck linoleum. Stella was handling this!” 

Mrs. Reynolds paled. Call her! Now!” 

But Stella’s number rang into digital purgatory. When the VA threatened collections, Mr. Reynolds surrendered his Silver Star credit cardits first use in a decade

Stella juggled double shifts at Brentwood Mills while singlehandedly running the Reynolds household

The seniors hadn’t touched chores since Clinton’s presidency, and Colonel Finn assumed his officer’s salary covered everything- rarely sending funds home

When the hospital bill exploded like an IED, Grandpa’s face turned artilleryshell red. Even Fiona and Liam radiated nuclear fury

Grandma,Liam slammed his juice box, we’re filing for mom replacement! Mom ghosted us!” 

Fortyseven calls straight to voicemail!Fiona’s braces glinted. When mom slinks back, we’ll cancel her!” 

Grandma’s inhaler hissed like a faulty valve. That girl’s finished.” 

They abandoned the ER at midnightstumbling through pitchblack suburbs like refugees fleeing a demilitarized zone

The house greeted them with its new reality

No steam unfurling from showerheads 

No garlicroasted chicken warming the oven 

Just the reek of yesterday’s forgotten trash 

Fiona yanked the shower knob. Freezing!” 

Liam slammed cabinets. Where’s food?” 

The Reynolds seniors were adrift in domestic warfare. For decades since Stella’s arrival, their hands hadn’t touched a kettle or skillet

Dinner materialized at 1800 sharp, hot water flowed like garrison plumbing, and quarters stayed inspectionready

Now Grandpa hauled buckets from the well like a raw recruit

Grandma fumbled at the field stove, her arthritic hands trembling over canned rations

When the feastfinally appearedlumpy oatmeal and charred Spamboth collapsed onto mess kits, spines screami traininglevel exhaustion

Liam took one bite of the gruel and gagged. This tastes like bilge water!” 

Fiona emerged shivering in a towel. My mattress feels like rocks!” 

from basic 

Mrs. Reynolds surveyed the warzone kitchenher first cooked meal since Nixon resigned. We’ll find Stella tomorrow. She’s just… 

Chapter 10 

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wounded.” 

Wounded?Mr. Reynolds snorted. We saved her from trailer parks! Finn made her somebody!” 

Night became agony. Mr. Reynoldslegs cramped without Stella’s nightly Epsom salt rubs. Mrs. Reynolds wheezed through neglected nebulizer treatments, too exhausted to sterilize equipment

Dawn was just breaking over Quantico when Liam’s shout pierced the quiet

My prep school interview! It’s at eight!” 

Fiona jolted awake beside him. Their sick leave had ended yesterdaynow they 

they were late for the most important day of the semester

They scrambled into their uniforms like kids fleeing a fire drill, bolting without breakfast

Behind them, Grandma Martha’s rattling cough echoed through the house

She shook Grandpa Robert awake. We need Stella back today. This household can’t function without her.” 

Agreed,he winced, his bad leg sparking pain with every step toward the door

The Fort Belvoir housing director rose swiftly. Colonel Reynoldsparents! What brings-” 

Mrs. Reynolds deployed her sweetest officer’swife smile. Could you announce since yesterday’smisunderstanding.” 

the community PA? Our Stella’s been missing 

Director Vance’s smile stiffened. He’d seen Stella hauling groceries through blizzards while the Reynolds brats zoomed past in their Range Rover

Of course,he lied. But perhaps Stella finally realized even military wives get discharge papers.” 

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I Loved The Wrong Man All My Life

I Loved The Wrong Man All My Life

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