Her smile tightened.
“Oh, it’s just a small thing. You know how your father likes to keep connection strong.”
Translation: this wasn’t for me.
Across the yard, Vance stood near the grill, laughing too loudly and networking like his career depended on it.
Beside him stood Chloe.
New dress.
Perfect hair.
Perfect makeup.
And an expensive designer watch on her wrist.
I looked at it half a second longer than necessary.
She noticed.
Her smile widened, and she lifted her wrist while adjusting her hair to make sure I saw it.
Message received.
I walked past her.
“Captain Harper.”
I turned.
Major Collins.
I had met him once during a logistics briefing.
“Sir,” I said with a nod.
“Welcome back,” he said. “Heard you had a rough deployment.”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Before he could continue, Evelyn appeared beside us.
“Oh, she’s being modest,” she said with a soft laugh. “It’s been difficult.”
I didn’t look at her.
“She’s had a lot of stress,” Evelyn continued. “We’re just trying to give her space to adjust.”
Major Collins shifted slightly.
Tiny movement.
But I noticed.
This was how Evelyn worked.
Not accusations.
Suggestions.
Plant the idea first, then let everything I did afterward be interpreted through it.
“I’m fine,” I said.
Simple.
Direct.
Evelyn smiled as though my answer proved her point.
“Of course you are, honey,” she said gently. “We all just want what’s best for you.”
Concern used as control.
I took a sparkling water from the table.
No alcohol.
I wanted a clear head.
As I moved around the yard, I listened.
Richard mentioned I might need time.
