Chapter twenty-two

Shawn

After hugging my mother this morning I felt as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. She didn't fight when I pulled away after a few minutes when I started to feel overwhelmed with emotions. She wiped my eyes and I let her kiss my forehead. I met eyes with Annie and she was relieved to see me opening up. I could tell she was hurting a little that I wasn't ready to hug her yet.

I pull her aside and she looks at me confused. "Will you be my best woman," I ask with a smile.

She goes to give me a hug and stops mid motion. A mix of emotions crosses over her face as tears fill her eyes and I hold my arms open for her. She doesn't hesitate, comes in my arms and lets out relieved sobs. I rub her back in comfort and she holds onto me. "I know you're alive, but it felt like you died back in Iraq and an empty shell came home," she chokes in a sobbed whisper. "I missed my sister."

"I'm sorry," I choke quietly as our mother walks in the den. "I never meant to hurt anyone. I thought