All Chapters of Decisions I made : Chapter 231 - Chapter 240

The following week almost felt normal.Almost.Jack settled back into a routine with Lillian as though he had never left. He woke when she cried, learned which little noises meant she was hungry and which ones meant she simply wanted to be held, and somehow became an expert at changing diapers faster than Lela expected.Lela teased him about it constantly."You've gotten very good at this."Jack looked down at the clean diaper he had just fastened."Military training.""Changing diapers?""Attention to detail."She laughed."Whatever you say."But beneath the laughter, there was still a question neither of them could completely forget.How long could this last?The answer came one afternoon when Jack's phone rang.He looked at the screen.His expression changed.Lela immediately knew."First Sergeant?""Yeah."He answered."Yes, First Sergeant."Lela watched him carefully."Understood."A pause."Yes, sir."Another pause."Okay."He ended the call and set the phone on the table.Lela

The next morning felt different.Not because anything in the house had changed, but because Lela woke up knowing Jack wasn't packing a bag.For weeks, every morning had carried the possibility of another goodbye. Even after Jack came home, she had been afraid to get too comfortable. She had learned not to unpack his things completely. She kept expecting another phone call.But that morning, his uniform wasn't laid across the chair.His duffel bag wasn't sitting by the door.And when Lela rolled over, Jack was still there.She stared at him for a moment.He opened one eye."Why are you looking at me?""I was making sure you were still here."Jack smiled."I'm here.""Good."He pulled her closer."Go back to sleep.""I can't.""Why?""I'm happy."Jack laughed quietly."That's a good reason."From the nursery came a tiny cry.Jack sighed."She's awake."Lela smiled."Go.""Again?""She's your daughter.""You keep using that against me.""Because it works."He climbed out of bed and disap

For the first time since Lillian was born, the house began to feel like a home, not a temporary shelter.Jack unpacked his duffel bag.That simple act meant more to Lela than he realized.She stood in their bedroom doorway and watched him fold his uniforms into the dresser."You know," she said quietly, "I don't think you've unpacked since we moved."Jack glanced at her."I didn't want to.""Why?""Because every time I unpacked, I got orders to leave."Lela's chest tightened.Jack closed the drawer."I'm done doing that."She walked over and wrapped her arms around him."You better be."He kissed the top of her head."I'm going to be."Down the hallway, Lily started crying.Jack immediately smiled."She's got perfect timing."Lela laughed."She always does."He headed toward the nursery, but Lela stopped him."Wait."He turned."What?""I want to go with you."Jack smiled."Come on."They walked into the nursery together.Lillian was wide awake, kicking her little legs beneath her bla

The weeks leading up to the trip passed faster than Lela expected.One minute they were making plans, and the next there were suitcases stacked in the hallway, beach towels piled on the couch, and enough baby supplies in the dining room to make it look like they were moving instead of going on vacation.Lela stood in the middle of the living room and stared at everything."We're only going for a week."Jack looked at the pile."Are you sure?""Yes."He pointed toward the mountain of luggage."It doesn't look like a week."Lela crossed her arms."We have a baby.""Apparently the baby needs more luggage than I do.""She does."Jack laughed.Paul walked in carrying another bag."Where do you want this?"Lela stared at him."What is it?""Beach stuff for Lily.""How much beach stuff?"Paul didn't answer.Lela looked at Jack."Ask him."Jack smiled."Dad, how much?""Enough."Victoria walked through the doorway."He's lying."Paul frowned."I'm not.""You bought another suitcase."Lela's e

Fourteen hours.That was how long Jack had been waiting.Fourteen hours of sitting in the same chair, staring at the same set of double doors, and watching the clock move painfully slowly. Fourteen hours of hearing footsteps in the hallway and looking up every single time, hoping it would be someone coming to tell him that Lela was awake. Fourteen hours of trying not to imagine the worst.Paul had arrived as quickly as he could. Lela's mother was there. Victoria was there. Lawrence and Cheryl had driven straight to the hospital. Everyone had tried to keep Jack company, but there wasn't much anyone could say.Jack barely spoke.He couldn't.His mind was trapped somewhere between the moment the boat hit them and the moment Lela disappeared through the operating-room doors.He could still hear her screaming.He could still feel her hand reaching for him in the water.He could still hear her telling him she couldn't feel her foot.And then the doctors had taken her away.He had been left