"They must be close."
"They are. He just hopped a plane, used his leave to fly here because he knew Wade needed him." She shook her head and sighed. "I'm so glad Wade has him. He needs someone so badly."
My chest ached, deep inside where she couldn't see.
Sophie picked up a chair and smirked at me, changing the subject. "Did you see Lou?"
I chuckled as we hauled the chairs out. "Hello, nurse."
She laughed. "Seems like she's already given up on Wade."
"Thou art not false, but thou art fickle," I recited.
"Byron?"
"He knew his stuff."
"Well, good riddance on that front anyway. Cousins dating? That's straight out of an Austen novel."
I laughed again, surprised at how quickly we all found relief, as if we'd been waiting on something to bring us back up to the surface.
When we entered the room, Wade approached, taking the chairs from us, changed once again. The heaviness of our exchange during the walk had dissipated, gone without a trace. I marveled over him smiling at his friend as they sat.
Ben laughed. "I don't know why you look so surprised to see me."
"Me neither, but I sure am glad you're here."
"Me too, brother."
Rick shifted to sit a little straighter in bed. "How long are you here, Ben?"
"Two weeks, or until I run out of money."
"You'll stay with us. No arguments."
Ben's smile slipped when he and Wade shared a look: Ben's was one of uncertainty and Wade's told him to just accept it. "I booked a room, so you don't have to worry about me."
"Indulge me," Rick insisted. "We've got room. Stay."
Wade nodded. "You should stay. It's all right."
Ben nodded once in return. "As long as you promise to tell me if you need me to go."
"Deal."
Lou perked up in her seat next to me on the couch. "We'll add one more to the list for dinner then."
Ben's brow rose, and he rested a hand on his flat belly. "Home cooked meals too? You guys are going to spoil me."
Rick laughed. "Get used to it. They're all in spoil mode. Watch out, or you might even get sponge baths."
"Only if I'm lucky," Ben said with a smirk.
"So," Lou started, crossing her long legs, "you two were stationed together in Afghanistan?"
Ben nodded, leaning back in his seat. "Deployed, for three years at a tiny base in an outer province. I never missed civilization so much."
"What," Wade cut in, "not a fan of packs of wild dogs?"
Ben snorted. "Yeah, nothing like thirty starving dogs running after you. I thought I was done for a couple of times."
"Wild dogs?" Lou asked, brows up.
"It's the wilderness. Not for the faint of heart. Life on a FOB isn't exactly glamorous," Ben said with a chuckle.
"FOB?" Sadie's brow quirked.
"Forward Operating Base," Wade explained. "We built huts out of wood for those who thought they were too good for a tent."
"You didn't have beds or anything?" Her words were disbelieving.
Wade shrugged. "Just threw a sleeping bag over a shipping crate, or some of us built beds, but for the most part, nah."
Ben shook his head. "I still have nightmares about veggie omelet MREs."
"Psh, those aren't near as bad as Captain Country Chicken."
Ben made a face. "I only had one of those once, and you're right. It was the worst, only because it would burn your colon to the ground."
"Remember when Billings showed up as our new 'Terp? You fed him an omelet, and he only made it three bites before puking."
"Oh, man," Ben said with a laugh. "I forgot about old Billings. He was a damn good interpreter."
"Was?" Sophie asked, and Ben's face tightened.
"IED."
My stomach sank, and my eyes found Wade, imagining all the things he'd seen, all that he'd been through, the normalization of war. But his eyes were on Ben as he changed the subject.
"Germany is easy though. Feels like the Ritz compared to life on a FOB."
"So much beer. I actually had to start working out again because my pants were tight." He leaned back and patted his stomach for emphasis.
"Ah, to live in Europe, though," Rick said wistfully.
"Where would you have lived?" I asked Rick with a smile.
"Well," he looked up to the ceiling in thought, "Rome, I think. For a while at least. I'd have liked to move around, a city a year. Abby and I went after we graduated. Best summer of my life."
An idea sparked in my heart. I prodded for details. "What other places do you wish you could see again?"
He sighed, still smiling, and Wade caught my eye, his face full of curiosity. "So many. Fiji — we went there on our honeymoon. Or the Adirondacks. We had a cabin there, do you remember?" he asked his children, who brightened at the mention.
"We haven't been there in so long," Sadie said.
"I remember camping in those woods as a boy," Rick continued. "Some of my most cherished childhood memories were made there."
The doorbell rang, and Wade stood to answer it, coming back with the nurse, effectively clearing the room while she went about her business. I made my way into the kitchen to make coffee, and everyone followed, none of us knowing where else to go. But I was giddy as the idea not only formed, but bloomed.
Sadie pulled down mugs as I filled up the pot.
"I have an idea," I said quietly, smiling at the prospect of what I was about to propose.