After years of marriage, often, the only link a couple has between who they were in the early stages of their love and who they had become is their children. Cheryl and Leonard, a couple whose marriage had long ago grown its own set of vocal chords, found they had nothing to say to one another during their flight to the veterans hospital. A mutual fear had bound their mouths shut. Leonard, for the first time, wondered how good of a father he had been. Cheryl prayed silently. Since Sergeant Werdigier’s phone call, all her private thoughts were litanies. Leonard, a man who normally was never short of words, was silent. He wanted to comfort his wife but each time he began to speak, it came out a sigh or deep breath. Cheryl reached across the armrest and softly placed her palm on her husband’s hand. It was the most they had said to each other in years.

excerpt from a novel that will probably never see the light of day

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