A Thousand Letters(35)

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.

"What's that?" Sadie asked as Wade and Ben sat down at the island next to her.

"What if we bring all of his favorite places to him?"

A slow smile spread across Sophie's face. "Elliot, you're a genius."

"We can bring Italy to him. Fiji. Camping. We can get a tent, roast marshmallows. Recreate his memories. Make new ones. Do you think he'd like it?"

As I looked everyone over, Wade smiled at me, and I found I couldn't breathe. "It's perfect," he said.

I felt bright, as if I were shining. "Then let's start today. We'll need a few days to plan it, I think. We can get a planetarium to project stars. Oh!" I straightened up with excitement. "Christmas trees."

Sophie nodded enthusiastically and hiss-whispered, "Yes! I bet we can find some plastic trees on clearance from the holidays."

I leaned in, smiling conspiratorially. "We'll bring him a forest."

Sadie beamed. "He's going to be so surprised. It's brilliant."

"I hope he loves it. I hope it makes him happy," I said, already tallying the things I'd need in my head, excited to have a way to celebrate him, to bring him joy while we could.

We sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee and making plans. Wade was happy and smiling, the afternoon forgotten, his apology lightening my heart. His laughter, his joy at Ben and the camping trip — it reminded me of a time years ago when he was like this every day. I wondered again over all the things that had changed him, hardened him, wondered just how bad it had been to erase him so completely.

The nurse came in a little while later to let us know she was leaving and Rick was resting. With my new objective, I decided to leave, anxious to get started so we could give him our gift as soon as possible as the little voice in the back of my mind whispered, Time.

I felt lighter, happier as I walked home. What a strange day it had been — I recounted the moments. Meeting Ben. Our surprise for Rick. Wade. Walking with him, touching him, being seen by him in a way that no one had in years, even if it was hard, even though it hurt. The invisible girl, visible again, but only to him.