“I’m having…trouble,” Aldo confessed. She could tell the words cost him and stayed quiet. “There was pain. I mean, of course there was pain. I’m missing a fucking leg. But I couldn’t sleep. Still don’t sleep well. Every time I close my eyes, I’m back there at that moment. The explosion. Waking up in so much pain I thought I could die from it. Not knowing if everyone else was okay. My friend Steph. She was shot. Luke was so fucking lucky that he didn’t take a bullet for me. I could have gotten them all killed.”

Gloria squeezed his hand so tight her circulation complained.

“And then I come back, and I’m not me. I’m still alive, but I’m just going through the motions. Life goes on all around you, but you’re left…”

“Sitting in your own pain,” Gloria finished for him.

His jaw tightened, and Aldo swallowed hard. “Yeah. I had plans for when I came home. Plans that involved you. But you deserve someone who can protect you. Someone who can keep you safe for a change. You deserve that, Gloria.”

With her free hand, Gloria pinched the bridge of her nose. “Are you saying you don’t want to be with me because you lost a leg and you think I need a two-legged man to ride up and play the white knight? Because if you are, that’s really, really stupid.”

40

“Do you think I’m damaged?” Gloria was looking at him like she expected an answer. And Aldo had no idea what answer she wanted.

“Do you think that me spending ten years in a controlling, abusive relationship damaged me? Made me unlovable? Made me more work than I’m worth?”

This was not going well, Aldo thought. He should have started with flowers and a nice apology card.

“Yoo-hoo! Gloria!” Georgia Rae beelined for them, double-fisting hotdogs. She was plump and festive in her American flag applique sleeveless sweater.

“Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Gloria whispered under her breath. She released his hand and scooted an inch away from him. And Aldo hated himself for feeling rejected. “Hi, Georgia Rae. Are you enjoying your Fourth?”

“You did a magnificent job, my dear,” the woman said, gesturing wildly with said hot dogs. “I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a Fourth of July like this. I’m not just saying that because you took care of the crapper situation!”

Gloria choked on a laugh. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”

“You did good,” Georgia Rae nodded decisively. “And you!” She shifted her attention to Aldo. “That was some race this morning. You had us all blubbering. Welcome home, honey.”

“Thanks, Georgia Rae,” Aldo said, feeling awkward and wanting desperately to get back to Gloria’s question.

She blew them both kisses with hot dogs and fluttered off into the crowd.