It was due only in part to their deployment. Luke had just announced that Harper, the woman Claire hung all her hopes on, was leaving town for a new job. Their relationship was ending when Luke and Aldo got on that bus in the morning. Disappointed in his friend, Aldo had whispered “chickenshit” under his breath at the announcement, and his mother had kicked him in the shin.

He hated that Luke was too scared to make a commitment. Hell, Luke had already made a commitment. He was too much of a wuss to see it through. He and Harper were living together, were working together, and between the two of them had accidentally adopted two shelter dogs. They were in a damn relationship.

It was strange, thinking that as they boarded the bus tomorrow, Luke’s chance at happiness was ending while Aldo’s was just beginning.

“Well, I guess this is another goodbye,” Claire sighed. She reached for Aldo’s hand, squeezed. “You come home safe to us.” It was her traditional send-off. Claire and Ina had divided the mothering all through childhood and the teenage years and had never gotten out of the habit even though their boys were now men.

“I promise,” he said. And he meant it. Aldo wasn’t just coming home to work and family. He would be coming home to Gloria. If she’d have him. That alone was making him anxious about leaving. Deployments were difficult, generally boring, and sometimes terrifying. Knowing that there was someone waiting for him this time? Well, he was wishing it was all over already.

He could see himself coming home to her. Climbing off the bus and finding her in his arms, a flash of color and sweetness.

Aldo shifted in his seat. He wished Gloria was here tonight. He needed to see her one last time.

“Ladies, I think I’m going to call it an early night.”

* * *

The second pebble hit its target and the third. He didn’t have to toss the fourth because the light in the room came on. A soft glow behind white lacy curtains.

“Aldo?” Gloria’s voice was sleepy.

“Shit. I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” He was standing in the middle of her mother’s azaleas at 11 p.m. like a crazy person.

“A little,” she yawned. “How was your dinner?”

Harper would have told her or Claire.

“You weren’t there,” he said.

She gave him a sleepy smile and settled her chin on her hand. “I wasn’t invited.”

“You should have been. I mean, I should have invited you.” Aldo scrubbed his hand through his hair. He wasn’t doing this well. He was usually more suave, less desperate.

“Do you want to come in?” Gloria offered.