“Wyatt and Adler are gone.” Mama’s voice quivered. “Every day we pray they come home, but right now you’re the only son we have, and this may be the only wedding . . .”

Clay grimaced and rested his head back. He hadn’t meant to hurt them.

“Never mind that, Lupe. Water under the bridge,” Daddy said. “Congratulations, son. We’re happy for you.”

“Oh yes. We are . . . so happy. We’ve always wanted a daughter. What’s she like?”

That was better. Clay winked at his bride, who looked like a rabbit facing a stewpot. “She’s about the cutest little thing you’ve ever seen. No taller than you, Mama. Curly black hair and pretty brown eyes. She’s real smart too. She’s a librarian. I’ll send you our wedding portrait.”

“Was her family able to be there?” Mama asked. “I hope so.”

“She’s an orphan, so no. She was raised in an orphanage.”

Mama gasped. “Oh, the poor child. Put her on. Please let me talk to her.”

Clay held out the receiver. “They want to talk to you.”

Leah pressed back against the wall as if she wanted to bust a hole through and escape.

He chuckled. “They already love you.”

Her expression melted into wonder, and she took the phone. “Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Paxton?”

Clay could hear Mama’s excited jabbering.

“All—all right,” Leah said. “I’m from Iowa, from Des Moines . . . Since June. I started working at the Camp Forrest Library a few days after I graduated from high school . . . I’m eighteen . . . Yes, it’s been—a big change.”

Clay heard the operator’s warning. Only one minute remaining.

“Before I hang up, I want to thank you for raising Clay.” Leah lowered her face. “He—he’s the kindest, most generous man. Thank you . . . Good-bye.”

She handed Clay the phone, but she didn’t look at him. “They want to talk to you.”

Clay held the phone to his ear. “I’m back.”

“She seems like a very nice young lady,” Daddy said.

“She’s wonderful.” Mama’s voice choked. “Mijo, you’ve made me so happy. You believe you have a future again. I’m so glad—so glad you’ll go off to war with a reason to live.”

Was that what they thought? He stifled a groan. This hadn’t changed a thing, but if it made his parents happier for the remaining few months of his life, so be it. “I ought to say good-bye before we get cut off.”

“Yes. Good-bye and congratulations,” Daddy said. “Give that wife of yours a big kiss from us.”

“I’ll do that.” Clay hung up.

Now he had to keep that promise. He kissed Leah on the forehead, much safer than what Daddy had in mind. “From my parents.”

Big brown eyes turned up to him. “What does ‘mee-ha’ mean? Your mother kept saying it.”