2.2%
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Suddenly. I raised my voice.
Poured myself a glass of wine from the bottle on the table.
Jake stared at me in disbelief.
In five years of marriage, he’d never seen me drink.
“Jessica, this one’s for you,” I said, lifting the glass.
The wine burned all the way down, made me cough so hard I nearly choked.
Jake’s brows furrowed, and he instinctively reached out to pat my back.
I stepped away without thinking, hiding the corner of my stinging eyes.
His hand froze mid air. His face darkened.
“Emily, this is just ridiculous.”
With that, he turned and walked out with Jessica by his side.
The rest of the guys–Jake’s team–looked at each other, awkward and silent, then quietly slipped out.
I sat in the backyard.
Alone.
And ate the entire dinner by myself.
Four hours until the train left.
I went out to the little garden in the yard and harvested everything–tomatoes, bell peppers, herbs-
Then split them between the neighbors on either side.
Three hours until the train left.
I cleaned up the dishes, wiped down the counters.
Then I laid two things on the kitchen table:
The signed divorce papers,
And that half–used jar of La Mer Jake never meant for me.
Two hours until the train left.
I grabbed my suitcase and hopped into the base’s shuttle
van.
The young private driving glanced over and asked,
“Heading home again, Emily? How long you staying this time?”
I handed him a few Jolly Ranchers from my purse and smiled.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Might be forever.”
He laughed, thinking I was joking, and popped one into his mouth.
“Well, when you’re back, tell Captain Jake to give me a heads up.”
23:36
Goodbye, Captain: I Left the Army Wife Life–And Took His Reputation With Me
2.5%
Chapter 4
“I’ll swing by and pick you up again.”
I nodded politely.
But in my head, I whispered,
There won’t be a next time.
8 PM.
Jake came home with Jessica and the rest of the crew.
They were laughing, loud, carrying takeout bags in both hands.
“Emily, we’re back!” someone called out as they stepped into the house,
It was dark inside–no lights on.
“Maybe she went out for a walk?” one of the guys muttered, flipping the switch by the door.
They set the food on the table, still chatting, until one of them paused.
His eyes landed on the papers sitting there.
He blinked, then called out, voice shaky:
“Uh… Captain Jake? Emily left you a note.”
“It’s… it’s the divorce papers…”
Coodhum Con
