“Momma?” I called out, looking around the foyer of Bill’s house. I knew it! I knew it! They were getting back together.

“Yes, dear, in the living room.”

It had been six years since she’d seen me off; and I’d traveled all over the world since. I’d been in intense warfare in three different countries, and helped carry out the wounded and the dead. I wasn’t a badass, but I wasn’t a crybaby either.

But dealing with my mom? Sweat pooled under my arms, and my chest tightened. I was feeling a healthy dose of fear for the first time in forever. I entered and saw her with her head buried in a trunk, stacks of photo albums littering the floor on either side of her legs.

“Momma, what are you doing?” I asked, unable to stop the smile that tugged on the corners of my cheeks. I’d missed her more than I’d realized.

She turned, broke out into a grin, and quickly rose, giving me a long level look before rushing to squeeze me in a bone-crushing embrace. I put my arms around her, and realized in all the time I was gone, Mom had shrunk. Or I’d just got bigger.

Guilt washed over my conscience for not writing back enough or not calling when I could. My eyes leaked around the edges, and Mom’s grip tightened for a moment before she released me, wiping her eyes.

“It’s great to have you back here.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” I told her truthfully, not caring about her status with Bill. Right now, I could let every moment of anger from my past float away.

“I was worried that you’d be too busy, or...”

“No, Mom, when you save up enough leave like I have, it isn’t all that bad. I used it all up, and I’m out.”

“Out?”

“Finished. Done with the Army,” I told her with a smile.

She rubbed my arm a minute, grinning like a fool.

“You’ve grown.”

“Either that or you got smaller.”

“Cameron!” she exclaimed in mock anger, and playfully swatted at my shoulder. “Besides, I wanted you here for the news.”

“News?” I knew what was coming. I had to let go of any annoyance or anger, especially with Mom by my side.

“Bill and I have been back together for a couple of years now and...” Her voice trailed off, and she took a couple of steps back so she could look me in the eye. “And we’ve decided to adopt a baby.”

Adopt? Back together a couple of years? I mentally flipped through the letters my mom had sent to me. None of them had mentioned this.

“Wow, Mom, that’s great news.” I swallowed the surprise in my throat. “When does it happen? Is the kid anybody I’d know?”

“No, it’s a baby from China. The adoption is happening in a week, so we have to fly out again to pick her up. We’d like you to be around next week when we get back. We’re going to have a party, and all of my old friends will be coming out. You will be around next week, won’t you?”

“Yeah,” I told her. My confusion was mixed with shock and a touch of happiness. I didn’t know what to say so I sat down next to her.

“Good, then you’ll be ready for the wedding ceremony, which is tomorrow. We’ve been married on paper a year, but held off on the reception until we knew you could be here.” She turned and put the albums back into the trunk.

“Wedding?”

“Surprise!” I could hear the smile in her voice, and I almost fell over.

“Wow!” I’d guessed at their reunion, and I’d read every letter faithfully, even writing back when I could. But a wedding? Tomorrow? The announcement floored me.

“Bill has your outfit picked out. Maybe you and Ali can help us by picking some stuff up while you are getting fitted.”

“Wedding?” I asked again. Things had progressed too fast for me to process.

“Seriously, Cameron. Try to be happy for me, can’t you?” Mom didn’t hide her hint of annoyance.

“I’ve been gone forever, Momma, and this is a lot to process all at once. Why didn’t you tell me about it before?”

“How would you have taken it?” She rubbed my arm for a second before handing me a book.

“Not too well, I guess. It’s just such a shocker.”

“I know it is. Here, take this photo album to the kitchen for me. I’m making a board with old and new pictures for the reception. Oh, and find Ali so you two can run into town.”

“Sure, Mom. Can I use one of the trucks?” At least two or three of the pickups I’d seen coming into the ranch must belong to her or Bill, with the rest left to the ranch hands.

“Oh, that’s the other surprise.” She dug into her pocket and pulled out an old key ring, one I hadn’t seen since I’d pressed them into her hands the day I shipped out.

It was my Jeep key. A wave of nostalgia washed through me. I thought she had sold it.

“Where is Alison?” I asked, putting the key in my pocket.

“Probably the barn, or back by the horse stables. Ask Jackson if you can’t find her.”

“Jackson’s still around?”

“As old and ornery as ever.”

I laughed and hugged her hard before dropping the album off, and walking out of the ranch house.