I Came Home From Deployment Three Days Early… Then I Found a Notebook With My Name on It
Chapter 3
Mia answered her phone on the fourth call.
“Ethan?”
Her voice sounded sleepy.
“You knew I was coming home?”
Silence.
Then:
“You’re home?”
“Three days early.”
Another silence.
“Ethan, where are you?”
“My house.”
“Is Claire there?”
“Yes.”
Mia exhaled.
“Okay.”
That was not the reaction Ethan expected.
“What’s going on?”
“I wanted to tell you when you got back.”
“Tell me now.”
“I can’t.”
“Mia.”
“Not over the phone.”
Ethan looked toward Claire.
She was standing by the window.
“Is this about Dad?”
Mia didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“I found his old storage box,” Mia finally said. “There was a folder inside. Blue. Your name was on it.”
Ethan felt his stomach tighten.
“What was in the folder?”
“I don’t know everything.”
“You opened it.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I found letters.”
“What kind?”
“I don’t know how to explain.”
“Try.”
Mia’s voice became quieter.
“They weren’t meant for you.”
Ethan stared at the notebook again.
“Then why did Claire write all these notes about them?”
Mia went silent.
“She wrote them?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t read the notebook.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire wasn’t supposed to tell you yet.”
Ethan looked at Claire.
Claire closed her eyes.
“Mia,” he said, “what are you talking about?”
“I’ll come over.”
“Now.”
“Give me an hour.”
The call ended.
Ethan placed the phone on the counter.
Claire remained silent.
“How long have you known?”
“About the folder?”
“About whatever is happening.”
She took a breath.
“Two months.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Mia asked me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because she was afraid you’d make a decision before knowing everything.”
“What decision?”
Claire looked directly at him.
“The one you were planning to make when you came home.”
Ethan frowned.
“What decision?”
Claire’s voice dropped.
“You were going to sell the house.”
He stared at her.
She was right.
Only Mia knew that.
Or so he thought.
