The Corporal and the Choir Girl

Reegan's heart broke to know that either Arnold or Shelly had been lost. Inwardly, she mourned for their parents. She’d just seen them make their way to the banquet hall. Perhaps she should go after them and bring them back. But she didn’t know which family had suffered the loss.

Before she could take a step toward the doorway, her steel-jawed soldier looked up. His dark gaze found hers. His chin was steel once more. His gaze haunted.

The others looked to her too. Reegan couldn't fathom why? Before she could think too much, they were around her.

"These men have come to see you, Reegan," said Pastor Barrett.

“They have?” Reegan asked the question of the steel-jawed soldier whose gaze hadn’t left hers.

"We should go to my office to talk,” said Pastor Barrett.

"Why?" said Reegan

.

"Ms. Cartwright," said one of the soldiers. "My name is Sergeant Colin Chase."

Reegan knew that name. "You work with my brother. I remember him telling me about a Sergeant Chase."

The man nodded. He wouldn't want to know some of the things Reece had said about him. They weren’t mean or inappropriate. Her brother had a lot of fun stories to share about his four-man fire team.

Reegan counted the men. There were three of them. Ortega was on one man's shirt. Lucas was on another. She knew those names. They were Reece's fire team.

Her heart began to pound out of her chest. She clenched her fingers together in anticipation. She looked behind the men, but there was no red-haired private standing in the doorway.

Where was Reece? This had to be one of those internet videos where he'd pop out and surprise her. She couldn't believe she hadn't sensed him near. The two could never sneak up on one another. They were banned from playing hide and seek together when they were kids. They just had a sixth sense about each other. But Reegan didn't sense her brother.

"I'm afraid we have some bad news," said Sgt. Chase.

Reegan didn't look at him. Her gaze connected with the man who’d held her attention throughout her song; Lucas. Corporal Lucas’s eyes looked haunted, not mischievous as though he were in on a surprise for her.

"Why don't you tell us the news here," said Pastor Barrett. "We're all family."

Sgt. Chase nodded.

Reegan's head was spinning. Something wasn't right. Her gaze went again to Lucas, searching for the answers there as though she was sure he had them.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Cartwright-"

"Reegan."

"I'm sorry, Reegan, but Private Reece Cartwright has been declared missing in action."

Reegan let out the breath she hadn't been aware she was holding. Relief flooded her, and she pressed her hand to her heart. "Oh, my gosh, you scared me.”

The sergeant's eyes widened at her. So did everyone’s. Beth’s hand gripped hers as though to offer her support.

Reegan took a deep breath and let out another sigh of relief. "I thought you were going to tell me he was dead."

"Ma'am ..." Sgt. Chase looked uncomfortable. So much so that he looked beside him to Cpl. Lucas.

"Ms. Cartwright," said Cpl. Lucas. His voice was deep, resonant. Like a baritone’s.

"Please, call me, Reegan,” she said. “We're practically family as we both have to put up with my brother."

Reegan knew she should be feeling worried for her brother, but in the midst of his unit, she knew that all would be well. She knew they would find her brother wherever he went missing and bring him back home.

"Reegan,” Cpl. Lucas began again. He spoke carefully, cautiously. “We can't give you the full details as the mission was classified. But your brother was caught in enemy fire. It was the last we saw of him, and nobody was recovered in the aftermath."