He looked down at a smiling Susie.
“I missed you too.”
Adam smiled and scooped her into a big hug. “I missed you.” Next he turned to Brian. “My word. You're nearly a man. How old are you?”
“Almost fourteen. I had a birthday just before you left.”
Adam gently gripped his shoulder. “You've become quite a young man.”
“I just turned eight,” Susie said. “Mama says I'm small for my age but that I'll grow later.”
“I'm sure you will.” Keeping his arm around Laurel, Adam looked for William.
The boy stood with his grandmother, gripping her hand and watching the reunion. He had an air of reserve about him. Maybe it was distrust.
Adam turned to his son. “William? Can that be you? You've grown so tall.” He walked toward the youngster. Laurel followed. Adam kneeled in front of William and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders. “Why, I'd say you're the spitting image of your grandpa.”
William straightened and threw back his shoulders, his gray blue eyes filled with delight. “Yep. I sure am. And I like farming too.” He smiled. “I'm almost five.”
“I swear, you've grown a foot.”
“William, give your daddy a hug,” Laurel said softly.
William obediently put his arms around his father's neck. Adam hefted him into his arms and stood with an exaggerated groan. “You're so big I can barely lift you.”
“Mama said I'll be a strapping young man one day and I'll help you on the farm.” As if he'd finally recognized the man who held him, William threw his arms around his father's neck and hugged him tightly. “I'm glad you're home, Daddy.”
Jean hugged Adam and William together. “It's so good to have you home.”
Ray grasped Adam's hand in a firm grip. “Good to have you back, son. We were real worried for a while there.”
“I was too…for a while,” Adam quipped, his worries momentarily forgotten. Still holding William, he circled his free arm around Laurel and sucked in a lungful of air. “It's great to be back.”
Laurel hummed “Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree” as she turned a piece of sizzling bacon. Adam had returned, and life was good again. However, a sense that something wasn't right nagged at the back of her mind. He seemed different. They weren't the same as they had been before he'd left. Laurel tried to quiet her concerns with sensible speeches about how a person couldn't go untouched by war, and she told herself that in time Adam would be himself again. Still, she knew it was something more.
She speared another piece of bacon and turned it. He acts as if he's hiding something, she thought, then told herself, It must have been awful over there. I don't blame him for not wanting to talk about it.
“Morning,” Adam said, striding into the kitchen. He planted a kiss on the back of Laurel's neck and cuddled her against him. “You smell good. Better than that bacon.”
Laurel turned and smiled up at him, gazing into his deep blue eyes. She pushed back the strand of hair that always found its way onto his forehead. “I'd darn well better.” She hugged him around the neck.
“Where's William?”
“Outside playing.”
“Already?”
“It's nearly nine o'clock. You slept late.”
Adam ran a hand through his hair. “It'll take time to adjust to being home.”
“You said you came by ship from England?” Laurel asked.
“Uh-huh.”
She carried a plate of eggs to the table. “How did you get from France to England?”
A shadow settled over Adam's face. “Uh, by fishing boat.”
Laurel set the bacon on the table beside the eggs. “I hope you're hungry.” She took toast out of the oven, placed it on the table, then grabbed two plates and silverware and laid them out. “Every time I think of you leaping out of that plane I get the shivers. I can't imagine. How did you do it?”
Adam filled the two cups on the table with coffee. “You do what you have to.” He returned the pot to the stove and offered a half smile. “I have to admit, though, it scared the tar out of me. I'd never imagined myself parachuting. And to make matters worse, Krauts were shooting at us while we floated down.” The blue in his eyes darkened. “Only two other men even made it out, but they were shot and killed before they hit the ground.”
“Oh, Adam, how awful.” Laurel rested a hand on his cheek. “I'm so thankful you're here.”
“Me too,” Adam said, hugging her.
“I just can't imagine how you made it across France all the way to England without being captured.”
Adam released her and sat. He picked up a slice of bacon and took a bite, then placed two pieces of toast on his plate. “The farmers were helpful,” he said, not looking at Laurel.
“It's good to know people are helping our soldiers over there.”
