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Prologue

10 years ago

He cupped her head between his hands, staring down into her beautiful face He ht only be sixteen, but he knehat he wantedher

“I’onna call as much as I can” They were at their special place The pond on his grandfather’s estate It here they always oodbye before he went on deployment overseas for nine months

It was going to be hard leaving her Knowing how tough she had things back here with her shitcare of her brother and sister But he was doing this to build a life for therandfather would set them up But Jed was his own ht

“I know,” she whispered Tears shiray eyes

“I love you, Daisy-girl,” he told her

“I love to you too”

“Here, I got you a birthday present” He reached into the duffel bag he’d brought with hireen paper Her favorite color

“A present? For me?”

He loved that she treated every gift she received with a sense of wonder Hated it too As he knew she’d received very few in her life

“I know your birthday isn’t for a feeeks I’onna miss it Open that now”

She ripped off the paper like an eager toddler at Christh Then she looked down at the box of fairy lights with excitement “Oh, Jed”

“Kno hts”

“Oh, I do Thank you!” She threw herself at hi her in

“Also got souments” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and placed it in her hand “I’ve put soency”

She opened her u that part-tiht and I won’t be here to help So you put this where your mom can’t find it and you use it if you have to Yeah?”