Chapter 2

My eyes snapped open. Sunlight, too bright, streamed through the bedroom window. My head throbbed, a dull, familiar ache.

I sat bolt upright, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The calendar on the nightstand read May 15th.

May 15th. The day I was supposed to fill out Danny' s application for the after-school program. The day the first domino fell in my old life.

My hand flew to my stomach. Flat. No, not flat, just... normal. Danny. Where was Danny?

A small voice called from the hallway. "Mommy? Are you awake?"

Danny.

He padded in, rubbing his eyes, his beloved, worn-out teddy bear, Barnaby, tucked under one arm. Alive. Whole. Here.

Tears streamed down my face as I scrambled out of bed and pulled him into a crushing hug, burying my face in his soft hair, inhaling his little-boy smell.

"Mommy, you're squishing Barnaby," he giggled.

I loosened my grip, my mind racing. This wasn't a dream. This was real. A second chance.

The knowledge of Tom' s deceit, Crystal' s lies, Kyle' s existence, it all came flooding back, sharp and clear, no longer clouded by grief and gaslighting.

This time, I wouldn't be a victim. This time, I would fight.

"Danny, sweetie, Mommy has to make some important phone calls," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "Can you watch cartoons for a little bit?"

He nodded happily and trotted off to the living room.

I grabbed my phone, my fingers flying. First, the Department of Defense Inspector General's hotline.

"Yes, I need to report benefits fraud and spousal abandonment by Sergeant First Class Tom Barnes," I stated, my voice cold and precise. I gave them his unit, his social security number, everything I knew.

Next, I dressed quickly, no hesitation. Jeans, a t-shirt, sneakers. Practical. Ready.

I scribbled a note for Danny, telling him I' d be back soon and to stay inside, then locked the door behind me.

My old car coughed to life. I didn't drive to the local community center to fill out that doomed application.

I drove straight to Tom's Army Reserve unit headquarters, an hour away.

I walked into the bland, official-looking building, my heart pounding but my resolve firm.

A bored-looking Specialist sat at the front desk.

"I need to see Sergeant Barnes's commanding officer," I said, my voice ringing with an authority I didn't possess in my first life. "I need to file a formal complaint. Now."

The Specialist blinked, surprised by my intensity. "Uh, about what, ma'am?"

"About adultery, fraud, and conduct unbecoming an NCO," I said, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. "And it involves the exploitation of Gold Star family benefits."

That got his attention.