Chapter 7
Dinner that evening was an exercise in excruciating politeness. The clink of silverware against porcelain sounded like small bells in the quiet dining room. Sarah had prepared a pot of beef stew, the rich aroma filling the room, yet none of them seemed capable of eating more than a few bites. Lily sat between Lucas and Sarah, her small spoon moving mechanically through the broth while her wide eyes darted back and forth between the adults.
Sarah kept her gaze fixed firmly on her plate, her fingers tracing the rim of her water glass. Every time Lucas reached for the salt or passed the basket of bread, she flinched slightly, as if expecting him to dissolve into smoke or vanish back into the storm from whence he came.
"The school district called today," Sarah said softly, addressing the wooden table rather than either of the men. Her voice was thin and fragile. "They want to update Lily’s enrollment records. They need... they need both parents' signatures on the emergency contact form."
The silence that followed was heavy and absolute. Thomas paused, his fork hovering halfway to his mouth. He didn't look up, but his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his cheek twitched. The administrative reality of Lucas's return had finally breached the sanctuary of the home. A dead man could not sign school forms, but a living one legally held every right and responsibility he had abandoned in the sand.
"I'll sign them tomorrow," Lucas said quietly, breaking the stillness. "I'll go into town with you, Sarah. We can visit the courthouse, sort out the registrar's office, and get the paperwork amended without causing a panic."
Sarah finally looked up, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. The exhaustion etched into the corners of her eyes was heartbreaking. "It's not that simple, Lucas. The county registrar... they don't just erase a death certificate because a soldier walked through the door. There's a tribunal. There's an investigation to prove identity, fraud checks, military discharge verifications. It could take months."
"Let it take months," Lucas replied, his tone steady and unyielding. "I’ve got nowhere else to be. I spent five years waiting in the dirt; I can wait a few more weeks for a clerk with a rubber stamp."
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Thomas pushed his plate away, the unfinished food turning cold in the dim light of the overhead pendant lamp. He stood up abruptly, scraping his chair back against the floorboards with a harsh screech. "I’m going to check the generator," he muttered, not looking at anyone as he walked toward the back door, letting it slam shut behind him with a dull, concussive thud that rattled the windows.
Lily let out a small gasp, shrinking down into her seat. Lucas reached out, placing his large, calloused hand gently over her small fingers. "It's alright, sweet girl," he whispered, casting a long, steady look across the table at Sarah, who sat frozen in her chair, staring at the empty seat Thomas had just vacated.
