The day the storm flooded the city, Cora Vance was stranded on a washed-out road, cradling her dying daughter, who was burning with fever.

When the rescue squad from the base arrived, she overheard the soldiers talking.

“Colonel Hayes is a saint to Cheryl and her daughter. He’s been at the clinic with them all night.”

Colonel Kaelen Hayes. Her husband. The man her daughter was still calling for, even as she died.

…

1980. The Franklin County Clerk's Office.

Cora sat at the counter, clutching her daughter’s still-warm body. She slid the application form across the desk, her voice a raw whisper.

“I need to file for a compulsory divorce from my husband, Colonel Kaelen Hayes.”

The clerk behind the counter looked at her pale, ravaged face and sighed inwardly. Just another woman trapped in a miserable marriage.

She softened her voice. “Of course. With a compulsory filing, the other party isn't notified. If you don’t withdraw the application in seven days, the divorce decree will be delivered by mail.”

Cora nodded, numb. “Okay. Thank you.”

As she was leaving, the clerk added with a kind heart, “Honey, your little one looks really sick. You should get her to the clinic right away.”

Cora’s steps faltered. A wave of tears threatened to drown her, but she choked them back. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She held her daughter tighter as she walked out, her whispers a low, chilling murmur. “Just wait a little longer, Nellie. I’ll take you back to Grandma and Grandpa soon. They’re in Lake Tahoe, where you always wanted to go. I’ll show you the water…”

On the bustling street, people saw a loving mother cooing to her child.

No one knew the child in her arms was already dead.

Last night, Nell had been burning up. When Cora tried to take her to the clinic, the storm had broken.

The old oak tree on the main road to the clinic had fallen, blocking the way.

Just as she was frantic with worry, Kaelen had pulled on his raincoat, ready to leave.

“Cora, I'm going over to Cheryl's. Shauna’s leg is acting up again from her injury. The rain makes it ache.”

Cheryl Mason and her daughter, Shauna. The widow and child of Kaelen’s fallen brother-in-arms.

Cora didn’t have time for that. She blocked his path, her voice pleading. “Kaelen, Nell’s fever is dangerously high. Please, let’s take her to the clinic first.”

Kaelen stood at the door and glanced at Nell on the bed, a flicker of conflict on his face.

But then, Nell forced her eyes open. “Daddy, I’m okay…”

Hearing his daughter’s weak voice was all the permission he needed.

“Alright, sweetie. You wait here for Daddy. I’ll bring you back your favorite candied apple.”

He pried Cora’s fingers from his sleeve and hurried out into the rain.

The memory of his retreating back was a hand squeezing her heart, suffocating her.

Did Kaelen ever stop to think that while he was watching over another man’s wife and child, his own were trapped, helpless, in the storm?

She would never forget Nell’s last words, whispered as she took her final breath. “Mommy, did Daddy bring my candied apple…?”

“Uncle Kaelen, are you really going to buy me a candied apple?”

A child’s voice sliced through Cora’s memory. She looked up.

Outside the base clinic, Kaelen was walking out with a little girl in his arms, a gentle, loving smile on his face.

Cheryl Mason followed close behind. From a distance, they looked like the perfect, happy family.

Kaelen was cooing to Shauna in his arms when he looked up and met Cora’s red, swollen eyes. He frowned instantly.

He handed Shauna to Cheryl and strode over to Cora. When he saw the child in her arms, his face turned dark with fury.

“Cora! Nell has a fever, and you have her in soaking wet clothes? What kind of mother are you?!”

Cora laughed, a broken, trembling sound.

“And Kaelen, what kind of father are you?”

He completely misinterpreted her tragic smile, hissing at her in a low voice.

“Cheryl is my comrade’s widow. It’s my duty to take care of them. You’re a military wife, Cora. Stop being so damn unreasonable.”

Unreasonable?

Cora felt like she couldn’t breathe.

She’d heard that line countless times since Cheryl’s husband died saving Kaelen on the battlefield.

He’d give Shauna the doll Nell couldn’t sleep without.

He’d give Cheryl a huge chunk of his paycheck, even when their own family was barely scraping by.

He’d even given Shauna the spot for the new school program, leaving Nell still waiting for a chance to get in.

The constant fighting had turned their once-proud marriage into a pile of ashes.

Kaelen didn’t want to argue. He reached for the child in Cora’s arms. “Give me Nell. I’ll take her to the doctor.”

Just as his hand was about to touch her, Shauna burst into tears.

“Uncle Kaelen, my leg hurts so much!”

Kaelen’s hand froze in mid-air. He didn’t hesitate for long. “I’ll come find you in a minute.”

With that, he turned, scooped Shauna into his arms, and rushed back into the clinic.

Cora watched his back, a deadness spreading through her. She instinctively tightened her grip on Nell’s cold, lifeless body.

She whispered, “Kaelen, my daughter and I are done waiting for you.”