At My Purple Heart Ceremony, My Stepmother Swung a Folding Chair Into My Arm—Then My Father Looked Down Instead of Protecting Me

Then the smile faded.

“I didn’t want what happened overseas turned into a defense of my worth.”

“I know.”

“Gertrude shouldn’t need to know I dragged anyone out of anything before deciding I don’t deserve to be hit with furniture.”

Samuel nodded immediately.

“Yes.”

That surprised me.

“I was angry.”