Chapter 7 — The Envelope

But Commander Hayes was not finished, and the next thing he said changed the temperature of the room, and turned my wedding into something else entirely.

He reached inside his crisp uniform jacket and drew out a thick manila envelope, sealed with an official red government stamp.

“There is one more matter, Mr.

Bennett,” he said.

“Because before this ceremony goes any further, everyone here should understand that your daughter’s fiance did not spend the last six months only defending veterans.