“It isn’t free.” He swung the pad around to face me.

“You’re on orders.

Reassignment to Twentynine Palms.”

“That’s right.”

“The Army won’t hold a court date for a major who’s transferring.

If you want to be standing in that courtroom in four weeks, you withdraw the request in writing today.”

The wall clock ticked four times while I pictured a cereal bowl in my sink, a ring of dried milk at the bottom, and Lily’s spoon still standing in it.

“What does that cost me, in plain English?”