The story takes place in Colorado Springs where Fort Carson is located.
Captain Ray Hughes returns from his tour of duty with no one waiting for him. His wife has left him and has filed for divorce. However she left their son with his parents but she took his only form of transportation.
Chrissie Evans lives next door to Ray. She was the widowof another soldier and had only lived with him for two months before he sipped to Iraq where he was killed nine months later, so when soldiers return it is hard on her. Rita Red Horse was married to Paul Red Horse who was also a soldier returning for Iraq. He is a member of the special forces. Allison O'Reilly was married to Danny also a returning soldier. Chrissie, Rita, and Allison all worked in a dental office and were good friends.
This story is really about Ray and Chrissie but it does tell Rita and Paul's story as well. But you'll have to read the book to learn their story. Ray blames Chrissie for Tammy's leaving him because she told him that Chrissie was the one who loved to go out to bars and party. Once Ray got home he found that Tammy had taken most of the furniture and his truck. He had to go get his son, T.J. from his parent's home and once he got him home he found out that he needed Chrissie's help to take care of him. They were getting close when Ray's unit was deployed back to Iraq. Chrissie felt she could not even write him so she broke up with him. But before his unit actually left she realized she needed him and they made up.
There were parts of the story that had me in tears because of how much it actually told the real story of soldiers and their families. It did an excellent job of being true to life.
ELLEN TOO
A true teacher is a person who, at the end of the school day, still likes children!
