Carry Me Home (The Home Series: Book Three) by Megan Nugen Isbell

uncle came over to check on the place.  Mandy had a spread laid out on the counter of burger patties and condiments along with some potato salad and baked beans.
    “You really went all out,” Holly said as she picked up a fork and took a bite of the potato salad.
    “Of course I did.  This is a big deal.  When’s the next time this will happen again?  Probably never.  I mean, who knows how long Jesse’s gonna stick around?  He’ll probably up and disappear again for all we know.  I wanted to make it special.  It’s just too bad Laura couldn’t be here,” Mandy said with a frown and we all nodded in agreement. It wouldn’t be the same without her. “Let’s just try and have some fun tonight.” She handed me the plate of burgers, while Holly picked up the condiments and salad and Mandy grabbed the beans. 
    Smoke was trailing up from the grill when we walked outside and the air smelled of charcoal.  Brandon and Jesse were sitting in lawn chairs talking when we put the food on the table. 
    “Is the grill about ready?” Mandy asked.
    “Just a few more minutes,” Jesse answered and I thought his voice sounded deeper than I’d remembered.  He’d changed since he left Carver, it was obvious just by looking at him, but he was still Jesse.  The Marines could never change that. 
    Holly and Mandy each sat down.  I sat down too, and I wasn’t sure if they did it on purpose or not, but they made sure the chair I got was as far away from Jesse as possible. 
    “I can’t believe we’re all here,” Mandy s aid, looking around at the group. “We’ve gotta take a picture for Laura.  I know she wants to be here and she’ll love seeing us all together.  I’m still trying to convince her to drive up here.  I know she’d like to see you guys.”
    “I actually saw her about a year and a half ago,” Jesse said unexpectedly and we all turned to look at him.
    “She never mentioned that,” Mandy said curiously.
    “I was in Oklahoma for some training and we met up.”
    “So you were in Oklahoma for training?” Holly asked and Jesse nodded. “Where are you stationed at right now?” she continued and I thought it odd that none of us knew.  We’d been so close and it was like he’d vanished.  I felt like we were getting to know a stranger that had tagged along.
    “Technically I’m in North Carolina.  Camp Lejune.”
    “How much longer are you there for?” Holly continued.
    “Technically, I’m attached there for about another month.”
    “That’s a whole lot of technically,” Holly laughed. “What does that mean anyway?”
    “It means I’m in the process of getting out.  I’m on terminal leave.”
    “For the laymen in the group, could you please expound?” Holly asked and I was grateful she was being so nosey.  She was asking all the questions I wanted to know.
    “It’s the leave time I have saved up.  I can use it to get myself together for when I transition to civilian life and when that leave is up, I just mail in my ID and I’m done, although I’ll probably go back to check out.  I’ve got some loose ends to tie up there.”
    “And what will your civilian life be?”
    “Ya know, Holly, I don’t recall you being this nosey.  That was more Mandy’s department,” he said as he grinned between my two friends.  I smiled too because it was true.
    “While that honor is usually reserved for Mandy, I thought I’d take over for tonight.  She needs a break every once in a while.  I think we’re all just interested in your life seeing as how you’ve basically shut us out.” There was sarcasm in her voice that rippled uncomfortably in the air.  Holly sounded sad and even a little angry. 
    “A nyway,” Mandy cut in, obviously wanting to diffuse the situation. “I think that grill is probably ready, don’t you think, Jesse?”
    I watched as Jesse nodded and stood up, taking the plate of burgers and placing them on the grill with a loud sizzle. 
    Conversation was