I took my son to visit my husband, the commander, but the guard blocked us at the gate and said, “His girlfriend is inside the unit. No visitors!” I covered my son’s ears, called my second brother, and

year later, Olivia and Ethan lived in a smaller home in La Jolla with white walls, a lemon tree, and a kitchen table always covered with homework, chess pieces, and cereal bowls. Their life was not grander.

It was lighter.

Andrew saw Ethan every other Saturday.

At first, the visits felt awkward. Ethan returned home quiet. Andrew tried too hard, filling continue reading …