“Jesse didn’t have an easy life growing up,” her mom abruptly announced. “And you know his dad basically forced him into the Army at eighteen.” There was something in her mom’s eyes that said she knew more than she was letting on. “What is it?” Ella lowered her hand from Lady and closed the bit of space between her and her mom. “Rory would have said something if . . . well, if there was something to say.” She gulped, searching her brain for childhood memories that would’ve been a red flag for this “not an easy life” Jesse might have experienced.
