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| Categories | Genre Fiction |
| Author | Kristin Hannah |
| Publisher | St. Martin’s Griffin (November 8, 2022) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 432 pages |
| Item Weight | 12.8 ounces |
| Dimensions |
5.4 x 1.15 x 8.15 inches |
I. Book introduction
Home Front is a captivating and emotionally charged novel written by Kristin Hannah. Published in 2012, it tells a powerful story of love, sacrifice, and resilience that is set against the backdrop of war.
“Home Front is Hannah’s crowning achievement.”—The Huffington Post
In this powerhouse of a novel, Kristin Hannah explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.
All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .
Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own—for everything that matters to his family.
At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.
“Hannah has written a remarkable tale of duty, love, strength, and hope that is at times poignant and always thoroughly captivating and relevant.” —Library Journal (starred review)
Editorial Reviews
- “Kristin Hannah’s Home Front, read with fine emotional nuance by Maggi-Meg Reed, is the kind of novel that grabs your heart as it draws you in…Keep the Kleenex close, and breathe through the lumps in your throat.” ―Booklist
- “The novel’s second half, a moving exploration of the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on an already shaky family dynamic, is especially well read by Maggi-Meg Reed, who inhabits all the voices and characters with skill and heartfelt emotion. A timely book that is highly recommended for all audiences.” ―Library Journal, Starred Review
About Kristin Hannah
Kristin Hannah (born September 25, 1960) is an American writer. Her most notable works include Winter Garden, The Nightingale, Firefly Lane, The Great Alone, and The Four Winds. In 2024, St. Martin’s Publishing Group published her novel, The Women, which is set in America in the 1960s.
Kristin Hannah was born in California. After graduating with a degree in communication from the University of Washington, Hannah worked at an advertising agency in Seattle. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound law school and practiced law in Seattle before becoming a full-time writer. Hannah wrote her first novel with her mother, who was dying of cancer at the time, but the book was never published.
Hannah’s best-selling work, The Nightingale, has sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide and has been published in 45 languages.
Hannah lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington, with her husband and their son.
II. Reviewer: Home Front by Kristin Hannah
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1. MEGS reviews for Home Front
Home Front is the newest book by author Kristin Hannah, and I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book through GoodReads First Reads.
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I will admit it didn’t seem like something that would appeal to me. After reading and loving Night Road I gained confidence in Hannah’s writing, though. I loved that book so much I decided I will read everything she writes from now on.
This book is really about a lot of things. Jolene is a 41-year old woman who had a pretty messed up childhood, but met the love of her life when she was 17 years old. The story takes place in 2005, and is told from the POV of Jolene, and her husband, Michael. Again I will say for those who are worried about multiple POVs Kristin Hannah does them flawlessly. Jolene was a character that every wife can relate to in my opinion. She’s also a great mother. She has abandonment issues as an adult, because of what happened to her as a child, and those issues fuel the fire for some of the problems in her marriage.
Kristin Hannah always tackles issues in a way that never sound preachy. In this book she writes about marriage, war, loneliness, honor, and hope. Jolene’s husband Michael tells her that he is no longer in love with her right before she finds out that she is being deployed to Iraq. When the story is told from Jo’s POV we see what is going on in Iraq. We see her thoughts, and I personally could literally feel her heartbreak. Hearing your husband doesn’t love you right before you leave, and just when you need him he’s not there. Hoping you will get home safely, because your children need you. These are just a few of the things swirling around in Jo’s mind as she lives in fear trying not to get hit by explosives or crash her helicopter she flies.
When the story switches to Michael’s POV we are seeing his everyday life at home with the family. Struggling to take care of two daughters when he hasn’t got a clue. At the same time he is also trying to figure out a way to help a client who apparently killed his wife while suffering a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in Iraq. While dealing with this case he learns a lot of what is actually going on in Iraq while America is (and his family) being sheltered from the truth.
This book dealt with a lot, and she certainly gets her views across about how America treats their mentally unstable vets when they return from Iraq. Again, I don’t feel like she pushed her opinions on anyone, but I agree with everything she said. You can tell that Hannah really did her research in preparation for this book too. Whether or not you agree with the war in Iraq you will gain a new sense of understanding for our soldiers and their families. Not only do they put their lives on the line during the war, but oftentimes they come home emotionally wrecked, and find out that the government doesn’t want to help them get better.
I feel like this book could cater to a much broader audience than her normal chick-litty dramas. Fans of war novels could probably enjoy this too. This book didn’t make me a blubbering mess like Night Road, but I definitely felt for the characters. Someone else who has been affected by war on a more personal level or knows a military family will get more of a reaction than I did, probably.
So 4/5 stars. Beautifully written with a great flow and pace. Hannah will not disappoint her fans with this book, and I think she may even gain a few new fans. Holding back 1 star just because it didn’t spark as much emotion with me as I have come to expect with Hannah’s writing, but like I said others may feel completely differently about that.
2. MEAGAN reviews for Home Front
“They are heroes, our soldiers, the men and women who go into harm’s way to protect us, our way of life. It doesn’t matter what you think of the war, your have to be grateful to the warriors, of whom we ask so much. To whom we sometimes give too little.”
Whew this one had me crying and thinking about life and my friends and family after September 11th. I was too young to understand why family members and friends came back from the war all messed up but old enough to remember the war in Iraq and all the controversy around it.
This book is about a mother that goes to war after 9/11. And comes back with PTSD, & how she deals with life back home. Her marriage was on the rocks before she left for war and now she comes back trying to navigate motherhood, and being a wife that is suffering mentally and physically.
“How could it be harder to come home than go to war”
You can tell Kristin Hannah did her research. This story had me sad and angry all at the same time. I do think this story wrapped up a little to quick for me but I still loved this one.
I definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to all the brave men & women of the armed services. ❤️
3. TAURY reviews for Home Front
I loved this book. First of all there are few books out there that truly put women in combat during wartime. What these ladies and their families went through was gut wrenching.
I learned a lot. I was engaged to a man during the first war. He came back changed. I was too young to understand. PTSD was not really out there yet.
But there were some things i didn’t like. If the book wasn’t as good and me as connected would have made a difference in my rating. The children were brats. Having grandchildren the ages of these kids I can tell you Kristin did them over the top. The 4 yo was depicted as more of a 2 year old. The 12 yo maybe 10. Total nasty brats. And the husband -a self absorbed, self entitled narcissistic ass. Though he does straighten up he continues to act like SHE owes him something.
These are strong characters. Well developed? Who is to say. I’ve never experienced humans such as. Jolene was spot on. Both before and after. Perhaps a bit controlling or OCD, but she is a mother after all leaving for a year to go into combat.
Overall, the book is worth the read. I 100% recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction (though this is set too much in the present to be true HF and strong female characters.
I forgot to add. I do not cry when reading books or watching movies. I cried like a frickin baby multiple times. Getting to be a softy in my old age.
Girl Power 😉
4. THERESA ALAN reviews for Home Front
This isn’t my favorite Kristin Hannah novel, but, like many of her books, I did tear up at times.
Michael and Jolene are facing challenges in their marriage as they raise a 12-year-old girl who’s dealing with mean girls at school and a 4-year-old daughter who, when upset, can screech loud enough to cause hearing damage. Switching from full-time service to the National Guard had enabled Jolene to continue flying while concentrating most of her time on her children. Now in 2005, Jolene is called to serve in Iraq. When she leaves, defense lawyer Michael suddenly has to balance being a full-time father with a demanding career. Jolene only talks about upbeat things in her emails and letters home, until something happens that makes the entire family face the true cost of war.
5. BUSDRIVERLADY reviews for Home Front
I’m just half way thru this but it is one of her best reads. It’s very in touch with families, commitments, partners not fully engaged in the family & circumstances that are a real wake-up call. Any woman can fully identify with Jolene & how torn she is when fulfilling her military commitment and having to be away from her two girls. Their father has basically removed himself from all involved with raising and learning to know his girls. And he has recently told his wife he no longer loves her. He’s been walking around with blinders on, immersing himself in his law practice and distancing himself from his role as father. When she is deployed, it’s a wake-up call for Michael. Not only does he have to become the father his girls never knew, but he will have to face the events that unfold when his wife comes back from Iraq. Excellent, excellent story.
6. CARRIE APA reviews for Home Front
“Home Front” Honest, Heartbreaking and beautifully written
I love Kristin Hannah’s books. She writes so well and descriptive, I feel like I personally know the characters. Which also makes me laugh and cry while reading her books. I felt this book depicted PSTD very well and how our soldiers are given little resources for help. I feel like Jolene was a good mother but needed to give her kids room to make mistakes on their own. Her relationship with Michael, I felt that whole rollercoaster rid. I’m glad he was able to help her. Very sad about Tami but that is what happens in real life. Overall I loved this book.
7. KAREN LAWLER reviews for Home Front
Very believable story and characters
Home Front by Kristin Hannah was a great book from the moment I started reading it. She is 1 of my favorite authors and I have read many of her stories. Home Front is about a couple Michael and Joleen Zarkades who have 2 daughters and seem to be a perfect family. Jolene is in the guard and is called up for service in Iraq as a helicopter pilot which is 1 of the most dangerous jobs. This story deals with the return of our military to regular life after experiencing some of the most unimaginable things and PTSD. This story deal with this terrible disorder with such believable and personal insight. This is a subject that needs to be addressed and helped for our veterans. The characters and story are very believable and have a place in your heart. I highly recommend this book!
8. WENDY COLLINS reviews for Home Front
Brought me back 19 years
I read a lot. A book or two a week. This is the first book review I’ve ever written. In 2005 my husband deployed to Iraq leaving me and our two children 5 and 8 for 15 months. I’m a teacher, structured and organized, much like Jolene early in the book. I was sure that we’d get through it without a hitch. Boy was I wrong.
This book brought me right back. I’m a huge Kristin Hanna fan but I was reluctant to read this book. She’s a master story teller and this book brought me back to many of my feeling and memories that I have somehow managed to suppress. The characters are so believable and the way she shifts perspectives creates a picture of how deployments affect each member of the family. She shows us how hard each of the roles is but that the easiest way through it is together. Well done Ms. Hanna.
9. PIYUSH BHATIA reviews for Home Front
Courage is most likely to be found in the least likely of all places.
This was my third Kristin Hannah novel and I’d write the same line that I wrote in
my review of the book “”Independence” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni –
Historical fiction has been my favourite genre and it is books like these that make me fall in love more and more with this genre, and in general, with reading!
A mother of two girls aged 12/13 and 5/6, going through a troubled marriage, and yet having a steel in her spine, Jolene, the protagonist of the novel was nothing short of a powerhouse! Just like “The Nightingale” and “The Great Alone”, this book was also a paradigm example of how indefatigable a woman can be, particularly when unbearably suppressed from all sides. A magnificent portrayal of how a woman can hold herself together when everything else is falling apart. And above all, a great portrayal of what it means to be a mother, whose instinct is to “protect” and which can be so difficult and yet the mother does that with ease and grace!
Such unwavering strength executed with a remarkable resilience! Awe – inspiring!
I believe Kristin Hannah’s skills as a historical fiction author are commendable and I’d always be looking forward to reading more and more of her works!
And yes, by now it’d have been pretty evident that was a 5 star for me!
5/5!
10. AMY reviews for Home Front
This book initially caught my attention because it was about a female soldier in Iraq. As a civilian we are actually clueless when it comes to the sacrifice and service that soldiers give to hold our freedom. I think we forget the real men and women involved in War and focus on numbers or statistics. It is easier for us to be blissfully ignorant. Kristin Hannah reveals an intimate dual experience of both the soldier and the family. She explores the journey from both sides before, during, and after war. I love that she researched this story so well. I was touched by this story and felt connected to the characters. It is definitely a good read.
III. Home Front Quotes by Kristin Hannah
The best book quotes from Home Front by Kristin Hannah
“It’s not intentions that matter. It’s actions. My drill instructor used to say that all the time. We are what we do and say, not what we intend to. I”
“Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.”
“No one could hurt you if you didn’t let them. A good offense was the best defense.”
“I know about forgiving people and loving them anyway, even after they hurt you.”
“She had been ready to love this man from the moment she first saw him. In all these years, that had never changed. They’d hurt each other, let each other down, and yet, here they were after everything, together. She needed him now, needed him to remind her that she was live, that she wasn’t alone, that she hadn’t lost everything.”
“From the first time we met, we knew everything that mattered about each other, didn’t we? We just knew. I guess that’s what best friends are: parts of each other.”
“We are what we do and say, not what we intend to.”
“I might screw up, I might embarrass you, I might yell at you, but I will never, ever stop loving you. You’re my first born. The first time I held you… I fell in love so hard it cracked my bones.”
“He is a man, and he is afraid. This is not a good combination.”
“Marriages go through hard times. Sometimes you have to get in there and fight for your love. That’s the only way for it to get better.”
“For years he’d strived to make a difference in the world, and he’d worked like a dog to make that happen, and yet here he was, a man sitting on a dock with his children, and never had he felt more certain that his words mattered.”
“Here’s what you need to know: some cliches are true, and war is definitely hell. It’s being afraid all the time, and when you’re not afraid it’s because you’re pumped full of adrenaline you could literally burst. It’s watching people who you love- really profoundly love- get blown to pieces right next to you. It’s seeing a leg lying in the ditch and picking it up to put it in a bag because no man- or part of a man, your friend- can be left behind. It’s the dark night of the soul. There’s no front line over there. The war is all around them, every day, everywhere they go. Some handle it better than others. We don’t know why, but we do know this: the human mind can’t safely or healthily process that kind of carnage and uncertainty and horror. It just can’t. No one comes back from war the same.”
“Sometimes holding on was all you could do.”
“Fifteen minutes later, Betsy came thundering down the stairs. “I’m going to the mall with Sierra to see a movie.”
Michael leaned forward, switched off the television. “Can you please rephrase that in the form of a question?”
“Sure. Can I have some money?”“…This fear was unbearable. It unwrapped who she was, as neatly as he’d unwound her bandage, leaving too much pain and ugliness exposed.
Nerve endings; he’d said they were the problem [causing phantom pain in the amputated limb].” Things that cut off, that ended abruptly or died–like parents and marriages–kept hurting forever.”“Life is messy– especially now– it will help if you accept the mess and let it be.”
“They are heroes, our soldiers, the men and women who go into harm’s way to protect us, our way of life. It doesn’t matter what you think of the war, your have to be grateful to the warriors, of whom we ask so much. To whom we sometimes give too little.”
“I once read a Stephen King book that used the term SSDD. Same shit, different day.”
“He’d learned in the past few months that telling a girl what to wear–even one the size of a golf club–was a bad idea. Histrionics often followed.”
“Hope was an elevator right now, broken from its cables.”
“By the time this damn war’s over, we’ll have hundreds of thousands of severely traumatized soldiers trying to put the pieces of their lives back together.”
“Don’t get me started on the government and its failings with regard to our soldiers. It’s criminal. The military tends to equate PTSD with weakness or cowardice. But they’re going to have to get on board, especially because troops are doing multiple tours. We need to make the VA and the government start addressing the needs of its soldiers at home. We need to shine a light on this and erase the stigma. This case is important, Michael. Maybe you can help another broken soldier and save some lives.”
“He saw his whole life in her eyes, all his dreams and hopes and fears.”
“He tried to get help from the VA but he couldn’t, as so many other returning soldiers have discovered. He suffered terribly—nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks. He drank too much to mask these symptoms, and unfortunately alcohol only exacerbated the condition. It’s called post-traumatic stress and it is a recognized psychiatric disorder. It was around long before we had such a serious-sounding clinical name for it. In the Civil War, it was called a ‘soldier’s heart,’ which I think is the most accurate of the descriptions; in World War One, it was ‘shell shock,’ and during World War Two, ‘battle fatigue.’ In other words, war changes every soldier, but it has always profoundly damaged some of them.”
“But now she saw what she had never dared to see before: this love of hers was one-sided. She was the one who took care; he was the one who took.”
“Lulu twirled in front of Jolene, banging into the seat. her eyes sparkled in that I’m-either-going-to-scream-or-fall-asleep-any-second kind of way.”
“Five words to change a world, to dissolve the ground beneath a woman’s feet. It was a tidal wave, that sentence, whooshing in without warning, undermining foundations, leaving homes crumbled in the aftermath.”
“You’ll make it through, Jo. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
“The truth is, I knew loss. I didn’t know grief. Now, I do.”
“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. —MARCEL PROUST”
“She had gone to him then, taken him in her arms and held him until he could breathe again. To her, it had been second nature, caring for him when he was hurting. But now she saw what she had never dared to see before: this love of hers was one-sided. She was the one who took care; he was the one who took.”
“There were journeys in life no one could take for you.”
“Here’s what you need to know: some clichés are true, and war is definitely hell. It’s being afraid all the time, and when you’re not afraid it’s because you’re so pumped full of adrenaline you could literally burst. It’s watching people who you love—really profoundly love—get blown to pieces right next to you. It’s seeing a leg lying in the ditch and picking it up to put it in a bag because no man—or part of a man, your friend—can be left behind. It’s the dark night of the soul, Michael. There’s no front line over there. The war is all around them, every day, everywhere they go.”
Excerpted from Home Front by Kristin Hannah
One
April 2005
On her forty-first birthday, as on every other day, Jolene Zarkades woke before the dawn. Careful not to disturb her sleeping husband, she climbed out of bed, dressed in her running clothes, pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail, and went outside.
It was a beautiful, blue-skied spring day. The plum trees that lined her driveway were in full bloom. Tiny pink blossoms floated across the green, green field. Across the street, the Sound was a deep and vibrant blue. The soaring, snow-covered Olympic mountains rose majestically into the sky.
Perfect visibility.
She ran along the beach road for exactly three and a half miles and then turned for home. By the time she returned to her driveway, she was red-faced and breathing hard. On her porch, she picked her way past the mismatched wood and wicker furniture and went into the house, where the rich, tantalizing scent of French roast coffee mingled with the acrid tinge of wood smoke.
The first thing she did was to turn on the TV in the kitchen; it was already set on CNN. As she poured her coffee, she waited impatiently for news on the Iraq war.
No heavy fighting was being reported this morning. No soldiers—or friends—had been killed in the night.
“Thank God,” she said. Taking her coffee, she went upstairs, walking past her daughters’ bedrooms and toward her own. It was still early. Maybe she would wake Michael with a long, slow kiss. An invitation.
How long had it been since they made love in the morning? How long since they’d made love at all? She couldn’t remember. Her birthday seemed a perfect day to change all that. She opened the door. “Michael?”
Their king-sized bed was empty. Unmade. Michael’s black tee shirt—the one he slept in—lay in a rumpled heap on the floor. She picked it up and folded it in precise thirds and put it away. “Michael?” she said again, opening the bathroom door. Steam billowed out, clouded her view.
Everything was white—tile, toilet, countertops. The glass shower door was open, revealing the empty tile interior. A damp towel had been thrown carelessly across the tub to dry. Moisture beaded the mirror above the sink.
He must be downstairs already, probably in his office. Or maybe he was planning a little birthday surprise. That was the kind of thing he used to do …
After a quick shower, she brushed out her long wet hair, then twisted it into a knot at the base of her neck as she stared into the mirror. Her face—like everything about her—was strong and angular: she had high cheekbones and heavy brown brows that accentuated wide-set green eyes and a mouth that was just the slightest bit too big. Most women her age wore makeup and colored their hair, but Jolene didn’t have time for any of that. She was fine with the ash-gold blond hair that darkened a shade or two every year and the small collection of lines that had begun to pleat the corners of her eyes.
She put on her flight suit and went to wake up the girls, but their rooms were empty, too.
They were already in the kitchen. Her twelve-year-old daughter, Betsy, was helping her four-year-old sister, Lulu, up to the table. Jolene kissed Lulu’s plump pink cheek.
“Happy birthday, Mom,” they said together.
Jolene felt a sudden, burning love for these girls and her life. She knew how rare such moments were. How could she not, raised the way she’d been? She turned to her daughters, smiling—beaming, really. “Thanks, girls. It’s a beautiful day to turn forty-one.”
“That’s so old,” Lulu said. “Are you sure you’re that old?”
Laughing, Jolene opened the fridge. “Where’s your dad?”
“He left already,” Betsy said.
Jolene turned. “Really?”
“Really,” Betsy said, watching her closely.
Jolene forced a smile. “He’s probably planning a surprise for me after work. Well. I say we have a party after school. Just the three of us. With cake. What do you say?”
“With cake!” Lulu yelled, clapping her plump hands together.
Jolene could let herself be upset about Michael’s forgetfulness, but what would be the point? Happiness was a choice she knew how to make. She chose not to think about the things that bothered her; that way, they disappeared. Besides, Michael’s dedication to work was one of the things she admired most about him.
“Mommy, Mommy, play patty-cake!” Lulu cried, bouncing in her seat.
Jolene looked down at her youngest. “Someone loves the word cake.”
Lulu raised her hand. “I do. Me!”
Jolene sat down next to Lulu and held out her hands. Her daughter immediately smacked her palms against Jolene’s. “Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker’s man, make me a…” Jolene paused, watching Lulu’s face light up with expectation.
“Pool!” Lulu said.
“Make me a pool as fast you can. Dig it and scrape it and fill it with blue, and I’ll go swimming with my Lu-lu.” Jolene gave her daughter one last pat of the hands and then got up to make breakfast. “Go get dressed, Betsy. We leave in thirty minutes.”
Precisely on time, Jolene ushered the girls into the car. She drove Lulu to preschool, dropped her off with a fierce kiss, and then drove to the middle school, which sat on the knoll of a huge, grassy hillside. Pulling into the carpool lane, she slowed and came to a stop.
“Do not get out of the car,” Betsy said sharply from the shadows of the backseat. “You’re wearing your uniform.”
“I guess I don’t get a pass on my birthday.” Jolene glanced at her daughter in the rearview mirror. In the past few months, her lovable, sweet-tempered tomboy had morphed into this hormonal preteen for whom everything was a potential embarrassment—especially a mom who was not sufficiently like the other moms. “Wednesday is career day,” she reminded her.
Betsy groaned. “Do you have to come?”
“Your teacher invited me. I promise not to drool or spit.”
“That is so not funny. No one cool has a mom in the military. You won’t wear your flight suit, will you?”
“It’s what I do, Betsy. I think you’d—”
“Whatever.” Betsy grabbed up her heavy backpack—not the right one, apparently; yesterday she’d demanded a new one—and climbed out of the car and rushed headlong toward the two girls standing beneath the flagpole. They were what mattered to Betsy these days, those girls, Sierra and Zoe. Betsy cared desperately about fitting in with them. Apparently, a mother who flew helicopters for the Army National Guard was très embarrassing.
As Betsy approached her old friends, they pointedly ignored her, turning their backs on her in unison, like a school of fish darting away from danger.
Jolene tightened her grip on the steering wheel, cursing under her breath.
Betsy looked crestfallen, embarrassed. Her shoulders fell, her chin dropped. She backed away quickly, as if to pretend she’d never really run up to her once-best friends in the first place. Alone, she walked into the school building.
Jolene sat there so long someone honked at her. She felt her daughter’s pain keenly. If there was one thing Jolene understood, it was rejection. Hadn’t she waited forever for her own parents to love her? She had to teach Betsy to be strong, to choose happiness. No one could hurt you if you didn’t let them. A good offense was the best defense.
Finally, she drove away. Bypassing the town’s morning traffic, she took the back roads down to Liberty Bay. At the driveway next to her own, she turned in, drove up to the neighboring house—a small white manufactured home tucked next to a car-repair shop—and honked the horn.
Her best friend, Tami Flynn, came out of house, already dressed in her flight suit, with her long black hair coiled into a severe twist. Jolene would swear that not a single wrinkle creased the coffee-colored planes of Tami’s broad face. Tami swore it was because of her Native American heritage.
Tami was the sister Jolene had never had. They’d been teenagers when they met—a pair of eighteen-year-old girls who had joined the army because they didn’t know what else to do with their lives. Both had qualified for the high school to flight school helicopter-pilot training program.
A passion for flying had brought them together; a shared outlook on life had created a friendship so strong it never wavered. They’d spent ten years in the army together and then moved over to the Guard when marriage—and motherhood—made active duty difficult. Four years after Jolene and Michael moved into the house on Liberty Bay, Tami and Carl had bought the land next door.
Tami and Jolene had even gotten pregnant at the same time, sharing that magical nine months, holding each other’s fears in tender hands. Their husbands had nothing in common, so they hadn’t become one of those best friends who traveled together with their families, but that was okay with Jolene. What mattered most was that she and Tami were always there for each other. And they were.
I’ve got your six literally meant that a helicopter was behind you, flying in the six o’clock position. What it really meant was I’m here for you. I’ve got your back. That was what Jolene had found in the army, and in the Guard, and in Tami. I’ve got your six.
The Guard had given them the best of both worlds—they got to be full-time moms who still served their country and stayed in the military and flew helicopters. They flew together at least two mornings a week, as well as during their drill weekends. It was the best p…
….
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