The major general unfolded the papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy direction of the Secretary of the Army, Captain Elena Vey is promoted to major.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ballroom erupted in applause.<\/p>\n
Then came the bigger announcement: Elena had been selected as deputy commander of a new Army transition program.<\/p>\n
Her father-in-law had recommended her.<\/p>\n
Her husband, Caleb, looked stunned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou knew about this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor eleven days,\u201d Elena admitted.<\/p>\n
But then a sealed envelope arrived with her name on it.<\/p>\n
Inside was a draft notice showing a possible 36-month assignment in Washington State.<\/strong><\/p>\n Caleb stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were going to leave?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was final.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the truth came out.<\/p>\n Her father-in-law had known about the possible assignment and kept it from Elena while trying to determine whether Caleb would move with her.<\/p>\n But Caleb had been keeping a secret too.<\/p>\n He had already applied for a three-year position in Seattle.<\/p>\n Neither had been trying to hurt the other.<\/p>\n They had both been making decisions alone because they were afraid.<\/p>\n Finally, Elena asked:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n Caleb took her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to go with you.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The assignment was eventually approved.<\/p>\n Seattle. Thirty-six months.<\/p>\n This time, they made the decision together.<\/p>\n Before leaving, Elena saw a framed piece of the broken plate from the banquet.<\/p>\n Under it was a small brass plaque:<\/p>\n \u201cWE STAY AT THE TABLE.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n They drove west together\u2014not because one had surrendered, but because they had finally learned to face the future side by side.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The major general unfolded the papers. \u201cBy direction of the Secretary of the Army, Captain Elena Vey is promoted to major.\u201d The ballroom erupted in applause. Then came the bigger announcement: Elena had been selected as deputy commander of a new Army transition program. Her father-in-law had recommended her. Her husband, Caleb, looked stunned. \u201cYou…<\/p>\n