The Widow's Gambit

A sharp ache stabbed through my heart. Even my daughter recognized that was Josh—yet he refused to acknowledge it, hardening his heart even toward his own child.

I pulled her into my arms, holding back my tears. "Sweetheart, listen to Mama. That man is not your daddy. Your daddy… he's gone to heaven."

I didn't waste another day. With the death certificate in hand, I went straight back to the military district headquarters. I reported my husband's passing to the commander and requested that Josh's military status be revoked.

The commander sighed.

"We received the notification about Captain Perkins," he said, his voice respectful. "The nation thanks him for his service. Please, if there's anything you or your daughter need..."

"Sir," I said, cutting to the point before my courage could falter. "I need a job. Here. Anything at all—cleaning, clerical, mess hall work. I just need to support my daughter."

He studied me, surprised. "The work is hard, Mrs. Perkins. And it would mean relocating to base housing. A fresh start, but far from everything you know."

That was exactly what I wanted. I nodded firmly.

The paperwork was swift. Josh Perkins was officially, permanently listed as deceased. A modest pension and death benefit were processed for his next of kin—me.

When I returned home, my mother-in-law was sitting in the courtyard. As soon as she saw me, her voice turned shrill and cutting.

"Look what the cat dragged back," she sneered. "My son just died, and you're gallivantin' around. A curse, that's what you are. A husband-killing curse."

My breath caught. Natalie was hunched on the dirt by the corn pile, her tiny hands raw and blistered as she shucked ears twice the size of her arms.

A hot, pure rage boiled up in me. I swept her into my arms. "She's five years old! Look at her hands!"

"Useless!" my mother-in-law spat, hands on her hips. "Couldn't even give my boy a son. Dead weight needs to earn its keep. You think this is a charity?"

A cold clarity washed over me. "Since my husband is dead," I said, my voice surprisingly steady, "we have no place here. We'll leave. We won't be a burden to the Perkins family anymore."

She moved with shocking speed, blocking the path. "Leave? And who's gonna tend to Catherine when my grandson comes? You think you can just walk away after all the food you've eaten over the years?"

Catherine appeared in the doorway, one hand resting on the slight swell of her belly, a smug smile playing on her lips. "She's right, Riley. You failed where I succeeded. I'm carrying the future of this family. The least you can do is make yourself useful."

Josh stepped up beside her, his arm a protective bar around her shoulders. His eyes on me were cold, commanding. "Mom's not as strong as she used to be, and Catherine needs rest. Stop this foolishness and do your duty, Riley."

I almost laughed. Duty? Where was his duty when I was alone in a hospital bed, bringing his daughter into the world? Where was their concern when my water broke, and I had to carry myself to the hospital alone, with not a single soul from this family by my side?

And now they expected me to work myself to the bone serving them?

Jaw clenched, I carried Natalie back into the room and carefully applied ointment to her hands.

As I stepped out, I overheard Josh and Catherine speaking.

"Josh," she whined, "look at Riley's attitude. If you hadn't taken Caleb's place to stay with me, who knows what she would've done to me."

His voice was soft and gentle. "Don't worry, Catherine. For you and our child, I'll protect you for the rest of my life. Mom supports you too. Why else would she agree to me replacing Josh?"

My fingernails dug into my palm, and I nearly bit my lip raw.

So the child she carried was Josh's. She and my mother-in-law had known about the impersonation from the beginning.

They had been entangled far earlier than I ever imagined. I was the only fool kept in the dark, deceived all the way to my death in my past life.

Looking at my sleeping daughter, I forced myself to breathe. For her sake, we would leave soon.

Sure enough, two days later, the commander sent word: a job had been arranged for me, and I could start anytime.

I immediately packed our things.

But the moment I stepped out the door, I came face-to-face with Josh's dark, stormy expression.

His eyes dropped to the train tickets in my hand, and his voice turned icy.

"Riley, just where in the hell do you think you're going?"