General Vincent Hughes didn’t advertise his career. In the kitchen, Lucas found his dad sitting at the table in jeans and a Georgetown sweatshirt. To anyone passing by, he looked like a regular father, maybe a teacher, maybe an office worker. His mother, Dr. Angela Hughes, poured coffee in her scrubs, preparing for an early surgery at Walter Reed.
On the refrigerator, a child’s crayon drawing showed a stick figure in uniform with four stars on each shoulder. Next to it, today’s date was circled in red marker. Parent Career Day—Friday. Lucas couldn’t stop smiling. He had been waiting weeks for this day.
“Dad, can I tell them about the time you met the president?” General Hughes glanced at his wife. Angela gave him that look—the one that said their son deserved better than secrets.
