“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.”

Jolene’s difficult childhood and upbringing taught her how to cope with difficult situations by pushing away strong emotions. While this is a beneficial survival skill for her, it demonstrates that Jolene is not willing to confront those emotions and work through the problems impacting her marriage. Jolene’s passive-aggressive approach to life and her relationships will ultimately backfire.

“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.”

This passage demonstrates Jolene’s strong connection to her military service and career and the strong roots that make up her friendship with Tami. It also foreshadows that she will have to rely heavily upon her crew when she goes to Iraq, especially after her serious injury in an attack.

“Nothing I do or say is right. Honestly, she breaks a little piece of my heart every day. She swears she’ll skip school if I go to career day. Apparently a mother in the military is only slightly less humiliating than one in prison.”

Jolene demonstrates her struggle to balance her work as a soldier and a mother. She does not want to embarrass or upset her daughter, yet Betsy’s disregard for her work in the military hurts her deeply.