Past Featured Love Stories

Fall 2015

Mark Halsey turned on the shower, holding his hand beneath the faucet until the stream of water felt warm. He wiped his hand on his stomach, then turned around, meeting his wife’s gaze. Rene’s big brown eyes stared at him, and for a moment, he got lost in their beauty. After forty years of marriage, she still had that effect on him.

Bending over, he slipped one arm beneath her bare legs and propped the other behind her slender back. As he straightened, he scooped her up against his chest and slowly stepped into the shower. The stream from the facet splashed against his back, spitting water against Rene’s face. Drops slid off her cheeks down to her neck and onto her chest.

Mark dipped his head, watching the water descend across her porcelain skin before he looked up and gave Rene a mischievous grin. “I think we’ve taken more showers together in the last few months than we have during our entire marriage.”

She gave him a look, one that said, You would be thinking about that right now.

He didn’t expect anything more from her. Not a playful smack on his cheek. Not a witty retort or a sassy smile. Three years ago, that was exactly how Rene would’ve reacted. But not anymore—she couldn’t speak, stand, smile, or move without someone else’s help—she couldn’t take care of herself at all. ALS had taken over her body, first corroding her vocal cords and face, then rotting inside her leg muscles, the decay destroying her ability to function on her own.

It was his role to take care of her. To feed, clothe, and bathe her, to move her in and out of her wheelchair, to make her last years comfortable and happy. Looking back at their wedding vows, he’d never imagined how hard it would be to carry out those easily spoken words, For better or for worse … In sickness and in health … till death do us part. At nineteen when he’d made that promise, he felt so optimistic about their future. They would settle down and buy a house, start a family, and grow old together. But their plans hadn’t worked out like he’d imagined. When she was fifty-four, Rene started slurring her words and after eight months of doctor visits, she was diagnosed with ALS.

He would never forget those inconceivable words. But he’d be damned if he would let ALS take away Rene without fighting back. He immediately learned everything he could about the disease, discovering that progression was different for everyone and ALS had no cure. He didn’t know how much longer they had together, but he was going to make the best of every moment.

Leaning over, his biceps strained as he slowly lowered Rene onto the plastic shower seat. He poured shampoo into his hand, gently massaging the lather through her cute pixie cut. “I talked to Brandon. He’s gonna visit next weekend.”

Rene tilted her head back and closed her eyes. As he rubbed his fingertips into her scalp, he wondered what else she would want to know about their son’s visit. “Brandon didn’t talk about any girls, so I don’t think he’s bringing home a girlfriend. But one of these days, I’m sure he’ll surprise us.”

Mark rinsed the shampoo out of her hair and ran conditioner through her thin strands. “I was thinking, we should stop by Cory and John’s later. They’re decorating the baby’s room today.”

Rene’s lips twitched. If she were able to smile, she would be, and he took her response as a sign to continue.

“Cory already hung up the green curtains you picked out. She said they look really good with the dark oak crib.”

The thought of seeing the baby’s room made his heart flutter. In just three and a half months, their first grandchild would be here. Baby Dawson had already brought so much happiness back to their family. The little guy gave them something to be excited about, instead of focusing on Rene’s illness.

Rinsing out the conditioner, he grabbed a coral colored loofah, lathering her skin until soapy bubbles covered her from neck to toe. He took longer than necessary to wash her completely, but he enjoyed this just as much as she did. In some odd way, helping her with everyday tasks made him feel slightly in control, like he could actually do something to battle this incurable disease that had stolen Rene’s body.

Outside the shower, his ringtone filled the bathroom, followed by a vibration against the vanity. He let the song fade out. Whoever it was could wait. This was his time with Rene.

The ringtone played again, followed by a chime—someone had left a voicemail. He hung the loofah over the shower handle when the phone rang for a third time.

He glanced down at Rene, who was looking up at him. Even with little expression on her face, her thoughts were clear. We should get out. Whoever is calling has something important to say. An exasperated sigh escaped past his lips before he reached for towels and dried them off.

He carried Rene to her wheelchair and wrapped a towel around his waist, then grabbed his cell and looked down at the caller I.D. John’s name appeared all three times.

Mark’s stomach tightened. His son-in-law wouldn’t call repeatedly unless something was wrong with Cory or Dawson.

He ran a hand over his mouth, trying to hide his panic from Rene. He didn’t want to worry her.

Leaning against the vanity, he clicked on John’s name, and held the phone against his ear. His heart beat wildly in his chest. Please be nothing. Please be nothing. Our family can’t handle anything else right now.

John answered the phone, sounding breathless. “Finally.”

“What’s up?” Mark kept his tone light, hoping Rene didn’t notice the tremble in voice.

“Cory’s in labor.”

“Excuse me?”

“Her water just broke and we’re on the way to the hospital.”

Mark rubbed one of his temples. Holy shit. If Cory’s water had broken, then the baby was coming, ready or not. At five and a half months, Dawson would be premature and underdeveloped. He might be too little to survive.

The blood rushed out of his face. No, no, no. This was not supposed to happen. Their grandson was Rene’s saving grace. The light in her world of dark despair.

Clutching the phone, Mark took a steadying breath before speaking again. “We’ll be there as soon as possible.”

Summer 1976

Rene Thran followed Debbie past a beach house and stopped in the grass before her shoes touched the sand. Across the beach, a group of teenagers gathered around a stone-encased fire pit. The bright flames lit their shadowed figures and the fading sun reflected off the aluminum cans clasped in several hands.

She bit her lip. Were they drinking pop or beer? She didn’t want to get into trouble. If she got a ticket for underage drinking, her parents would kill her. She’d be grounded her entire senior year. One night out with her cousin so wasn’t worth it. She glanced back at the path, trying to remember how to get to her cousin’s lake house from here.

Debbie fluffed her bangs and lowered her tank top, revealing her ample chest. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you sure Roy won’t care that you’re bringing me?”

“Yes. He’s super chill and he’s bringing a friend with him, too.” She opened a tube of lipstick and smeared a bright red color across her lips. Making a smacking noise, she extended the tube to Rene. “Want some?”

She shook her head. “That’s all you ever think about—boys, boys, boys.”

Debbie slipped the tube into the back pocket of her jean shorts. “So what?”

“I’m just saying, there’s more to life than boys.”

“Stop being such a goody two-shoes.” Debbie moved her eyebrows up and down. “You need to live a little, starting tonight.”

Rene put a hand on her hip. She opened her mouth, then closed it. The practical part of her wanted to remind Debbie of why boys and beer weren’t high priorities on her list. But two shirtless guys were making their way across the beach, heading in their direction. Maybe her cousin was right. It was about time she had a little fun.

“Hey girls,” said one of the boys. He was short and muscular, while the other boy was slightly taller and wore cut-off jeans that fit snugly over his narrow waist. He had light brown hair sprinkled across his tan chest, all the way down to his chiseled abs. Long, shaggy hair fell across his broad shoulders, swaying as he walked.

Nervous adrenaline pumped through her veins, sending her heart into overdrive. Holy cow. He was really cute. She quickly ran a hand through her long brown hair.

The boys stopped in front of them, bringing a sweet, herby aroma along with them. Had they been smoking pot? Dread weaseled in beside her nerves, and her stomach twisted in knots. So what if they were cute? She should make an excuse and turn around now. Debbie would understand.

The lighter haired boy held out his hand to her. “I’m Roy and this is my friend, Mark.”

She mumbled hello, barely able to speak as Mark shook hands with Debbie, then her. She let her hand linger in his, enjoying the way his calloused palm felt against her soft skin.

Mark smiled. “You girls want some beer?”

Now would be the perfect time to make an excuse and leave, but with Mark looking right at her, she couldn’t think straight. He had such deep green eyes she could get lost in them. Heat formed in her cheeks and before she had a chance to respond, Debbie nodded and looped arms with her, pulling her toward the sandpit.

The boys kept pace beside them, waving at a few people playing sand volleyball a few yards away.

As they grew closer to the bonfire, the sound of voices rose above the crashing waves and a few heads turned in their direction. Debbie dropped her arm and squeezed Rene’s hand, whispering, “I think Mark is into you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. So have fun and let loose for once, okay?”

“All right.” Rene tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She didn’t need Debbie to remind her that she was so out of her element.

Mark leaned over the cooler, his shorts growing tight around his butt. He turned around, catching her gaze.

She immediately looked away, playing with a loose thread on her jean shorts. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him smirking, as if he thought it was funny to catch her staring at him. Her hopes rose a little. Maybe her cousin was right and she did have a chance with Mark. He seemed a little rough around the edges, like he didn’t have a care in the world, but there was something about him that had her intrigued.

He handed her a beer and she popped the top, taking a sip. She resisted the urge to wrinkle her nose. This wasn’t the first she’d drank alcohol, but beer was an acquired taste, and she didn’t drink it often enough to like it.

Mark arched an eyebrow, giving her a kind smile. “We have water and pop, too. Do you want that instead?”

“Um, I’m fine with Bud Light.”

“You looked like you were about to spit it out. Let me get you a water.” He grabbed a bottle from the cooler and handed it to her.

“Thanks.”

“Do you want to sit down?” He pointed to a long log close to the fire where a couple sat on one end, making out. “There’s an open spot.”

She glanced away from the couple, looking at Debbie. Her cousin was talking to Roy and twirling a strand of hair around her manicured finger. Debbie probably wouldn’t even notice she was gone.

She looked back at Mark. “Let’s go.”

A grin stretched across his handsome face. Taking a step back, he extended his arm, allowing her to pass. “After you.”

Rene headed to the log, suddenly growing conscious about how she walked. Should she sway her hips more or less? Should she take bigger or shorter strides? She groaned internally. What was wrong with her? She needed to get a grip.

Expelling a shaky breath, she sat down on the log and waited for Mark to do the same. She pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin, trying to appear more confident than she felt. “Is this your first time at the cabin?”

“Yeah. Roy’s been asking me to come with him all summer, but I haven’t had time. I work a lot.” She tried not to notice how big his biceps were as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I finally decided to take the weekend off. It’s been nice.”

“Where do you work?”

“An irrigation company. I put in underground sprinklers.”

“So that’s why you’re so tan, huh?”

“Yeah.” He took a swig of his beer, his eyes never leaving hers. “What about you? Do you work anywhere?”

She crossed her legs. “I work at Aetna Insurance.”

“Oh. Do you like it?”

“Yeah, I could see myself working in the insurance industry one day. Plus, it pays for my gas.”

His eyebrows rose. “You already have a car?”

“Don’t look so impressed. It doesn’t have a heater or power steering.”

“What kind is it?”

“It’s a Belvedre.”

He shook his head, sending long, shaggy strands sliding across his shoulders. “I should have known. You’re one of those girls.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rich.”

“My parents are well-off, but I wouldn’t say we’re rich. They’ve worked really hard to get where they are.” She put her hands on her hips. “Do you have a problem with that?”

He chuckled. “You look really cute when you get angry.”

Rene gave him a playful shove, surprising even herself. Somehow, she felt comfortable around Mark as if she’d known him for years. “You didn’t answer my question.”

His expression turned sober as he put his hand on her knee for a brief moment. “I was just giving you crap. But in all seriousness, my family doesn’t have a lot of money. That’s why I work all the time.”

“That’s really impressive.” She uncrossed her legs and extended them, resting both feet in the sand. “How old are you?”

“Seventeen. How about you?”

“Same.” Rene glanced at the glowing fire, watching the flames dance between the pyramid of wood. One stick fell to the bottom of the pit, scattering sparks into the darkness. As she watched the small pieces descend into the sand, she couldn’t help realizing how much she liked Mark, even though she barely knew him. He was very different from most of the boys she hung out with at school. He had a good work ethic, and he wasn’t afraid to tell the truth. But she still had some concerns.

Looking up from the fire, she met Mark’s gaze. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

“Do you smoke pot?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I smelled something funky when you and Roy walked up to us. I’m not trying to be nosy, but …”

Mark chuckled. “You’re cute when you get nervous, too.” He sat up straighter and took another swig of beer. “And yes, we were smoking before you got here.”

Silence settled between them. She wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t like that he did drugs, but she wasn’t going to judge him for it either. At least he wasn’t a pothead who sat around all day, doing nothing.

He turned toward her, bending his leg and setting it above his knee. “I can tell it bothers you.”

“To be honest, I’m not sure what to think about it.” Rene rested her head on his shoulder. “The only thing I really know right now is that I like you.” The moment the words escaped, she clasped a hand over her mouth. Had she really just said that? What was she thinking? Maybe the problem was, she wasn’t thinking at all.

He nudged her with his shoulder. “I like you too.”

Her chest swelled. Or maybe thinking was overrated. She liked him and he liked her. She didn’t need to know anything else right now.

Mark inched forward to look at her, his face inches away from hers. “Do you, I mean …” He ran a hand through his hair. “Can I have your number?”

She giggled. “You’re kinda cute when you get nervous.”

A boyish grin spread across his face, but as he leaned back, his biceps and chest muscles bulged, and she was reminded just how manly he was.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said in a teasing tone.

Rene tapped a finger on her lips, pretending to contemplate her decision. “Oh fine, I guess so.”

“Don’t be surprised when I call you tomorrow.”

She smiled. “I’ll be counting on it.”

He put a hand on her knee again, this time leaving it on her leg. Her heart picked up speed and she hoped he didn’t notice as he leaned in close. “I might not be perfect, but I’m the type of guy you can always count on.”

The intensity of his gaze brought heat pooling low into her stomach. She wanted to believe him, and she hoped more than anything that he was right.

But only time would tell.

Fall 1976

Mark walked behind Rene as they weaved through the thick crowd of people, heading closer to the stage. She glanced back at him once, and he smiled at her to let her know he would keep following. Bright lights illuminated a dark backdrop with Peter Frampton scrolled across it in large capital letters. Excited voices from the crowd rose above a Lynyrd Skynyrd song as they waited for Peter Frampton to make an entrance with his band.

This concert would be epic. They were about to hear one of the best rock bands of all times. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. Not just because of the concert, but because of Rene. With her walking in front of him, all he could do was stare at her figure. Tonight she wore white shorts that accentuated her cute butt and legs, and she wore a loose fitting T-shirt that hung low over one shoulder and grew tight around her lean torso. She looked so adorable and sexy at the same time. He couldn’t get enough of her.

Turning her head, Rene pointed to two empty seats in the middle of a row. “I think those are ours.”

“Sweet. We have a great view.” His gaze traveled down to her waist again, lingering for a moment before he looked up. He gave her a teasing grin. “I’m a lucky man. I’ve already got a great view.”

Rene turned around completely, giving him a playful slap on his arm. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“You like it.”

“You wish.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and weaved through the crowd to get to their seats.

He followed behind her, still smiling. Over the last three months, Rene had become a little sassier. She was still the sweetest girl he’d ever met, but now she held her own. She’d become accustomed to his humor after spending countless hours on the phone, talking late into the night.

She sat down and crossed her legs, her eyes lighting with excitement. “This is going to be so much fun.”

“Heck, yeah.” He plopped into the seat next to her. Setting his elbow on the armrest, he closed some of the space between them, and caught a scent of her flowery perfume. “I’m glad we get to spend more time together.”

“I know. It sucks living so far away.”

Mark nodded. He couldn’t agree more. Rene lived in Millard, Nebraska, thirty minutes away from his parent’s house. Technically, it wasn’t that much of a distance, but with his feelings for her growing, it felt like they were worlds apart. So far they’d only seen each other a handful of times, when he could borrow his mom’s car or when she made the trip up to see him. It never felt like enough, especially since he’d only taken her out on double dates before tonight. But any time with her was better than none, and he wanted to take it slow. Rene was the real deal, and he wasn’t about to mess it up.

He reached for her hand, entwining their fingers. “Next time you visit me, would you like to meet my parents?”

“I would love to.” She squeezed his hand. “Family is really important to me.”

“I can tell you’re close with your parents. I enjoyed meeting them. They’re nice people.”

She gave him a knowing look. “You’re surprised you like them, aren’t you?”

“Well …” He looked up at the brightly lit ceiling as if the right words hung from the beams. “Sometimes upper class people can be a little hoity-toity …” She opened her mouth to respond, but he continued before she could. “Honestly, I would love to have a family like yours someday. I want to have the type of job where I can provide for my family and not worry about finances.”

Rene stared at him for a moment, and he squirmed in his seat. Had he made her upset? That was the last thing he wanted to do.

His eyebrows rose as she leaned over the armrest and softly pressed her lips against his. It wasn’t the first time they’d kissed, but it still sent tingles up and down his body. As she looked at him, admiration gleamed in her eyes. “Sometimes, you act wise beyond your years.”

Shrugging, he expelled a relieved breath. So he hadn’t made her upset after all.

On stage, the lights dimmed and a loud booming voice filled the stadium. “Ladies and gentleman, please give a warm welcome to Peter Frampton!”

Mark shot out of his seat, pulling Rene up with him. On stage, someone—no doubt Peter himself—strummed his guitar, and blue and red lights turned on, revealing the band. The audience broke into a loud applause, shouting and screaming woot-woots and hell-yeahs.

Joining in, Mark cupped his hands around both sides of his mouth. “You rock!” The blare of Peter Hampton’s guitar muffled his words and the band started performing, “Baby, I Love Your Way.”

He turned toward Rene, playing an air guitar. She laughed, and the sound warmed his heart. He leaned in close to her, singing along with the band. The longer he sang, the more he realized he loved more than just her ways. He loved everything about her.

Fall 2015

Rene’s heart beat so hard and fast, it felt like it would explode at any minute. Time couldn’t move fast enough, knowing Cory was at the hospital in labor. This would be one of the happiest or saddest moments of Cory’s life, and Rene needed to be there for her daughter. Even if she couldn’t wrap her arms around Cory anymore, her daughter had a way of knowing just how she was feeling. And right now, Cory needed to feel loved.

Mark slapped his palm against the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes. Another red light. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

He glanced in her direction and she gave him a look that said, Anger isn’t going to help the situation. You need to calm down.

The light turned green, and his gaze shot back to the road. He pressed the gas, accelerating way too quickly, and for once, she was happy she couldn’t move. Seeing the speedometer would only increase her heart rate.

Directly in front of them, an elderly man’s BMW veered into their lane, then slowed to a snail’s pace. Growling, Mark changed lanes and drove past the man, shouting profanities out the open window. Red blotches appeared on his neck, and he clutched the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Rene’s hand itched to reach over and grab his hand, but it lay dormant in her lap. Frustration boiled in her veins. If only she could touch Mark or talk to him, to help him calm down.

He slid a CD in the disc player and turned up the knob. Peter Frampton’s voice carried through the vehicle. Mouthing the words, his shoulders loosened slightly. No doubt the music reminded him of their concert date.

She’d been thinking about the past a lot lately, remembering those early years, falling in love with Mark. They’d shared so many fun and exciting dates. She still felt the urge to laugh whenever she thought about the time they took Gramma Kitty to Young Frankenstein, failing to consider how Mel Brook’s humor might not be as funny to a seventy-five year old. Her grandma’s face had been priceless. Or the time when Mark took her to the dinner theater, and he tried to convince her to eat frog legs. Or all the weekends they traveled to Chicago for their anniversary. Back then, there was never a dull moment.

Even now that she was sick, Mark left little room for dull moments. He’d helped her achieve most of the items on her bucket list: go ice skating at Brenton Ice Skating Rink, attend a Bears game, go on a family vacation at Honey Creek Resorts, visit Charleston, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, go to a Mumford and Sons concert, attend a Bulls game in Chicago.

And yet, their marriage had dark years, too. Like the time when Mark became addicted to pure cocaine, and he stole from their savings to buy it. The memory of his confession still brought tears to her eyes. Not only because of the hurt and pain he’d caused her, but also because of what he’d said. That he hated himself. All he ever wanted was to be a good husband, father, and employee. After he told her that, he admitted himself into a drug and alcohol treatment center.

She’d considered giving up on their marriage, but Mark was a man of his word. He left treatment a changed person. He spent a lot of time with their family. He took her on dates more often, rekindling their relationship. He started coaching Brandon’s baseball team and Cory’s soccer team. And when she was diagnosed, he retired to stay home and take of her. She was in love with him more now than ever, and her chest ached at thought of being separated from him.

The truck swerved, catching her attention, and Mark turned into the hospital parking lot. He bee-lined for the entrance, slamming on the brakes in front of the sliding glass doors. Running around the pickup, he yanked open the door and grabbed her wheelchair. His eyes looked wild as he met her gaze. “Let’s go meet our grandson.”

She knew he’d said it for her sake, but a sliver of hope lifted her spirits. Please be okay, Dawson. Grandma wants to spend time with you before she has to go.

Mark wheeled Rene into Cory’s room, taking deep, steadying breaths. He had to prepare himself for the worst. If they lost Dawson, he’d need to be the rock for his girls.

Nurses were scattered across the dimly lit room. Some were standing near the hospital bed with John, who was clutching Cory’s hand. Tears streamed down Cory’s flushed, red cheeks.

His stomach nose-dived, plummeting to the ground. Where was his grandson? He forced his gaze away from Cory, catching sight of an incubator in the corner of the room. A bright light beamed down through the glass, but nurses surrounded it, and he couldn’t see. Was Dawson in there?

Mark let go of the wheelchair, quickly squeezing Rene’s hand as he strode past her and stopped behind the nurses. Holding his breath, he stood on his tiptoes and peered down.

A tiny baby, about the size of his hand, squirmed beneath a nurse’s touch as she checked his vitals. His little eyes fluttered open for a moment, then shut again. Faint white hair covered his wrinkly skin.

Mark swallowed hard as he stared at Dawson. His grandson was alive—he had a long way to go before he was in the clear—but he was alive, and that was all that mattered right now. Happiness spread through his chest like helium in a balloon. He resisted the urge to jump up and down, and instead, looked at Cory and grinned. After seeing the baby, he realized she was crying tears of relief.

He turned around to meet Rene’s gaze. “Dawson’s okay, Grandma.”

Rene’s eyes twinkled at the sound of her new title.

Later that day, the doctor came back with an update, saying Dawson was too susceptible to infection to be held yet. He would need to stay in the hospital for the next two and a half months, but the good news was Dawson could breathe on his own.

Relief flooded through him. He couldn’t wait to hold Dawson, but at least the baby had a good chance to survive.

A month and a half later, Mark sat in a chair beside the hospital bed, watching Cory hold Dawson. She pressed her son close to her chest, kissing his forehead. “I love you so much,” she said softly.

Dawson made a gurgling noise and Mark chuckled. “He’s so precious, honey.”

“I know. It feels unreal to finally hold him.” Cory glanced up from her son, and looked at Rene, who sat on the other side of her bed. “I’m so glad you get to spend more time with him, Mom.”

Tears slipped down Rene’s cheeks. Surely, they were happy tears, but he also knew how difficult this was for her, knowing she’d never be able to see her grandson grow up.

Cory adjusted Dawson in her lap, turning him toward Rene. “Do you want to hold him?”

Knowing the answer, Mark hopped out of his chair and transferred a bundled Dawson from Cory’s arms to Rene’s. He crouched down beside her wheelchair, propping the baby against her stomach so she could see Dawson’s face.

More tears slipped down Rene’s cheeks and a beautiful, wide smile stretched across her face.

His eyes widened. It was impossible for Rene to smile. The muscles in her face didn’t work anymore. But she was grinning from ear to ear. His heart swelled, bubbling over with elated joy.

Unblinking, he stared at Rene, capturing this special scene as if he had a recorder in his brain. When she was gone, he would replay this moment over and over again, remembering the magnitude of her love.

Where Are They Now?

Mark and Rene Halsey said their final good-byes this week. One of Rene’s favorite sayings was “I love you to the moon and back.” She left letters for Mark, her children, and her grandson. Rene was an amazing woman. She didn’t go down without a fight. While she battled ALS, she played an important role in helping find a cure by allowing doctor’s to track her progress. Mark and his family will miss Rene immensely, and they look forward to one day seeing her in Heaven.

Jess Upton leaned toward the hotel room mirror, inspecting the brown eyeliner stretching across her eyelids. She closed one eye, then the other. The line above her right eye looked thicker than the one above her left. Expelling a heavy breath, she tossed the eyeliner onto the bathroom vanity. “I’ve practiced this a million times. My eyeliner is completely uneven.”

Her maid of honor, Lindsay, leaned against the cluttered vanity and reached for the eyeliner. “It can’t be that bad. Let me see.”

Jess faced Lindsay and closed her eyes. Her maid of honor would surely tell her the truth. Waiting for a response, she bit her bottom lip. “Well, what do you think?”

“It looks even to me. I think you’re being too picky.”

Jess opened her eyes, the tension in her neck loosening. “Okay, good. It’s just … I don’t want my make-up to look too dark. I want it to look natural.”

Lindsay shook her head and shoulder-length curls draped across her pink pearl necklace. She reached for Jess’ shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Stop being so hard on yourself. It’s your wedding day and you should enjoy every minute.”

“You’re right.”

“Of course I am.” Grinning, Lindsay let go of Jess’ shoulders. “Zach will think you look beautiful no matter what.”

Jess smiled and turned back to the mirror. Lindsay was probably right about that, too. Even when she didn’t wear make-up, Zach would get that look in his eyes—the kind of look that made her feel pretty, like Samantha Baker in Sixteen Candles pretty.

Lindsay dabbed lip-gloss across her mouth, then smacked her lips together. “I’m all done. Do you need anything else before I go put on my dress?”

“No. My mom should be here soon.”

“Perfect. I’ll be back in a little bit.” Lindsay wrapped an arm around Jess’ waist, giving her a side hug. Stepping out of their embrace, she walked out of the bathroom, stopping at the doorway to the room. “Oh, and one more thing.”

Jess turned to face her best friend. “Yeah?”

“Don’t cry and mess up all your make-up before the ceremony begins.”

Jess pressed a hand against her chest, pretending to be offended. “Why would you worry about that? I never cry.”

Lindsay gave her a knowing look.

“All right, all right. I’m a little emotional, although …” She held up her index finger. “I’ve never cried at a wedding.”

Lindsay’s eyebrows raised and disappeared beneath her blonde bangs. “Seriously?”

“Scout’s honor.” Jess pressed her pinky and thumb together, keeping the other three fingers raised in a Boy Scout salute. Zach would be proud of her. He’d been a Boy Scout since he was in fourth grade and still actively participated as an Eagle Scout.

Shaking her head, Lindsay left the hotel room and disappeared into the hallway. The door swooshed shut with a gentle click and silence settled over the room.

Leaning over the vanity, she applied the rest of her make-up—tan eye shadow, brown mascara, and light pink lip-gloss. Finished, she stood tall and turned her head from side to side, staring at her profile. A smile spread across her face. Her hair and make-up had turned out better than she’d imagined, and yet, it looked weird to see a different version of her face with noticeable make-up highlighting her green and blue eyes and without her hair tied back in a ponytail.

But today was not a day for ponytails. Today was special. Today she would make a lifetime commitment to Zach.

Just thinking about him brought a light airy sensation fluttering through her stomach. Without a doubt, Zach was the perfect man for her. It seemed cliché to think so, but their personalities fit together like two puzzle pieces. He was the chopsticks to her sushi, the water to her plants, and the toy mouse for her cats.

He was molded exactly for her.

Jess blinked back the moisture in her eyes. Who was she kidding? Though she’d never cried at a wedding, she cried at everything else—pet adoption commercials, great movie endings, her student’s accomplishments. How could she possibly hold back tears on her own wedding day?

She grabbed a tissue from the Kleenex box and dabbed at her eyes. Somehow, she’d have to hold it together for just a few more hours.

A light knock rapped on the door. She walked out of the bathroom and opened it, a big smile spreading across her face as Mom wrapped her in a hug. “Happy wedding day, darling.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me, too.” Mom stepped out of their embrace and rubbed her palms together. “Let’s get you in that beautiful dress. Where is it?”

“It’s in the closet.”

Jess watched as her mom took the lacey white dress out of the closet, slowly slid it off the hanger, and unzipped it.

Mom raised the dress and held it above Jess’ head like a halo.

Jess’ arms shot into the air. “Watch out for my hair. The bobby pins feel tight, but I wouldn’t want to loosen the up-do.” Her soft voice was muffled as Mom carefully slid the dress over her arms and head.

“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.” Mom kneeled down on the carpet, lowering the dress to Jess’ calves. She gently pulled at the top layer of lace until it lay evenly across the silky petticoat.

Bending forward, Jess pointed at a rusty-orange sash curled next to her bare feet. “Will you tie a bow in the back?” She turned around as Mom reached for the handmade sash and wrapped her arms around Jess’ waist.

With quick, fluid movements, Mom tied the bow and gave it a firm tug. “All done.”

Pressing a hand to her stomach, Jess held her breath and turned toward the long, rectangular mirror attached to the wall. She twisted from side to side and bit her bottom lip, her earlier confidence wavering. What would Zach think? Would he like her hair, her make-up, and her dress? After all, all this fuss over her appearance was just for him.

Zach Pederson stood beneath the open arch of the Iowa State Campanile clock tower. On one side of the tower, the campus event coordinators hustled to arrange fifty white seats on the plush green grass. On the other side, the string quartet tuned their instruments to the Turtle’s song, “So Happy Together.” The popular beat floated across central campus and students stopped to stare in his direction.

Heat flamed beneath his cheeks. He ran a hand over his smooth, bald head and leaned against the yellow brick clock tower. This was the perfect place to get married. In 1985, Edgar Stanton lost his wife, Margaret, the first women to be the Dean of Students. In honor of her memory, Edgar wanted to establish a monument on campus for students to remember her. Over the years, the love story had touched the hearts of many students who had made the monument part of a campus tradition—a student officially becomes an Iowa Stater when he/she is kissed under the Campanile at midnight.

Zach slid his hands inside the pockets of his khakis. Months after he’d met Jess, he’d taken her campaniling. Even then, he’d known there was something special about her. He could still remember Jess’ giddy excitement as she stood beneath the clock tower, her face inches away from his. That kiss had officially made them Iowa Staters.

“Jess is on her way.” The photographer rushed in front of him, her big black camera swinging from her neck. She kneeled down on the pavement and lifted the camera to her eye. Clicking once, she glanced at the image and looked up at Zach. “Keep your back turned and move in the middle, so I can get a better angle to capture the first look.”

He walked into the sunlight and neatly rolled up the sleeves on his white dress shirt. Thankfully, they’d decided to take pictures before the ceremony. It was abnormally warm for fall and he didn’t want to sweat through his clothes. “Can you see Jess yet?”

The photographer nodded. “Yes, she’s walking toward us right now. Close your eyes.” Click, click click.

Light footsteps walked up behind him as small, warm hands covered his eyes and the scent of Jess’ floral perfume grew stronger. “Hey you.” She dropped her hands and he turned around, opening his eyes.

His breath caught in his throat as he soaked in her appearance—her black silky hair pinned in an up-do at the nape of her neck, the white lacey dress, the handmade rusty orange sash—Jess had already divulged several clues about her wedding attire, so none of it was a surprise. She couldn’t keep a secret when she was excited about something. But even with the clues, he never could’ve imagined just how lovely she would look. She was absolutely beautiful, and yet she was still her cute, girlish self.

Grinning, Zach slid his hands around her waist. “You’re stunning. Like an elegant model from the 1950s or 60s.”

Her cheeks turned crimson as she met his gaze and wrapped her arms around his neck. “And you look very hand—”

His mouth cut off her words as he lifted her off the ground, pulling her against his chest. He kissed her again and again as a flood of emotions surged through his pounding heart. This amazing person was about to be his wife. Forever. He couldn’t imagine a more loving, fun, and intelligent woman than Jess. She was the person who took him out of his comfort zone, convincing him to move from Iowa to California without the security of a job. The girlfriend who wanted to spend a date night exploring the Museum of Jurassic Technology. The fiancée who woke him out of bed one morning to go hiking in Tahoe.

Setting Jess back on the ground, Zach kept his hands on her hips and leaned back to study her graceful profile. Sunlight glistened across her rosy cheeks. “Can you believe we’re getting married today?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been planning this day ever since I was a little girl. It seems surreal.”

“The fact that the day is finally here is surreal. The fact that you’ve been planning it for years is definitely not surreal.”

“That’s what I meant.” She gave him a gentle push. “And if I didn’t make plans for us, we’d be sitting in our house everyday, playing with Theo and Ellie.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad. I could cuddle with them watching Back to the Future while he purrs on my lap.”

“Case and point.” She smiled. “What would you do without me?”

He kissed her forehead. “The better question is, what would you do without me?”

She put a finger to her lips, pretending to think. “Well, I know one thing. People couldn’t call me a cradle robber anymore.”

He rolled his eyes. “Very funny. I think people stopped calling you that after I turned twenty-one.” When he’d first met Jess, he was in college and she was in her first year of teaching. “Actually, in all seriousness, I have no idea what I would do without you. That’s why proposing to you was the best decision of my life.”

Click, click, click. The photographer cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but …”

Heat flushed beneath his cheeks as he turned in the photographer’s direction. He’d almost forgotten she was here.

The woman pointed at her watch. “We’re running behind. We need to start taking the other pictures.”

Zach reached for Jess’ hand, entwining their fingers. “Let’s get this party started.”

Standing on her tiptoes, Jess peered at the parking lot across the street from the Campanile. The shiny red Corvette was sandwiched between a green Jeep Cherokee and a blue CRV. She held up her arm and waved to get Dad’s attention. The 1964 Corvette reversed out its hiding spot and slowly pulled out onto the street.

She set a hand against her forehead to diminish the glare of the sun and turned in a circle, scanning the area one more time. Zach was nowhere in sight. She expelled a relieved breath. Ryan must have picked him up by now. Zach had no idea that she planned on arriving to the ceremony in Dad’s Corvette.

She jumped up and down as Dad pulled up to the curb. Getting out of his vehicle, he walked around the back, stepping over the empty cans attached to the bumper and the Just Married sign.

“Hey kiddo.” Dad ran a hand through his gray-speckled hair and gave her a tight smile.

Her stomach lurched. His forced smile wasn’t a good sign. “What’s wrong?”

Stopping beside her, Dad leaned over and lifted the bottom of his navy blue khakis, exposing black tennis shoes with neon shoestrings. “I’m really sorry, but I forgot my dress shoes at home.”

Jess shrugged and gave Dad an affectionate look as she pointed at the tan KEDS on her feet. “That’s okay. I’m wearing my tennis shoes, too.”

Below his mustache, Dad’s lips curled into a grin and he put a hand over his chest. “Good, I’m relieved. I didn’t want you to fire me.”

“I would never do that. You could walk me down the aisle in sweats and I’d still be happy.”

“Really? Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

“Because …” She adjusted his brightly colored tie, centering it above the buttons on his blue shirt. “You look very handsome in your dress clothes.”

“Thank you.” Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Dad’s eyes lit with excitement as he opened the passenger door. “Ready to go?”

Nodding, she lifted her dress and slid across the plush leather seat. As Dad walked back to the driver’s side and hopped inside, she set the yellow and purple bouquet on her lap and clutched her uneasy stomach, taking deep, steady breaths.

Now that she was in the vehicle, reality sunk in like an anchor on the ocean floor. The ceremony was about to begin. Hopefully, everything went according to plan and she didn’t mess anything up. So many things could go wrong. She could start crying and mess up all her make-up, or trip and fall, face planting into the ground. Her deodorant could wear off and pit stains could come through her dress. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck and she wiped it away.

Dad shifted the car into low gear and merged onto the crowded street. “Cory is going to text me when all the guests have been seated. So I thought we’d drive around until then. Sound good?”

“Yes.” Jess rolled down the window, letting in the fresh, fall air. She took another breath, exhaling slowly.

He glanced in her direction. “Are you nervous?”

“Maybe just a little.”

“Oh,” he said in a quiet tone.

She winked at him. “Luckily, Zach is one of the two greatest men I know.”

Dad reached over the stick shift and patted her arm. “Well then …” He paused for a moment, his lips trembling as he blinked back tears.

A grin tugged at her lips. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Surely, there had to be an emotional gene in her family. No way would her parents be able to make it through the ceremony without crying. Maybe if she didn’t look at them, she’d be able to hold back the floodgates.

Turning away from Dad, she looked out the window as they passed by the familiar old-brick buildings around campus. She let memories from college calm her nerves—Barton Dorm, where she lived her freshman and sophomore year, the Kappa Sigma house, where she met Zach at a fraternity party, Jack Trice Stadium, where she played cymbals with the Iowa State band. College already felt like a lifetime ago. Five years had passed by so quickly, especially after she’d met Zach. Life had been a whirlwind since then—dating long distance, moving to California, renting a house together.

Dad’s phone buzzed. He reached for his phone and glanced down at the screen to view the text. “It’s from Cory. All the guests have been seated.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. Dad turned onto Union Drive, stopping at a light. A white minivan pulled up behind them. In the side mirror, Jess caught a glance at the driver, who was leaning over his steering wheel, staring at the Just Married sign on the back of the car. The light turned green and the man drove past, giving them a curious look before honking his horn.

Dad chuckled. “That guy probably thinks you’re marrying an old geezer.”

Jess gave a nervous laugh as they neared the Campanile. Dad turned onto the sidewalk, leading toward the center of campus. With shaky hands, she twisted her bouquet. Driving on the sidewalk was completely against campus rules. Hopefully, the event coordinator wouldn’t be too angry. But it was too late to turn back now. A couple of weeks ago, Dad had made the suggestion and she couldn’t say no. The thought of surprising Zach seemed like a great way to start their life together.

The Corvette crawled down the sidewalk and Dad pressed his palm into the middle of the wheel. She waited to hear the horn—the signal for everyone to turn and see them. Nothing happened. Dad pressed the horn again. No sound. Frowning, he turned to look at Jess. “It’s not working. I probably should’ve checked to make sure it worked.”

“No big deal.” She extended her arm out the open window, waving. Someone had to notice them by now. Nobody turned around. Her heartbeat picked up speed. She waved her hand in a frenetic motion.

Someone seated turned around and pointed at them, waving back. More faces turned in their direction.

The Corvette reached a bend in the sidewalk and the ISU event coordinator stood on the path with her mouth open. As the car drove near, she stood frozen in place, her eyes narrowing.

Jess exchanged a nervous look with Dad. If the lady didn’t move, they couldn’t go any farther. With her lips pressed together, the coordinator finally moved and Dad stopped the Corvette directly behind the seated guests. Jess quickly switched into her heels and let out an excited squeal.

Dad rushed to open the car door and she reached for his firm hand. All eyes stared in her direction as she stepped out of the vehicle. Swallowing hard, she resisted the urge to stare at the ground. She looped her arm around Dad’s, her heels sinking into the grass as they slowly walked down the aisle.

Beneath the clock tower, Katie stood behind a microphone. Her soft, angelic voice floated through the air. Jess smiled at her sister, then directed her gaze to Zach. He stood stick still, biting a trembling lip as he stared at his feet. She kept looking at him, waiting for him to meet her gaze. When he did, he gave her a shaky smile.

The full magnitude of the moment hit her like a strong wind. Here she was wearing the most beautiful dress she’d ever owned, walking toward Zach, seeing all her friends and family gathered in one place. Her heart seemed to expand in her ribs, leaving little room for her lungs to breathe. Tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked. Not now. Hold it together. Just a little bit longer.

Katie’s voice trembled, then faltered off. Jess glanced at her sister. Katie gripped the microphone while tears streamed down her cheeks. Jess smiled. She wasn’t the only daughter who had been given the emotional gene.

In the front row, Mom’s reassuring voice rose above the quartet’s background music. “It’s okay, Katie. Put the microphone down.”

Jess’ heart swelled with appreciation. Thank goodness for Mom. Not only for reassuring Katie, but also for helping plan the wedding. Mom had worked so hard to make sure every detail was taken care of—the decorations, the catering, the flowers. Planning an Iowa wedding from California would’ve been a disaster if it hadn’t been for her.

Katie walked to her seat and the quartet finished playing as the officiant took Katie’s spot behind the microphone. Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, Ryan’s voice came out loud and clear. “As you all know, today is September 26, 2015. There is no better year for this couple to get married. It’s the year that Back to the Future II takes place. According to the movie, by 2015 drones and flat screen TV’s should be invented, and they are.”

He pointed to the sky and frowned. “But not all of the movie’s predictions came true. Unfortunately, we still don’t have hover boards or flying cars.”

Pressing her thumb and middle finger together, Jess snapped her fingers. “Oh darn.”

Ryan laughed. “Not all predictions can come true, but if I could make one prediction I feel very certain of, it would be that Zach and Jess will be married until the end of their days.”

Jess smiled. What a perfect prediction. Without a doubt, she would do everything she could to make it come true and so would Zach. Marriage would not always be easy, but it was a commitment she was willing to make if meant she could experience a lifetime with her best friend.

Toward the end of the ceremony, Zach’s shoulders loosened. It was almost over and going better than he’d hoped. Not too long ago, Ryan had become ordained so he could officiate the wedding. Just yesterday, his friend admitted that he still hadn’t finished writing the ceremony. If Jess knew, she’d want to kill Ryan. Thankfully, his friend worked well under pressure.

Pulling a piece of paper out of his vest, Ryan handed it to Jess and addressed the crowd. “Zach and Jess are now going to exchange their vows.”

Zach gave Jess a reassuring smile as she unfolded the piece of paper with shaky hands. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him. “When I sat down to write this, I wanted to talk about all the things I love about you. But I’m pretty sure some of us want to eat cake sometime today, so let me cut to the chase.”

Zach chuckled. Leave it to Jess to start off her vows with humor. He had no doubt she took this commitment seriously, but she probably wanted everyone to enjoy this moment.

She glanced down at the paper. “I promise to never ever watch an episode of The Goldbergs without you. I promise to insist on making you pancakes, then mess up and completely disfigure the first five, before producing three edible ones that actually look like pancakes.”

A smile tugged at his lips. After they first moved in together, Jess had wanted to make him breakfast. He’d told her it wasn’t a big deal, he didn’t normally eat much in the morning. But she slipped on an apron anyway and before long, he could hear “Dang it” and “Crap” quietly coming from the kitchen. He walked in to see a stack of misshapen pancakes piled on a plate. He told her he didn’t mind, but she insisted on making more until they were perfectly round.

Jess looked up from the paper, her voice becoming steadier. “I promise to listen to your advice and sometimes take it. I promise not to keep score, even though I’m probably winning.”

Zach shook his head. He’d lose every time if it meant making her happy.

“I promise to share a life of unexpected & strange adventures, and I promise to admire your ability to remember vast amounts of random and mostly useless information.

But most of all, I promise to love you tirelessly through the incredible times and through the merely fabulous times, regardless of the fact that you passionately argued with me about the pronunciation of the word ‘superfluous, insisting that that it was super-flew-us to the point where you bet me and lost horribly.” She paused and lifted her index finger. “Oh, and I promise to never bring that up again.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” he said quietly.

She folded the paper and handed it back to Ryan, then looked at Zach. “I’ll end my vows on this note. It’s a great day to be alive, to be a Cyclone, and to be your wife.”

His heart pounded in his chest. Jess had clearly put a lot of thought into her vows. She’d made them unique and special, sharing some of her favorite moments. Hopefully, his would measure up to hers.

Ryan gave him a small slip of paper. “Your turn, buddy.”

Zach sucked in a breath. “I haven’t written these yet, so I am just going to wing it …”

Jess’ mouth fell open.

He grinned. “Just kidding.”

She sent him a playful glare as he began. “I promise to continue to take you to the drive-in and curl up underneath a blanket in my pickup while both of us cry during Inside Out. I promise to love and support you, especially when you become feisty.”

Pausing, he looked up and studied Jess’ face, mesmerized by the reflection of sunlight on her black silky hair. “I promise to keep having fun and to keep laughing with you. I promise to raise another 1, or 2, or 7 cats with you.”

She formed a fist and pulled it back beside her waist. “Yes!”

The guests laughed.

“I promise to keep setting goals with you, and to never settle as a good enough spouse. I promise that, for you, I will keep trying to improve as a spouse.” Jess deserved that much from him.

“I promise to get much better at cooking steaks. I promise to eventually take you to Spain.” He slipped the paper into his pocket and reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together. “And lastly, I promise to take care of you and me so that we may grow really, really old together.”

Ryan extended his arms to the side. “Zach and Jess, with the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He turned to Zach. “You may kiss the bride.”

Zach took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Jess’ waist. His heart beat wildly as he pressed his lips against hers. No ring or ceremony could change how he already felt, but kissing Jess as his wife for the very first time was like unwrapping the biggest present at Christmas.

Friends and family rose from their seats, clapping. As their applause grew louder, Jess pulled back, smiling. “I’ll be right back.” Turning away, she dashed to the front aisle.

Zach tilted his head to the side. What was she doing?

Jess stopped in front of her dad, leaned down, and whispered in his ear. He pulled something out of his pocket, sending a shiny, reflective light in Zach’s direction.

Turning around, Jess walked back, holding a set of shiny silver keys. “Guess how we’re getting out of here?”

His eyes grew wide. “In the Corvette?”

Jess nodded. “Let’s go.” He followed her down the aisle as they ran toward the classic car and hopped inside. Jess tossed her bouquet into his lap, traded her heels for tennis shoes, and turned the keys in the ignition. As the car purred to life, Zach laughed. “You know, this is very fitting. You drive the car while I hold the flowers.”

“I knew you wouldn’t be surprised.” A grin stretched across her face. “But I figured this would be the perfect way to start our life together.”

Ten-Years-Old (1971)

Tony Liston dashed across the living room, his short, small frame weaving between large cardboard boxes and furniture scattered across the dusty hardwood floor. Turning around, he took a couple of steps back, searching for his brother among all the other kids.

Tim’s dark hair appeared above a pile of boxes labeled kitchen.

“Go long.” Tony threw the football, and as it spiraled through the air, Tim ran backward, keeping his eye on the ball. As it neared, Tim jumped and lunged to the side. The ball shot right past his outstretched arms and smacked into his tiny chest with a light thud. He wrapped his arms around the ball, and ran smack into a box.

Tony gasped as the box toppled over, causing pots and pans to slide onto the floor, their metal handles clattering against the hardwood.

Tim jumped up, clutching the ball in his hand and extending his arm in the air, mimicking Mean Joe Green after making a touchdown.

Tony smirked. “Nice catch.”

“What was that noise?” Mom’s voice came from the entryway, her tone drenched with irritation.

He pushed his coke-bottle glasses to the top of his nose, heat creeping up the back of his neck. They didn’t normally play ball in the house, but he’d been trying to keep his younger brothers and all the other kids occupied. As soon as their move-in truck had pulled up in front of the parsonage, families had been in and out of their house, welcoming them to town. The best way to keep the little ones out of his parent’s way was to play catch. At least, that was what he’d thought, but it didn’t seem like Mom agreed.

She appeared in the doorway, her arms crossed above her plaid button-down shirt. Stepping into the living room, her gaze traveled to the pots and pans on the floor. A low tsk noise escaped through her pursed lips as a look of disappointment flashed across her face. “Please don’t make a mess.”

His shoulders lowered. “Sorry. I’ll pick it up.”

“Thank you.” She uncrossed her arms and pointed at the football. “No more ball in the house. The rules haven’t changed. They’re the same ones we’ve always had.”

“Okay.”

Her short black curls bounced as she shook her head and walked out of the room, back toward the foyer. Several of the kids followed her, no doubt looking for their parents.

He dropped the ball and kneeled down on the floor. Picking up a large pot, he set it back in the box. He hated disappointing his mom. As the oldest, he felt obligated to be the responsible one, if only to make her life easier.

Too bad Mom or Dad didn’t care about making his life easier. In fact, when Dad accepted the head pastorate position for First Christian Church, it felt like he had single-handedly ruined Tony’s life. Not that he would complain about it. Mom and Dad were convinced the Lord wanted them to serve in this new place. Tony was trying really hard to see it that way too, but it wasn’t easy.

All his friends lived in Paoli, Indiana, two hours away. He would never see them again. Plus, they’d moved a month into the school year. And not just any school year—fifth grade. It would’ve been the best year ever. It was one of the highest grades at Throop Elementary, so he had been the top dog at school. All those younger kids had looked up to him, just like he’d looked up to the fifth and sixth graders last year.

But here in Brazil, Indiana, no one would know him. Meridian Elementary was much bigger than his old school. Would anyone even notice him? Would he be able to make friends?

Setting another pan in the box, he expelled a heavy breath. Somehow, he’d have to find the positive reasons for living in Brazil. It was the right thing to do.

Three quick knocks rapped on the front door. Tony jumped up and dashed to the living room window, pulling back the drapes. It was probably another family from the church.

The doorbell rang, sending a long, shrill melody above the noisy chaos inside the house. He pulled the drapes back farther, seeing a blonde-haired girl standing on the stoop. From what he could see, the girl looked cute.

As Mom opened the door, Tony let go of the drapes and dashed to the entryway to get a better look at the girl.

“Hi,” she said, holding a pie in front her green and pink flowered dress. Her golden blonde hair cascaded past her shoulders, stopping just below her tiny waist. With her long hair and light brown freckles sprinkled across her nose and cheeks, she almost looked like a younger version of Marcia Brady. Her big hazel eyes stared at him expectantly and he realized she was waiting for him to respond.

“Um, hi.” Tony swallowed hard and stuck his hands in his pockets. Too bad he hadn’t brought the football with him. He would’ve looked a lot groovier.

A woman beside the girl stepped forward, her heels clicking against the cement porch. He forced his gaze away from the girl to look at the woman as she glanced down at him, her bright red lips forming a kind smile. “Welcome to Brazil.”

Beside him, Mom stepped back and ushered the ladies into the foyer. “Come on in.”

As they stepped inside, Dad walked up next to Mom, holding out his hand. “Nice to meet both of you.” They made introductions, and Tony learned the girl’s name was Stephenie. After that, the adults made small talk, and he stopped paying attention. He couldn’t focus. Not with this pretty girl standing right in front of him.

Still mesmerized by her resemblance to Marcia Brady, he tried not to stare and lowered his gaze to the pie in her hands.

“Is that for us?”

She nodded. “I made it with my mom. It’s apple.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you going to take it?” she asked sweetly.

“Oh. Yeah.” Taking his hands out of his pockets, he reached for the pie. For a brief moment, his hand brushed against hers, and his heart picked up speed. Hopefully, she couldn’t hear how loud his heart was thudding. Trying to appear more at ease than he felt, he held the pie against his belt buckle and leaned against the wall. “So, what grade are you in?”

“Third. You?”

“Fifth.”

Her eyes widened and he lifted his chin a bit higher, satisfied that he’d impressed her. On second thought, maybe she was surprised, assuming he was younger. His shoulder’s lowered. If only he were taller.

She tucked a straight golden lock behind her ear, and he noticed a dark smudge on her hand.

He pointed to the smudge. “What’s that?”

She lifted her hand, following his gaze. “Oh, it’s ink from my chemistry set.”

“Wow. You must be really smart.” Remembering to act cool, he ran a hand through his short brown bob. “For a third grader, I mean.”

Stephenie gave him a coy smile, her cheeks turning crimson. “I want to be a doctor someday.”

“Oh yeah? That’s far out.”

“What do you wanna be?”

“I dunno yet.” Tony shrugged. “Maybe a pastor, like my dad.”

Stephenie played with the hem of her dress. “Cool beans.”

As silence settled between them, he felt the need to say something impressive. Running through a list of possibilities in his head, he pushed his glasses higher up his nose. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“This house has a secret stairway.”

“No way.”

“Uh-huh. Wanna see it?”

Stephenie tugged on her mom’s dress, her eyes lighting with excitement. “Can I go see a secret stairway?”

Her mom glanced down at her watch. “Not today, sweetie. We’ve intruded long enough. They need to finish unpacking.”

Stephenie stuck out her bottom lip. “Please?”

“Maybe another time.” Her mom exchanged a look with his parents. “If the Liston’s invite us back, of course.”

His Dad put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. “We’d love to have Stephenie over to play sometime. Wouldn’t we, Tony?”

Resisting the urge to scream yes, Tony pushed off the wall. “Sure.”

“Okay.” Stephenie grinned, giving Tony a long look that made his stomach do flip-flops. “Friends?”

“Friends.”

“Cool. I’ll catch ya on the flip side.” Still smiling, she turned around and walked down the steps with her mom.

He stood in the open doorway, watching her long golden locks swaying across her back. She was one groovy chic. Maybe moving to Brazil wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Sixteen-Years-Old (1977)

Running a hand through his hair, Tony stepped inside the stark white hospital room. The curtains were open, exposing a tall white pine tree just outside the window. In the bed, Steph lay motionless against the stiff sheets. Across the room, several pink and yellow bouquets were placed on a shelf beneath the mounted TV. On the screen, Fonzie stood beside a booth at Al’s Diner, talking to Richie Cunningham. Fozie snapped his fingers, and a blonde bombshell walked up to his side, looping her arm around his waist, just below his brown leather jacket. “Aaaaayy,” Fonzie said, smirking at the girl. “Let’s get outta of here.”

That was exactly what Tony wanted to say to Steph. It didn’t seem right to see her lying in a hospital bed with tubes snaking out of her arms. She was supposed to be hanging out with him, not recovering from scoliosis surgery.

He stepped closer to the bed, sucking in a breath. Her long, blonde hair splayed out across the white sheets, tucked neatly beneath her thin arms. Her eyes were closed, her long lashes gracing her pale, white cheeks. With the fluorescent ceiling lights beaming down on her face, she looked like Sleeping Beauty.

Picking up a chair by the window, he moved it closer to the hospital bed and sat down.

Her head turned in his direction. Her eyes fluttered open, then shut, and open again. She stared at him for a moment as if she couldn’t decide if he was a figment of her imagination. Finally, a shaky smile spread across her face. “You came.”

“Uh-huh.”

“My mom didn’t tell me you were going to be here. I thought it was just your dad.” Her voice sounded low and groggy, probably from all the medication given to her during surgery.

“I figured I’d come and check out the big city. I’ve never been to Indianapolis before.” Tony shifted in the chair, hoping Steph wasn’t conscious enough to see his cheeks turning red. What he said was only partially true. The main reason he’d come was to see her.

“Where’s your dad?”

“In the hallway, talking to your parents.”

“Oh.”

Tony leaned back against his chair, propping a bent leg over his knee. “How’s your back?”

She gave him a somber look. “The doctor isn’t sure if the surgery worked. I might be hunch-backed in a few years.”

Tony’s mouth fell open. “Seriously?”

Grinning, Steph shook her head. “You really believed me?”

“Of course not. I was just humoring you.”

“Oh yeah? Then why did your eyes bug out of your head?”

“No comment.”

Still smiling, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Actually, surgery went really well.” She went on to tell him all about her surgery and the two steel rods holding her spine in place, using medical jargon throughout her explanation.

He listened intently, nodding and pretending he understood everything she was saying. No matter how many times he talked to her, he was always impressed with how smart she was. It made her appear older than she really was.

“How long are you stuck in here?” he asked when she was finished.

She scrunched her nose. “Six weeks.”

“At least you get to miss school.”

“I know. I was supposed to have a geography test tomorrow.”

“You have Mr. Pearson, right?”

She nodded. “He’s so boring.”

“I had him in junior high, too. I fell asleep in his class once.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” She gave him a knowing look. “It was probably during hunting season, wasn’t it?”

“Maybe.” He drew out the word.

She lifted her chin. “I know you so well.”

He couldn’t deny that she was right. Over the last six years, they’d spent more and more time together. Playing tag at recess in elementary school, talking after church services, going to hometown football games, and hanging out at the mall. Despite their age difference, she’d definitely become one of his good friends.

“How’s school going for you?” she asked.

“Same old, same old. Homecoming is next weekend.”

Steph picked at her thumbnail, chipping away at blue polish. “Are you going to homecoming with anyone?”

“Yeah. I asked Marilyn.”

“Oh.” Flecks of blue fingernail polish landed on the white sheet. “Are you going steady?”

“No. We’ve only gone on a few dates.” Tony smirked, asking his next question just to pester her. “Why? Are you jealous?”

Rolling her eyes, Steph made a humph noise. “Please.”

“Sheesh, I’m not that bad.” Leaning over, he rested his elbows on the bed. “At least, Marilyn doesn’t think so. She says I’m foxy.”

Steph gave him a coy smile, keeping her voice smooth and steady. “Looks aren’t everything, you know.”

Tony’s chest pinched with disappointment. Did that mean Steph didn’t find him attractive? And why did he suddenly feel disappointed? He leaned back in his chair, putting more space between them so he could think clearly. It had to be a fluke reaction. Steph was just a friend. While there was no denying he was attracted to her, she’d never be anything more. She was too young to date, especially a high school boy, like himself. And if they broke up, dating would ruin their friendship. They had a good thing going.

Why mess it up?

Eighteen-Years-Old (1979)

Tapping his pencil against the desk, Tony glanced up at the classroom clock. Three more minutes until he could see Steph.

At the front of the classroom, Mrs. Claussen droned on about the democratic system. For most of the period, he’d sat straight up in his desk, soaking in every word. At one point, he’d raised his hand, asking Mrs. Claussen if she really believed America had a democratic system. Didn’t she realize it was more of a constitutional republic? After he asked, Mrs. Claussen had just stared at him, blinking until it was clear she didn’t plan on responding. He’d started to tune out after that, but with only minutes left in class, he couldn’t concentrate at all.

He glanced up at the clock again. The tick, tick, tick created a low, rhythmic sound, like the quiet beating of a drum punctuating Mrs. Claussen’s final points. Slipping his notebook beneath his armpit, he moved to the edge of his seat.

Tick, tick, tick.

He set his pencil behind his ear, careful not to mess up his hair. He’d been growing it out over the last few months, trying to look more like John Travolta. With just the right amount of hair gel, he was getting close.

Ding!

Tony sprang out of his seat, headed toward the southwest corner of the high school where Steph had Chemistry fifth period. Maneuvering through the crowded hallway, he swung his free arm back and forth to gain more momentum.

A couple of girls stood in the middle of the hallway, engrossed in a conversation until he sped past them, and their eyebrows rose. He didn’t care what they thought of him. He had to time it just right or he wouldn’t see Steph today.

Coming to the end of the hallway, he swerved around the corner, then slowed to a casual walk. Steph’s class was only a few feet away, and she had no idea how fast he had to go if he wanted to talk to her between classes. Running a hand through his hair, he took deep breaths in an attempt to slow his racing heart.

The breaths didn’t help. A few feet away, Steph leaned against a locker, wearing white pants, a lime green blouse, and big hoop earrings. Her long hair drifted across her slender shoulders as she turned her head, meeting his gaze. Waving, she pushed off the locker and met him halfway. “Hey you.”

He slid his free hand inside the pocket of his bell-bottoms. “How’s your day going?”

“Swell.” Grinning, she tucked a strand of hair behind her earring. “Ron asked me if I’d see a movie with him this weekend.”

“That’s far out.” He tried to keep his voice platonic, as if he didn’t care. But over the last couple of years, it was getting harder to ignore the squeeze of jealousy gripping his heart. “What are you gonna see?”

“Somewhere In Time.”

“That’s a good flick.”

Steph moved her textbooks from one hip to the other. “Did you see it with Donna?”

“Yeah.” Just thinking about Donna brought a smile to his face. He’d been going steady with her for the last year and he could definitely see a future with her. Even though she was a year younger and he planned on going to Ozark Bible College next school year, they wanted to continue dating. He didn’t see any reason why they wouldn’t. Donna had a strong faith, she was kind, driven, and pretty.

She didn’t make him feel as happy as he felt with Steph, but he figured their friendship went so far back, no other girl could make him feel like Steph did. He could always be himself around her and every time they talked, he felt this light airy sensation, like he was walking on clouds. She had the ability to make everyone feel special, and she knew just the right way to make every situation fun.

The warning bell sent out a shrill ring. Tony took a reluctant step back. Seeing Steph was one of the best parts of his day. “Have you seen The Empire Strikes Back yet?”

“No. Why?”

“Maybe we should get a group together and go see it. You could always see Somewhere In Time another weekend.”

Steph bit her bottom lip. “That’s true.”

“So you’ll think about it?”

“Yeah. I’ll give you a call later.” She glanced at the nearest hallway clock. “You’d better go or you’ll be late.” Flipping her hair behind her back, she slowly walked toward Chemistry.

“Wait.”

She turned her head in his direction, waiting for him to say whatever he had to tell her.

“Are you going to youth group tonight?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” Smiling, he waited for her petite form to disappear into the classroom before he turned around and sprinted down the hallway. With every step he took, relief flooded through him. Steph didn’t always come to youth group and when she did, she always made it much more fun. She was the type of person who could light up a room. He wasn’t the only one who felt that way. It was obvious when she walked into church and everyone crowded around her.

And yet, his time with Steph was coming to an end. In just a few weeks, he would graduate from high school. They would only have a couple of months of summer before he left for college and moved away.

Tony swallowed the lump in his throat. The distance would surely change their relationship. It wouldn’t be easy to see each other, unless he came home to visit. It would cost money to call her long distance, but maybe he could write her letters.

His hopes lifted a little. It sounded like a good idea. But what would he write? And what would Donna think? Even though she knew he and Steph were just friends, letters were more intimate than hanging out with Steph in a group. He wouldn’t want to hurt Donna’s feelings in any way. She deserved a good, respectable guy, and he wanted to be that for her.

Picking up speed, he dashed inside the classroom just as the final bell rang. Sliding into a desk, his chest constricted. There really wasn’t a reason to stay in contact with Steph while he was at college. Not if they were just friends.

Nineteen-Years-Old (1980)

Warm summer air swirled around Tony’s dress shoes as he opened the door to Johnny’s Steak House.

A large crowd stood talking in the lobby, waiting to be seated. Walking toward his old youth group friends, his heart pounded in his chest. Was Steph here with a date? If so, would she be happy to see him? It had been a year since he’d last seen or heard from her. He’d thought about her a lot. Was she dating anyone? Had she decided where she wanted to go to college? With her good grades, she surely had a lot of choices.

Standing on his tiptoes, he scanned the group. No sign of Steph. He sighed and lowered his feet as several of his friends walked over to him.

“Good to see you, man.”

“It’s been too long.”

“Back for an internship, huh?”

“You’ll be a great pastor.”

“Excuse me.” Florence squeezed through the group, waving her cane in the air to make sure none of the youth group members bumped into her. She pulled her mink vest tighter around her frail body as her steel-gray eyes zeroed in on him. “Where’s your date?”

Tony adjusted his tie. “I, uh, I didn’t bring one.”

Setting her cane on the floor, Florence pursed her lips. “That was the only condition. I’d take everyone out for dinner if you each brought a date.”

The group went silent.

Heat crept up the back of his neck. Florence didn’t understand. Donna had just broken up with him. He didn’t want a date. He just wanted to catch up with old friends. “I’m sorry. It’s just me.”

Zipping up her mink vest, Florence shook her head. “That is not acceptable. I’ll have to cancel dinner until you can find a date.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight.”

If his friends weren’t glaring at him, he would’ve laughed at Florence’s tenacity. The old woman definitely had spunk. He reached for her thin, wrinkled hand. “Okay, I’ll find one.”

A few minutes later, he stood behind the restaurant’s front desk, staring at the phone. He picked it up, his hand trembling. Should he call Steph? If he did and she did yes, it would change their relationship forever. Even though they hadn’t talked in a year, he hoped by coming back home they could pick up where they left off. But if she knew he liked her, then they couldn’t go back to being just friends.

His stomach felt queasy, thinking of a new possibility. What if he asked her and she said no? Maybe she was still going steady with Ron.

He almost put the phone back on the receiver. Just call her. You’ll never know if you don’t ask. Taking a deep breath, he dialed her number, his pulse hammering in his ears.

“Hello?” Steph’s voice answered sounding like a long forgotten song.

“Hey Steph.”

“Tony?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” He clutched the desk counter, his knuckles turning white. “You know Florence from church?”

“Yes.”

“She’s taking a bunch of us out to dinner tonight, and I was wondering if you …” His mouth went dry. Swallowing repeatedly, he tried to form the right words. “If you’d be my date.”

“What time?”

“Now.”

“Like, right now?”

“Yeah.”

She gave a nervous laugh and he could just imagine her sitting on the edge of her couch, shaking her head. “So you’re asking me last minute.”

“Yeah, kinda.” The sound of her laughter brought warmth pooling low into his stomach. “Will you go?”

“Um…”

He twirled the cord around his finger, waiting for her response. This was a bad idea. She obviously didn’t want to go.

“Okay.”

“You’ll go?”

“Yes.”

“Great.” He stood up straight, a weight lifting off his shoulders that he hadn’t even known was there. Peering over the counter, he met Florence’s gaze and gave her a thumbs up.

With Steph on her way, Florence allowed the youth group to be seated and Tony stayed in the lobby. As he waited for Steph, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He put his hands in his pockets, only to take them out a minute later. Beads of sweat trickled down his back. He adjusted his tie to give him more room to breath and aired out his button down shirt. Then he readjusted his tie, making it tighter. With his clothes just right, he leaned against the wall with one hand in his pocket. He needed to look calm and composed when she walked in the door.

Steph arrived a half-hour later dressed in a denim knee-length dress and tall brown boots. Light blue make-up accented her eyes and a gold necklace wrapped around the collar of her dress and dangled just below her collarbone.

His gaze moved up and down before his eyes met hers, and his heart skipped a beat. He’d never seen Steph so dressed up before. Had she dressed up for him or did she have plans later? Either way, she looked stunning.

Snapping out of his trance, he crossed the distance between them in a few quick strides and hugged her, inhaling the familiar scent of her lavender perfume. “Hey you.”

Stepping back, she gave him a warm smile. “Hey, that’s my line.”

His stomach twisted. Whatever she’d done to make her eyes stand out, it looked good. Really, really good. “You look beautiful.”

She tucked a straight blonde strand behind her ear. “Thanks.”

“Do you have plans later or something?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“No date with Ron?”

“No. We broke up last year.”

“Oh.” He scuffed his shoe across the floor.

“Where is everybody else?”

Tony pointed to a table at the far side of the restaurant. “Sitting over there. They ordered a few appetizers.” Seizing every bit of confidence he could muster, he held out his hand to her.

She glanced down at his open palm and bit her lip.

Heat crept up the back of his neck. He was only offering to hold her hand, and yet, they both knew the gesture meant so much more. He’d asked her on a date, and she’d said yes, but this was different. Friends might go out to dinner with a group, but friends didn’t hold hands.

Her cheeks turned crimson as she lifted her hand, entwining their fingers. Giving a gentle squeeze, she looked up at him, her eyes confirming what he’d hoped to see—she had feelings for him too.

Two months later, Tony drove down Steph’s street to drop her off after youth group. He stopped his 1976 Chevette in front of her parent’s house just as the sun disappeared below the horizon, and the streetlamp turned on above them. In the semi-darkness, the light cast a hazy luminescence behind Steph’s open passenger window, casting an ethereal glow on her skin.

She rested her arm on the window frame and turned toward him. “That was a really good lesson.”

“I added too much personal information.”

“No, you didn’t. You made it really relevant.” She gave him a playful shove. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

He smiled. “I’ll try not to.”

“I can’t believe your internship is almost over.”

“I know, it’s gone by fast.”

Nodding, she played with a loose thread on her plaid capris, her face turning somber. “I have to tell you something.”

He twisted a dial on the dashboard, lowering the volume just as Thriller came on the radio. Whatever Steph had to say was much more important. “What is it?”

“I almost told you no when you asked me to go to Florence’s dinner.”

“You did? Why?”

She stopped playing with the loose thread and met his gaze. “I was scared.”

He reached over the console, grabbing her hand. “I’ll be honest, I was scared, too.”

Her eyes grew wide. “But you sounded so sure of yourself.”

Tony chuckled. “I wasn’t.”

“Well, you had me fooled.”

“And you thought you knew me so well.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you said yes. I’ve had a lot of fun with you this summer.”

Staring into her eyes, fun couldn’t even begin to describe how much the time with Steph had meant to him. After Florence’s dinner, they’d spent almost every day together. Walking around Honey Creek Square Mall, going to movies, and taking the neighborhood kids putt-putting. As an intern for the youth group, he’d even given Steph a leadership role so he’d be able to see her more often.

With her thumb, she drew circles on the palm of his hand. “What are you thinking about?”

“How much you mean to me.” Saying the words out loud made his heart squeeze. They’d only been dating two months, but going steady with Steph wasn’t the typical situation. He didn’t need time to fall in love with her. He was already in love with her. And now he was so deep in love, he couldn’t imagine why it had taken him so long to ask her out.

“You mean a lot to me, too.” Looking down at their hands, Steph twisted her lips like she always did when she felt uncertain. “But where is this going?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He felt so sure about his future with Steph, but that didn’t mean she felt the same way. She was only a senior in high school, and next year, she would attend Oral Roberts University to become a surgeon. They weren’t exactly taking the same paths in life.

Steph’s sigh filled the silence. “I mean, are we dating other people now or what?”

He let go of her hand and tucked a golden lock behind her ear. If he didn’t tell her how he felt, he would always wonder what could have been. “I don’t want to. Anyone I might marry someday would have to be a lot like you. In fact, exactly like you.” Staring into her eyes, he brought his face inches away from hers. “So if you’re okay with it, I’d rather just date you and someday marry you.”

A big grin spread across her face. “Okay.”

With his heart beating wildly in his chest, Tony rested his elbow on the console, his gaze lingering on her lips. She inched closer, her chest rising and falling as she closed her eyes. Crossing the distance, he pressed his lips against hers. He kept the kiss soft and gentle, but on the inside, heat radiated from his lips to his toes. Fireworks shot off inside his stomach, like when Melissa Sue kissed Bobby Brady for the first time. It was definitely a kiss worth waiting for.

Smiling, he broke off the kiss, keeping his face inches away from hers. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said breathlessly.

August 19th. Marilyn stared at the date on her calendar and wiped a tear off her cheek. Most years, she spent today making her daughter’s birthday special—dinner as a family, Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, gift opening with lots of back-to-school clothing.

But today, she wouldn’t do any of it. Instead, she’d drop Amanda off at Loras College and say good-bye. Not exactly the kind of celebration she’d envisioned for her daughter’s eighteenth birthday.

Greg opened the office door, dressed in jeans and a White Sox t-shirt. Stepping into the room, his clear blue eyes narrowed in concern. “Are you ready to pack the car?”

Marilyn shook her head. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready.”

“It’s going to be okay.”

His footsteps stopped behind her and she turned around, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Amanda’s spending her birthday with strangers, away from home, without us.”

Greg kissed her forehead. “This is an exciting day for her. She’ll meet her volleyball coach and all the other players on the team.”

“We should have kept her home a year, instead of sending her to kindergarten.”

“Honey, she’ll be fine.”

Marilyn expelled a breath, wishing she could feel as certain. Would anyone wish Amanda a happy birthday? Would the coach like her? Would she make friends? If Amanda’s high school years were any indication, the coach would love her and she’d make plenty of friends, but what if college turned out different?

The thump of a duffle bag being lugged down the stairs echoed through the hallway.

Stepping away, Marilyn glanced out the open door. “I don’t want Amanda to see me crying, not now, and definitely not when we leave.”

Greg ran a hand over his baldhead. “How about this? Let’s make up a secret phrase. When it’s time to leave, one of us will say it’s hurry time and we’ll make a quick exit.”

“Good idea.” She wiped away the last of her tears. At least she could count on Greg to remain reasonable. No matter how emotional she became, he always minimized the situation. No mountains, just molehills. No doubt he’d keep her sane over the next few weeks.

Marilyn bent down in front of the dorm room vanity, organizing all of Amanda’s bathroom supplies. She placed a green toothbrush holder on the worn sink and set a new toothbrush inside it. Opening the mirror above the vanity, she arranged face wash, floss, toothpaste, and deodorant. If she kept busy, she wouldn’t focus on the real purpose for being in Beckman Hall Dormitory.

Finished with the vanity, she unsealed another cardboard box. She pulled out an orange bath towel and held it for her daughter to see. “Where do you want this to go?”

Amanda glanced up from a box full of printed pictures, her long blonde strands draped across her slender shoulders. She taped a picture to the white brick wall, then pointed to the door. “I think there are hooks on the back.”

“Ladies, I have a problem.” Greg stepped away from the pile of wooden boards lying on the green tiled floor. “The bolts don’t fit right.”

Marilyn expelled a frustrated breath. “How is that possible? That loft was expensive. It should fit together perfectly.”

Greg put his hands on his hips, staring at the half-finished bed. “I need to go back to Menards.”

“Are you sure the bolts don’t fit?”

“Yes, I’m positive.”

Her heart sunk. Going to Menards meant more precious time away from Amanda. She didn’t want to go, and yet, Amanda needed a stable bed so she wouldn’t fall off the top bunk.

An hour later, Marilyn followed Greg down the crowded dorm hallway at a snail’s pace. If only she could squeeze between the frenzied freshman and their families to get back to Amanda’s dorm room. But a tall husky man took up the entire width of the hallway as he carried a futon with a boy that looked like a linebacker.

At this pace, she and Greg would never spend any quality time with Amanda. Why didn’t the college have a better move-in process? Didn’t they understand how nerve-racking today would be for everyone?

Down the hallway, Amanda peeked out of her room, a relieved smile spreading across her face. No doubt today was hard for her, too. She’d only been away from home for summer sports camps, but two weeks was much shorter than an entire school year.

The father and son duo maneuvered the futon into a room, leaving more space in the hallway. Marilyn made a beeline toward Amanda with Greg following behind.

Amanda stepped back into the room, giving them space to step inside. “My roommate is here.”

Marilyn swallowed hard. No time alone with Amanda. Blinking back tears, she entered the small cramped space. She plastered a smile on her face, making small talk with Kristen, her boyfriend, and her parents.

As they talked, the walls closed in, making it difficult to breathe. In just a few short hours, she would say good-bye to her only daughter. Their lives would never be the same. She wouldn’t see Amanda get ready for school every morning. With Doug still in high school, she wouldn’t have time to witness all of Amanda’s volleyball games. Or meet her new friends. Amanda would create new memories without her family and new memories would be made at home without her.

It didn’t feel right, like Marilyn was losing an appendage that was supposed to be connected to her.

Trying to calm her emotions, she glanced at Greg, sitting cross-legged on the floor as he put the loft together. Despite the hours of work he’d put into building the loft, he looked more like a child playing with Legos. If only she could be as level-headed as him.

A lull fell in the conversation and Kristin sent her mom a knowing look. “We have a lot of stuff to put away, let’s keep working.”

Relieved, Marilyn turned to Amanda. “What else do you want us to do?”

“The loft is the only thing left.” Amanda tied her curly hair into a ponytail. “What do you guys think of the room?”

Clothes filled Amanda’s side of the closet and along the far wall all her pictures were taped up. But boxes still lay scattered across the tiled floor and without a bed, it looked more like a storage space.

Greg surveyed the room and nodded his head in approval. “It looks great, honey.”

Marilyn forced her lips into a smile. “It’s really coming together.” It was important to make Amanda feel comfortable here, it was her new home. But it would never replace her real home.

Marilyn stood in the doorway with one foot inside Amanda’s room and one foot in the hallway. “Are you sure you have everything you need? We can go to the store and buy you more groceries.”

“Thanks, Mom, but I can buy whatever I don’t have in the mess hall.”

“What about plug-ins? Maybe I should check to see if you have enough outlets.”

Amanda gave her a knowing look. “I have everything I need, thanks to all our shopping excursions to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.”

“What about …” She let the sentence trail off, wishing she could think of something, anything to keep her here a little while longer.

Greg leaned over and pulled Amanda into a hug. “We love you. Give us a call tomorrow, okay?”

As he pulled back, he glanced at Marilyn. “It’s hurry up time.”

She nodded, barely able to breath. She wasn’t ready to leave but tears threatened to overflow. Blinking away the moisture, she wrapped Amanda in a hug, her heart swelling with pride. Her daughter had accomplished so much—great high school G.P.A, all conference volleyball and softball, and first flute and section leader in band.

And yet, the worries she’d buried all day now emerged to the surface of her mind.

Was Amanda ready for college? Would she be scared to stay in her dorm room? Who would remind her to lock the room at night?

She tried to push them away again, but one final question remained. Would Amanda need her? Like when she was a little girl and needed help walking down the stairs or needed comfort after scraping her knee, or wanted a hug when she thought the boogie man was under the bed.

Marilyn’s chest constricted. Amanda wasn’t that little girl anymore. She was an independent woman, ready to experience college.

Stepping out of their embrace, Amanda squeezed her arms. “You’ll be at my first volleyball game, right?”

“Of course.” Marilyn’s voice trembled. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Greg smiled at Amanda. “We’ll see you soon.” Turning around, he reached for Marilyn’s hand, gently tugging her away from their daughter.

Swallowing hard, she followed Greg’s lead. He let go of her hand and set his arm around her shoulders as they walked down the hallway. She leaned into him, her legs unsteady. “I miss her already.”

“So do I.” Reaching the end of the hallway, he opened the main entrance door. “But she’s going to be fine. We did a good job of raising our daughter.”

Warm August sunlight bathed Marilyn’s face as she glanced at Greg and let out a shaky laugh. “You’re right. She’s one amazing kid.”

“Ouch.” Lyra Johnson lifted her arm and reached behind her head, yanking out a bobby pin. Her veil loosened, tilting so low it graced the tip of her classic bun.

She handed the bobby pin to Kira. “Try putting it a little higher.”

Kira raised the veil, gently sliding the bobby pin against the back of Lyra’s scalp. “Does this feel better?”

“Yes. It feels tighter, too.”

Kira expelled a relieved breath and took a step back, a smile spreading across her face. “You look beautiful, sis.”

“Thank you.” Lyra turned to the full-length mirror, resting against the chapel’s white brick wall. The woman in the mirror stared back and pressed a hand against her champagne wedding dress. Her face looked like a porcelain doll with flawless skin, shiny pink lips, and brown eyes popping with light colored eye shadow, black liner, and long dark lashes. Lyra smiled at her reflection. What would Ryan think when he saw her walking down the aisle?

Just the thought of seeing him sent butterflies swarming through her stomach. No doubt he was just as nervous. Being the center of attention in a crowd typically put his nerves on edge, but most people wouldn’t notice. Ryan knew how to mask his anxiety, especially when he felt prepared. Like on the night he’d proposed.

Lyra strode to the middle of the stage as junior high parents and students sat in bleachers, clapping. She grabbed the microphone and peered past the bright overhead lights. “I am so proud to be the director this year. These students worked really hard. They were the perfect cast for Beauty and the Beast. Let’s give them another round of applause.”

The crowd stood, shouts of encouragement and praise filling the room. She lowered the microphone, waiting for silence so she could finish her speech. The students let out shrill shrieks and people in the crowd turned their heads.

Ryan waltzed onto stage with a microphone clutched in his hand. He stopped in front of her and bent down on one knee. “Just like the Beast in the play, I have found my beauty…”

Lyra’s cheeks still grew warm at the memory. She would never forget the line that had melted her heart.

Mom stopped a few feet away, her reflection caught in the mirror. “Oh my goodness. You look gorgeous.” Her face beamed with affection.

Lyra turned around, soaking in every inch of Mom’s outfit—silver sandals, a sparkly knee-length silver dress, and a long dark wig.

Mom reached for Lyra’s arms and gave a soft squeeze. “I’m so glad I could be here.”

“Me too.” Lyra’s chest constricted. How many sleepless nights had she wondered if Mom would still be alive today? Just months ago, Mom had been diagnosed with acute leukemia. The doctors didn’t think she would live because her white blood count was so high. But after several rounds of intensive chemotherapy, she was still alive and looking better than ever. She wasn’t feeling like her old self, but day-by-day, she was growing stronger.

Thank God she’d pulled through—for today, for tomorrow, and for years to come. Life wouldn’t be the same without her.

Lyra chocked back a sob. Now was not the time to get emotional. Not when the ceremony started in a half hour.

Mom must have been thinking the same thing. She let go of Lyra’s arms and checked her watch. “Are you ready?”

Lyra nodded with gusto. “After a two year engagement, I’m more than ready to make Ryan my husband.”

Her bridesmaids and personal attendants giggled.

“I’m pretty sure my cousin feels the exact same way,” said Angela.

Lyra grinned. “It feels unreal that today is finally here.”

“Don’t forget these.” Jenny held up two garters, laced with coral and teal ribbon. Smirking, she raised her eyebrows up and down. “Ryan would be disappointed.” She lifted Lyra’s dress and slipped the garters above her knee.

“And don’t forget to wear the perfume Ryan gave you.” Hannah handed her the bottle and Lyra sprayed it onto her neck, then handed the bottle back to her sister.

“Is there anything else you need before the ceremony starts?” Chelsea asked.

“Yes.” Lyra gave her best friend a coy grin. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Let’s go then.” Chelsea bent down and picked up the train as Lyra walked to the priest’s quarters. Crystal and Mandie followed closely behind.

Lyra stepped inside the priest’s bathroom. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

Mandie lifted the front of the dress. “Hey girl, you do what you have to do.”

Squatting, a laugh bubbled up from Lyra’s chest. “You can’t see my butt, can you?” She squatted a little further, her skin making contact with the porcelain throne. “Why does the toilet seat feel weird?”

Standing near the toilet’s tank, Crystal glanced down and bit her lower lip. “Uh, you should stand up. We forgot to put the toilet seat down.”

Lyra shot straight up, her eyes growing wide. “I just sat on the priest’s pee?”

Chelsea flipped the toilet seat down, smirking. “At least he’s holy.”

“Very funny.” Lyra shook her head. Hopefully, the ceremony would go better than her bathroom experience.

In the chapel, the pianist struck the first cord to “Window to the Heart.” The song floated out of the open doors and into the lobby of St. Anne’s Parish.

Lyra glanced over at Dad. Dressed in a black tuxedo and teal tie, he looked handsome, suave even. He leaned over and brought his mouth close to her ear. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.” Smiling, she clutched Dad’s arm and stepped forward as Sarah and Elijah started the processional. They were the perfect bridesmaid/ groomsman duo—not only did Sarah get along with her brother, but their height difference made a comical picture—whereas Sarah was tall and slender, Elijah was short and lean.

As each pair entered the chapel, Lyra’s stomach somersaulted. This was it. The moment she’d been waiting for. She’d known Ryan since high school. Dated throughout college. He was the perfect man for her. It was time to make their commitment official before God and all of their friends and family.

The pianist paused, causing a dramatic effect before she played “Canon in D.” Standing near the chapel’s doors, Peter grinned. “It’s go time,” he whispered. He glanced at the other usher and nodded. David winked at Lyra and he and Peter opened the doors.

People shuffled in the pews, rising as she and Dad stepped inside the crowded room. She swallowed hard. All of these people were here for her and Ryan. Many of them had helped with wedding plans. They’d spent time creating the turquoise and coral flowered pews. Or folded the programs. Many of them had offered advice—about the wedding or marriage. And with everyone standing in the space together, love radiated throughout the chapel.

She took a step forward, her crochet Toms making contact with the center aisle. Don’t look down, don’t look down. She expelled a deep breath and looked up, catching sight of Ryan, and the rest of the room disappeared.

He stood at the end of the aisle, his arms resting in front of his charcoal gray tuxedo. His hands were clutched together and his short blonde hair was styled with gel. As she stopped in front of him, his blue-green eyes glistened.

Dad leaned over and kissed her cheek as she wrapped him in a side hug. Straightening, he glanced from her to Ryan. They shook hands, then Dad walked back to the pews to sit beside Mom.

Ryan’s lips spread into a wide grin. “You look like an angel with all the lights shining down on you.”

She reached for Ryan’s hand and resisted the urge to kiss him. The ceremony couldn’t go fast enough.

Father Chase held up his hands, then lowered them, signaling for people to sit. Lyra glanced back at the first row of bridesmaids and attendants and her chest swelled with emotion. She couldn’t ask for better friends and family.

Father Chase started the sermon, his calm, confident disposition captivating the audience. Several women fanned themselves with programs. Some of them were blushing and it wasn’t because of the heat, the air was working just fine. Father Chase had that effect on women. But not Lyra. Not with the perfect groom standing right next to her.

Near the end of the ceremony, Father Chase stood at the middle of the altar. He directed the vows, then clasped his hands together. “It is now time for the couple to exchange their wedding rings.”

With a shaky hand, Ryan gripped Lyra’s ring and set it near her pale pink fingernail. “I, Ryan, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” His low and steady voice resounded through the chapel, loud and powerful.

From the pews, friends and family laughed.

Father Chase glanced at Lyra and Chelsea nudged her arm, holding out the ring. She took it and she repeated the blessing, slipping the ring on Ryan’s finger.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Lyra’s heart raced with the finality of the father’s words. Ryan was finally her husband. They could spend the rest of their lives together, making memories. They could buy a house. Start a family. See the world together. The possibilities were endless.

Ryan wrapped his arms around her lower back, his eyes hungrily devouring her face. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. Standing on her tiptoes, she swung her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Their kiss took on a mind of its own, leaving no space for air. Her heart screamed—I love you, I’m so happy your mine forever.

The crowd broke into applause and Lyra stepped back, gasping for breath. With a kiss like that, she couldn’t wait for the honeymoon.

Janice Boekhoff lifted Benny onto the high table. His whole body shook and his short legs strained to move. With her arms wrapped around his stomach, he couldn’t go far. But that didn’t keep him from trying and his nails scratched at the stainless steal table.

She gave the vet an apologetic smile. “Sorry. As you know, he’s not a very easy-going dog.”

Doc Howie placed his hand on Benny’s neck, pressing gently. “I don’t blame him. His skin doesn’t look any better than it did last time.”

“His allergies are getting worse.” Janice swallowed the lump in her throat, wishing she could swallow the helplessness, too. It had been four long years of vet visits and medications and nothing had helped poor Benny regain his health. If only there was something she could do to make him better.

Doc Howie moved his hand from Benny’s neck to his back, pulling at a loose tuft of brown hair. With the fur in hand, he hunched over, peering closely at the skin.

Janice turned her head away. She didn’t need to see the bald spot to know Benny’s skin was turning black. At his last appointment, Doc Howie had made it clear—if his symptoms got worse, there weren’t many options left—let him suffer or put him to sleep.

Benny whined, his round brown eyes pleading for her to let him down. No doubt he wanted to sniff the floor and visit all the dogs kenneled on the other side of the clinic.

Janice glanced at Doc Howie, keeping her gaze away from Benny’s skin. “Are you done examining him?”

He nodded and Janice lifted Benny off the table, expelling a deep breath. She’d discussed the options with Todd a hundred times. He didn’t want Benny to suffer any more than she did.

“Let’s try adjusting his thyroid medication. It might help.”

“Okay.” Maybe this time Benny would get some relief. She didn’t want to play God, deciding the timing of her beloved dog’s life, but he seemed miserable. Several sections of his hair had fallen out and he constantly itched, causing him to bite at his skin. If this didn’t help him, it would be time to let Benny go.

Janice moved into the entryway of the veterinary clinic, her emotions dodging and colliding like bumper cars. In a daze, she stopped in front of the desk and handed her credit card to Erika, one of the receptionists. The sooner she paid, the faster she could get out of the clinic.

Handing the card back, Erika gave her an encouraging smile. “We just picked up two stray Labradors in Henry County. Do you want to see them?”

Janice ran a hand through her curly brown hair. Was Erika trying to make her feel better or did she want someone to adopt the dogs? Todd wouldn’t want another one. Not so soon, after paying for all of Benny’s medications. But just looking at them couldn’t hurt. “Sure, I’ll look at the dogs.”

“Great. Right this way.” Erika led her into a backroom with kennels lined up against the walls. Most of the kennels were empty, except one in the corner where a small puppy nuzzled its nose against a large black lab.

Erika kneeled down next to the kennel. “Do you want to hold the puppy?”

“Yeah.” The word was out before she could stop it. But how could she say no to that adorable little face? She led Benny into one of the open kennels and shut the door. As she turned around, Erika placed the wiggling animal in Janice’s open arms.

Holding the puppy, childhood memories resurfaced. Like watching an old video recorder, she imagined her little girl-self playing in the backyard with Wendy. The black lab jumped on top of her as she rolled in the grass, giggling. Wendy had been such a good dog.

In her arms, the puppy let out a yelp.

“It’s okay, girl.” Janice scratched behind the long floppy ears, then ran a hand over the puppy’s neck. Her fur was as soft as silk and Janice had to resist the urge to bury her face in it. “How could anybody leave you?”

The puppy stuck her tongue out, swinging it wildly over Janice’s chin. She laughed, the sound unexpectedly reverberating through her chest. For a moment, the puppy stopped licking and looked up, her chocolate brown eyes melting Janice’s heart.

Todd Boekhoff gripped the steering wheel and let out a breath. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Janice turned toward him, leaning against the middle console. Her hair dipped below her shoulder. “Just keep an open mind, okay?”

“We’ve already got Benny and he isn’t an easy dog to live with.” He didn’t want to remind Janice of Benny’s problems, but surely her feelings for this puppy were just a longing for what they didn’t have with Benny. Plus, she couldn’t have developed a close bond with a dog in such a short time period.

Janice bent her knee, pulling her foot up to the seat. She hadn’t been able to sit still since they got in the car. “Just wait until you see her. She’s perfect for us.”

Todd turned onto Washington Street. If only he could turn the car around, but he had to see this dog for Janice’s sake. It would make her happy.

He pulled into the veterinary clinic and Janice swung her door open, hopping out of the car. He followed her inside, ten steps behind. Hopefully, this wasn’t a bad visit. If the dog didn’t react well to Janice this time, his wife would be crushed.

Erika stood behind the front desk. “I’ll go get the puppy.”

Janice turned to face the hallway, her gaze meeting his. She reached for his hand, squeezing it. “Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.”

Todd leaned down and kissed her lips as nails clicked against the linoleum floor. He looked up to see a black fur ball rounding the corner and dashing down the hallway. Her long floppy ears swayed back and forth, but as soon as she saw Janice, she picked up speed.

His wife bent down, kneeling on the floor. The puppy jumped into Janice’s arms as if she’d missed seeing her owner after a long day apart. Janice kissed the puppy’s head, a big a smile spreading across her face. She looked up at him, her eyes sending an I-told-you-so look.

Todd’s chest constricted. There was no doubt Janice had a connection with his dog. He smiled. “What do you want to name her?”

Janice gave a little jump and her eyes lit with excitement. “I like the name Sienna.”

Jen Platte zipped her coat and stepped onto the covered front porch. The cold winter wind whirled through the night, stinging her face. Shivering, she pulled a blue wool hat out of her coat pocket and slipped it down over her forehead. Could it be any colder tonight? Hopefully, Daniel would show up any minute. The sooner he arrived, the faster she could jump inside his truck and escape from the cold.

She leaned against the porch railing, standing on her tiptoes. Where did Daniel plan on taking her for her birthday? Maybe that new Italian restaurant? Or maybe to a movie? Not that she really cared. As long as she could spend time with him, it didn’t matter what he had planned.

Daniel’s truck inched up the driveway. His windshield wipers slid across the glass in a steady rhythm, clearing off the wet heavy snow spiraling through the night. He stopped his vehicle and held up a finger for her to wait, then leaned over, reaching for something on the passenger’s side.

Jen sighed, sending a puff of warm air dancing in front of her face. What was Daniel doing?

Finally, he stepped out of his truck, wearing a puffy winter coat, stocking cap, and scarf. He strode up to the porch, his long legs taking quick strides. Wrapping her in a hug, he set his mouth by her ear. “Happy belated Birthday, my valentine. I’m sorry I had to work yesterday.”

Jen shrugged. “It’s okay. You can make it up to me tonight.”

“Oh yeah? How so?” His voice was muffled behind the scarf, which wrapped around his neck up to his nose.

She set a finger to her lips. “A kiss would work, but your scarf is in the way.”

“I can fix that.” Daniel tugged at the tucked end of the scarf and unwove it, exposing a clean-shaven face.

Her jaw dropped. She hadn’t seen Daniel without facial hair since their senior year of high school.

Daniel grinned. “What do you think?”

She pulled off her gloves and set her hands on his smooth cheeks. “I think you look handsome either way, but I really like this new look.”

The porch light shadowed his face as he dipped his head lower and brought his lips to hers. Her fingers caressed his cheeks before she lowered her arms, trying to wrap them around his back. But she couldn’t. One of Daniel’s arms was bent behind his back. He clutched something in his hand.

With her focus on the scarf, she hadn’t noticed. Did he have another gift to give her? How could he top off what he’d already bought? Over the last couple of weeks, he’d been showering her with gifts—a gold locket, two sweaters, and a leather jacket. She hadn’t expected anything else for her birthday. He’d already given her enough.

Daniel pulled back, kissing her on her forehead. He gave her a mischievous smile. “I have two more gifts for you. You get one right now and one later in the date.”

Jen took a step to the side, peeking around his back.

“Not so fast.” He twisted his torso, blocking her view. “We’re going to use this to do something you’ve never done before. Any guesses?”

She yanked her gloves over her icy hands and clapped them together. “No. What is it?”

He held out his arm, revealing her first gift—an orange and black box kite.

Smiling, she took the kite, her imagination setting her far way from the snow and plopping her in a hot summer day. She closed her eyes, imagining the sun heating her skin, her feet running across the freshly mowed grass as the kite lifted into the air, and the warm breeze guiding it across the blue sky. “I love it.”

“Are you ready to fly it?”

Jen opened her eyes and stared at Daniel. “Now?”

He gave a simple nod—his signature response for yes.

“But it’s almost zero degrees. Shouldn’t we wait for a warmer day?”

“I say we try it tonight. It’s a unique way to celebrate your birthday. We’ll have fun, and I promise I’ll keep you warm.”

Jen twisted her lips. Why did Daniel have to be so convincing? She couldn’t possibly say no to him without crushing his excitement.

She unwrapped the packaging around the kite and looked up at him. “Let’s go to the church lot. It’s long and it’s not too far away from my house.” That way if they were too cold, they could escape from the blistering weather as quickly as possible.

“Perfect. Let’s go.” Daniel reached for her free hand as they walked to the lot.

Her teeth chattered, but she leaned closer to Daniel, lost in reverie. How did she get so lucky? Just a year ago, she’d given up hope of ever having a romantic relationship with him. She’d come to the realization that God had a different plan for her. She would never marry her high school crush. But then she’d seen Daniel again at a school play and he’d asked her on a date. Thank God she’d decided to attend that play. If she hadn’t, her life certainly wouldn’t be as full.

Reaching the lot, she stopped beside Daniel.

He took the kite from her, unraveling a good length of string. He pointed down the driveway. “The wind is coming from the north, so when I say run, keep your back to the wind and go as far as you can.” His eyes lit with excitement as he held the kite above his head and handed her the ball of string. “Ready, set, go!”

Jen ran, but her heavy coat weighed at least three pounds, slowing her pace. The cold air burned her cheeks. She peered at the kite. It lifted a few feet, then plummeted to the pavement.

Walking back to Daniel, her shoulders slumped. She had to fly this kite. It seemed to mean so much to him. “Let’s try again.”

He shot a fist in the air. “That’s the spirit. Ready, set, go.”

She dashed across the pavement, the falling snow blurring her vision. She blinked away the flakes on her eyelashes and veered off the driveway. The heavy snow stuck to her shoes, wetting her socks. Her foot caught on a patch of ice. She let go of the kite and flailed her arms for balance. It didn’t work. She struck the snowy ground like a fallen sumo wrestler. At least her puffy coat had saved her from any real damage.

She took a deep breath and pushed forward, attempting to sit up. Her head landed back on the ground. Laughter bubbled in her chest. “Daniel, I can’t get up.”

His footsteps crunched through the snow. He plopped down beside her, brushing flakes from her face. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Just cold.”

“If it makes you feel any better, you’re the sexist kite flyer I’ve ever seen.”

She shook her head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to butter me up.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “I know you weren’t crazy about being out in the cold, but I’m glad you tried anyway. We can do this again in a few months.”

She nodded, relief softening her frozen extremities. “I’ll make us hot chocolate when we get back to my house.”

He stood up and reached for her hand, pulling her to a standing position. “I want lots of marshmallows.”

“You’re such a kid.” Jen grabbed the kite, rolled up the string, and walked toward her house, trying not to jog. She could almost feel the creamy chocolate thawing her throat.

“Not so fast. Come back.”

She turned around. Daniel hadn’t followed her. He stood in the middle of the sidewalk just below the street lamp. The light beamed down on him as he stuck a hand in his pocket.

She walked back. Hopefully, she hadn’t disappointed him. “Is something wrong?”

He didn’t answer.

“If you want to stay, we …”

“I’m not mad.” Daniel took his hand out of his pocket, clutching a black box. “This is your second present.”

She stared at the box, her eyes widening. Was that a jewelry box?

Daniel kneeled down in the snow and opened the box, revealing two beautiful bands—one with a diamond.

He looked up at her, his expression serious. “Jennifer, will you marry me?”

For a moment, her world stopped as she processed the meaning of Daniel’s words. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Memories flashed across her mind like an old video recorder—flirting with the cute boy next to her locker. Dancing at prom, wishing he would like her just as much as she liked him. Trying to forget about him when they parted ways. Bumping into him at the school play. Reconnecting and falling in love all over again.

And now, a proposal. Jennifer, will you marry me? The words sunk deep into her heart, taking root inside her soul.

Tears trickled down her face. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she held out her left hand. “Yes, I will.”

Daniel pulled off her glove with his teeth and slipped both rings on her finger.

As he stood, Jen wrapped her arms around his neck. Her lips found his, and all of her past worries and doubts melted away. Daniel was hers forever.

Jenny Kriesel ducked behind the ice cream stand as a ball flew toward the first baseline, straight at her. A loud thump struck the counter above her before the ball bounced to the ground. She shook her head, picking up the ball and tossing it in the already-full bucket. How many more foul balls would the The Eau Express team hit today?

As she stood up, the warm summer sun caressed Jenny’s face. She gathered her shoulder-length hair in her hands and tied it in a ponytail. So much for straightening her hair this morning. No one would notice her perfectly straight strands when it was tied back in a ponytail. Not that she needed to impress anyone.

She glanced up at the nearly empty stands. Even if she wanted to, there weren’t many people to impress today. Unless she counted Brian. Surely, he was at the game and would stop by soon, making another feeble attempt at asking her on a date. If he couldn’t gain the confidence to truly ask her, then she wasn’t interested.

Footsteps clanged against the metal stands and ended with a thump as Brian hopped off and landed on the concrete. He stopped in front of the ice cream stand, his eyes fixed on a dried glob of chocolate on the counter. “I’d like a sundae cone.”

Jenny withheld a grin. Who was she kidding? Brian would never get the courage to ask her out. She waited for disappointment to settle in the pit of her stomach, but nothing came. She twisted in the small space and opened the cooler, reaching for a sandwich. Turning around again, she flinched with surprise.

“I’d like a t-shirt.” Next to Brian, stood a tall lean guy with dark features. In a way, he almost looked like Seinfeld. But cuter. Much cuter.

Jenny lifted her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but gripped at air. Dang it. Why had she pulled her hair into a ponytail? She dropped her hand and expelled a breath, realizing that she’d been holding it. Probably since she’d first laid eyes on the handsome Seinfeld guy. “Uh, which shirt do you want?”

“That one.” He pointed at a large orange t-shirt hanging on the wall, his gaze never leaving hers.

She pulled the shirt off of the hanger and set it on the counter. He quickly reached out to grab it, his hand brushing hers. Had he meant to do that? Hopefully, he had. “Ten dollars.”

Brian cleared his throat. “Here’s the cash for my sundae cone. In case you wanted your register to balance out.”

“Oh. Right.” She took the cash and slipped it inside the register, barely aware of her fingers hitting the keys as she rang up both of the sales.

“We better get going.” Brian looked at the guy standing next to him. “We’re missing the game.”

She almost choked on her own saliva. Was handsome Seinfeld a friend of Brian’s? This couldn’t have worked out better. Now that he knew she worked at the baseball field, maybe he’d come back to a game with Brian.

The guy held his arms up and pulled his new t-shirt down over his other shirt. Before he could adjust the length, his under shirt lifted, exposing hard lean muscles. Jenny tried to look away, but she couldn’t.

He caught her staring at his abs and smiled. “I didn’t want to take my other shirt off. I thought that might be a little risqué for a baseball game.”

She laughed as Brian and his friend turned to walk away. The guy stepped up on the stands and looked back. “We’re in Section B if you want to sit with us later.”

If she wanted to sit with them? Heck yes she did. Not that she would act like it. Her shift ended after the seventh inning, so she’d sit with them during the middle of the eighth inning. She couldn’t look too eager.

The game rushed by in a blur. On the outside, she was calm and composed, smiling at kids as they begged their parents for cold Snicker’s bars and Eau Express apparel. But on the inside, her nerves were melting away every last bit of confidence.

By the time the eighth inning started, her legs felt shaky. Maybe this was a bad idea. What if he’d offered for her to sit with them because he was just being nice?

She glanced up at the stands, searching for Brian and his friend. She found them and did a double take. The guy was looking right at her. She swallowed hard. Maybe he really wanted her to sit by him, after all.

Jenny ran to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. Pulling out her pink lip-gloss, she applied it to her lips and smacked them. She took off her work shirt and straightened the tank top she wore underneath. Taking one last look in the mirror, she took a deep breath.

Part of her wanted to run to Section B. To spend as much time as possible with him. What had she been thinking wasting time in the bathroom? Yet again, she had to hold herself back. Act intrigued, but not interested. She shouldn’t appear too eager to hang out with him. A guy as cute as him, it would probably go straight to his head.

She forced her long legs to descend the steps at a steady pace, pausing at the row where Brian and his friend sat. She ambled toward them and slipped into a seat next to Brian’s friend.

Brian crossed his arms.

Jenny bit her bottom lip, guiltiness sweeping in like an unwelcomed visitor. But she shouldn’t feel guilty, should she? If Brian really wanted her to sit by him, he should have asked. She glanced at Brian’s friend. Did he know that Brian had been visiting her at the ice cream stand since the beginning of the season? “How do you two know each other?”

Brian glanced at Jenny before his gaze flickered away. “Michael is my landlord.”

Jenny raised her eyebrows. A landlord? How old was this guy? “I usually imagine older people being landlords.” As soon as the words escaped, she cupped a hand over her mouth. “I mean …”

Michael gave a deep, throaty laugh. “Well, I did join AARP last year, but I’m their youngest member.”

She nodded, relieved that he was messing with her. At least he wasn’t offended. “Seriously, how old are you?”

He winked at her. “I’m twenty-five.”

Only a year older than her. “How many rentals do you have?”

“I own two. The way I see it, the earlier I can rent properties, the sooner I can start making money off of them. In ten years, my goal is to have ten rental houses.”

“Wow. That’s impressive.” So much for only acting intrigued, but she couldn’t help it. He was very accomplished for a twenty-five year old.

Michael leaned back in his seat and set one leg over the other, bending it just above his other knee. “But enough about me, what about you?”

“I just graduated with majors in education and special ed. Now I’m looking for a teaching position around here.”

Michael let out a low pitch whistle. “I can’t imagine being a teacher, especially after the way I acted in school.”

“Really?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve changed my ways.”

She laughed. “You don’t have me convinced.”

Michael twisted his wrist, while snapping his fingers. “Dang it. Can’t get much past you, huh?”

“Nope.” Jenny smiled. Michael had a lot of the qualities she was looking for—laid back, confident, and funny. She had to see him again. “What are you guys doing for the Fourth of July?”

Brian leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees. “Nothing yet. What are you doing?”

“You should have a party,” she suggested.

“Wait a minute.” Michael put his palm up to stop further conversation. “Shouldn’t you ask his landlord if it’s okay?”

Jenny narrowed her eyes at him and gave him a playful nudge. “Are you always this difficult?”

“Yes.”

“That’s for sure.” Brian sighed, eyeing the two of them before looking over at Michael. “So, is it okay if I have a party?”

“That depends.” Michael turned his whole body toward her, his dark brown eyes searing her heart. “If you’ll be my partner for bag toss.”

Jenny grinned. Was it too late to play hard to get? “We’ll see.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Randy Winslow dug the ball of his cleat deeper into the muddy sideline of the UNI football field. He eyed the scoreboard. North Dakota—28. Panthers—6.

“Come on, Panthers. You can do it,” a voice screamed from the stands.

Randy scowled and turned around, searching for the familiar voice. Vanessa could scream all she wanted, but the Panthers had no chance of a comeback. Not with ten minutes left in the game.

Vanessa waved, catching his attention.

He waved back, noticing the blonde standing beside her. The blonde threw her hands in the air, her gaze fixed on the football game. “Go Panthers!”

Behind him, the crowd roared, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of the girl. She gave Vanessa a high-five, a smile spreading across her face.

Why hadn’t Vanessa introduced him to her friend before now? Over the last couple of years, he’d hung out with Vanessa and several of his other friends from business classes, but he’d never seen the blonde. It was too late into fall semester for her to be a transfer student and she certainly didn’t look like a freshman. At least, not the typical freshman—tank top, thigh length shorts, swaying in a drunken stupor. She was beautiful—tall, tan, red rosy cheeks, clear blue eyes, and that smile—wow.

Randy swallowed hard. He had to meet her.

Randy paced in front of Vanessa’s door. He couldn’t knock. Not yet. What should he say? Would your friend go on a date with me? No, he couldn’t start with that.

He rubbed his sweaty palms together. What if the blonde had a boyfriend? Someone as beautiful as her probably had a boyfriend. He should just turn around and leave.

The dorm room door squeaked open. Vanessa stood in front of him, her face turning crimson. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Hi, I was just headed out to dinner.” She eyed him up and down, a curious expression on her face. “Why are you still in your football uniform?”

He looked down at his purple and gold jersey. He hadn’t even thought to change. The moment the game was over, he’d left the stadium and headed here. He sucked in a breath, hoping he didn’t smell. How could he convince Vanessa that he was good for her friend when he smelled like sweat and dirt? “I uh, I need to talk to you.”

She opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Do you want to come in?”

Randy peered behind her, scanning the small space. What if Vanessa’s friend was in the room? He should have thought about that before now. He wasn’t thinking clearly. He shifted his weight to the side and glanced back at Vanessa. “Are you alone?”

Vanessa gave him a crooked smile and nodded as he walked into the room. “What do you want to talk to me about?”

“Who is your friend? The one who was standing next to you at the football game?”

Vanessa frowned. “Her name is Aubrey McAllister. Why?”

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

Relief washed over him. “Do you think she’d be interested in me?”

Vanessa looked down at her hands. She picked at her purple fingernail polish, flicking pieces onto the carpet. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

His stomach dropped. Aubrey didn’t have a boyfriend, so what else could it be? Maybe Vanessa didn’t think he was good enough for Aubrey. “Why not?”

Vanessa sighed. “Fine. I’ll invite her over and we can all hang out together.”

Randy leaned back against Vanessa’s futon with a pile of DVD’s in his lap. Not that his choice mattered. He wouldn’t pay attention to any of these movies. Tonight he wanted to get to know Aubrey. Her favorite songs. Where she grew up. What she wanted to do after she graduated. He piled the DVD’s on the floor and held up the one on top. “How about Shrek?”

“Perfect.” Aubrey put the disc in the player and sat down next to him, dropping a bag of candy corn between them. She opened the bag and grabbed a piece, popping it into her mouth.

Across the room, Vanessa narrowed her eyes and stood up from her desk chair. “I’ll go get us something to drink from the vending machine.”

Aubrey turned toward him, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder. “I’m surprised Vanessa wanted us to meet.”

His cheeks flushed. Ten minutes into their date and Aubrey was already second-guessing her decision.

“She really likes you.”

“She does?”

Aubrey nodded. “Vanessa’s been talking about the cute football player in her business classes for awhile now. I was shocked when she said that you wanted to meet me.”

Randy’s eyes widened. So that was why Vanessa hadn’t wanted to introduce him to Aubrey. A glimmer of guilt shot through him, but he couldn’t force feelings that weren’t there. Vanessa was just a friend. “Is she mad at you for hanging out with me?”

“No. I’m sure she’s disappointed, though. But she told me what a great guy you are and that I’d be crazy not to meet you.”

Randy laughed. “I’ll have to thank her for making me look so good.”

“You don’t need her in order to look good. You do that pretty well on your own.”

“Thanks.” Randy adjusted his t-shirt, his neck growing warm. Hopefully, the red blotches—the ones that often appeared when he was nervous—didn’t show up tonight. “So uh, tell me about your family.”

Aubrey turned toward him, extending her long legs on the floor and crossing them at the ankles. “I’m the oldest of five kids. I have one sister and three brothers. We’re a really close family. My sister and I actually share a dorm room. We’re only a year apart.”

“I come from a big family, too. I have two brothers and a sister.”

“Are you the oldest?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good. If you weren’t, I’m not sure I could date you.” She laughed as his lips drew a thin line. “I’m just kidding, but I think older siblings tend to have similar qualities.”

He smiled. “Like what?”

“Let’s see …” She paused, setting a finger to her lips. “They tend to be more driven and more sure of what they want to do.”

His face grew warm. The red blotches were surely appearing all over his neck right now. “I’m majoring in technology management, but I’m not sure that’s really what I want to do.” No way was he going to mention that he’d switched schools four times. What else could he say to salvage his answer? “To me, work is just a way to provide for my family. I loved growing up with so many siblings, so if there is one thing I’m sure of, it’s that I want to settle down early and have a big family.”

Aubrey inched closer to him and reached for his hand, lacing her fingers between his. “I’d like that, too.”

His pulse quickened as his gaze flickered down to her lips. No way would he try to kiss her on their first date. But maybe, just maybe, he’d get the courage to kiss her on their second date.