Page 52 of Welcome to Forever
“Well, he proposed the night before he was set to deploy. He was going to be gone for nine months and then we were planning to get married when he returned.”
He heard the pattern of her breathing change, nearly felt the aching of her heart as she continued.
“I did all the wedding planning while he was away. Bought the dress. Made the arrangements. We were going to marry down at the docks. I’d already gotten permission from Mr. Blokey…I was going to hang lights at the archway and we were going to recite our vows there. I wrote my own. And Val was going to be my maid of honor, of course. Julie, too. I wanted to have both of them standing beside me on what I knew would be the happiest day of my life.” She paused, turning to look out the passenger side window. “He never came home, though.”
He’d heard this story before. Not Kat’s specifically, but others like it. It was a tough handout from life.
“So, that’s my story.” She laughed nervously, turning to look at him again. Micah suspected it was a laugh or cry moment, and Kat was a strong woman. He’d realized that over the last few months. Even so, he wanted to stop the vehicle and wrap his arms around her. “Why do you still wear the ring? If you don’t mind me asking.”
She pulled her hand closer to her face to inspect the diamond. “I know it’s time to take it off. It’s just comforting to keep it on. It’s all I have left, really. I guess I’m not ready to remove it just yet.”
“You will be. One day.”
She nodded. “Right. I’m on a date for the first time in years. That’s progress. Even if it is at the Veterans’ Center. I’m sorry. I know this isn’t ideal.”
“It’s fine. And besides, I have different arrangements for when we leave here.” Micah parked in front of the large metal building and got out before she could reply. Then he ran around and opened her door.
Help her out of the vehicle—check.
Her hand slipped easily into his as she stepped out of the Jeep. “What kind of arrangements do you have planned?” she asked.
He ran a thumb over the back of her hand. “I guess you’ll have to stick with me to find out,” he said, leading her inside with only one thing left on Aunt Clara’s checklist to do at the end of the night: kiss her.
