Page 58 of Welcome to Forever
His clothes were mostly gone, except for the ones that held special memories. Those still hung in the closet, and she guessed eventually she’d have to part with them. Today she’d tackle the dresser, though, which held things that took more time to go through.
She sat on the floor and pulled at the bottom drawer. It stuck a little, resisting being opened. It didn’t want to let go of the memories, either. Finally, it gave way and she fell back on her bottom, coughing a little as a plume of dust flew toward her face.
Dipping her hand into the drawer, she pulled out an old Valentine’s card first. It was one she recognized immediately. She’d given it to John the February before he’d left. As she opened it, a soft battery-operated tune sang“Burning Love”in a mechanical Elvis impersonation. She smiled, reading her words to her future husband.
The answer was always yes. And always will be.
He’d meant to ask her to marry him three times before he’d actually been successful. But all three times, they’d sparked an argument somehow, and fearing she’d say no, he’d opted not to pop the question. She never would’ve turned him down, though. She’d been ready to say yes to forever since their first date. That’s when she’d known. Maybe from the first time they’d looked into each other’s eyes. She’d also known that they’d spend their lives together forever. But they hadn’t. Even though he’d made promises to her, he’d never come home.
Where did a Valentine’s card go? Not to the Goodwill. Not in the trashcan. She slid it inside a shoebox and did the same with the next several mementos of their lives together. When the box was full and the drawer half empty, she stopped, drained for the morning. She’d do a little at a time, she promised herself, rising as she heard Julie come through the front door.
Glancing around the room, she decided all it needed for Julie to stay here tonight was a change of sheets and a new bedspread. That’s all that had to be done physically. Emotionally, she needed a good glass of wine. Both could be arranged.
“Hey.” Kat poked her head outside the bedroom door as Julie headed down the hall.
Julie’s brows lifted in question.
“Just cleaning out your new room.” Kat forced a smile.
“My new room?” Julie repeated, the tone a questioning one.
“Yep.” Kat hugged the shoebox of old cards in her arms. “I’ll change the sheets and you can sleep here tonight. As many nights as you need.”
“Are you sure?” Julie asked, her shoulders relaxing a little. “Because the couch is fine. Even though I’ve had a kink in my neck for the past two days. Nothing a little yoga can’t fix.”
“I’m sure.” Kat sucked in a solid breath. “I’ll, uh, work on cleaning out the closet for you another day.”
Julie nodded, peeking into the master bedroom. “Thank you. I almost feel like you want me to stay.”
Kat narrowed her gaze softly. “Of course I want you to stay. You’re my sister. We’re family. Now, go get your things and bring them in here.”
Before I have a chance to change my mind.
Julie nodded and headed back to her suitcases in the living room. With one final glance in the master bedroom’s direction, Kat forced her feet, and her mind, forward.
