~{Chapter 1}~

Almost a year had passed since that perfect evening with James. Since then, I had been planning my wedding to the man of my dreams. A steady stream of letters and emails had come from him until about two weeks ago. I kept telling myself that he was just busy. To be honest, I was pretty worried. I knew that he was busy, but I also knew how faithful he was with keeping up with me. Everyone told me not to worry, and I wanted to believe them.

"Kate?" I turn at the sound of my name being called and see my wedding planner walking towards me.

I was in a little bistro right outside of New York City. As I stated earlier, I've been planning really hard for this wedding. I wanted it to be perfect. After all, you only get married once, right?

I smile at my wedding planner and stand to give her a hug. As soon as we settle into our seats, we began to plan. I have already chosen my colors and the number of bridesmaids and best men. My colors were seafoam green and peach. I had my dress picked out, but I still had to pay for it. James and I agreed that he would wear his uniform. The venue and caterer had been picked out. All we had to do now was pick who we wanted to send the invitations to. I knew that we would invite James' family and my friends back home, but I really wasn't sure who else I should invite.

The next couple of hours flew by. Before I knew it, it was time for me to go back to work. I gave my wedding planner a hug goodbye and headed to my office building.

I have my dream job as a book editor. Yes, I know that sounds weird, but I really do enjoy books. The weird part was how young I was. I am only twenty-one, but I was already a pretty big book editor in New York City.

"Welcome back, Ms. Garner," my receptionist greeted me as I walked through the door.

I smiled and returned the greeting.

When I entered my office, I saw a big manuscript sitting on my desk. I smiled and got to work. The hours flew by with me underlining sentences, crossing out sentences, and drawing lines all over the pages.

"Ms. Garner?" I look up to see my receptionist in the doorway.

"Yes?" I ask.

"I'm taking off if that's okay?"

I nod and stretch. "Have a good night."

"You too," she replies.

I continued to edit, but I was soon hardly keeping my eyes open. I finally lean back in my chair and turn around to look out of my huge windows. Bright lights were shining all over the city. Cars honked, and I look at the few stars and thought of James. I smile and close my eyes.

~-~-~-~
"Hey, you! Stop running! Quit running!" somebody called after me as I ran down an alleyway.

I could hear the person on my heels, so I tried to throw the person off by swerving in and out of corners. It didn't work. The person was gaining on me. I slightly turned my head and saw a guy running after me. All of a sudden, I tripped over something and fell on my face. I tried to get back up, but I heard myself groaning in pain.

The guy approached and sat down beside me. He carefully helped me up off of my stomach. As soon as I was sitting upright, he gently took my arm in his hands to examine it. I winced as he touched the spot where I fell.

"Why'd you steal it?" he asked as he continued to look at my arm.

"Wh-what are you t-talking a-about?" I stuttered.

He lifted his head to look at me. "You know what I'm talking about."

He lowered his head back down, but not before I saw his blue eyes sparkling with a little amusement.

"What makes you think I stole anything?" I asked.

He put my arm down and stared at me, making me feel uncomfortable. "I saw you. Now, will you give it back?"

I gave him a challenging look. "I don't know what you are talking about. I didn't steal anything."

He laughed and reached out to put his hands in my pocket. I slapped his hand away and gave him a death glare. He just laughed and stood.

"C'mon. I know you took it. If you give it back, I promise you won't get in any trouble," he said.

I stood and faced him. "Oh really. Why in the heck should I believe anything you say. After all, you're just one of those pretty boys that always gets what they want."

"Firstly, I'm not a pretty boy. If I was, I wouldn't have run after you. I would have had someone else run after you. Secondly, I could have already called someone or even taken back what you stole already, but I haven't," he replied.

I gave a small smile at his reply and simply said, "Touché."

He held out his hand. I sighed and took the money out of my pocket and gave it to him. After I put it in his hand, I realized what I had done and stared at him. Why in the heck had I given him that money back?

He smiled at me and said, "You okay?"

I shook my head and asked, "How did you do that?"

He gave me a questioning look and said, "How'd I do what?"

I nodded towards the hand that held the money and asked, "How'd you make me give you the money back?"

"I didn't make you do anything. You just chose to. You have more good in you than you think," he replied as he began to walk away.

"Wait!" I called out. "You really aren't going to tell anyone?"

He smiled and shook his head. He turned back around and rounded the alleyway's corner. Just like that, he was gone.

I stood looking where he had just walked. Little did I know that that wasn't going to be the last encounter with him.

~-~-~-~
"Ms. Garner?" I jump and open my eyes to see my receptionist standing in front of me.

I sit up and look out the window and see the sun rising. I lift my hands to my head and feel bumps in my hair.

"What time is it?" I ask her.

"It's eight fifteen."

I groan and get up from my chair in search of my purse. I have to get myself back together before all my employees got to work.

I turn to look at her and ask, "Could you get some fresh clothes out of my closet?"

She nodded in response and hurried over to my closet. You see, I often tend to have late nights at the office and fall asleep. I learned about a month after I started this job that I needed to keep extra clothes at my office if I still wanted to be taken seriously as such a young book editor.

"Is this okay?" I turn to look at what she's holding out in front of me.

The outfit was a black pencil skirt with a blue silk blouse and black blazer. I nod and grab my purse. I take the outfit from her and hurried to the bathroom attached to my office. I quickly changed out of the clothes I was in and changed into the new set of clothes.

I then look in the mirror and let my hair out of its once tight bun. I grab a brush out of one of the drawers and quickly brush through my hair. I braid it and twist it up into a bun at the crown of my head. I quickly touch up my makeup and look at my reflection. I smile in the mirror and pack up all of my clothes.

When I exit the bathroom, I see employees beginning to arrive. I hurry over to my closet and throw my old clothes in it.

"Ms. Garner?" my secretary's voice calls from the little intercom on my desk.

I hurry over and press down the button that would allow her to hear me. "Yes?"

"The author of the current book you're editing, is here to speak with you."

I sigh and say, "Send her in."

"Okay."

I quickly walk around my desk and sit down in my chair. I straighten in my chair and give a fake smile. I have already dealt with this author more than I have liked. I didn't know why she was back, but I did know that it was going to be a long day.

~-~-~-~
I quickly open my apartment door and shut it behind me. It has been a long day. After arguing with the author for at least half of the day, she had finally left. About an hour after she had left, I got a call from her "agent" and got yelled at for another couple of hours.

Right now, I just want a big cup of hot chocolate and to watch some TV.

Just as I sat down with a cup of hot chocolate in front of me, my phone rang.

"Hello?" I ask into the phone.

"Kate? It's Elizabeth Brown," a quiet voice said from the other end.

"Oh my goodness! Beth, it's so good to hear from you! How have you been?" I excitedly inquire.

"I've been okay. How about you? Last time I heard, you were engaged to James and living a life of luxury," she said as she laughed.

I laugh and reply, "I've been doing as best as I can with James gone. I would not exactly say I was living a life of luxury, though."

I hear a giggle. "I forgot that he was in the military. Has it been hard?"

I sigh and begin to tell her just about everything.

Elizabeth had been my best friend back in Texas. Well, she had really been my only friend before I met James. She was probably the sweetest and most compassionate person. I remembered her always staying by my side and always sticking up for me. I also remember her helping anyone she could help. I had actually been her "big project." The truth is, I have no idea where I would be if I had never met her.

As we grew up, we got closer and closer. We would share everything with each other. When graduation came around, we realized that we would not be living right by each other. I was moving to New York for school, and she was going to school in Texas. Soon after I moved, we began to drift apart. By the end of my first year, we had lost touch with each other. I guess I could say it was my fault, but I think it was still a little bit of her too.

Hearing from her after about three years was exciting. It was not awkward at all. We just fell into a normal conversation automatically.

I had just finished my explanation of everything when I heard the doorbell ring. "Somebody just rang my doorbell. Sorry Beth, I have to go."

"It's all good. Call me when you have a chance. It was good to talk to you."

I smile. "Yeah, it was. I'll try to call you tomorrow. Bye."

I quickly set the phone down and hurry over to my door. I open the door to a box on my doorstep. I bend down and look at the delivery description. It's from one of my past authors. I pick it up and carry it back into my apartment.

I sit back down on my couch and open it. I'm greeted with a copy of the author's book and a note to me. I read the note and smile. The author had thanked me and told me that they had given me a dedication in their book. A few more small gifts were underneath the book.

After a couple of hours of reading and watching TV, I head off to bed. I smile at a picture of James that was on my bedside table. I say a prayer for him and turn my lamp off. I was soon asleep.

~-~-~-~
I wake up to the sound of car horns. I check my clock and realize that it was already eight forty-five! I rush out of bed and hurry to get my phone.

I call my office and am greeted with my secretary's voice. "Ms. Garner's office. Who is calling?"

"It's me, Kate. I'm running late this morning. Will you fill me in on what happened this morning?"

I hear her laugh. "Nothing has happened except the normal routine. Your latest author did come by and insist that she see you. I told her you would be working all day from your home. I know how much she drives you crazy."

"You did what?!" I exclaim.

"I'm sorry Ms. Garner, I just didn't know what to tell her. She said she would be back at eleven if you still want to meet with her."

I pause before answering with, "Actually, I believe I will work from home today. When she comes back in, tell her that I am, in fact, working from home."

"Yes Ms. Garner."

I hang up and look all around me and find myself looking at my beloved bookshelf filled with books that I haven't read in over a year. I pick out a couple books off the shelf and snuggle into my favorite chair. Soon, I am engrossed in Elsie Dinsmore's world.

Ding dong.

At the sound of the doorbell, I look up and see that it's almost eleven thirty! I put my bookmark in my book and get up to answer the door.

Knock, knock.

I sigh and call out, "I'm coming!"

Another knock comes before I open the door. I stop in my tracks when I see a man in a uniform.

He looks ridiculously serious. "Are you Ms. Catherine Rose Garner?"

I slightly turn my head to the right and say in a questioning tone, "Yes?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he takes a white envelope from his pocket and hands it to me. I give him a weird look before taking it and opening it.

This is what it read.

Dear Ms. Garner,
It has been discovered that your fiancé, 2ndLt. James Eric Williams, has been killed in action. There is no evidence to show us when he was killed. His body was found on this date: ---

We are extremely sorry for your loss. Although words on paper cannot take away the pain of this loss, we offer our condolences to you and his family.

We are thankful for his service to our country. His and your sacrifices will always be remembered.

Your faithful servant,
C---

As I read, tears roll down my face, and I feel my legs buckling underneath me. I see the man kneeling in front of me and asking something that I don't hear. All I do is lean forward and cling to him. I feel him pat my back soothingly. I let the tears flow and let myself wail.

My beloved fiancé, James Eric Williams, was dead.