“Mmmph,” groaned Connor.
Eve yawned. “Morning.”
“Oh come on now you two, it’s a beautiful day, just look outside.”
They both looked out the window, indifference on their faces.
Jackson, the family pet, came meandering into the kitchen when he heard the kids. The huge, black Great Dane pressed himself against Connor.
“Oooph.” The air rushed out of Connor. “Jackson, it’s too early.”
The dog quite happily moseyed away to Eve who patted him lightly on the head. Then he walked to Claire and sat down next to her. She leaned playfully on him while she waited for the pancake in the skillet to be ready to flip, he didn’t budge.
Connor got out the milk and poured himself a glass. “Do you want some Eve? Mom?”
“Yeah,” yawned Eve as she took her place at the table, wiping sleep from her eyes.
Claire flipped a pancake in the skillet. “No thank you honey.”
Connor poured a second glass and walked it to Eve who took it, thanked him and sipped at it as she tried to will herself awake. Claire finished cooking breakfast and put some on the plates, handing them to the kids. She watched as Connor carefully poured syrup onto each pancake and then handed the bottle to his sister. Eve cut up her pancakes with a fork first, and then lathered syrup all over the small fragments.
Eve handed the bottle to her Mom. Claire put a tiny dollop of syrup on her single pancake and then spread it across in a thin, even layer. She smiled as she watched the kids eat. Slowly, they began to wake up.
Connor finished first, his voice still hazy. “I’m gonna shower.”
“Okay,” said Claire.
Connor left and Eve sat at the table with her daughter.
There was silence before Eve finally spoke. “Mom?”
“Yeah?”
“I miss Dad.”
Claire sighed. “So do I. Five more months and he’ll be home.”
Eve’s face drooped. “It’s still so long.”
Claire’s heart ached as she looked across the table at her daughter. “I know honey. I miss him too. Soon, soon he will be home.”
Eve looked up at her mother with solemn eyes. “Can he stay this time?”
Patting her daughter’s hand, she spoke. “I hope so honey.”
“Me too.”
Eve’s young face flushed and Claire could tell she was holding back tears. Claire opened her arms and Eve walked to her mother and hugged her. Claire held her daughter and silently thanked God that, unlike most thirteen year olds, Eve still let her comfort her this way. She stroked Eve’s dark brown hair until she finally let go.
Her daughter’s eyes looked moist, but she no longer looked as though she would begin to cry. “Are you okay honey?”
“Yeah, it’s just one of those days I guess. I’m gonna get ready.”
She watched Eve disappear down the hallway to her room. Alone in the kitchen, Claire began picking up plates and putting them in the sink. She heard the shower stop and a few minutes later, Connor emerged looking much more like the bright, chipper boy that he was. He takes after his father so much. He was tall and lean, just like Evan, and he had those same deep brown eyes. Claire smiled at him and he returned the grin.
As she finished rinsing the dishes, she looked over at him. “Connor?”
He slung his backpack over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Would you mind dropping Eve off at school this morning? I am going to write your father a letter.”
His free arm wrapped around her shoulder and hugged her. “Sure Mom.”
“Thanks honey.”
“You’re welcome.”
He was such a good boy. They were both good kids. She was so thankful for them. “C’mon Eve,” Connor called from the kitchen. “Five minutes.”
Eve’s voice trailed in from her bedroom. “Okay, I’ll be there.”
Just in time, Eve appeared with her book bag slung over her shoulder and Connor walked with her to the door. Eve looked as though she were a little less sad and Claire felt relieved.
“We will Mom,” replied Eve. “Love you.”
“Love you,” chimed Connor.
Her heart swelled with joy. “I love you both, too.” Her children were so good to her. She watched out the window as they climbed into Connor’s old but reliable car, laughing about something. Then she returned to the nook.
As they pulled away, Claire sat in the warm light that shone through the window onto the breakfast table. The glossy surface was cool against her wrists, but the sun was warm on her back. She brushed her hair back with her hands, feeling the soft curls run through her fingers. Retrieving a piece of paper from the little drawer hidden under the surface of the table, Claire began to write.
My Dearest Evan...
Claire wrote the letter, telling him everything that was in her heart. She read it over. When she was satisfied that she had said everything that she needed to say, she signed it:
Your wife,
Claire
She placed a red lipstick kiss at the corner of it by her name. She slipped the letter into an envelope and addressed it to the APO address where the Army would receive the mail before dispensing it to the soldiers.
She closed her eyes for a moment, holding the letter in her hand and feeling the sun on her back. In that moment, she felt at peace. Her white, gauzy nightgown flowed softly in the ruffle of the breeze coming in through the window. It brushed against her thigh and then floated away as quickly as a whisper. Her hair fluttered against her face and she closed her eyes, embracing the wind. As she opened her eyes and rose, she felt the sun’s rays leave her back. Placing the letter on the edge of the kitchen counter, she walked to the bedroom. As she slipped into a pair of jeans, she retrieved a lemon yellow blouse that was well fitted to her figure. She could almost hear Evan telling her how beautiful she was and how he could get lost in her eyes forever. Moving back to the kitchen, she paused to pick up her car keys. She glanced at the letter before deciding she would place it in the outgoing mail in the afternoon. When she climbed into her car, a soft smile rested gently on her lips.
That was the last time Claire’s family ever saw her alive.
Books from 5 Prince Publishing
www.5princebooks.com
Crisis of Serenity Denise Moncrief
The Porcelain Child Jessica Dall
The Acceptance Bernadette Marie
Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki Katrina Sisowath
The Letter Drawer Sarah Galloway
How to Have an Amicable Divorce Lindsay Harper
Ice Goddess Hannelore Moore
Indomitable Spirit Bernadette Marie
A Heart Forever Wild Sara Barnard
Desperado Sara Barnard
The Copper Witch Jessica Dall
Home Run Bernadette Marie
Blissful Tragedy Amy L Gale
How to Have an Affair Lindsay Harper
The Soul of Jesus Doug Simpson
The Girl before Eve Lisa J Hobman
Courting Darkness Melynda Price
Owned By the Ocean Christine Steendam
Sullivan’s Way Wilhelmina Stolen
The Library Carmen DeSousa
Rebekah’s Quilt Sara Barnard
Unforgiving Plains Christine Steendam
Love Songs Bernadette Marie
The End Denise Moncrief
On Thin Ice Bernadette Marie
Through the Glass Lisa J. Hobman
Indiscretion Tonya Lampley
The Elvis Presley I Knew Robert C. Cantwell
Finding Hope Bernadette Marie
Over the Edge Susan Lohrer
Encore Bernadette Marie
Split Decisions Carmen DeSousa
Matchmakers Bernadette Marie
Rocky Road Susan Lohrer
Stutter Creek Ann Swann
The Perfect Crime P. Hindley, S. Goodsell
Lost and Found Bernadette Marie
A Heart at Home Sara Barnard
Soul Connection Doug Simpson
Bridge Over the Atlantic Lisa Hobman
Unexpected Admirer Bernadette Marie
Jaded M.J. Kane
Shades of Darkness Melynda Price
Heart like an Ocean Christine Steendam
The Depot Carmen DeSousa
Crisis of Identity Denise Moncrief
A Heart Broken Sara Barnard
Soul Mind Doug Simpson
Chunky Sugars Sara Barnard
When Noon day Ends Carmen DeSousa
Fatal Jealousy Christina OW
Center Stage Bernadette Marie
Chris Mouse and the Promise Tina J Adams
Soul Rescue Doug Simpson
The Pit Stop Carmen DeSousa
Soul Awakening Doug Simpson
First Kiss Bernadette Marie
A Heart Not Easily Broken MJ Kane
Entangled Dreams Carmen DeSousa
All for Love Ann Swann
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter One ~ Penelope
Meet the Author
1 ~ The Letter Drawer