"Happy Birthday!" they chorused. Light flooded the room and Katie laughed as her girlfriends, Susan and Laura surged around her. The banner strung across her living room spelled out KATIE IS 21 AT LAST! in glittering six-inch letters.
"So that's why you sent me for milk!" Katie looked up at her mother, who stood in the kitchen, apron covered in flour, holding a spatula in her right hand.
"I know you said you didn't want a fuss, sweetheart, but you're only twenty-one once. Dad will be home in a few moments and David's parents are coming over too. By the way, honey, there's a letter on the counter from David."
"Thanks, Mom. I'll read it later!" Katie snatched up the envelope and tucked it in her skirt's pocket.
"Oooh, bet I know what it says." Her younger brother, Justin laughed and crooned, "Oh, Katie, I can't wait to hold you in my arms and kiss you all over! I have eyes only for you, my princess!"
"Shut up!" Katie advanced on her brother as he grinned and swung his arm over his shoulder like a pitcher in the field.
"Come on, you guys! I made a movie just for Sis's birthday and you won't believe the photos I found!"
Katie's desperate "Help me!" was met by her mother's smile but no offer of assistance.
"Go on, dear."
Laura took her by the arm and Susan followed behind them with her hand on Katie's shoulder.
The family room was decked with streamers of silver and gold. The small coffee table groaned under its burden of party snacks, and a bowl of fruit punch sat off to the side on the marble bar.
Sinking onto the sofa, Katie picked up a handful of Chex mix and tried to pay attention to the home-movie her brother had compiled.
For ten minutes, embarrassing baby and toddler photos flashed on the huge screen, much to the delight of her friends and little brother.
Then the screen went blank.
Susan squeezed her hand, and she felt Laura move closer.
Oh, no. What have they done?
The image blinked twice and there he was. Standing in his uniform, so proud and tall, and full of life.
Katie shook her head. "No, this isn't fair!" She tried to stand but he was speaking and she turned, mesmerized like a moth approaching a burning light in the darkness.
"Katie, don't leave the room!" the voice on the screen ordered.
Dear God! How did he know?
She brushed away tears and watched her beloved David do the same.
"That's better," he said. "Dang mosquitoes," he added, flashing a broad smile. "Hey, princess, I know this is tough for you. We both thought I would be home for today. When they told us our deployment was being extended, I knew I had to do something and I figure this is the next best thing! Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I'll be seeing you real soon. I can't wait to hold you in my arms again, Kat."
David's image blew her a kiss as he spoke her nickname, Kat, short for Katie Ann Thompson.
So handsome. Look at you, baby! A sob flew from her throat even as she felt her dad's hand resting on her shoulder.
David was talking again. "Don't cry, Katie."
He's reading my mind. Where are you right now, my precious David? What are you doing? I wish you would hurry up and come home.
David continued. "Your mascara will run and you know how quick Justin is with that camera. Anyway, I have to go. We have work to do, and it's getting hot! I love you, Katie." He paused and gave a grin, the one that always melted her heart.
"Now don't you go and forget me while I'm over here! Don't you be going to any of dem thar dances and giving your heart away to a stranger. Katie, I'm gonna marry you when I get home. If you will have this poor soldier boy."
Katie giggled through her tears. David John Roberts, only you could propose like this! I will never look at another man. You know that!
The projector screen changed hues as the image of her beloved David faded. Katie gasped when her girlfriend, Susan, handed her a small gift-wrapped box, and kissed her cheek.
"David sent this for you. He made us swear we wouldn't give it to you until today. Open it! It has to be a ring!"
All three girls gasped as Katie tore the paper to expose a small velvet-covered box.
A diamond ring!
"Congratulations!" her friends squealed.
Katie's mother leaned over and hugged her.
Raising his glass, her father said, "I would like to propose a toast!"
The phone rang.
Her father stepped through into the kitchen to answer it.
"Hello? Yes, Don! We wondered what was keeping you. Katie is still opening her presents, so there's plenty of time for you and Marge to join us."
Crash!
Every head in the room turned toward the sound of a glass shattering on the tiled kitchen floor.
There was a moment's silence.
Katie heard her father speak in a lowered tone.
"Don, I'm so sorry. When? Oh, God, I don't believe it. Not David. Of course. We'll be right over."
Not a sound came from the five stunned figures in the family room.
~
Seagulls screamed overhead as she walked along the deserted beach front, with the letter that arrived at their home the day of her birthday dangling from her hand. No matter how her parents begged her to open the letter she couldn't bring herself to read it. They wanted her to move on, but she couldn't - not ever.
David's last words echoed in her mind like the very heartbeat of her soul. . . "Don't you be going to any of dem thar dances and giving your heart away to a stranger now. I'm gonna marry you when I get home."
The ocean's soothing roar filled her ears, drowning out even the persistent seagulls. She glanced down at the bracelet she wore on her left wrist. The inscription had faded over time, but it didn't matter.
It read: David John Roberts Dec 14, 1950 ~ Oct 12, 1973 *Forever Loved*
Leaning over, she reached for a stick jutting out from the sand. Hand trembling, she drew a heart in the soft, damp sand with their initials in the middle -
KAT loves DJR
"Thirty-four years is a long time to live with a broken heart," a familiar voice said.
She paused over the inscription as blood rushed to her head. That voice! Could it be?
"Not too long if you really love someone," she replied.
"Want to walk along the beach with me? I could teach you how to dance."
She straightened, clutching the sealed letter to her chest. Turning to face the man who stood behind her, she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't dance with strangers," she said, as a smile formed on her lips.
The young man tipped his soldier's hat, and nodded. "Well then, may I introduce myself. My name is David John Roberts, and I'm looking for my fiance, a young lady by the name of Katie Ann Thompson."
The light in her eyes sparkled as she took his hand.
"I'm not young anymore, David."
"Nonsense. Just look down."
She followed his gaze, staring at the reflection in his shiny black boots. A face she'd long forgotten gazed back at her in amazement and she giggled.
"It's me."
"Of course it's you, Katie. Will you dance with me now?"
"I've been waiting."
"Me too. Come on, darling. We'll dance on those streets of gold together."
He lifted her up, whirling her around as they embraced.
When they walked away, hand in hand, a letter lay, unopened on the sand.
~
"Look, Daddy!" a small boy exclaimed as he rescued the letter being lapped by the waves as the sun climbed over the horizon. "I think that lady dropped something!"
"What lady?"
His pudgy hand pointed down the sandy stretch. "The one down there! She's walking with a soldier! They forgot it!"
His father held one hand over his eyes and peered in that direction. "There's no one there, buddy. Come on, we'd better get going. Your Aunt Katie's funeral starts in two hours."
"There is too someone there! I can see them! A soldier, like you Daddy! The girl is in a pink party dress! Don't you think she's cold being out here dressed like that?" The boy shook the letter. "This is all wet. They'll never be able to read it now. The ink is running."
Justin took the sodden letter from his son's hand and stared at the handwriting on the front. Biting his lip hard, he shook his head. "Heaven help us. I don't believe it."
"What don't you believe, Daddy?"
"Come on, Davie."
"But what about the letter?"
"Can you still see them, son? The lady and the soldier?"
"No, they're gone."
"Then they'll read it in heaven."
Justin tucked the letter inside his coat, took his child's hand and together they headed toward the sound of the church bells echoing across the dawn's early light.
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