When All That's Left Is The Voice

Chapter 1 (Daniel)

Daniel Woods loved Minnesota. To be exact, he loved Stillwater, Minnesota. He felt a sense of home as he walked down the familiar sidewalks of Main Street. Although, he did have to admit he didn't usually walk down Main Street in a tux.

He had grown up in this town. Spending hours along the St. Croix River, biking the vast trails, and getting drunk with his buddies at the bluffs. There wasn't a corner of this town that didn't hold some funny or precious memory.

As the only child of two only children, Daniel had relied on the people of Stillwater to be his extended family. And because the Woods family always loved the people so openly, the townspeople in turn, loved them back.

Daniel's father, Matthew, now retired, had been a popular Math teacher at the local high school. His charming humor had kept his students laughing through complicated equations and made him a pro at dealing with parents. And Daniel's mother, Mary, retired from her position as secretary for a popular tourism board – kept her front door open and a fresh pot of coffee ready for anyone who wanted to stop by for a chat.

His parents were happy here. He was happy here. And if that was all Stillwater had ever given him, Daniel would have still cherished this town. But Stillwater had given him everything. It had given him Everly.

Everly Lynn had moved with her widowed mother to Stillwater at the age of eleven. Four houses down, or thirty-six steps away from the Woods' home. And Daniel had fallen in love with her the minute he saw her.

As a little girl she had been so tiny, with skinny legs, big gray eyes, and wild curly brown hair. He had watched from his driveway as she and her mother had moved into the little yellow home that had sat empty for ten months, and felt the distinct feeling that his life was changed forever.

Pulling open the large rec center door and stepping into the spacious meeting hall room, decorated for his parents golden anniversary party, he spotted those same big gray eyes and wild, dark curls. Everly.

It didn't seem to matter to his heart that he'd been with Everly for longer than he'd been without her. That he'd said I do to her eight years ago. That he woke up to her smiling face every morning and kissed her pert little nose every night before falling asleep. His heart didn't care how often he saw her, it simply sighed every time he did.

Seeing his girl now, with her slender arm wrapped around his mother and laughter in her eyes from some outrageous thing his father had just said, Daniel felt the utter sense of rightness and home. He loved Stillwater. But even Stillwater was nothing compared to Everly.

Waving to a few people milling close to the door and exchanging brief greetings, Daniel made his way to Everly's side. Slipping an arm around her delicate waist and leaning in to place a quick kiss on her temple.

"Hi, baby," he whispered in her ear.

His beautiful wife turned her eyes, still filled with laughter and happiness, to his and he forgot to breath. God, how had he gotten so lucky?

"Danny." She breathed against his cheek as she returned his greeting with a kiss.

Daniel smiled at her use of the nickname only Everly was allowed to use. She was dressed in a floor length, sparkly gold dress that showed off her slender shoulders and back, and hugged her small curves perfectly. His Everly hadn't lost the long, skinny legs of her youth. And her large grey eyes, still dominating her small face, were smoked up for the anniversary occasion. Even having left her wild curls untamed she looked elegant and perfect.

Hearing his father's not-so-subtle throat clearing, Daniel realized he should probably stop gawking at his wife and greet his parents.

With a small laugh, he reluctantly let go of Everly and wrapped his arms around his soft, round mother, kissing her cheek.