Past and Present Collide

*NOTE* This is a story I gifted to readers as free on amazon before. I am now making it available forever here on wattpad. Book is available in Audio as well. This is a short novelette.

*EDITING NOT PERFECT*

Prologue

1942

Kaylie sat at the dining room table of the brand new home her and her fiancé David had just bought. She stared at her engagement ring. They were supposed to get married Christmas Day 1941, but a week after the bombing of Pearl Harbor he had been selected to go over to Germany. She was now three days shy of her eighteenth birthday and he had been gone for two months with no letters. Finally she was staring at a letter from him. She had been secretly glad their wedding had been postponed, but she could never tell him that. She was so young and wanted to experience so much, but her mother had told her she was making the right choice. David was a good man and getting married and starting a family would be the best thing for her. Although, she wasn't as confident about that little notion from her mother as she should have been. She slowly pealed the envelope open bracing herself for his words, words she hadn't seen or heard for three months now.

My Dearest Kaylie,

I know I haven't written since I left for war and for that I am truly sorry, my love. This is the first chance I have gotten. I miss you so much Kaylie and I am so sorry we had to postpone our wedding. I have been told my company won't be over here much longer as we have almost fulfilled the needs for us. This means we can get married very soon, my dearest. Nothing in this world would make me happier than to marry you as soon possible. I will write again soon and I hope I get to hear from you.

All My Love,

David

She decided he was at least owed a letter so she went to their wooden hutch and opened the drawer where she kept her stationary and pens. Returning to the table she thought long and hard about her letter. This would be tough but she had to tell him she was happy for the postponement because it gave her time to think; time she desperately needed.

My Dearest David,

I received your letter today and I was both overjoyed and confused. I love you with all my heart, but I am glad we were able to have this time apart. It has given me some time to think about us and our future. I love you, that I am sure of, but I worry that marriage might not be the right thing for us at this moment. I have been told so many things the last few months that my head has been very clouded with mixed thoughts and emotions. I am using this time to sort through it all so that we can begin our lives together - hopefully when you get back, but please be patient with me as I figure out not only my head, but my heart as well. You have always been there for me and I want to be there for you too, but I need time to just sort through the mess. This by no means is a goodbye letter. This is a please keep writing and forgive me as I process things while you are away.

Please be careful over there. I wouldn't want to receive news that you have been hurt, as that would devastate me because despite my confusion I still love you very much. I promise I will have everything figured out by the time you return from the war.

I am asking for a little faith and trust. I believe you are very capable of giving me that. Take care, my love, and I will see you soon.

Yours,

Kaylie

As she walked the letter to the mailbox at the end of the long drive she thought long and hard about whether or not she should send it. She decided that he needed to know that she had a lot of mixed feelings, but that she would keep her promise and figure out why she was having them; and also a way to sort through them so that they could begin a future when he returned. With that she closed the mailbox and proceeded back up the drive to the porch. She sat in the porch swing and stared at their initials, K&D forever, carved into the swing back. It made her smile. David had carved their initials two days before he had received his orders for Germany, and it was always something that brought her comfort despite her confusion. This was their home and he was her rock. Why she was having uneasy feelings now bothered her, but getting married now seemed like a hard step.