Page 15 of When Love Is Lost and Found

She doesn't want to know, and I don't want to tell her, so we'll go with that plan for now.

I make four pancakes in silence while she sips her cup of coffee.

"How do you like your eggs?" I ask her.

"I'll just have pancakes with some bacon. Thank you."

I put two slices of bacon next to her pancakes and hand her the plate.

"Thank you," she says.

"I'd still like to know how you like your eggs."

"I like them over-medium," she says. "What about you?"

"Scrambled," I say, "It's just easier that way."

"Is it okay if we talk about Jimmy?" she asks. "So long as we steer clear of the day he died?"

I set my plate down on the table and sit.

"Yes," I say. "Jimmy was a good man with a level head on his shoulders. He was wise beyond his years, and he loved you."

When a smile spreads across her face, I can't help but smile back because I know I just made her very happy.

"I see you're still wearing your engagement ring," I say, pointing at the solitaire diamond ring on her finger. “My parents never asked you about it?"

"Your mom did," she says. "During my interview."

"What did you tell them?"

"I told them the truth. My fiancé died." She twists the ring around her finger a few times before continuing. "They said they were sorry for my loss but never asked any more questions after that."

"Jimmy told me you two knew each other since elementary school."

"Yes," she says. "We met when my best friend, Betty, introduced us. She liked his friend, and I came along for the ride. It was during recess, and she wanted to talk to Anthony. Jimmy and I stood there feeling awkward until we started talking about music and movies. We were inseparable after that."

"Your eyes are even more beautiful when you're talking about Jimmy."

"Thank you," she says shyly.

"What happened to Betty and Anthony?" I ask to keep the conversation flowing.

"They're still together," she says. "They're getting married after college."

"I'm sorry," I say, feeling like I need to apologize again for her loss.

"Don't be," she says. "I don't mind talking about it. I'm happy for my friends."

"Are you going to go to college?" I ask.

"I was going to enroll wherever Jimmy was stationed after boot camp. Now, I need to take some time off and regroup. Figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life."

"Had you two already picked a wedding date?"

"No," she says, "My dad died, and I needed my mother's permission to get married, which she vehemently refused to grant me. We decided we would elope as soon as I turned eighteen and he was able to take some time off."

"Elope?" I say, surprised, "What about the rest of your family? Wouldn't they want to be there?"

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