Chapter 1

On the third day after my father's death, Marcus Hale still hadn't come.

"Chief Collins, I've made up my mind. I want to honor my father's wishes and stay here in Pine Ridge Village to teach the children," I said firmly as I packed up my bags.

The chief of the village, Henry Collins, froze before trying to persuade me, "Clara, you worked so hard to follow the military, why would you come back to this poor place and suffer?"

I shook my head and looked down at the worn wristwatch on my arm, my father's only keepsake bequeathed to me. "I'm not afraid of hardship. Give me seven days. I'll file for divorce."

At seven that evening, I finally returned to our home at Fort Haven. The food on the table was still there, exactly the same as when I had left.

Just as I set my bags down, footsteps echoed at the door.

Marcus walked in, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in his sharp green uniform. His voice was cold.

"Is there any food left? The mess hall's closed. Heat something up and pack it for me. I need to bring it to Julia. She's been sick the past couple of days and can't cook."

I turned my head, revealing my tired, drawn face. "I just got back. I didn't cook."

Marcus frowned, but didn't ask where I'd gone or why I looked so worn. He didn't care and went straight into the kitchen.

At that moment, his mind was full of nothing but his first love's fragile body.

I stood frozen, watching him awkwardly stir a pan of scrambled eggs and heat up boxed mac and cheese. In five years of marriage, this was the first time he had ever cooked.

Ever since Julia Summers had divorced her husband and moved back to Fairview City, I'd seen changes like this too many times.

Marcus placed the mac and cheese into an aluminum lunch box. When he tried to brush past me toward the door, I stepped in his way.

"I'll be going back to my hometown in a few days. Can you sign this application form for me? I need your signature for something."

I pulled out the unfinished divorce papers and pointed to the blank space for his name.

Marcus paused, then signed without even looking. After all, his attention was never really on me. "Julia's been sick the past few days, so I haven't had time. When she gets better, I'll go back with you."

I lowered my eyes, hiding the tears. "Fine."

As we brushed past each other, I caught the scent of vanilla lotion on his body. I could never bring myself to buy it, but his first love used it all the time.

When the courtyard gate closed completely behind him, I stiffly walked to the dining table and carefully folded the paper.

A week earlier, Chief Collins had called to tell me my father, Samuel Wilder, had suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage while teaching class and was being rushed to the hospital.

Panic-stricken, I had begged Marcus to come with me. "Can you come home with me, just once? My dad, he—"

Before I could finish, Julia's voice came calling from outside, "Marcus, hurry up! You promised to take me shopping today!"

At the sound of her voice, Marcus lost all patience. He tore my hand off his sleeve, walked out, and tossed one line over his shoulder, "I'm busy. Go back first. I'll come find you when I have time."

And so I waited for seven days.