Nora sat next to the major. She could tell it was difficult for him to speak. His eyes seemed to concentrate on stray blades of grass sprouting up from the dirt.

“It happened in the spring. We had a week of heavy rain. Ginny had been shopping for the baby.” He smiled. “You name it and our baby had it.” Then, he stopped. He covered his face with his hands. Nora wanted to comfort him but she couldn’t move or say a word.

Then, his words spilled out. “The rain drenched the roads; visibility was poor. Ginny’s windshield wipers must have been going at full speed. She stopped for a red light. As soon as the light turned green, she stepped on the gas. At the same time, the driver in the other lane ran the light. She never saw the car smash into the side of her door. Ginny . . . she . . . died instantly.”

A tear welled up in the major’s eye. He brushed it aside with the palm of his hand and shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts.

“What about the baby?” Nora asked, in full innocence.

“The baby, a girl, didn’t survive. It was the hardest time of my life.” The major reached for Nora’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you.”

Nora looked down as the major held her hand. For the first time, she felt a connection between them. More, a subtle light opened her narrow vision of men. He was her friend.

He smiled at her. “Enough sadness. We have a mission. Let’s get the ice cream. How about strawberry?”

“How about butter pecan?” They ended up with a carton of each.

April became a whirlwind of activities for Nora, Eloise, and the major. It made all the difference since Sam was out of their lives. Their time together became a melody of memories, movies, dinners, walks in the park, and even a weekend at the beach.

Nora remembered the warm breezes from the ocean, the sunshine, and the waves racing up the sandy beach, splashing their toes. The major held their hands; Eloise to the right, Nora to the left. All of a sudden, he stopped, dropped to his knees and released their fingers. A large grin spread across his face as he looked from Eloise to Nora.

The major’s words came slowly. “I love you both. I hope to be a part of your lives.” He looked first at Eloise. “Will you be my wife?” Then he turned to Nora. “Will you let me be a father to you?”

Eloise and Nora looked at each other and back at the major. They each beamed. The major pulled them down to his level, kissed Eloise and hugged Nora. There was no resistance from either.

He looked at them. “Yes?”

They nodded in an apparent agreement and each gave him a kiss on opposite cheeks.