The Making of a Valentine

It was destiny. Slow and sometimes bittersweet. But in the end, destiny would not be denied.

Their paths first crossed in a small Oregon town. The local theater was playing Coal Miner’s Daughter. She worked the concession stand. He was hired as a doorman. Upon his hiring, he was told not to flirt with the girls. He thought it was an odd rule. He paid it no mind.

His attention went toward others, but his eye was always on her. She was dating another. He was an honorable man so he kept his distance.

She didn’t.

A relationship developed and before long they were dating each other.

It was short lived.

Her boyfriend saw he was losing her so he proposed. She accepted and abruptly broke off the budding romance. She married and he was devastated.

He left the theater and found full time work as a carpenter. He thought about her from time to time and wondered if she ever thought of him.

One day by chance, they ran into each other. Seems they frequented the same local laundromat. They small talked while her laundry ran through the dry cycle. He helped her fold her sheets. They parted company. He realized deep down inside he still missed her.

Several months passed by.

One evening his phone rang. He answered it. She was on the line. Her marriage had fallen apart and she needed someone to talk to. He was thrilled she had called him.

They talked. There was a lot to be said, so they decided to meet. Soon they started dating again.

He was in love.

They soon moved in together but it was too fast for her. The arrangement was short lived. She moved back to her parents house.

Once again he was devastated.

She wanted to keep seeing him. He was wary, but love is a funny thing and his feelings for her were still strong, so he agreed. This time they moved much slower. In its own time, love blossomed, the stars aligned and they once again lived under one roof.

They married on a Friday afternoon. It was a simple ceremony at the county courthouse. Within the year, they moved to Southern Idaho where they worked together in a potato factory making french fries. They had their first child. They were in love.

After several years she grew homesick, so they moved back to Oregon where they had another child. They were both boys. The kids grew up fast, or so it seemed. They were good kids. Handsome and talented. Both went on to college and became successful in their chosen fields.

They had both started lives of their own and now the nest was empty.

The two had a chance to deepen their relationship. They did some traveling. They reconnected with each other and their bond grew even stronger. They laughed and cried together but most of all they loved each other.

After forty-three years they’re still together and still in love.

Like most relationships, they’ve had their share of ups and downs and weathered many storms. At times the path was less than straight and easy. Wherever it took them, they took it together, always managing to keep their wits about them and their heads above water.

After they retired, they moved to a warmer climate where to this day they remain deeply in love as they live an idyllic life. They are growing old together and living… happily ever after.

© Copyright 2023 by Scott A. Gese All Rights Reserved.

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