Prolouge

Prologue


     He knelt on one knee, and pulled out a ring. “Will you, Kristen Dennin, consent to be my lawfully wedded wife from now through eternity?” Collin asked. Tall and blonde with striking blue eyes, Collin looked a little uncomfortable kneeling on the floor. I blinked. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I said, smiling as I let it sink it. I was going to get married to the man of my dreams! Collin laughed, and with a mischievous glint in his eyes said, “Say it properly please.” I rolled my eyes. “I, Kristen Dennin, consent to being Collin Wakeworth’s lawfully wedded wife for now through eternity.” He smiled and put the ring on my finger and kissed me. Right in the middle of the kiss, his phone rang. He broke off and looked at his phone. He looked at me. “I have to take this. Forgive me?” he asked. “Of course,” I said giggling, “You just asked me to marry you! There will be plenty of time for payback later.” I said, jokes going through my head. He shook his head and laughed. His phone rang again. “I’m going in the kitchen, okay?” he asked, walking. I waved him off. “Ya go ahead. But don’t touch the cake!” I called.

     I stood up and straightened the blanket on the back of the couch. My roommates would be coming home soon. I laughed to myself. Boy, I owed them ice-cream. Collin’s voice was wafting towards me from the kitchen. “When do I leave?” He asked, his voice serious. “Yes, sir.” I heard a snap as his phone shut. I busied myself organizing magazines. He came in and hugged me from behind. “Well, hello to you, too.” I said, turning around and giving him a kiss. He laughed and let go. “I have to leave. Something came up at work. I should be back in a couple of weeks.” His voice was serious. Then his eyes crinkled. “In the meantime, you and my mom had better get working on my wedding.” He said mock serious. I raised my eyebrows. “Your wedding? Huh, I seemed to think you were proposing to me just now, not yourself.” I said, teasing him. He laughed, but then grew serious. “Do you trust me?” Collin asked.

     “Completely” I said.

     “Don’t forget that.”

      He walked over to get his jacket, but paused at the door. “I love you, Kris.” Collin said, smiling.

     “I love you too” I said. He walked out the door.

     Two weeks later, I was looking at a bridal magazine when the phone rang. I ran to the kitchen and picked it up hoping it was Collin. It was his mom, Ruby. She was crying. My mind immediately jumped to conclusions. Was Collin hurt? “He’s dead Kris! He’s dead!” She sobbed.

    “What?” I said, the word freezing my whole body. “Dead?” I asked faintly.

     Ruby just sobbed harder. I sank down on a kitchen chair. My whole body had gone numb. He can’t be dead, we are getting married. We were getting married. A deep breath from the phone pulled me out of my shock. It was Ruby, recovering from her crying.

     “Are you still there, dear?” she asked.

     “Ya” I said. “I have to go, the pizza man is here.” We both knew it was a lie, but she let it go.

     “You’re always welcome in our home, Kristen.”

     “I know” I said and hung up.

     After I had said goodbye to Ruby, I stood up and walked down the hall to my room. On top of my dresser was the velvet box that the ring had come in. I took the ring off my finger, carefully put it in the box, then put it in my sock drawer, out of sight. Then I collapsed on my bed and cried.