Prologue

The leaves overhead rustled softly in the cool autumn breeze. He sat back on the bench and glanced up toward them, but did not really see them as his thoughts drifted. So much had happened in the last six months, and now….

She slowly slid her hand over his shoulder, letting him know she was there and not pressuring him. He would speak when he was ready, and not before. That was his nature and she would be there whenever he was ready. He reached up and clasped her hand in his acknowledging her gentle presence, thinking back to how they had arrived to this point in their lives.