Remember Hope

by Ginny Sterling

  “Dance with me, Daisy. Don’t say anything, just let me hold you for a bit.”

  “How can I not say something when you just said…”

  “I just needed to tell you and I thought you knew already.”

  “That you love someone already?”

  “I love you, Daisy. Just you, darling.”

  Stunned, she felt herself collapse against him, boneless - and was glad Ethan was able to hold her upright, because she wasn’t sure she could. As she put her head against his chest again, she realized his heart was beating faster under her cheek.

  “I love you so much and I can’t imagine my life without you. These last two weeks have been terrifying thinking that I’d done something to lose you. That is why I re-enrolled in college to finish my degree. I wanted you to be proud of me and I wanted to be good enough to be your husband someday, if you’ll have me.”

  Ethan released her finally and stepped back to look at her. Her eyes drank in his features, memorizing them for all time as he pulled out a plastic package from his pocket. Confused, she stared at it as he opened the package noisily, the cellophane crinkling against the faint harmonies coming from his phone nearby.

  “I should be doing this with a velvet box and getting on my knees,” he chuckled nervously, making her heart flip-flop with emotion as she saw what he held.

  A Ring Pop.

  “I knew the moment I wanted to tell you that I loved you, that I wanted the whole world to know it. There was no better way than to make you my wife. I looked at the jewelry store and there are so many different bands and diamond cuts that I would prefer we pick together. I’d like to do everything together from here on out… if you’ll have me? I’m not perfect in the slightest and will make a ton of mistakes in our lives- but I can promise you that I will love you until my dying day. I can’t get on my knees easily…”

  Daisy covered her mouth with her hands as she stared at the blue candy Ring Pop in amazement, his words echoing in her ears.

  “… but I would do anything for you. Our meeting was different, our friendship was extraordinary, and our love is breathtaking. Everything about us is so unexpected and spontaneous – so I thought our engagement would be just as sweet and special as you are. Daisy Greenwell, will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Yes,” she breathed, throwing herself into his arms as both lost their balance and collapsed onto the floor together. Laughing happily and wincing at the soreness in her elbow she’d landed on, she felt Ethan slide the Ring Pop on her finger.

  “When I said we’d do everything together- I meant it, but didn’t expect this,” Ethan teased, kissing her softly as they lay on the wood floor.

  Epilogue

  May 2016

  Ghazi, Afghanistan

  “Wilkes are you skipping your turn online again this week?” Cooper asked as Colin Wilkes lay there on his bunk in the stifling heat. He hated this place. It was a reminder of what he’d done and the overwhelming guilt that came with it. He’d caused his best friend to be injured after being instructed to stop fooling around when they were sweeping for bombs. Minter went home an amputee and he was being tried for dereliction of duty. If found guilty, he would be discharged, and possibly serve time in jail. He wasn’t going to lie to himself – he was scared.

  A month ago, Colin had googled the term to see what the penalty was since he wasn’t quite sure what was going to occur next. It had all happened so fast! One minute they were goofing around, and the next he was confined to the base until things were settled. He’d mailed letters to Ethan apologizing repeatedly for what had happened. Colin guessed that his best friend had refused the apology because he never heard back. He saw letters received by some of the other guys, but one never came for him from Ethan Minter.

  He wasn’t sure if they were waiting to get a hold of Ethan to see if he was pressing charges or what was going on. In his last email from his former CPO, Griffin had said that he’d written a letter of recommendation for him for his file – describing his character and how it was a simple accident. He was so thankful for that letter because that might be the only thing that saved him from serving time. John Griffin had been well respected here in Ghazi on the base.

  “Yooo-hoo!” Cooper yodeled, waving his hands in Colin’s face. “Seriously dude. I could use your internet time. I am killin’ it in Candy Crush right now and that thing is addictive.”

  “No. I need to email my parents,” Colin admitted. He needed to explain what was going on and what was going to happen next.

  “Post!” Cooper shouted suddenly, jumping to his feet. “Post, man – you gotta let me use your minutes,” Cooper whined. Jamie Post grinned at him, infuriatingly.

  “Cooper, I’m supposed to email Annabelle. She’s picking out the stuff for our wedding next year and I gotta keep my girl happy, you know?”

  “Man, you are a stick in the mud – if she wants to be happy, she’d be dating someone else with a personality.”

  “Some women like a strong, patient man.”

  “Stick…in…the…mud…” Cooper repeated, sticking out his tongue at the older man. Post immediately put Cooper in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles against the man’s dark buzzcut on his head. Colin sat up, causing the two men to stop roughhousing around.

  “You okay man?” Post asked quietly. He’d confided in him the other day that he was terrified of being discharged or kicked out. Both he and Ethan had gone to high school together, both had joined the military the moment they turned eighteen, and both had ended up here in Afghanistan. He didn’t know what he would do with his life if things suddenly changed. He’d been in the military for almost ten years now – most of it here, among his brothers.

  “Yep. I’ll be back shortly.”

  Colin walked through camp quickly to the small building. A lone computer sat on the table near a row of chairs. Several men sat on the chair awaiting their turn online. They were each assigned a time slot in order to be able to play around online or check email. If the computer was ever empty, it was free to use – so far that hadn’t happened since it had been set up. Taking a seat, he waited patiently for his turn.

  Eventually, he moved to the table and logged out the previous guy, shaking his head. Most of the time, they remembered, but it did happen occasionally where someone simply forgot to do so. Logging in, he opened his email and saw there were two hundred and thirty-five emails – mostly spam or ads. Briefly, he scanned through and deleted them before hesitating.

  There were two email addresses he didn’t recognize – one of them belonging to EMinter… Ethan? Clicking on it, Colin felt his hands tremble and shake as he read the words on the screen. He cupped his hands in front of his mouth, in an effort to keep from crying aloud.

  Hey Colin,

  I hope this finds you well, brother. I ran into Griffin by sheer accident here in Texas and found out you never got my letters. He said you wrote but they never came. I am so glad to hear you have an email because this is a lot more dependable than snail-mail (Cooper’s word, not mine).

  I miss you buddy and want you to know there’s no hard feelings. I had a rough go, I’m not gonna lie – but it’s harder missing my best friend than losing my leg (I prefer to keep the one I got though, so don’t get any ideas about giving me a matching set! Love ya’ man!) I’ve gone back to finish my degree I started online all those years ago and hopefully have a fiancée later this afternoon. I’m actually on my way to pop the question to my girl.

  I’m glad you are on the other side of the world cause Daisy would love how fun a personality you have – she’s absolutely terrific and she’s so beautiful to me, it’s scary. I feel like it’s a miracle to have her in my life. Isn’t that something? Gosh I’m terrified- so pray for me, brother, that I don’t botch it up and she says yes!

  Write back soon – better yet, some see me!

  Seriously- You still owe me that beer and basketball game!

  ~ Ethan

  Colin sat there
stunned and quickly began to type, his mind whirling with relief and emotion. His eyes watered heavily and he barely could see the screen, relying on memory of where the keys were located as he typed.

  Ethan!

  Oh my gosh- I was so shocked to get your email! I can’t tell you how sorry I am and how devastated I was that day. Man, I still hear your screams in my sleep and I swear that I will never get over that day. I’m so glad you have Daisy in your life and she makes you happy. There are so many emotions right now going on in my head- but most of all I’m grateful that you wrote to me. I love you, brother! I will have to tell you more but I need to gather myself up so I’m not a blubbering idiot in front of the other men. I get the computer once a week, so I will write you again next Tuesday and tell you more. I could use a few prayers right now too – so you pray for me and I will do the same! I hope Daisy says yes, dude- you deserve happiness.

  ~Colin

  Opening the other email out of curiosity, Colin was shocked to find out that it was a woman writing him – someone Ethan knew.

  Hello Stranger,

  Well, I know your name is Colin – but we are strangers and frankly- I could use a friend. Not sure what your deal is, but I hear from Ethan that you are a prankster and tell a lot of jokes. I could use a few smiles as I try to get through my daily routine.

  Life’s been horrible as of late and while I should be grateful for what I have… I can’t help but feel wretched on the inside. Do you ever have days like that? I don’t know if you need a friend or not, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to have one more… right? So maybe our E-friendship could start with a few smiles?

  What’s black, red, and white all over?

  (insert groan here if you know this joke already.)

  Write back when you can – Ava

  Colin found himself responding to her email before he knew it. He understood just how horrible life could feel at this very moment and her words struck a nerve in him. Truthfully, he could use a friend or someone to simply pour out his feelings to; he was terrified to tell his parents what had happened and what he could stand to lose once the military hearing occurred.

  Dear Ava…

  Afterword

  Thank you for taking the time to read Remember Hope. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Doesn’t have to be much, just a simple rating and a few kind words work wonders. Your thoughts, opinions and feedback are much appreciated.

  Sincerely,

  Ginny Sterling

  Remember Love

  Remember Love - Wilkes’ story

  Ava Richardson is a new mother with a child she never expected. When a nightmare event rips her from a fairytale life, she’s devastated and frightened to move on. What she never expected was to find solace in a pen-pal, pouring out her feelings to a stranger halfway across the world.

  Colin Wilkes is a weary, reckless soldier in Afghanistan. Saddled with guilt at causing his best friend to lose his leg, he awaits whatever fate he has coming. Unexpectedly receiving an email from a strange woman looking for anything to help her get through the day- he can’t help but feel intrigued and sympathetic to her pleas.

  When Colin finds himself suddenly back in the States and face to face with his mysterious pen-pal, can a friendship that began over the internet solidify into something more? Can one shattered soul help mend another? Can they be saved by remembering just how to love someone?

  Remember Joy

  Stay tuned for Cooper’s tale coming

  Christmas 2019

  Follow me on Amazon for updates and notifications

  Lawfully Gifted

  Lawfully Gifted- CPO John Griffin’s story

  Dear John…

  For teacher Lily Hogan, those words would come to mean so much. She knew that giving back to the community brought joy into people’s lives. When her fourth-grade class writes letters to the military overseas in Afghanistan, she takes up her own pen and leads her students by example – writing a letter to an unknown soldier.

  CPO John Griffin and his K-9 dog, Radar, have been through so much together over the last several years. Sniffing out bombs, searching the hills and mentoring his team, he feels so alone and unsure of his future- until a letter reminds him that there’s more to life in this world he’s protecting. Simple words, a kind gesture and feeling that he isn’t forgotten out there in the desert, compels him to write back. Before long, he finds himself looking forward to the care packages and letters from his pen-pal halfway across the world.

  With every letter and every word, they begin to develop a friendship and wonder what the other person is truly like? Major life changes are scary enough as it is - but is it possible to fall in love with someone before you’ve even laid eyes upon them? Can the magic of the season bring the sweetest gift of all?

  Winning the Billionaire

  Get it today on Kindle Unlimited

  God, Country and his Mama…

  Rachel Thorpe had just moved into Eureka, Texas a few months ago to further her interior design career only to find that it wasn’t the bustling city she’d pictured in her mind. Her first client happened to look like the town’s biggest redneck with the largest pocketbook she’d ever seen. The arrogant man swaggered into her plush office in dusty Wranglers and a T-shirt, looking like he owned the place. Designing a house was normally a breeze but fending off her client’s advances would turn out to be a lot more difficult than she’d ever realized.

  Tyler Howe had struggled all his life, working two jobs and trying to provide for his mother. Just when he didn’t think he had any farther to fall, fate would intervene when he bought a lottery ticket. He discovered that money wasn’t the key to everything, it just brought about different problems. Learning several hard lessons, he began to realize who his friends truly were and who he could depend on in this world. Taking one look at the woman he’d hired, Tyler was hooked like a fish on a line, just waiting to be reeled in.

  Could it be that his luck had finally turned around, winning the jackpot – more than once!

  About the Author

  Ginny Sterling is a Texas transplant living in Kentucky. She spends her free time (Ha!) writing, quilting, and spending time with her husband and two children. Ginny can be reached on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or via email at GinnySterlingBooks@gmail.com

  Join my Newsletter for updates and new releases!

  Remember Love, Copyright © 2019 by Ginny Sterling

  These books are works of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of these books may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without express written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Thank you for supporting the author’s rights.

  Created with Vellum