Shadow of Dawn (39 page)

Catherine got to her feet, her hand on her
heart.

Thinner, dressed in civilian clothes and
braced on a single crutch, he stood framed in a ray of white light
from the transom above the front door. She felt as though she were
seeing a vision.

Mrs. Pierce had risen to stand behind
Catherine. The old woman’s eyes went worriedly to his leg. After a
moment he broke the stunned silence.

“It took a long time to heal. I’ve been
walking on it some but it’s still weak.”

“You’re here,” Catherine whispered.

He said, smiling, the old sparkle in his
eyes, “What kind of welcome is this? Don’t tell me you got tired of
waiting and married someone else.”

“Oh,” she breathed, “you really are a
rascal.”

She went into his arms; the crutch dropped to
the floor. He was definitely flesh and blood…he was home…he was
hers.

After a moment he said, against her hair,
“I’m here to stay, my darling wife. I’ll never leave you
again.”

The End

About the Author

Debra Diaz has worked as a columnist and
feature writer for a local newspaper, and between other jobs she
has owned and operated a writing service. She has won two regional
awards in short-story writing. Born and raised in Memphis, she now
resides with her husband and two children near Oxford,
Mississippi.

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