No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Uh, what?!

That's a new one on me.

I've never heard Ernest mention it before.

Thinking back, in the months I've been with him, aside from mentioning Susie, he hardly ever talks about his family or his past.

I thought maybe he was ashamed, feeling his family background wasn't up to snuff. So, to avoid hurting his pride, I never poked around. But now, realizing his true identity, his silence might have been him being cautious around me. Just the thought tightens a knot in my chest.

"Lost? Kidnapped or something?" I joked.

"Worse than kidnapped, it seems. But my folks clammed up about it," Susie's revelation took me aback.

And now I'm puzzled, "Kidnapped? But Ernest wasn't exactly a kid back then, how did he get kidnapped?"

"I've no clue. My parents kept it hush-hush, and I only caught snippets. After they found him, they sent him off to the army," Susie said, shaking her head, "You have no idea how much I cried when Ernest left for the military." I knew Ernest had served, but I didn't know the circumstances.

him to toughen up, to fend for himself if he ever faced danger

mentioned any of this to you?"

smile and said, "Nope. So how could he possibly love me? Loving someone means sharing everything with

crushing hard on Mack, would understand what I meant. Sure enough, she didn't argue but added, "Ernest's always been a closed book. Even

burst her bubble, just offered a

her

her reasons,

place

Out of concern,

the flight attendant to switch

fell asleep not long after takeoff, leaving me to mull over what she said. Was Ernest's kidnapping the real reason his dad went after mine, not

Q.UMS

ask Susie more about when Ernest was kidnapped but didn't want to disturb her frowning even in her

in the evening, no one was there to pick us up

feeling terrible, even struggling to keep her eyes