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There’s no way that Jeff Stone sent me a letter. But I look at the scribbling on the outside.
To the man who’s going to marry my wife
I tear the letter open.
To the man who’s going to marry my wife,
There are a few moments in life that make you reexamine things. Losing a truck full of men and women you serve with is one of those moments. I started to think about what would happen to Katie if anything ever happens to me. I hope you don’t mind that I’m contacting you, but I have a few things I want to tell you.
I won’t tell you how she likes her coffee or what her favorite foods are. I won’t mention her favorite color or her favorite flower, because you’re going to enjoy learning all those things. It’s part of the discovery process. It’s beautiful and it’s necessary.
But what I do want to say to you is that if Katie chose you, it’s because she loves and trusts you. Don’t abuse that. Don’t ever take it for granted. She loves freely, but never blindly. She loves truly, but never indiscriminately. She loves with her whole heart. If you’re lucky enough to get that from her, then by God you deserve it. You have won one hell of a prize.
I don’t worry as much about Katie as I do about my children, however. Your place with them will be tentative, even as Katie’s love for you grows. They will always have memories of me and our life together, and you may think that they overshadow yours. But never fear. You will take a different place in their hearts.
At the end of the day, I’m not threatened by you, and I hope my memory doesn’t threaten you either. You will make your own memories with my children, and you will take a place in their lives that’s just as important.
I hope you’ll consider it an honor when you walk Gabby down the aisle. Take a minute to tell her she’s smart and not just beautiful.
When Alex gets in his first fight at school, I hope you teach him to handle himself with both grace and strength. Fight when fighting is necessary. Love when you can.
When Trixie goes on her first date, take a moment to tell her how valuable she is to you and to her mother, because a daughter who feels valued is one who values others.
My final thought for you: Find your own place with them, but don’t try to fill mine. If you try to walk in my shoes, the shoes won’t fit you right and they could cause you to stumble and fall. You must be yourself, and I trust you, because Katie has chosen you and I trust Katie. And I hope you and Katie succeed as a couple, because my children’s happiness will now depend greatly on yours.
Take care of Katie, and take care of my kids.
Jeff Stone
52
Katie
I’m still wiping tears from my face when Pop bursts into cabin 114. “Katie girl!” he cries as he walks right into my bedroom. I’m already dressed, but it’s still odd that he’s visiting. “You’re my favorite bride today!” he says. He opens his arms and I fall against him. He squeezes me tightly, grunting as he rocks me gently from side to side.
Laura puts her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t I ever get the favorite bride comment when I married Jake?” she pretends to grumble.
Mr. Jacobson grins at her. “You were never meant for my boy and you know it. Now get out.” He jerks his thumb toward the door.
Laura playfully grumbles again but I can tell she’s not really angry. She closes the bedroom door behind her with a smile.
“I brought you something,” Mr. Jacobson says. He pats his shirt pocket, then his pants pocket, and then he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a long box. “Here you go,” he says. His joviality suddenly vanishes an
d he gets very serious. “These belonged to Jake’s mother,” he tells me. “I never gave them to Laura because I didn’t think she would want them. They’re not worth much, but they were worth everything to me and to Jake’s mom. I gave them to his mom the day we got married, and now I’m giving them to you, because I know you’ll cherish them the same way she did.” He thrusts the box at me. “Take it, Katie girl.”
I open the box with shaky fingers. Inside lies a string of beautiful pearls.
“Your neck is too naked,” he says. “And while I happen to like naked women, I think your neck needs something on it.” He pulls my hand until I come to stand in front of the mirror. “Can I put them on you?” His eyes meet mine in the mirror.
I nod, understanding the reverence of this moment.
“The last and only time I put these on someone, I put them on her.” He isn’t jovial or joking. He’s serious. I’ve never seen him so serious. “Please know that I wouldn’t give these to just anyone, Katie.”
“I understand,” I say. “Thank you.”
“When she died, I thought I would die with her.” His voice chokes a little, but he clears his throat. “But I had Jake to live for, to take care of, to teach, to love, and to love me back.” He finally clasps the hook and I feel the cool weight of the pearls fall against my neck. “And now I have five more people to love and love me back.”
He spins me around and hugs me tight.
