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“I have coffee for you” My dad handscup of coffee “And hot chocolate for you” He hands Liza and Liam each a cup of hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows on top

“I want to open this one first,” Liaifts

“We need to wait for your grandparents to get here,” Mom tells him

My cell phone rings, and I juht be Ian As I hit answer, the front door opens and in walk both sets of randparents

“Hello,” I say, not recognizing the number on the caller ID

“Hello, may I please speak to Micaela Anderson?”

Everyone is saying Merry Christs and kisses, so it’s hard to hear Stepping into the kitchen, where it’s quieter, I say, “This is she Who’s this?” I can’t help the smile that forms at the sound of Ian’s—now my—last name

“This is Lieutenant Gaspar” Everything that comes after his na to beat Ian was in an accident while skydiving and didn’t erous for hiined he would be at risk before actually becoave the risks ht like this would happen to him

At some point, my parents find me curled into a ball in the kitchen My dad takes the phone and finishes the call, andme close It’s hard to breathe, to see, to hear My body isn’t working right, everything is wrong

Ian has been in an accident

My husband has been killed

I’ll never be able to see hiain

All of our plans… our promises… our love

In the blink of an eye, it’s all over

Micaela