Apple at 23
“You have my greatest sympathy, Ms. Cates.”
“Thank you.” Apple nodded as her husband’s commanding officer placed the folded American flag in her lap.
He patted her on the shoulder. “Your husband was a fine soldier and a good man. His aptitude for languages was unparalleled. With his help we were able to make some invaluable connections.”
“Yes. I’m glad,” she agreed in a shaky voice. What else could she say? Obviously, the details of their personal life were unknown to Captain Holcomb. “He loved his country.”
They were the last two people left in the graveyard. The few friends who came to pay their respects and the Honor Guard who offered the traditional salute had already departed. Since there was no casket to be lowered into the ground, the only thing for the funeral home to do was to set up Alan’s headstone next to Jenny’s.
“One of the good ones.” Holcomb offered Apple his arm. “May I walk you to your car?”
“Yes, please.” Before stepping away, she took one last look at the two grave markers. Apple didn’t even recognize the world she lived in now. Nothing was how she thought it would be. She’d lost everything. “I’m so grateful you came, Captain. This has been a heartbreaking process.”
“Of course, I understand. Changing Staff Sargent Cates’s status from MIA to Presumed Dead was a difficult one for us all. We spared no effort looking for your husband. His radio was all we found. Plus, we received no ransom demand or any communication from the local factions. After a year of searching, we can come to no better conclusion.”
“I wish I could know for sure, it’s hard to get closure.” Despite the hurtful truth’s she’d learned about her husband’s true feelings, Apple wished he were alive. “Living in limbo is so hard.”
When she stumbled, he caught her before she fell. “Watch your step, these rocks are hard to walk on,” the Captain cautioned her as he led Apple from the cemetery to the car she’d driven from the church where the service had been held.
“I will.” She wiped at the tears flowing from her eyes. “I can’t see the ground very clearly.”
“Here.” He gave her a handkerchief. “You’ll be getting some information in a few days about your benefits, but if you have any questions don’t hesitate to give me a call.”
Apple thanked the kind man again and slid into her seat, giving him a last wave before he turned to climb into the black SUV he’d arrived in. Leaning her head on the cool glass of the window, Apple tried to catch her breath.
Her eyes wondered over the graveyard. She felt as desolate and lonely as it appeared. Where should she go? What should she do? With the money she received from the military, she could move somewhere different and buy a home of her own. With her experience working for a veterinarian, another job would be fairly easily to find, maybe. She also planned to get the pet her husband had never wanted in his home. “You have to pick up and move on. Make a new life for yourself.” Apple gazed at her own reflection in the rearview mirror. “Pity we can’t make a new you, Apple Cates. You’ll still be the woman your own husband found plain and boring.”