My good friend, Grammy Dee, from Grammy’s Grid, hosts a blogger’s link party based on story prompts.
This story is a writing exercise and is linked to GRAMMY’S GRID – Short Story Link Party 26 This is how it works…
- write a short story using the short story prompt she provides
- publish your post
- then add it to the link party HERE
This month’s prompt is …The party was going fine until…
Here is my story…
Susan’s Cookout
The party was going fine until I mentioned the beach party down the road. We had just moved to the area and had met very few people. We were delighted to have been invited to the cookout, and the other couples seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was a lovely night, with a cool breeze blowing in off the Gulf and a warm fire in the pit. Susan was passing around a tray of shrimp kisses when I asked who lived in the green house, the one with the circle drive and with the sea turtle painted on the fence? I commented that they must be having a wedding or something. The group grew noticeably quiet. It seemed they all just stopped and silently turned to look at me.
I continued my train of thought and commented on how lovely the ribbons were that lined the driveway and the hurricane candle holders that lit the pier going out to the water. What a lovely place to have a wedding I said. I had always dreamed of getting married on a beach but retiring on one was even better. When I looked around, I noticed everyone looking at me, and then each other and back at me.
With a glance towards Susan, I noticed the slightest shake of her head. Oh, my, I said something I shouldn’t have. But what?
I decided to excuse myself and walked over to the outdoor kitchen on Susan’s patio. I asked what I had said that stopped everyone in their tracks. She told me this story.
A Beautiful Wedding
Katrina and Bradley had planned a beautiful wedding. They would be married at Bradley’s grandmother’s home on the beach. She had given Bradley the property as a wedding gift. Bradley and Katrina had been high school sweethearts, but the unrest in the Middle East had called Bradly away. He was a tank commander, and his unit was called to defend the American base. He promised Katrina, he would return to her and they would be married soon. Bradley urged her to continue with the wedding plans, and she did.
Bradley kept his promise and was granted a short 5 day leave for his wedding. The plans were all set, and the couple would finally be married on Saturday, just two more days.
A Storm In The Gulf
There had been a storm brewing in the Gulf for days, but our area was not in the path. That is, until the day before the wedding. Out of nowhere, and very unexpectedly the storm took a sharp turn to the west and was headed for the island. A mandatory evacuation was issued, and the wedding was canceled. At the last minute, Bradley and Katrina decided to recite their vows to each other on the pier before leaving. Holding hands, looking into each other’s eyes, they made their promises to each other. They enjoyed the brief moments together that evening but soon had to leave while they could still get off the island. Bradley had to return to his unit overseas a few days later and the couple postponed the wedding until he came home again. Katrina promised to keep her candles lit until he came home.
A Broken Heart
But sadly, Bradley never came home. As he was heading back to his unit his helicopter was shot down over the Persian Gulf. His body was never recovered. Katrina lived in the house for 20 years until she died from natural causes. Some say she died of a broken heart.
This time every year, on their original wedding date, some people say they can see the lit candles that line the pier over the water. Others only see the ribbons along the circle drive.
No one has lived in the boarded-up old house since Katrina died. Many in the community laugh at those that can see Katrina’s wedding. I never will because I could see it too.
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