Nearly a year passed since Eloise Whithers’ encounter with Petty Officer Third Class Durham. Although she hadn’t seen or heard from him in all that time, the thought of Seth still lingered in her mind. Quite often, she would find herself thinking about him at odd moments throughout her day. Her job in a corner delicatessen/bakery kept her busy. She served at the baked goods counter while her workmate, Elmer Parker, took charge of the deli side. He would smile at her across the way; she would smile back.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDi0Cs4Bx8
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When Elmer asked her for a date to the movies or to dinner, she would kindly refuse. Always, in the very back of her mind was the thought that Seth would return and ask her, in the most romantic way, to run away with him. It was pure fantasy, but Eloise clung to it. Seth was her anchor; with him was a feeling of future security. When she closed her eyes, she could still see his playful hazel eyes and that oh so sweet cockeyed smile. Elmer, on the other hand; was just Elmer, a workmate and friend. Feeling as though she couldn’t think seriously about him, she kept him at arms’ length. Seth was the love of her life.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpyxlmLx01
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Time continued to pass with no word from Seth Durham. Eloise finally decided to put the fantasy behind her. It was time to become more serious about life. Christmas was near at hand and Elmer had asked her to accompany him to New York City to go to the Radio City Music Hall with him. The thought was enticing; Elmer had been patient for a long time, and she felt as though she could go with him. When they found a moment alone together in the delicatessen/bakery, he asked her again and she accepted the invitation.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyhHG0IoHo
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Eloise said “Yes” to Elmer’s proposal of marriage in Time Square on New Year’s Eve and became his bride in May of the following year. Their first child, Helen Marie, arrived on a snow filled January day of the following year. They welcomed Elmer Lawrence within eleven months and a third child, Mariam Elizabeth, four years later. By that time, they were happily established in their own bakery in Cape May, New Jersey. The little family thrived; Seth Durham became a name of the past for the happy little mother.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvN0t4dW9q
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The years spend by; their children grew and began lives of their own. Elmer and Eloise sold their bakery business to begin their life of retirement in Venice, Florida. There were many happy times ahead of them in the carefree lifestyle of the Sunshine State. The condo association kept them busy with planned outings, dances, bingo and movie nights. In the summertime, there were trips back to Cape May to visit their growing family of grandchildren and winters when their offspring would visit to take the little ones to Disney World or Busch Gardens.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKflBt9fVp
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Eloise enjoyed the companionship of Elmer. They had been together for so many years, they could anticipate the other’s thoughts or desires. Being inseparable, their friends and neighbors never expected to see the one without the other. Then came the night of her husband’s fatal heart attack. It had been a day like any other. They ate breakfast together in the little condo, took a walk along the beach, lunched at the British Open Pub and Restaurant with their regular group of elderly companions, had a nap in the afternoon and shared a light dinner on their lanai facing the golf course. Retiring before the television to watch Jeopardy!, Eloise called out the questions to the answers Alex Trebek read to the contestants without realizing Elmer wasn’t playing along. It wasn’t until after the Final Jeopardy! Results were announced that she noticed something was wrong. Her husband of many years sat slumped in his Lazy Boy recliner in the most unusual position. When she attempt to wake him, he collapsed forward and fell, face first onto the carpet.321Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VU425fGEf
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