Martha Shaw was a woman of habit. She would rise every day and make her husband breakfast, do some chores, make his lunch, and kiss him goodbye. This was the routine for two months before he was sent off to war. They had loved each other strongly, passionately. She had her courthouse date, her honeymoon consisting of a weekend of love making, and 8 weeks of being a newlywed. They had known he would be sent off soon. That's just how those things went in the 40's. All the men were leaving, and the women were left to roll up their sleeves to do what the men could no longer do.

Every morning, after her household duties, she'd roll up her sleeves and go to work at the restaurant to serve breakfast to those who could afford to eat out every morning. Martha didn't mind putting in long hours then going home to do the cooking. Mr. Shaw often helped. Towards the end of the two months, he made her quit her job to stay at home with him in his last days before his troop departed. He wanted better for her anyway.

He said, "Promise me, my Martha. My beautiful, sweet Martha. Promise me. If I don't come back, you're still going to travel the world like we said we'd do."

They would both get tears in their eyes and make love then collapse into each other's arms trying to hold each other together for the other. And it seemed like only seconds had passed and she was standing on the dock, crying. That was the last time she would ever see him.

Letters came from him, all out of order, declaring his undying love for her and reminiscing the few days they had together. He was deployed for two years then was killed in action. That was the final letter.

By that time, she had rolled up her sleeves and was in the factory doing a man's job. She liked the mindlessness of her work. It kept her busy. But at night, she cried and sat up into the early morning with a candles as vigil for the loss of her husband. She had his house, his car, and his money. But that was not what she wanted.

She knew about Noah Calhoun. He was younger though, but he had this same vacant look in his eyes. They never fell for each other. One thing led to another and she was staying over for hours at a time, both fulfilling their desperate need for companionship. For months, she warmed his bed until she wondered upon what would be his future wife. He had somebody new to warm his bed. She was indifferent about it. All she really wanted was her husband, not some man that represented her husband.

Her promise to him lingered in her head. So she took the savings, packed up, and left. All she had left of their relationship was a picture and her wedding ring on a chain around her neck.