Year: 1914
Place: New York City, NY
...
"I wish you didn't have to go," Kenna whispered while hugging her husband, Bash, around the waist.
"I do too, but my country needs me," he said and kissed the top of her head.
"I need you too."
"I'll be back before you know it. You fight for your rights, okay?"
"Okay."
"Promise me you won't give up on that. No matter what happens..."
"So you should have no problem promising me."
"Fine. I promise I won't give up."
"Can I have a smile? And a kiss?"
Kenna smiled and kissed him. "I love you. Come back to me."
"I love you too. I promise I will."
"You can't possibly promise that."
"I just did."
The train whistle blew, and they both looked toward it. It was time for Bash to go.
"I'll write to you as soon as I can. That I can promise."
"Be safe."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too."
Bash boarded the train, and with another sound of the whistle, he was gone.
...
Three months had passed, and Bash had written as often as possible, just like he promised. Kenna kept helping women get the right to vote, just like she promised. Kenna missed her husband terribly, and thought of him every day. She visited his mother often, finding comfort in being around someone who missed Bash as much as she did.
"Have you heard from him?" Diane asked her presently.
"I got a letter last week. He's in France, and sends his love," Kenna smiled and handed the letter to her mother-in-law.
Diane smiled as she read it. "What baby is he talking about?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"He says that he can't wait to hold you and the baby in his arms. What is he talking about, Kenna?"
"It seems that before he left, Bash and I...conceived a baby," Kenna's smile got wider.
"That's wonderful! I'll start making baby clothes right away," Diane stood up and hugged her.
Kenna hugged back. "Bash and I will have our own family."
...
Three more months had come and gone, and Kenna was getting worried. She had not heard from Bash in six weeks. He was usually so eager to know how she was doing and how the pregnancy was progressing. She was lost in her thoughts when the doorbell rang. She answered it and a man in an army uniform was at the door.
"Mrs. De Poitiers?" he asked.
"Yes. Can I help you?"
"I'm so sorry to tell you this, but...your husband was killed in action in France," he handed her a letter.
Kenna scanned the letter while tears welled up in her eyes. Bash, her Bash, was dead. He was gone forever. He will never come home, he will never meet their baby, and he will never grow old with her.
"If there's anything we can do..." the man started.
"No thank you," she said and shut the door.
She fell to the floor and started sobbing. How was she going to to tell Diane?
...
The funeral was the week after. It was awful. Diane and Kenna sobbed the whole time, and Kenna screamed at Bash for breaking his promise. She quickly had to pull herself together for the baby, as Diane reminded her. Thank God she had, because her son was beautiful. Sebastian James de Poitiers II had been born on his father's birthday, and was the light of his mother' sand grandmother's life.