Sally Blake sat on the veranda of the apartment she now owned in Perth. It had been 8 years since she had lost the love of her life and she couldn't bare to be in Cairns any longer. The place where he died. The only small comfort she had was he died saving the port, naval base and the city, from a radioactive bomb. It was hard he was a medic on a patrol boat not one of the big ships that served in conflicts aboard.

Being in Perth meant she had her parents close by, to help with Chloe. She was a real Daddy's girl and was devoted to him. It had hit her just as hard. She wouldn't talk for ages and when ever Chris's name was mentioned she would break down in floods of tears. It had been hard at 4 Chloe didn't really understand what had happened to her daddy. The heart wrenching moment came at the dedication ceremony when the commander handed Chloe the cross of valour that had been awarded to Chris.

It was days like today and Chris's birthday that were the hardest. Being at sea meant he had missed so much of Chloe's early life and now he was missing everything and it broke her heart. She felt so alone. All her friends had tried to help as did Chris's crew mates but they all had their own lives and everyone was all over the country.

Chloe ran in to the living room looking for her mum. Seeing her sat on the veranda she walked out.

"hey" sally smiled "did you have a good day at school"

"it was okay" Chloe smiled. She handed a envelope to her mum. "happy valentines day mum"

"wow thank you" sally Smiled. Despite being on the verge of becoming a teenager her 12 year old daughter was always so sweet and thoughtful she pulled her daughter in to a hug. "come on lets go get some of daddy's favourite food and have a picnic on the beach and we can send him his valentines card.

They sat on the beach, with a whole array of different foods and watched the waves lap the shore line. Walking to the edge. `placing the card and flowers on to the waves they watched as they drifted out to sea.

"happy valentines day daddy" Chloe whispered in to the waves

"happy valentines Day Chris" sally cried silently tears rolling down her cheek.

Chloe squeezed her mums hand before wrapping her arms round her waist hugging her "I love you mum"

Happy valentines everyone. I hope you all have/had a fab day.

big love to you all

duckmadgirl x