She looked in every one of the store fronts that day. Every shop window held her attention for but a moment…but she saw what was there. And it wasn’t what she wanted. She had known that when she had walked out her front door that morning. But she still had come. Because if she had spent one more day in that empty house alone, waiting for a call or a letter from her soldier….well, she didn’t want to think about that. She turned back to the shop windows. There was “Bridal Fashions” with the slightly larger than life mannequins dressed in the latest fashions. She remembered her special day, her white dress, and the look in his eyes when he’d first seen her walk down the aisle. In a way it was pleasant to dream about it.

Then she passed “Early Memories”; a little boy’s playsuit hung appealingly in the front window. An array of toys perched precariously in the opposing shop window. She smiled. Even now, she could remember her precious little one and the way he’d laughed and teased her from early childhood. She could still see his first toddling steps and hear his plaintive cry for mommy. She brushed a tear away with trembling fingers. Ah, yes, her little boy was all grown up now.

She passed another shop window, “Country Nostalgia”, and smiled at all the various country figurines, baskets, and lights. She remembered decorating their country home after they’d moved for what he’d promised to be the last time. Her little boy had entered highschool, and Daddy had been there. It had been so perfect…and she was thankful to have those precious memories.

But then had come the war, and her husband had been called back to active duty. She’d waved him off with a brave smile and a passionate final hug. She’d promised to pray…and she had. Even now, he was on her heart. She wondered if the delay in hearing from him was just the fault of the mail service, or if her soldier really had gone down serving his country. She didn’t dwell on it, but turned back to the shop windows.

All of a sudden, she couldn’t breath. She stared at the window as a little cry escaped her lips. His reflection, so handsome, so perfect smiled back at her from the glass window. She whirled around and melted into his strong embrace. Her soldier had come home.