The Truth Behind the Hats

By Alexandra Daubert

After her fight with her longtime friend and boyfriend Will, Leslie doubted that she would ever find love again. Even when she does meet a like minded young man her past love with Will still haunts her. When he gets back from the Navy to try and get back together Leslie must ask herself two questions: one how will she resist and two why is he always wearing hats??

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543478365

Book preview

PROLOGUE

F OUR YEARS BEFORE…

The Sunday church bells rang, piercing the early autumn air with the sound of shrill joy. Leslie, a young girl with transparent blond hair and azure eyes, sat on her porch. Today was the last day of summer before her ninth-grade year. She did not know whether to be frightened or excited. In fact, she still did not know what she was going to be when she grew up. I mean, there were so many choices. She was torn between becoming a singer and a music teacher.

Hey, Leslie. Whatcha doing?

Leslie turned to see her friend Will making his way up the driveway toward her.

Hey, Will.

So, you excited for high school?

Sort of.

Will cocked his head. Sort of?

It’s just that… never mind.

Will shook his head. Sometimes it was hard to get the full story out of her, but he always managed to do it. Leslie, what’s wrong?

I just don’t like change. I mean, before you know it, we are going to be in college.

Leslie, no matter how big or small the change is, I will always be here for you.

Thanks, Will. Leslie hugged him.

He smiled and handed her a smooth gray rock. Engraved onto it was a bright golden word: forgive.

I know we got off you a bad start, but in the end, you forgave me. This is for you to remember in case you and anyone else gets into a fight.

Leslie grinned.

Who knows? It might even save your life someday.

Leslie cracked up. It’s only a rock. But because it is from you, it is special. I will treasure it always. Leslie hugged Will.

I don’t know what I want to do, but I am thinking of a job with high adventure.

Oh, Will, what job could ever give you enough adventure?

They both cracked up again, this time harder.

I’ll think of something.

CHAPTER ONE

High School and Prom

H IGH SCHOOL CAME and went in the blink of an eye. On the first day of ninth grade, Leslie walked to school with Cindy, Catherine, and Annalise. Lizzy, her younger sister, would join them in high school next year. Leslie liked her teachers and classes. She and Will talked sometimes at lunch. In January, however, something interesting happened. You see, her two brothers, Luke and Lionel, were constantly leaving their Legos out. No matter how many times their mom told them, they still left their Legos out. Leslie had a lot on her mind that night. There was a big test coming up, and things were a little tense between her and Annalise. Leslie had lost it when Annalise accidently forgot to meet her somewhere, and well, as you can imagine, things got interesting as they always did when Leslie lost it. Her family was outside, shoveling the snow and watching the sunset. Leslie was not watching where she was going and tripped over the Legos and hit her head on the bookshelf. She ended up having to get six stitches. She did not mind the attention, though.

For the rest of the year, however, everything was calm. She got good grades. The summer was calm too. Her tenth-grade year was when things got a little crazy. Her father lost his job. He was laid off on the first day of Leslie’s tenth-grade year. Leslie had known that there was something wrong as soon as her dad got home that day. Overnight, things went from calm to crazy. Leslie’s friends were there for her. Will was too. He and she even went on a walk together to talk about it. Leslie felt really special to know such great friends. Right around Thanksgiving was when her father finally got another job. It was a better job too. That Christmas was truly a jolly Christmas.

In her eleventh-grade year, she learned how to drive. It was easy and did not take her long at all. She and Will started to officially date by that time. She and him would go out and do something at least once a week. Finally, her senior year came. Leslie and her friends had changed much. Catherine now had completely quit soccer and now was exploring the career of an artist. Annalise was training to be in the Olympics. When she wasn’t training, she was with her friends and family. Leslie missed her when she was training. Cindy was still a soccer player and was thinking about becoming a coach. As for Leslie, she had chosen her career too. She wanted to become a music teacher and open up her very own music store. She had not told Will yet, but she wanted him to help her. She wanted them to run the store together. She didn’t doubt him. She had faith in him.

Tonight was prom. He had asked her to go with him. Cindy and Catherine were going with their boyfriends too. Will was driving over to pick up Leslie and her friends, and they all were going together.

You look great, Leslie, Annalise said.

Thanks, Leslie said. She looked at her forehead. You could barely see the scar from when she had tripped over Lionel and Luke’s Legos. Leslie’s hair was pinned up in a bun, and she was draped in a red-and-black dress with lace and glittering sparkles. In other words, Leslie looked very dashing.

Will is going to think you look gorgeous, Catherine said.

You think so?

Everyone can tell that you two are meant for each other.

Yeah, Leslie. You are a lucky girl, Cindy said.

Thanks, guys. Hey, how do you think he will respond to the news about me possibly running a music store and giving lessons?

I think he will love it. You two could run it together, Annalise said.

Yeah. Just think. You can be business partners and boyfriend and girlfriend, Cindy said.