How I Met My Other: True Stories, True Love: True Stories, True Love

By Orange Blossom Publishing

Learn about all the twists, turns, and fun of falling in love with this unforgettable true story anthology.

People find the warmth of love in Antarctica. An obsession with blondes lands the big one. Squashing a guitar case leads to a blanket fort date. A soldier works to snag a sassy WWII nurse.  A revenge date gets serious. Spaghetti reels someone in and they never go home again. And much, much more!

Love can come at the most surprising times and in the most unexpected places. In this short story collection, fifteen authors share their incredible, heart-warming, and often hilarious true tales of how they met their other.

**A Closer Look into Some of the Stories** 

A Rose Frozen in Time, by Michelle Tweed - In the constant darkness and cold of Antarctica, Michelle is busy with work at McMurdo Station and doesn't have time for any distractions. That is until she meets Brandon and the two go on a beautiful journey among the snow-covered volcanoes and crystallized ice formations.

Love in Marabella, by Racquel Henry - Michael knows exactly what he wants, one of the beautiful Revanales sisters, Deborah. But in their religious culture in Trinidad, he is not allowed to date her. He soon devises a plan to have Deborah work for him and hopes that her disapproving mother won't keep them apart. Michael must figure out how to woo Deborah and make her his while facing mounting opposition. 

Cute Hat Boy and the Weird Girl, by Paige Lavoie- Paige has always thought of herself as awkward, but never more so when she sits on the cute boy's guitar case, crushing his instrument. Somehow the pair still connect and he invites her over to try artichokes, a food Paige has never eaten and is sure to make a fool of her, again. Paige must figure out how to play it cool but still be herself when the date progresses to its grand finale: blanket forts.

Eddie and Me, by Bob Bellam - After a crushing heartbreak, Bob is determined never to commit to another man so easily again. But then the sun shines down on a gorgeous man on a cruise ship and Bob is drawn like a magnet. Eddie is fun, smart, and caring and spends months showing Bob how deeply he feels for him. When a sudden medical emergency stops Bob in his tracks, he is forced to confront what really matters in his life. 

All I Did Was Open the Door, by Melody Groves - Blonds. Melody's obsession takes center stage while she is living on base overseas, enjoying the plethora of soldiers. Then the perfect blond man walks through her door and she will do whatever it takes to have him as her own, shoving aside all the competition.

Out of the Park, by Tim and Arielle Haughee - The first date was terrible. They'd waited years to go out and were surprised with the disappointment, especially considering how great they'd always gotten along. Somehow Tim and Arielle decide to try again years later, wondering if the connection they felt before can be rekindled. 

In the Cards, by Cheryl Dougherty - After losing her beloved husband, Cheryl thinks she will never want another man again. When her support group starts dating online, she initially thinks it's a dangerous idea, but when she finds herself missing companionship she gives it a shot. She's in for a big surprise when she realizes who is her best match. 

Never Feed Spaghetti to a Stray, by Valerie Willis - Valerie is sick of guys who aren't interested in the real thing when Justin stumbles into her life. She offers him spaghetti and he loves it so much he doesn't go home that night. In fact, he keeps coming back for more every night. But what does all that mean? Is it real love?

Amazing Grace, by John Hope - Bud wakes up in a military hospital to find himself under the care of sassy nurse, Louis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orange Blossom Publishing
• Release date: Feb 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949935011

Book preview

Dedication

To Jean Baker,

Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader and for giving that pesky guy a chance years ago.

-Elle

Acknowledgements

I, first and foremost, would like to thank my husband, Tim, who gave us a second chance after that lousy first date. Thank you for making my life possible and encouraging me every step of the way. The happiness you have given me was the seed for this book. Thank you for all your volunteer hours with all things legal in relation to this project and for listening to me as I talked through every big decision. I was blown away when I asked if you wanted to co-write a story, something you’d never done before, and you said yes. You are generous, loving, hilarious, and all things beautiful in the world

I would also like to thank my grandmother, Jean Baker, who told me her story and let me share it. You’ve had an amazing, inspiring life and I am thrilled to give people a window into the wonderful person you are. And also, to my mother who answered dozens, maybe even hundreds, of questions relating to the story, thank you. Your help and support mean more to me than I could ever express.

To all the talented authors who share their stories here, thank you for giving me the gift of your words and for the time you spent crafting them. This book would not have happened without your hard work.

A big thank you to Racquel Henry, my editor, and more importantly, my friend. You are always there to listen and help whenever I need you and I am so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for assisting me with this project and all the others I’ve sent your way. Your expertise and encouragement have been crucial to my journey.

To Fern Goodman, I appreciate your enthusiasm, patience, and understanding. Thank you for your part in this project. And to Dawn Bell, thank you for taking the time to give me the big picture and encouraging me to go for it. You gave me the push I needed to get started.

Last, to Valerie Willis, thank you for the hours and hours you spent guiding me through this process and being my personal guru. I am not sure how I would have done this without you. You are a generous and knowledgeable friend and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

How Sweet It Was

A Rose, Frozen in Time

Love in Marabella

A Heart Guarded

How Funny It Was: Part One

Cute Hat Boy and the Weird Girl

Eddie and Me

All I Did Was Open the Door

How Timely It Was

Out of the Park

Reacquainting

In the Cards

How Funny It Was: Part Two

Never Feed Spaghetti to a Stray

Die Laughing

City Nights

How It Lasts Through the Ages

Amazing Grace

Two Hungarian Doves

The Gift of Gossamer

Book Club Discussion Questions

Meet the Authors

A Sneak Peek…

Connect with Us

How Did We Do?

Introduction

Love is a mischievous, clever little sprite.

It can sneak up on us when we least expect it, when we are too busy for any of its nonsense. It can hide in the strangest places, oftentimes right in front of our very eyes. It can jump out and tackle us, taking over our entire world.

It also likes to play little jokes, pushing us towards someone we already said no way to, insisting we get together. It makes us figure out how to make the impossible work far, far away. It forces us to try over and over and over again when it would be much easier to walk away.

But she gives us a honeyed ambrosia, a bottomless happiness and sense that everything has fallen into place in the world. We are where we belong.

To the lovers, I hope you find reflections of your own story in the words of this book.

To those searching for love, I hope the wide array of how things came to be encourage you to never give up. The sprite never rests.

Arielle

How Sweet It Was

A Rose, Frozen in Time

The Story of Michelle and Brandon

Year: 2001

By Michelle Tweed

S

houlder to shoulder and knee to knee with my fellow passengers, I try again to find a comfortable position. I stagger my feet with the woman across from me to stretch a bit. Easier said than done with me in my Pac Boots and her in her bunny boots. At least my red parka adds some cushion to the netted cargo seat. Our group of about one hundred makes do the best we can to pass the time on the five-hour flight to Antarctica. Some read, some listen to music, some sleep.

Most all of us will have different jobs once we arrive—everything a little town of one thousand will need. We’ll have plumbers and welders, recreation staff and hairdressers. Our jobs exist to support the scientists who will also be on station.

We almost always end up on the same flight, don’t we? the owner of the bunny boots says to me, leaning forward to take a sip from her water bottle.

Her name is Sarah, and she has made this trip many more times than I have. Her long, silver-blonde hair flows over her blue, fleece jacket as she leans back into her seat.

Yes! This is my seventh trip down, and I think you’ve been on at least four of my flights.

I smile back at her then reach under the seat for my water bottle. I also pull out the brand-new journal I’ve brought along. This will be my longest contract ever. Instead of my normal five months, I will be staying a full year, and I want to write about it. Taking a sip of water, I settle back into my seat. I try to find the words to describe how I feel as I stare down at the blank page.

October 2, 2001

I’m filled with so many emotions today. Just three weeks ago I watched the attacks on the World Trade Center from a TV in the waiting room of the Emergency Department. It was my last day of work there, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Fear, uncertainty, and sadness have filled these last few weeks, and I wondered how it might affect my trip. Could I leave my family and friends behind? Would one of my flights end in the same fate?

Now, here I sit on the last of six flights after leaving my home in Minnesota a week ago. I’m hopeful for the year ahead. Sad for saying goodbye to family and friends back home. Excited to see friends who will be returning to the ice. And a little nervous for the year ahead. I wonder how much of a toll the winter months will take on me mentally.

Even with all of this weighing on me, I have a feeling deep within that I’ve never had before. I don’t know what to call it. An awakening, an awareness, a realization…. I’m not sure. But I have a new joy. I feel God is working in me and I hope and pray that I will be brave enough to listen to His plan and follow it. Maybe it’s something very simple, I don’t know, but whatever it is, it is strong and deep within me.

I’m going to take this year to work on me. And even though I’ve been single for a while, I don’t plan on dating anyone. This is a year of growth. No distractions. Besides, I don’t have to worry about passing up Mr. Right. I’ve said for years the man I’m going to marry will give me my first red rose. My friends and I have joked about this for so long, that I’ve actually started to believe it, and hope it will come true. And since there are no roses in Antarctica, I won’t have to worry about that.

Laughing a little to myself, I continue to write and stay lost in my thoughts, wondering what this year of growth will bring, and what this new feeling means. I can’t help but feel my life will soon be changing direction.

The plane hits turbulence, and I am jolted back to reality. An Air National Guard crewman announces over the loudspeaker that we have begun our descent and to prepare for landing. Everyone around me begins to put their cold weather gear back on.

There are no windows near me, so I have no idea how low or how close we are. It’s a guessing game as to when we will touch down. After roughly half an hour of anticipation, the wheels hit the ice and the powerful rush of the airplane throws us all a little sideways in our seats. The plane comes to a stop, and the door is opened. A blast of cold, dry air rushes through and burns my nostrils. Blinding light floods in from the nearby door, and we all stand and start to shuffle in that direction. Squinting, I grab my sunglasses from the top pocket of my parka. All I can see is white snow and blue ice.

Walking down the stairs, leading from the plane to the sea ice, I pass a man wearing brown bibs, a brown jacket, and a knit purple hat. He points to a line of passenger vehicles and yells over the engine noise to keep moving and not to stop for pictures.

I hear him repeat this several times until his voice drowns out in the distance. A thin layer of snow squeaks like Styrofoam under my boots, while a slight breeze stings my face and fills my nose with the scent of diesel exhaust.

In the near distance, just beyond the row of busses, there’s a line of about fifteen little square huts on skis. A few red trucks and yellow forklifts are dotted in-between.

I make my way toward the large red bus waiting first in line. Its wheels are as tall as me, and the words on the side read, Ivan the Terra Bus.

I climb the stairs into the large bus, and the driver greets me.

Michelle, you’re back, she says, smiling wide.

Hi, Gloria! I stop to give her a quick hug.

Her tiny frame, dressed in jeans and a fleece jacket, looks even smaller sitting behind the giant steering wheel.

Yep, I’m back, and for a full year this time, I tell her. I’m a glutton for punishment!

Well, I’d say, she says, smiling.

Laughing, I sling my orange bag behind me then squeeze my way down the aisle and into a seat. I take the first empty spot and slide over to the window. Soon the bus is full, and we start the slow journey across the ice toward town. These busses are definitely not built for speed.

The view from my window is of a vast mountain range. It stretches out across the flat expanse of ice, and it is breathtaking. White snow covers the black peaks, with bowl-shaped valleys in between. It reminds me of an enormous ice cream sundae, with marshmallow cream flowing over the edges and through the cracks of the chocolaty mountains. I have been coming here since I was nineteen, and this place still amazes me with its beauty.

Our destination sits opposite the mountains, on a little island formed by the still active volcano, Mt Erebus. From here, the completely snow-covered volcano looms like a giant over the town with its white plume rising and marching across the clear blue sky.

As we approach, I notice a new sign has been put up. It reads, The National Science Foundation welcomes you to McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

I sigh to myself, Home sweet home.

The bus makes its way up the hill to the center of town. We pull up to a large tan building. Building 155 houses the dining hall, several offices, and some dorm rooms. Gloria opens the door, and we all begin to squeeze back down the aisle.

Going up the stairs and into 155, I am greeted by several old friends. It’s like a large family reunion as we all hug and laugh and tell stories of what we have been up to. Our reunion is cut short as those who have just arrived are herded into the dining hall for orientation and dorm keys.

The next few days are filled with long hours of training new dispatchers. Our office is a tiny room inside the firehouse, with our only window looking out into the bay of firetrucks. There are four dispatchers, including myself as the lead. Our job is to monitor vehicle and foot traffic in and out of town, the 911 line, and a fire alarm panel. We are also the town operator and trouble desk.

October 5, 2001

Well, I’m here and settled in. It’s been fun seeing all my old friends. We’ve been meeting up at the bar or in a lounge every night since I got here. This place seriously feels more like home to me than being back in Minnesota. I love it here.

My second week starts just as my first. On Tuesday, I make my way to the dining hall for dinner. Tired from too many days working past my normal 12-hour shift, I stand with my tray of food and scan the room for a place to sit. Soon, I hear someone call out my name.

Michelle, come join us, Jill says, waving.

Jill is one of the new dispatchers and is sitting at a round table with three men. I smile and walk over to them. She introduces me to everyone, and I take a seat. It’s the first year down for all of them, so dinner is spent mostly answering questions about town, the nearby New Zealand base, and the surrounding hiking trails. We finish up and go our separate ways for the evening.

The next day I train Jill in the dispatch office.

So, Michelle, are you seeing anyone? Jill quizzes with a sly smile.

Laughing, I reply, Well, I am single, but I don’t plan on dating anyone this year.

Okay, but I know a guy that’s interested if you change your mind. He’s really nice, she adds.

She doesn’t say who it is, but I’m pretty sure I know who she’s talking about. At the table the night before, the only man she knew herself was sitting to her left. I can’t recall his name, but they had sat together on the long flight from Los Angeles to Auckland and had gotten to know each other a bit.

All right, I shrug. I wonder to myself if this will make things awkward now when he’s around. I don’t want to date anyone this year. Besides, I didn’t really think he was that good looking.

A couple days later I’m at Southern Exposure, one of the bars in town, saying goodbye to a couple of friends who are scheduled to leave the next day. On my way back to our table, with a round of drinks, I notice Jill’s friend sitting at a corner table with two other men.

Stopping by, I smile and say, Hello, you’re Jill’s friend, aren’t you?

Yeah, hi, he says, taking off his hat.

I adjust my tray of drinks and ask with uncertainty, Is it Brad?

Brandon, He answers, not seeming to care that I didn’t remember his name.

Oh, I’m sorry. I’m horrible at remembering names. I apologize with a grin. Have you gotten settled in yet?

Yeah. I’m liking it down here. It’s not too different from where I grew up in North Dakota. He takes a sip of his beer and smiles.

Are you here for the summer, or did you sign up for a full year? I ask.

Just the summer, I’m scheduled to leave in February. How about you?

I signed up for a full year. I’ve never done a winter before, so it’ll be interesting. I glance over at my friends to make sure they aren’t missing me or their drinks yet. Hopefully, I won’t be too toasty by the end. I’m not sure how I’ll handle the four and a half months of complete darkness. Not to mention the town dropping down to around two hundred, with no flights in or out for six months. But I guess there’s only one way to find out, I say, and smile.

We continue to make small talk about work and town, and I notice things about him I hadn’t before. He has the friendliest eyes, with dark eyebrows to frame them. His dark, almost black short hair goes well against his tanned face. As we talk and laugh together, I realize just how handsome he is. Now, feeling suddenly shy, my mind goes blank. I search for a way to end the conversation before he notices.

Well, I’d better get these drinks over to my friends. They’re starting to look pretty thirsty. I laugh nervously, feeling flushed. See you around.

We don’t speak the rest of the evening, but now and then I find myself glancing his way.

By the third week, town seems to have found its flow of work and play. With a diverse group of people from all over the United States, there are several opportunities for free classes and different events. Sign-up sheets outside the Rec office have everything from sign language to belly dancing.

I sign up for swing dance lessons, bartending, to be a DJ at the little radio station, and to drive the big balloon-tired delta vehicles to lead tours to the ice caves. I run into Brandon from time to time, and every time I do I find myself liking him more and more.

The next Tuesday, I’m scheduled to drive a group to the ice caves, so I stop by the Rec office to see who has signed up and notice Brandon’s name. My heart skips a beat. I’m both nervous and excited. Jill’s name is on the sheet as well.

That evening, those who signed up gather in front of the dining hall, as I pull up in the orange delta vehicle. There is room for two passengers up front with me, and the rest will sit in the rear cab. A bonus to having twenty-four-hours of daylight is that you can do anything outside, at any time of the day, and it’s still bright out.

Jill! I wave, seeing her in the crowd after stepping around the back to open the door to the passenger cab. Why don’t you sit up front with me? I have room for one more if you want to ask someone. I hope she will pick Brandon.

She does, and they climb up in the front cab. We make our way out of town and start the slow drive across the sea ice to the ice caves. This time I am happy for the long forty-five-minute drive.

So, Brandon, how did you find out about working in Antarctica? I ask, already knowing Jill’s answer and hoping to learn more about Brandon.

I was working as an electrician in Denver. A co-worker told me there was going to be a job fair that weekend, and they were looking for electricians to work at the South Pole. I thought he was crazy at first, but I wanted to get out of Denver. There’s just too many people there. He removes his parka. The cab warms up with the sun beaming in and glaring off the ice. So, I decided to go, fully expecting not to get hired. But they called, and here I am. How did you hear about this place, Michelle?

I take a deep breath and adjust my sunglasses. Oh, I sort of grew up with it. My dad started coming down when I was five, and then my uncle. When I turned nineteen, I didn’t like college and didn’t know what direction I wanted to go in. So, I decided to come down for one summer only, and then head back to college. Well, that was seven seasons ago, I say, laughing. I just love it here. I knew after my very first week of my first season I would come back again. But I didn’t think I’d be coming back for this many years. It gets in your blood. The people are amazing, it’s beautiful, and the opportunities to travel once we leave are wonderful.

I see what you’re saying, Brandon replies. I’m loving this place. I was actually hired to work at the Pole as an electrician, but when I got to New Zealand, they told me I was going to be at McMurdo. Someone didn’t pass the physical, so they needed me here. He clears his throat and takes a sip from his water bottle. But I’m not too sad about the change in assignment, he says.

The three of us talk and laugh the entire way. Once we arrive, I stop the delta and we all pile