Letters to Laura

By Rachel Carrington

1951

The Korean War is tearing apart more than just the soil on which it’s fought.

Laura has loved Mark for as long as she can remember. She can’t imagine her life without him. Mark’s feelings for Laura are just as strong, but he has a secret—one that is bound to come between them. He’s shipping out to Korea in a week.

Blindsided by the information, Laura is scared, angry, and confused, knowing she doesn’t have a choice but to let him go. Meanwhile, she’d just have to love him through letters. After all, he’s promised he’d return to her. She has to believe that, or she’ll go crazy.

After months of waiting to see him again, Laura learns a devastating secret. Mark is back, but he doesn't want to see her again. Now it's up to Laura to unravel the why.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Carrington
• Release date: May 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215147351

Rachel Carrington

Rachel Carrington began her career writing fantasy romances of powerful wizards and wicked witches. Since then, she has branched out into contemporary romance and romantic suspense and has had books published with Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Red Sage Publishing, and more.Currently, a freelance editor/writer residing in historical Charleston, South Carolina, Rachel has written non-fiction articles for Absolute Write, The Writer’s Journal, Writing for Dollars, Writer’s Magazine, and Writer’s Weekly.Because she likes staying busy, Rachel has also taught classes for Suite 101 and for author groups regarding promoting, writing, starting your own business, and editing.When not writing, Rachel loves to read romantic suspense (Lisa Gardner and Roxanne St. Claire are two of her favorites), rework old furniture, cross-stitch, cook, and drink lots of coffee.

Book preview

Chapter One

San Diego, California

1951

H

e’d have to tell her tomorrow. Mark tugged at the tie knotted around his neck and paced the worn carpet in his bedroom. He’d promised himself Laura would have a good birthday, one with no worries. But he wouldn’t be able to put off the truth after tonight.

A knock sounded on his bedroom door, and Sara Wentworth, Mark’s mother, stuck her head inside. Laura’s here.

Mark glanced at his watch then back at his mother. I was supposed to pick her up in a few minutes. What is she doing here?

Sara lifted her hands then let them fall back to her sides. She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. She just said she needs to see you. I invited her in… Wiping her hands on her waist apron, Sara looked down at her feet.

Mark knew she was hiding something from him, but he didn’t want to take the time to ask. Still, he stopped at the door to his bedroom. How did she look?

She’s been crying.

He practically leapt down the stairs. The front door stood wide open when he reached it, but Laura hadn’t come inside.

Laura, what are you doing? I was supposed to pick you up in a few minutes. He held out his hand. When she didn’t take it, he walked toward her. What’s wrong?

She lifted her head and soft, chestnut curls bobbed against her shoulders. I think you already know the answer to that.

What? His heart thrummed with his chest. Had she heard something? Did she…no, she couldn’t possibly know. He settled his hands on her shoulders. You should come inside. You feel like a block of ice.

Laura didn’t move. I don’t want to come inside. Her breath hitched, and Mark’s heart nosedived to the tops of his wingtips when several more tears tracked down her cheeks.

Talk to me. Tell me what’s happened. Let me help you.

You see, that’s just it. I’m not sure you can help me. She drew in a deep, shaky breath before fixing him with a steady gaze. Is it true? Her green eyes pleaded with him to say no.

Is what true? Mark’s voice came out on a croak. Though he asked the question, he already knew the answer she sought. What he didn’t know was how she could have found out. Only his parents knew.

Laura twisted the folds of her full skirt. Are you really shipping out to South Korea next week?

For the first time in his life, he didn’t know what to say. He just stood there, his hands now in the pockets of his pants. The anguish in his heart turned to fear when Laura turned on her heel and walked away.

Laura, wait. He jogged after her.

She kept walking until he caught up with her and took hold of her arm. Let me explain.

There’s nothing to explain. You lied to me.

I didn’t lie to you. I just never said anything.

My father would call that a lie by omission.

Mark’s brow furrowed. Will you at least listen to me? You have to hear my side of it.

There isn’t a side to this, Mark. You’re either going, or you’re not. More tears slipped out of her eyes and tumbled down her cheeks, glistening against the pale skin. Are you going to Korea?

His breath left his chest in a loud sigh. Yes. The one word sounded like the boom of a cannon.

How long have you known?

Two weeks.

You never told me. Her voice held more weariness than accusation.

No, I didn’t. Mark kept his responses simple, knowing she needed time to absorb the truth now that she was hearing it from him.

She turned to face him fully. Why?

Because it was so close to your birthday, and I wanted this to be a happy day for you. I didn’t want you to worry about what was going to happen in the future. He reached for her again, but she backed away, holding her hands up to ward him off.

No, don’t. Don’t touch me right now. I need to be alone.

He wasn’t ready for the conversation to end just yet. If she walked away now, he could lose her. The thought scared him more than Korea. We’d talked about this, Laura. We both knew when the war started, there was a possibility I’d have to go.

Possibility, yes, but I thought once your orders came through you would tell me, or don’t you recall making that promise to me? When he didn’t respond, she took another backward step. I see. Well, be safe and drop me a postcard once you get there so my family and I will know you’re safe. I… she broke off, and like a flower beneath the heat of the noonday sun, she crumpled, her shoulders sagging, great, heaving sobs shaking her body.

This time, when Mark reached for her, she didn’t resist. Instead, she collapsed in his arms, her face buried against his shoulder. I don’t want you to go. Though the words were muffled, they came through loud and clear.

His heart aching, he held her tighter, feeling the softness of her body and the warmth of her skin. I don’t want to go, either, but I took an oath to defend my country.

She jerked her head back, and the sight of her face, ravaged by tears, made the pain in Mark’s heart even stronger. I know all about your oath, and I’m not telling you not to go. She swiped both hands over her cheeks. But you can’t blame me for not wanting you to go.

He cupped her face. I don’t blame you, but I also don’t want to spend our next week together in tears.

Laura covered his hands with hers. You’d better come back to me, Mark Wentworth. Promise me you will.

Though he knew he really couldn’t make the promise in good faith, he said the words aloud anyway because he knew she needed to hear them. I promise.

Smoke gusted from the bus’s muffler, and over the roar of the engine, Laura shouted to Mark. You remember your promise to me. She clutched handfuls of his uniform jacket while her eyes pled with him to reissue the promise once more.

Mark touched the tip of her nose with his finger. I’ll remember.

She stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to