I married my high school sweetheart after 15 years together — on our first anniversary, I heard him say, “She still has no idea what I’ve been planning.”

At least, that was what I kept telling myself.

Every Valentine’s Day, birthday, and Christmas, I still caught myself watching his hands when he came through the door, wondering whether there might finally be a little velvet box hidden somewhere.

There never was.

Whenever I mentioned marriage, Wesley would smile and pull me against him.

“A ring isn’t the important part, Corinne. I want to do this right. When I ask you, I want to know I can give you the life you deserve.”

I believed him because I had loved him since I was sixteen.

We met during the worst year of my life.