A soldier returning for mid-tour leave decides to stay with a cousin in Maine, after his fiance leaves him for someone else while he is away at war. His cousin is going through his own devastation and is struggling to pick up the pieces and move on with his family. As they try to help each other through the pain, Shane's path crosses Jenn's and he soon learns that everything happens for a reason.* Later re-published under the title and "The Note and ".