June missed her father terribly. She felt guilt stricken. Her mother told her that her father’s health was fragile and she had burdened him with her unhappiness and then he died.

She would look at all the paintings he had done and try to remember the good times they had.

Charlotte provided little comfort. June hoped they would grow closer. She received some comfort from her uncle and aunt, but otherwise she felt lost and alone.

A month passed and there was a knock on the door. A tall blonde man stood in front of her. Charlotte rushed in.

“June,” she said excitedly, “this is Leonard. We are getting married.”

June was stunned. Married? Her father had just died. June turned and ran up the stairs.

“June,” Charlotte snapped a week later,”I know you miss your father, but I am not dead. Don’t I deserve some happiness? Do you want your mother to mope around and grow old all alone? Don’t be selfish.”

June stayed silent. What could she say? She was all alone.

The next day, Charlotte invited June to help pick out dresses for the wedding. Charlotte chattered nonstop about the upcoming wedding. If June expressed any interest, Charlotte would smile, maybe put an arm around her shoulder. June’s father had frequently hugged or given affection to June, but from Charlotte it was rare. June craved affection and love from her mother. She began to pretend to be interested in the wedding to gain her mother’s approval. They shopped together and looked at bridal magazines.

Leonard and Charlotte wed. It was difficult to see Leonard use her father’s things. Her mother went back to ignoring her. June was almost glad to return to boarding school.

Her roommate, Irene, was no longer hot and cold towards her, but now snubbed her completely. June made a couple of friends, but none close. She graduated and returned home.

She enrolled in college unsure of what else to do. She did not what to be at home with her mother and Leonard cooing at each other.

Charlotte would ask her if she met any doctors or lawyers yet.

June hadn’t met any doctors or lawyers, but she had met a man getting a business degree. His name was Ken. He was graduating that spring. They began dating. June had only gone on a few double dates, but had never had a real boyfriend.

She wanted to take things slow, too slow for Ken. He had had many girlfriends in the past and no lack of interested girls for the future.

June walked down the hall on her way to her algebra class when she spotted Ken. Ken with his hand on another girl’s shoulder, both laughing. He ran his hand in his hair as he laughed at something she said.

June kept it to herself. They were just laughing. She didn’t want him to get annoyed with her and accuse her of not letting him have friends.

Not long after, Ken and June were walking in the park.

“June, you’re a nice girl,” Ken started,”but I’m just not ready to settle down. You will make some man an excellent wife.” He kissed her cheek and took her home.

June cried for days. She questioned everything she said and did to discover where she had gone wrong. Charlotte even provided some comfort.

“There are other men. You will find another. No need to settle with one,” Charlotte said.

June didn’t want another man. She wanted Ken.

June finished the semester. She returned to school in the fall. She tried to focus on her school work, but her thoughts always returned to Ken.

She came home from school one afternoon to find Ken waiting for her.

“Ken, what are you doing here?” June asked surprised.

“Can I take you for lunch?” Ken asked handing her a single rose.

They went to a restaurant and Ken told her that he was now working for his father. He apologized for breaking up with her.

“I just needed some time. Can we start over? I have missed you so much,” Ken said looking her in the eye.

They dated for a few months and things were going well.

“June, you are the type of girl I want to spend my life with. You are sweet, caring, and beautiful. I have a good job and I can afford a nice home for use. Let’s get married. What do you say?” Ken smiled at her.

June had dreamed of marrying Ken. She loved him. She nodded in agreement.

“Yes, I will marry you. My mother will be so thrilled.”

Later, Charlotte said,”He will do well enough. His father is successful. They aren’t as well off as your father was, but you have modest tastes. No sense in continuing school. You got what you needed.”

Once again, June had her mother’s attention as they planned the wedding.

“We must get you a haircut. You are no longer a girl.” Charlotte began making plans.

Ken and June married. He did not want to live in her childhood home with her mother. He preferred to get their own home. June was sad to leave the home with all the memories of her father and grandmother, but excited to have her very own home.

June wondered what the future had in store for them, but for now she would enjoy every minute of her honeymoon.