Ever since my husband, James Zeller, and I got married, we’d been following the common-law marriage system from his hometown. 

In other words, we didn’t hold a wedding ceremony, held no official marriage license, and refrained from interacting with each other’s relatives. I also retained my family name. 

Ever since he moved to the military base, I’d pretty much lost all contact with him. 

All I had of him was the photo we took when we got married, the occasional letters he sent home, and some transaction receipts. 

I felt heavily distressed at the sight of my son, Jasper Chalder, sobbing pitifully about not being a bastard child. He asked tearfully why other children had fathers to pick them up after school. 

I recalled the contents of a letter James had sent to me a while back. He informed me that he’d given up the opportunity to head home over the new year to another soldier who needed it more, so he wasn’t coming home to celebrate with us this year. 

When I read the news, I was both proud yet resentful. 

I was resentful of the fact that he always took care of others but neglected himself; I was proud that he had a righteous heart unfettered by love. 

In the end, I made up my mind to take advantage of the new year holidays to surprise him. 

I’d take Jasper to the military base to visit him, and our family would be able to celebrate the new year together. 

It was also the perfect opportunity for me to discuss with him about letting me stay on at the military base with him in family housing. 

I’d had enough of living mostly apart from him over the years. 

Once I’d decided to visit the base, I purchased the earliest train tickets there. 

Early the next morning, I set off with Jasper after packing some simple luggage. 

After two days and one night of being rattled around in a train carriage, we finally arrived at the base. 

When the young man standing guard saw me showing up at the base entrance with all sorts of luggage on my person, he looked over immediately and gave me a friendly smile. 

However, I didn’t expect his kind smile to drop in an instant the moment he heard my question. 

“Did you say you were looking for James Zeller and that he’s your husband?” 

His question puzzled me, and I wondered if I’d arrived at the wrong military base. 

I double-checked the address—the sweaters and cotton-padded jackets I’d sewn before had indeed been delivered here. 

I couldn’t resist asking, “Is there no such person on base?” 

James was working for the army, so it was possible that information about him was kept under wraps for the sake of confidentiality. 

The young man looked awkward in the face of my expectant gaze. “There’s indeed a captain by the name of James Zeller on base…” 

My eyes lit up immediately, and Jasper happily exclaimed, “Daddy!” 

Yet, the young man’s next words completely crushed the joyful expectations of a family reunion that filled my heart. 

“But… he already has family members living with him on base. His wedding was even held here. Is it possible you have the wrong person, ma’am?”