A Story For Jake

John Romano: She makes her way down the aisle of a church, eyes locked on the crucifix hanging above. A woman walking through the final steps of a life, unaware that it no longer exists. She is anxious, sure, but for entirely different reasons. She is worried about long airplane flights and foreign addresses. About baby formula and runny noses. In a couple of weeks, Michelle Thresher Taylor will pack up her infant son and fly to Germany to be reunited with her husband, Maj. David G. Taylor Jr., who is completing a tour of duty in Iraq and returning to the son he barely knows. And all Michelle can think about is how much better she would feel if Dave were here right now. Dave, who loves to take charge. Dave, with the easy manner and gap-toothed grin. Dave, who always knows exactly what she needs. But Dave is a world away, and this is one of the rare days when he has failed to send an e-mail home. So Michelle stares at the crucifix and prays for strength. If she only knew.