That summer, a strange pattern was occurring between Yvonne and me. The same thing happened every week. Saturday morning we would always talk on the phone over coffee, and the conversations usually lasted about three hours and usually centered on how much we loved each other and how we were looking forward to marrying. Monday night I'd give her a call and there would be no answer. Panic-stricken, I'd call all day Tuesday in spare moments, and rarely get an answer, though by Wednesday we'd connect again.
I'd ask why she didn't answer or return my calls from the past day or two, and she'd say she was with the ex-boyfriend. She'd say there was nothing going on between them, that they were each bored and needed something to do, and that since they knew each other so well it seemed easier to get in touch with him than to make new friends. I was always incredibly hurt and suspicious. By Thursday or Friday another call calmed things down a bit, and by the next Saturday morning coffee, everything was once again peachy... although the same weekly pattern would begin again.
In August, I'd moved all my belongings into storage near Holmen, confident I could find an apartment in a couple days, then went off to Canada for two weeks before the school year started. We had a wonderful time together, camping a few nights in the mountains near Jasper, Alberta, then back to her home to reaffirm our feelings and address our concerns. An engagement ring was fitted and purchased. We would more than likely wed the next summer. Then it was back to Holmen to teach one final year.