What do you think?
A Note to Remember: A Short Story
Charlie Nunley is lost. Following the untimely death of his wife, he’s been going through the motions, living life without actually having a life worth living. Until . . .
While stopping in to pick up a to-go order from a favorite restaurant, Charlie is slyly passed a note from the bartender from a mysterious “I know this is sappy and way overdone in the movies. But I’d love to have dinner with you. Valentine’s is next Tuesday. What better day for a first date? 7 p.m.”
Should he go? What would his wife think?
As the hours and days pass, the tension and excitement grow, and Charlie has to decide whether to head to the restaurant for something new on Valentine's Day or go home to his empty house and the reminder of what once was.
While stopping in to pick up a to-go order from a favorite restaurant, Charlie is slyly passed a note from the bartender from a mysterious “I know this is sappy and way overdone in the movies. But I’d love to have dinner with you. Valentine’s is next Tuesday. What better day for a first date? 7 p.m.”
Should he go? What would his wife think?
As the hours and days pass, the tension and excitement grow, and Charlie has to decide whether to head to the restaurant for something new on Valentine's Day or go home to his empty house and the reminder of what once was.
- GenresContemporary
19 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 14, 2025
1⭐️ | clean short story | 15+
୨୧ ❝ everywhere he went in the house, Janice. on every wall, on every bookcase, Janice. their wedding photos hung on the wall in the den. their trip to Hawaii in the three frame set on the mantle. hundreds of photo magnets stuck to the refrigerator with friends and family in all manner of places. God how he loved that woman ❞ ୨୧
꒰🎶꒱ иσω ρℓαуιиg: » Second Chances ⇾ Imagine Dragons «
🎶open up again, I believe in second chances
please let me in, I believe in second chances🎶
overall, I was really enjoying this short story. I gotta say, I’m conflicted when it comes to reading/watching stories about someone who has previously been married finding love again. my sister and I have talked about it a lot, and the question that arises a lot is, “what if you your first spouse had never died, and you met the person from the story?” I hope I worded that correctly! 😭
I think it’s a matter of God’s will and plan, but still, it’s a topic that I’m still very conflicted on, especially with the matter of true love. was your first marriage not true love? were the promises that they were the only one for you a lie if you move on?
agh! sorry, I’m ranting!
but then when we find out who the person who wrote the note to Charley is, I felt a big, fat ick.
beware, if you don’t want to be spoiled, I’d avoid reading my rant, but if you don’t care because this short story is all of 19 pages, then by all means, continue on!
my main issue was that the woman, I forgot her name and don’t care to look, had a crush on him in high school (he had a crush on her too, but the football jock was always there with her) apparently she’s loved him since high school and hasn’t stopped. she ended up marrying the jock, but it was a bad marriage, and when she found out Charley married Janice (his wife), she was devastated.
The Bible tells us not to lust after anyone, or we have already committed adultery with them in our hearts. now, I don’t think still feeling love counts as lust in this case, but I count it as adultery when a woman still wants to be in a relationship with a man while he’s married.
I also thought it was weird that she went after him even when he was still dealing with the grief of his late wife, despite it being two years. sometimes it’s okay to grieve for someone you lost without replacing them…
I don’t know if any of this makes sense, but my enjoyment was soiled by that one aspect. now, if his friends had put him up on a blind date with the lady, I would have felt better about it. but the fact that she had her eye on him the entire time, I just found myself shaking my head in disapproval
see, not even Robert’s happy 👆🏻
bottom line: read it if you want, it’s available on ku, and it’s pretty clean despite one mild comment about sex, but I just didn’t care for the premise
─────୨♡୧─────
content warning┆💌 ‧₊˚ ⋅.
➸Christian content:
none
➸spiritual content:
none!
➸sexual content:
a mention of words not being able to describe the sex Charley and Janice had; a mention of Charley wanting to get Janice out of her wedding dress on their honeymoon; a mention of a girl being curvy in all the right places; a mention of a form fitting dress; a mention of the fairer sex; a mention of Carley’s butt being cold after falling in the snow; a mention of a cold, wet butt
➸language:
1 ‘what the hell’; 1 ‘as hell’; 1 ‘freakin’; 1 ‘crappy’; 1 ’stupid’; 2 ‘God’s
➸drugs/alcohol/smoking:
a mention of a drunk truck driver; Charley’s friend is a bartender; Charley drinks beer
➸lgtbq+:
none!
➸magic/witchcraft:
none!
➸violence:
none!
➸other:
none!
➸possible triggers:
death of a loved one; grief; in the past Charley had contemplated suicide; a hint that a marriage was abusive
─────୨♡୧─────
quotes┆💘 ‧₊˚ ⋅.
sorry! no quotes today!
୨୧ ❝ everywhere he went in the house, Janice. on every wall, on every bookcase, Janice. their wedding photos hung on the wall in the den. their trip to Hawaii in the three frame set on the mantle. hundreds of photo magnets stuck to the refrigerator with friends and family in all manner of places. God how he loved that woman ❞ ୨୧
꒰🎶꒱ иσω ρℓαуιиg: » Second Chances ⇾ Imagine Dragons «
🎶open up again, I believe in second chances
please let me in, I believe in second chances🎶
overall, I was really enjoying this short story. I gotta say, I’m conflicted when it comes to reading/watching stories about someone who has previously been married finding love again. my sister and I have talked about it a lot, and the question that arises a lot is, “what if you your first spouse had never died, and you met the person from the story?” I hope I worded that correctly! 😭
I think it’s a matter of God’s will and plan, but still, it’s a topic that I’m still very conflicted on, especially with the matter of true love. was your first marriage not true love? were the promises that they were the only one for you a lie if you move on?
agh! sorry, I’m ranting!
but then when we find out who the person who wrote the note to Charley is, I felt a big, fat ick.
beware, if you don’t want to be spoiled, I’d avoid reading my rant, but if you don’t care because this short story is all of 19 pages, then by all means, continue on!
my main issue was that the woman, I forgot her name and don’t care to look, had a crush on him in high school (he had a crush on her too, but the football jock was always there with her) apparently she’s loved him since high school and hasn’t stopped. she ended up marrying the jock, but it was a bad marriage, and when she found out Charley married Janice (his wife), she was devastated.
The Bible tells us not to lust after anyone, or we have already committed adultery with them in our hearts. now, I don’t think still feeling love counts as lust in this case, but I count it as adultery when a woman still wants to be in a relationship with a man while he’s married.
I also thought it was weird that she went after him even when he was still dealing with the grief of his late wife, despite it being two years. sometimes it’s okay to grieve for someone you lost without replacing them…
I don’t know if any of this makes sense, but my enjoyment was soiled by that one aspect. now, if his friends had put him up on a blind date with the lady, I would have felt better about it. but the fact that she had her eye on him the entire time, I just found myself shaking my head in disapproval
see, not even Robert’s happy 👆🏻
bottom line: read it if you want, it’s available on ku, and it’s pretty clean despite one mild comment about sex, but I just didn’t care for the premise
─────୨♡୧─────
content warning┆💌 ‧₊˚ ⋅.
➸Christian content:
none
➸spiritual content:
none!
➸sexual content:
a mention of words not being able to describe the sex Charley and Janice had; a mention of Charley wanting to get Janice out of her wedding dress on their honeymoon; a mention of a girl being curvy in all the right places; a mention of a form fitting dress; a mention of the fairer sex; a mention of Carley’s butt being cold after falling in the snow; a mention of a cold, wet butt
➸language:
1 ‘what the hell’; 1 ‘as hell’; 1 ‘freakin’; 1 ‘crappy’; 1 ’stupid’; 2 ‘God’s
➸drugs/alcohol/smoking:
a mention of a drunk truck driver; Charley’s friend is a bartender; Charley drinks beer
➸lgtbq+:
none!
➸magic/witchcraft:
none!
➸violence:
none!
➸other:
none!
➸possible triggers:
death of a loved one; grief; in the past Charley had contemplated suicide; a hint that a marriage was abusive
─────୨♡୧─────
quotes┆💘 ‧₊˚ ⋅.
sorry! no quotes today!
October 19, 2025
Sweet
In this poignant narrative, the author skillfully delves into the protagonist's emotional journey, gradually revealing layers of depth and resilience. Through nuanced storytelling, the book compassionately explores the character's healing process, transforming profound grief into a compelling tale of personal restoration and hope.
In this poignant narrative, the author skillfully delves into the protagonist's emotional journey, gradually revealing layers of depth and resilience. Through nuanced storytelling, the book compassionately explores the character's healing process, transforming profound grief into a compelling tale of personal restoration and hope.
April 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐
0 🌶
you can't make me cry right now!! this was so beautiful as we see how Charlie is struggling with moving on but also still the emotions and feelings and ugh! I wish this was a long length novel because this was amazing!! ❤️🩹
0 🌶
you can't make me cry right now!! this was so beautiful as we see how Charlie is struggling with moving on but also still the emotions and feelings and ugh! I wish this was a long length novel because this was amazing!! ❤️🩹
April 8, 2026
This was a cute story, but it lingered too much in the "storytelling" department. I'd rather read more dialogue and atmospheric details than just his rambling thoughts. It did keep my interest so that's why I gave it a 4 star.
March 8, 2025
FANTASTIC SHORT STORY READ!! Right up my alley!! Bjarne is an incredibly talented writer!! I’ve read his children’s books as well. Love them all!!!
March 19, 2025
Cute short story!
Love this sweet story about second chances.
The writing is skilled and draws you in to the main character's turmoil. Recommended!
Love this sweet story about second chances.
The writing is skilled and draws you in to the main character's turmoil. Recommended!
March 23, 2025
SO SWEET
Like the best of dark chocolate. Short, sweet, over too soon, and leaving you hoping for another one sometime soon.
Like the best of dark chocolate. Short, sweet, over too soon, and leaving you hoping for another one sometime soon.
June 3, 2025
Awwww!!! This was a sad but sweet short story about a man who loses his wife in a car accident but getting a second chance at love again on one of the most romantic days of the year.
December 29, 2025
So sweet - I want a whole story of them and their love.
January 29, 2026
Short Sweet Cute Romance. Second chance at love. So Good!
February 2, 2026
Good book.. Would recommend..🌺
March 15, 2026
I didn't feel right about giving this any higher than 2 stars. I'm not crazy about widow love stories, but it was okay I guess, kinda cheesy and not in a fun way.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews