been doing for so many years.
It was the usual yearly trip he made to go fishing with some old friends . While age had forced them to shorten the lengths of the manly expeditions, Helen found that she missed him more than ever, even with AJ there to keep her company.
“Be safe,” she whispered to him.
“Always am.”
Helen was nervous, as she tended to get about these men-only trips the last few years. She’d never worried about shady motives or immodest fun, but rather what would happen if something happened to one of these gregarious guys while they were out in the woods. They were not spring chickens, certainly, and if someone lost the bounce in their step and encountered a set-back, she knew it would be difficult for the others to get him to safety. There was no luc k in convincing the men of that, though. They always waved her off and went on their way.
She always carefully plotted how she could explain it to him in a way he’d understand without making him feel ancient. She felt as though she owed it to him to give him these sparing opportunities for fun and excitement, as he’d given her the world the day he solemnly pledged until death do they part.
She squeezed his arm again tightly and stepped away from the truck that he and AJ had brought back to life the past few months. It had been the one he’d driven them away from the church in after their wedding and she found certain bliss in seeing it running again. It made her feel young and took them both back to a time when the entire world was theirs for the taking. Their happiness had never been in great adventures or world travels – it existed in one another.
Their wedding had been a glorious day. She recalled the sunny afternoon as the joyous memories filled her mind and eased some of the fret that had overtaken her. The shiver could have been from the breeze or from the depth of the emotions that resurfaced as the images invaded her soul.
Her lace gown – a much smaller size than anything she currently wore – stood out, the color of newly fallen snow. The lace dotted the fabric like giant snowflakes, delicately decorating the boat neck curve of the neckline. It showed just enough, but not too much. The sleeves were long, scalloped edging gently covering the top of her hand and only slightly hidden by the giant bouquet of roses he had purchased just for her. Flowers were a splurge she never would have afforded herself with so many other bills to pay.
The lace reached to mid-calf but her legs went on forever with the pink heels she had chosen. She would have never worn something so edgy to a wedding, especially not her own . She had been wearing them the day they met and knew Matthew adored them if for nothing more than the memories they brought to the surface of her mind.
Matthew had been utterly handsome the first time she’d seen him. Other girls hadn’t always thought he was good-looking, he always told her. Maybe they’d just never gotten to know him well enough, she’d reply. While his looks were one thing – bold, dark, handsome – it was the beauty he carried within him that brought her over the edge. He had loved her from the moment he saw her and never let her forget it. His constant reminders were far from annoying, but rather a song that she wished to replay over and over in her mind. His looks had changed into a softer, white haired version , yet his heart was the same familiar beat she’d been hearing for decades.
After losing her son to illness and her husband to the pain, she had watched as her ex-husband remarried and began a new family. Unable to have children due to complications with her son’s birth, she felt tainted and worthless. Who would want a washed up, infertile fool who couldn’t even keep her first marriage together, she’d ask herself? She was alone and preferred it that way, wishing that life would allow her a quick pass-through so her happiness could be regained by an overdue meeting with her son in
It was the usual yearly trip he made to go fishing with some old friends . While age had forced them to shorten the lengths of the manly expeditions, Helen found that she missed him more than ever, even with AJ there to keep her company.
“Be safe,” she whispered to him.
“Always am.”
Helen was nervous, as she tended to get about these men-only trips the last few years. She’d never worried about shady motives or immodest fun, but rather what would happen if something happened to one of these gregarious guys while they were out in the woods. They were not spring chickens, certainly, and if someone lost the bounce in their step and encountered a set-back, she knew it would be difficult for the others to get him to safety. There was no luc k in convincing the men of that, though. They always waved her off and went on their way.
She always carefully plotted how she could explain it to him in a way he’d understand without making him feel ancient. She felt as though she owed it to him to give him these sparing opportunities for fun and excitement, as he’d given her the world the day he solemnly pledged until death do they part.
She squeezed his arm again tightly and stepped away from the truck that he and AJ had brought back to life the past few months. It had been the one he’d driven them away from the church in after their wedding and she found certain bliss in seeing it running again. It made her feel young and took them both back to a time when the entire world was theirs for the taking. Their happiness had never been in great adventures or world travels – it existed in one another.
Their wedding had been a glorious day. She recalled the sunny afternoon as the joyous memories filled her mind and eased some of the fret that had overtaken her. The shiver could have been from the breeze or from the depth of the emotions that resurfaced as the images invaded her soul.
Her lace gown – a much smaller size than anything she currently wore – stood out, the color of newly fallen snow. The lace dotted the fabric like giant snowflakes, delicately decorating the boat neck curve of the neckline. It showed just enough, but not too much. The sleeves were long, scalloped edging gently covering the top of her hand and only slightly hidden by the giant bouquet of roses he had purchased just for her. Flowers were a splurge she never would have afforded herself with so many other bills to pay.
The lace reached to mid-calf but her legs went on forever with the pink heels she had chosen. She would have never worn something so edgy to a wedding, especially not her own . She had been wearing them the day they met and knew Matthew adored them if for nothing more than the memories they brought to the surface of her mind.
Matthew had been utterly handsome the first time she’d seen him. Other girls hadn’t always thought he was good-looking, he always told her. Maybe they’d just never gotten to know him well enough, she’d reply. While his looks were one thing – bold, dark, handsome – it was the beauty he carried within him that brought her over the edge. He had loved her from the moment he saw her and never let her forget it. His constant reminders were far from annoying, but rather a song that she wished to replay over and over in her mind. His looks had changed into a softer, white haired version , yet his heart was the same familiar beat she’d been hearing for decades.
After losing her son to illness and her husband to the pain, she had watched as her ex-husband remarried and began a new family. Unable to have children due to complications with her son’s birth, she felt tainted and worthless. Who would want a washed up, infertile fool who couldn’t even keep her first marriage together, she’d ask herself? She was alone and preferred it that way, wishing that life would allow her a quick pass-through so her happiness could be regained by an overdue meeting with her son in
Similar Books
