Violentine- Forever and Always

Already There

Clem rushed around the room trying to keep the peace. It was hard to keep the house together without Violet's help. The first week had been okay, but for some reason, it had gotten harder as time went on. Clem had said it would be easy to handle everything without Violet, but now she was eating her words as kids ran around a messy house and the dogs barked at strangers walking by and the oven beeped for her attention.

First thing she thought she should do was get dinner out of the oven so it wouldn't burn. Clementine rushed to the kitchen and turned the timer on the oven off. She opened the oven door and grabbed the oven mitts. Then she carefully pulled the tray of chicken out and set it on the stovetop and turned off the oven.

Clem sighed as she realized that she still had to set the table. Normally Violet would have already done this while she was cooking. But since she was alone Clem had to do everything herself.  So Clem pulled out five plates and sets of silverware. She was setting the table when the kids ran by, almost knocking into her.

They were playing knights and dragons. Their oldest son Luke being a fierce dragon while their two twin girls Willow and Crystal were knights protecting their youngest son Layke.

"We're not afraid of you!" Willow shouted.

"Yeah! Go back to your lair, decagon!" Her twin said.

Luke stood up tall and roared. "I'm gonna get you!"

The girls giggled as they ran away again and pulled out some foam swords. Then they pretended to slay the dragon that was their brother.

Clem smiled at the sight. Violet loved to play that game with the kids. How she wished her other half was here.

But Clem shook her head. She had to be strong for her family. She couldn't let herself cry, not now. She brought dinner into the dining room and then called the kids to eat.

She put Layke, who was only two, into a high chair and cut up his food for him. Then she helped the girls out. Luke was old enough now to not need as much help, being six years old.

Clem finally got a chance to sit down and fix her own plate when the phone rang. She sighed and got up to answer. "Hello?"

"There's my girl."

——————

Violet heard Clementine answer the phone and smiled. "There's my girl."

She had called her while on the road from a lonely cold hotel room. Just to hear her say I love you one more time. Violet had been assigned to attend some conference meetings out of state. She'd be away for at least another week and it was absolute torture to be away from her family. And when she heard the sound of the kids laughing in the background she had to wipe away a tear from her eye.

"Are you crying?" She heard Clem ask.

"I'll be fine." Violet lied. "I just miss all of you."

"I miss you too, Violet," Clem said.

But their oldest son heard his mom's name and Violet could hear him in the background. "I wanna talk to mommy!"

Next thing she knew a little voice came on the phone. He said, "Mommy when you coming home?"

She said the first thing that came to her mind. "I'm already there. Take a look around. I'm the sunshine in your hair. I'm the shadow on the ground. I'm the whisper in the wind. I'm your imaginary friend. And I know I'm in your prayers. I'm already there."

She heard him giggle at her words and a sad smile broke out on her face. "I love you, Lukey."

"Love you too, mommy." He said back.

Violet held back a sniffle as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Alright, why don't you give the phone back to mama?"

"Okay. Bye, mommy." Luke said reluctantly. Being the oldest he understood that one of his parents had been ripped from his life and he missed Violet just like Clem did.

"Bye-bye, Lukey," Violet said sadly. And she waited for Clem to come back.

——————

Clem got back on the phone. She said, "I really miss you, darling. Don't worry about the kids they'll be alright." She reassured her. "Wish I was in your arms, lying right there beside you. But I know that I'll be in your dreams tonight. And I'll gently kiss your lips, touch you with my fingertips. So turn out the light and close your eyes."

"That's really sweet Clem," Violet told her. "I wish you were here."

"Violet, I'm already there. Don't make a sound. I'm the beat in your heart. I'm the moonlight shining down. I'm the whisper in the wind. And I'll be there until the end. Can you feel the love that we share? I'm already there." Clem explained. "We may be a thousand miles apart. But I'll be with you wherever you are."

Clem felt tears rolling down her face as she finished. "I love you, Violet."

"I love you too Clem." Came Violet's choked-up voice. "I miss you."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure I tell each of the kids how much their mommy loves them." Clem reassured.

"You better." Violet fake scolded.

Both she and Clem laughed.

But Clem grew serious. "Don't go, Vi. I need you."

"It's just like you said, Clem," Violet explained. "I'm already there. Take a look around. I'm the sunshine in your hair. I'm the shadow on the ground. I'm the whisper in the wind. And I'll be there until the end. Can you feel the love that we share? I'm already there. Yes, I'm already there. I love you, Clementine."

"I love you too, Violet. Never forget that." Clem reminded her.

"I never will," Violet reassured her.