Broken Lantern

Chapter Twenty-Four

His words cut right through me and I know just how badly I've hurt him. "Kevin, I don't want you to be Darry. You're right, you and no one else can replace him. We spent our lives together. But I love you too Kevin, and I don't want to replace Darry with you. I want to be with you, because you make me happy and I don't want to be without you. I want to marry you, Kevin. I was wrong before, I just got overwhelmed and felt guilty, like I was forgetting Darry or something." I look down, not wanting him to see the pain in my face at the thought of forgetting my husband.

He walks toward me, his guard down, and he puts his arms around me and Dally. "Alice, I understand, and I don't want you to forget him. I won't forget him either, and I want Dally to know all about him too. I don't think we're betraying him or his memory by loving each other, and I'm sorry that you felt that way and that you were dealing with it alone." He kisses me, and Dally squeals, tugging at his shirt.

"So, does this mean you'll come home?" I ask, feeling brave suddenly. He smiles and nods, "Yeah, I'll come home."

He takes Dally and says, "She's riding with me though." They walk over to his truck and he puts her in her car seat in his backseat. He leans in and whispers to her, "I've missed you little girl." And kisses her cheek before closing the door.

"I'll race you there! We have a wedding to plan!" He says excitedly, stepping up into his truck and closing the door.

"I don't think so, Kevin Jones! You better drive carefully. You have and are precious cargo!" I yell at him, getting into my car.

He leads the way to our house, being sure to drive extra carefully; to the point that I begin to think he's being sarcastic.

When we get to our house, my parents are sitting on their front porch with Darry's parents. Daddy gives me a thumbs up and Elaine nods her approval as we pass by them. My heart flutters at their acceptance and constant support. I don't know where I'd be without all of them. I'd probably be a crazy mess, even more than I am now.

Kevin gets Dallas out of the truck and walks over to me. Holding her on his hip, he bends down to look me in the eyes, telling me, "Let's make sure this is the last time we're ever apart, ok? I was losing my mind being away from the two of you", he confesses, leaning in to kiss me.

I smile at his honesty and kiss him back. "I promise. And I understand, I was going a little mad myself", I confess too, hoping he understands that it wasn't easy for me to be away from him either.

He puts his hand on my back and leads me to the house, closing the door behind us.