Broken Lantern

Chapter Thirty-Six

I'm sitting on the front porch watching Kevin and Daddy work the pumpkin patch. It's been four years since the fire took our home and everything we owned. We were able to salvage a few things from the rubble; Darry's Varsity jacket had been spared by what can only be explained as a miracle from God. Kevin's Bible did not burn, the Bible was sitting on the end table by the couch in the livingroom; the fire consumed everything but the Bible. There were some photos in a metal safe that were spared, but the ones that Kevin had hidden for me during my darkest times after losing Darry, had been burned up in the fire.

I was so thankful to Jess for saving the frame that hung up over Dally's bed. I'm still grateful to her; and the frame still hangs over her bed, it's just a twin bed now instead of a crib.

She's grown so much these past few years; and she's a little pistol. This little girl got all of my sass and Darry's quick wit. She doesn't take anything off of anyone, she's quick to put someone back in their place when they step out of line, but then she'll crawl up in your lap and give you the best hugs and kisses.

Kevin and I have been married for almost four years. We got married right after the fire. We had the triple wedding, so we all share an anniversary, which is really cool and convenient for getting together and celebrating, we all only have to remember one date.

The wedding was in the park in the middle of town on a cool Autumn afternoon. We decorated in Fall colors and carried Fall colored bouquets, Jess, Britt and I wore soft, white flowy ankle length gowns, with burnt orange flower accents crawling down the back. The guys wore white tuxes with burnt orange cover buns, vests and ties.

It was a different experience than my wedding to Darry had been. It was less intimate but more so all at the same time. I was standing with the people I love most in this world, sharing our vows, taking the biggest step possible in our relationships; together. We shared the floor for our first dances, and we cut our cakes together. It was such a beautiful experience; one that we will all share and look back on with love, always.

Daddy, Kevin's dad, Frank, and Bobby all had to rebuild our home. We stayed with Kevin's parent's while it was being completed. Since we were starting from scratch, we were able to have more say in it than Darry and I had had.

The house is still a beautiful farmhouse, but with the insurance money, we were able to add an upstairs and a bit more storage space. Kevin and I want a large family, so we added more rooms than we originally had.

I had very specific details that I wanted to add to the home. My porch is my favorite place on the whole house. I asked for a wrap around porch, but I wanted it to be sectioned off in a way that would allow for a summer porch and a winter porch. The front is open to the elements, but then there's a screen door that allows you to enter a screened in porch.

I have my white rocking chairs on the outer porch because that's where I sit most often to watch Dally when she's playing in the yard.

My kitchen is my second favorite place. The big wide window that sits behind the sink, overlooks the pumpkin patch, where Kev and Daddy are working now. I can wash dishes and watch Kevin working hard outside, which is something that I really enjoy doing.

Four years have only added to Kevin's handsome good looks. At 22 years old, he's in the best shape he's ever been in, something that I contribute to his hard work on the farm, and to his new hobby of working out every other day at the local gym with Matt and Joel. It's kind of become their little thing; their down time, to escape their life of responsibilities and stresses. It does them all good to be able to get together to hangout and cut up without any of their wives or kids around to bug them.

Brittany and Matt have two kids, Nathan is just about to be four years old and Bella is 2. Jess and Joel have a newborn baby girl, Madeline; she's only three weeks old and already spoiled rotten by her daddy.