Free Mending Hearts by Brenda Kennedy Page A

although I didn’t plan to
have this talk tonight. 
    “ When are you thinking,
Alec? A year or two?” 
    “ I was thinking more like a
few months. This isn’t our first marriage, and I don’t want to wait
a year or two. I don’t see any reason to wait.” 
    “ Our family is already
here. We’re already living together. Our kids already think they’re siblings,” she
says and I don’t think she’s talking to me. It sounds more like she
is thinking out loud. “It’s already August. Are you thinking a
winter wedding?” 
    “ No, more like fall.
November, before the holidays. I would like to be married before
Thanksgiving,” I admit.
    “ A November wedding.” I
watch her get her phone out, and although she is talking I don’t
think she is talking to me. “What date do we have in November?” She
scrolls through the calendar on the phone and mumbles,
“Thanksgiving.” 
    I add, “And Veterans Day —
it’s November 11 th .” 
    She looks up at me and
smiles, “Veterans Day is November 11 th .” 
    “ Emma, would you like to
marry me on Veterans Day, November 11 th of this
year?” 
    “ Do you think we can plan a
wedding in three months?” 
    “ Emma, I can plan a wedding
in a week if you’ll be walking down the aisle to be with
me.”
    She leans into me, “I love you.” 
    “ Is that a yes to a November
11 th wedding?” I ask hopefully. 
    “ A yes, Alec. That is
definitely a yes.” 
    Molly
    “ Mail call for ‘Miss All
that Glitters is Silver and Gold,’” Natalie yells from outside my
room. Natalie is one of the resident counselors. She has a great
personality and is very good at her job. 
    I laugh as she walks inside my room holding
several letters. “You don’t need to announce mail call, you
know.” 
    “ I know, I have to do
something to pass the time away.” Natalie hands me my letters and
sits down on the edge of my bed. “Another glittery card?” she
asks. 
    I smile and look at the cork board above the
small dresser — the cork board displays all of the glittery cards
that Raelynn has made for me. “I hope so. There’s just something
about glitter that makes everything better,” I admit. 
    “ I heard administration
talking about charging you a cleanup fee when you go home,” Natalie
says as she stands and walks towards the door. 
    “ Really? This stuff does get
everywhere.” 
    “ No, I’m kidding,” she
smiles. “I did hear Rachael say how blessed you are to get
something in the mail everyday.” 
    “ Thank you, and I’ll see you
in group therapy at 6:00.” 
    “ You know it. You do know
what today is, don’t you?” she asks. 
    I smile, “It’s our three-week
anniversary.” 
    Natalie says, looking around the room, “It
feels good, doesn’t it?” 
    “ It feels
wonderful.” 
    “ See you at group,” she says
as she disappears into the hall. “Mail call for Mr. Hotstuff,” she
yells, and I laugh. 
    I open my card from Raelynn
and the glitter falls from it onto my lap. I have to smile. I also have to be careful not to be seen with a
glittery crotch. I don’t need to draw attention to that . The homemade card has a picture of a little girl and her
mommy. It says, “Mommy, get well
soon.” I open the card and the inside
says, “I miss you, bunches. Raelynn.
Xoxo.
    I open another card and more
glitter falls onto my lap and I have to smile again. The outside
card reads, “To Sissy’s Momma.” There is a picture of a little girl swinging. At
least I think that’s a swing set. I open the card and read
it. “Get well soon, from Sissy’s Bubby,
James.” I smile. He really is a nice boy.
Raelynn makes me something everyday and Emma and Alec are very good
at sending it to me. Today, they even included something from
James. I display the cards proudly on the cork
board. 
    I wipe the tears from my eyes and open the
next letter. I am surprised to find it’s a letter from Bobby. I
miss him and I am still shocked he is married. I never