by LoRee Peery
I am so sorry Ted is somewhere far away, taking the blame for a crime he didn’t commit. Did you believe Ted is the one who killed Dad?
I don’t know why our father was so mean. Can I blame it on the whiskey? No, it may have been an influence, but we make our choices.
The way I chose to help end a wretched life to save my brother.
I heard them yelling from the woods, that Fourth of July long ago, where Father and Teddy were chopping wood.
When I watched their struggle, Father got the ax away from Ted. The force broke the ax against the bumper of our old car. I ran and picked up the handle when Dad reached for the business end.
Father would have struck Ted.
I was faster. I hit Father in the head.
Ted pulled me close.
When Father moaned, Ted hit him, then pulled me close.
“I’ll leave,” Teddy said. “Let people believe what they want. At least he’ll never hurt anyone again. You were never here, understand? I love you, Vi.”
And he was gone.
I cowered behind a cottonwood, all my tears dried up. I listened to the groans. Waiting, for what felt like hours. Finally, Father struggled to his elbow. The devil must have taken over me. I wouldn’t let the man find his hands and knees, wouldn’t let him hurt anyone ever again.
I ran to the ax handle and swung like I expected a home run. Twice. I finished the job we began together.
Dear Mother, I’m taking the coward’s way out by writing this. I’m sorry, I cannot face you.
I will love you always, and I hope you see your beloved Teddy again someday. I did it for him. For all of us.
Our Lord forgave David and called him a man after God’s own heart. I don’t know about that part as the way God sees me, yet I have made peace. None of us deserve forgiveness, but I know I am forgiven.
I pray you are able to forgive me as well. Someday, your tears of sorrow will be replaced by joy incomparable.
I Love you, Mom.
Violet
“Oh, Sage.”
“Yeah. What do you say about knowing your mother had a hand in your grandfather’s murder?” He scrubbed a hand over the top of his head then buried his face.
Lanae’s reaction was instinctual. She reached out and took the yellowed paper Sage offered. The words of John 15:13 wove through her mind. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
She went behind the couch, hugged him, then rubbed his neck and shoulders. “None of us were there. None of us know what we would do, if the Lord called us to give our life for another.”
He grabbed her hand, guided her onto his lap. “Jesus commands us to love one another and even die, if need be.”
“John 15:13 again.” She caressed his cheek. “How did your mother, die?”
“A stroke took her immediately.”
“He was merciful.” She lifted herself up and enfolded his head in her arms, wishing she was large enough to wrap herself around him. To absorb his hurt.
She touched his right brow with one finger. She traced over the other brow, trailed down and felt the prominent cheekbone, the bristles of stubble on his jaw. Over the nose that listed off-center. Her hand becalmed when she finally rested two fingertips on the contour of his chin.
By now, his chest was rising as high and fast as hers, matching her rapid breathing. “You game for a short engagement?”
Her lips parted, but she couldn’t speak. She nodded instead.
Sage lifted those two fingers from his chin and kissed them. Then he folded them into his rough textured grasp and settled her palm over his heart.
A whisper before their lips met, he said, “You’re mine forever.”
“Sage,” she whispered.
“Sweet,” he said.
They belonged to one another, it was God-ordained. They sealed their promise of forever with another kiss.
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