Personal Possessions (48 page)

“Ya want money Bear, I’ll
give ya money… how much ya want?”

“What did he
say?”

Said one of the
voices.

“He’s gonna give you
money?”

Said one of the other
ones.

I started to rethink this
situation, Trevor would give me the money and I could go pay Bubba
right then. He wouldn’t have to wait for the check from the
insurance company, which would mean…he’d forgive me.

“He’ll end up with her, I
say we just kill’em both!”

The male voice said. That
started to sound like a great idea, then I’d have his wallet full
of money too. Just then, Ellie moaned.

“
Put your fuckin eyes back
on me, shithead!” I yelled at Trevor.

“
Here…”

Trevor dug in his back
pocket and grabbed his checkbook.

“Take it… it’s yours. Take
it all, I’ll sign whatever you want.”

He threw the book down on
the ground not far from my feet. I stood there thinking about it
for a moment.

“You take it, once you get
it…you kill him, then kill her…perfect play.”

One of the other male
voices said.

“What’s the catch…you
lemme take that… you get to take her?”

I slowly began to bend at
the knees to go down, I watched Trevor’s eyes as I crouched down to
pick it up.

“Grab it, hurry...we’ve
wasted enough time.”

Suddenly, I saw Trevor’s
leg come forward and hit me in the face. I went back with an
“Umph!”

Everything went
black.

“Get up! Get up, you
dumbass! I knew you were stupid but fuck, Willie!!!”

“He done knocked you the
fuck out, you fool!!”

“He’s going to get her
free and then they’ll both be gone…wake the fuck up!!!”

I twisted my head from
side to side as I came back to consciousness. I could hear Trevor’s
voice.

“
...I’m gonna get you out
of here ok…just hold on…oh shit… honey… stay with me,
baby.”

I saw him enter the
bathroom so I took this time to prepare myself. I got up off the
floor and stumbled to the dresser. I grabbed the knife off the top
of it and turned around to face Ellie. I grabbed her by the back of
her hair and…

…waited.

That mother fucker was
gonna take one to the brain, I could make a promise on that! He
fucked up kicking me in the face. I could feel the blood run from
my nose to my mouth. I ran my tongue over my lip to catch
it.

Just at that time, Trevor
stepped out of the bathroom and froze.

“That’s it, Willie…now we
got’em!”

“Cut’er, you
fuckstick!”

“
Bett’a say your goodbyes
now, motherfucker.”

“
No Bear…don’t fucking do
this!”

“Do it,
Willie!”

“We’re carving a
pumpkin…we’re carving a pumpkin!”

I began on the opposite
side of her face…up by her ear and put pressure on the blade. I
could feel the ripping and the tearing of her skin, under my
fingers. I continued along her throat, with the other ear as my
destination.

“Tell’er now,
motherfucker! Confess your love to her… let it be the last thing
she hears before she bleeds out!”

“Yay…I think he’s gonna
finish her!”

We’re carving a
pumpkin…we’re carving a pumpkin!”

Just as I heard the last
voice in my head, I heard the shot of the gun…and everything for
the first time in all my life became…silent.

I felt my body hit the
wall but never felt hitting the ground.

Epilogue

4 months later

“Daddy…you look so
handsome.”

I heard Harlee’s voice as
she came up to give me a hug. Quickly, she pulled away, but she
didn’t get far…I pulled her back into me and hugged her as though I
would meld with her.

“I don’t want to ruin your
suit, daddy…I want you to marry momma lookin’ just like you do…a
total hottie!”

I threw my head back in
laughter…laughter that came straight from my soul, a soul that a
year ago was nonexistent and to me…unrepairable.

“Baby, you can wrinkle me
anytime…I’m sure momma won’t mind one bit.”

Harlee was now my adopted
daughter. I made sure that happened right after I got both JoJo and
Luc’s last names changed to McHale, I had my family and I couldn’t
have asked for more in a lifetime.

“Dad…it’s
time.”

Luc said as he came into
the barn stall to let me know that the show was about to
begin.
Elle had been in therapy, and still was for what happened with
Bear…luckily, she didn’t remember most of it, that was a total
blessing. Sometimes though, she’d wake up in the night and I would
hold her until that feeling of panic subsided…that was what she
talked about in her sessions.

I stepped out of the stall
and walking into the barn was Rachel…and my mom. Having been
through all this shit with Elle, I couldn’t let another day go by
without fixing things with my mom.

Rachel and I went to her
house and sat down with her and both of her nurses, so that she
would feel comfortable and I introduced myself, again but this time
I told her who I was. It’s taken awhile, but we’re getting back on
track. She’s on daily meds to bring her up to speed with reality,
but every day is a challenge.

“We just thought we’d stop
in before everything started and tell you how much we love you both
and are so very happy for you.”

Rachel said as she
intertwined her arm within my mom’s. I grabbed my mom’s hand first
and pulled it up to lay a gentle kiss against it, as I finished
with hers, I grabbed Rachel’s.

“I love ya’ll.”

I grabbed my mother’s
other arm and intertwined it with mine as we made our way out of
the barn. I watched her frail body move slowly by each stall, I
prayed that with each passing day she would begin to improve even
more.

“Nervous?”

I heard Rachel ask as we
approached the barn doors. I looked out over the field of daisies
and sunflowers that grew in the middle of the woods where the
sunshine hit just perfectly. The flowers were high and beautifully
arranged so that the taller sunflowers didn’t overpower the
daisies.

It was perfect, this was
Elle and I’s spot. I ended up purchasing it and she made it clear
that this was where we would end up becoming one…legally that
is.

“No way…I want to enjoy
every minute of this…I’ve been looking forward to it since second
grade.”

“I looked over at Rach and
saw that one tear fall down her cheek as her eyes came up to meet
mine. The smile that broke over her face was just about as bright
as the sun that shined above us.

“You tell anyone that I
shed a tear, Trevor Jordan and I swear to God, I will kick your
ass!”

We started laughing as we
made our way out to the field that was full of our friends and
family already seated.

I walked mom up front and
seated her in her seat, after I kissed her cheek. I turned to the
other side and gave her hand to Kevin who gladly accepted it. I
took my place next to Curt and my son, Luc and folded my hands in
front of me as the ladies began their walk down the
aisle.

Hearing Heart sing
Alone
, I laughed inside
a bit…that would always be our song. I couldn’t help but think back
to that day. The dance at the lake the gift of my ring, the
conception of our children.
I looked over at Luc as he watched his sister walk down the aisle
and couldn’t believe the joy that filled a once lonely, uncaring
heart. I turned to watch as JoJo made her way down the aisle and
felt my heart now overflow with love. My kids were my life…my
possessions now. Not my job, not the money…

Lilly passed me and I saw
her, walking down the aisle on the arm of Kip. I started to laugh.
I thought back to the day that everything happened with Bear. That
night Bubba’s boys went looking for Bear, well they noticed Kip
sitting out front of the house and attacked him. They of course
were dumb enough to leave him for dead which he was not, so when he
didn’t end up answering his phone, his buddy went to check on him
and found him. He ended up with a slight concussion, but in his
words, he’s as good as a virgin porn star.

Whatever the fuck that
means.

Elle looked beautiful.
Dressed in a casual short length dress, she wore her cowboy boots
to show off those legs I could never get enough of. I couldn’t take
my eyes off of her, my face hurt from the smile that nothing could
get rid of. I thought back to that day outside on the playground.
That promise came true…I never doubted that it wouldn’t.

She made it up beside me
and I still couldn’t stop staring. I heard the pastor cough to get
my attention. Quickly, I turned to face him…he smiled in
gratitude.

“Dearly beloved, we are
gathered here today to bring this man…and this woman…together in
holy matrimony.”

“I’m sorry…can we stop for
a moment.”

I cried out so that I made
sure everyone could hear me. I heard a commotion taking place
behind us…so I knew that if I was going to say something I better
say it pretty fuckin’ quick.

“I want my kids up
here…you’re just not joining this man and this woman together,
you’re joining the whole of us together…to be a family.”

I heard gasps behind us
now. I looked over at Elle who was beaming from ear to ear. You
could still see the scar on her throat but she wore a necklace I
bought her to bring your eyes to it, instead of the scar. It was a
necklace with an anchor on it but the diamond was much bigger. She
never took it off…as with the ring that was on her other ring
finger.

“I said…I want my kids up
here.”

Quickly, the kids scooted
in front of us as we were joined as a family…bonded
together.

“Ah…I was told the bride
and the groom have written their own vows.” I think I threw the
preacher off, so he was just going with the flow now. I turned to
face Elle and allowed her to go first.

“TJ…You are my promised
one. The one who wakes up beside me every morning, the one I lay
down beside every night. You are my partner, my confidante, my
healer and my best friend. I have loved you all my life, you were
my first love, my only love and the one I will love on my dying
day. Never will you have to question my loyalty, my trust or my
devotion. Never will I question your loyalty, your trust or your
devotion. You have made this family a whole and healthy complete
family and until my last breath…this I swear to you.”

I reached up and used my
thumb to wipe the tear that slid down Elle’s cheek. They were happy
tears, but I made a promise that I would wipe away every tear…I
meant what I said. I put my thumb in my mouth as to bring her into
me.

I reached in and grabbed
the note that I had in my jacket pocket.

“I’m sorry, but mine isn’t
going to be as pretty as hers.” I heard the crowd laugh a small
laugh. I cleared my throat as to begin.

“Elle…I have considered
you my wife since the second grade. You have held my heart from the
moment I first you, I swore long ago to love, honor and cherish
you. Now…today, I make new vows to you. I vow to be your husband
until my dying day. I vow to make you smile more than I make you
angry. I vow to make you only cry tears of joy, of which I still
will wipe away and I vow to you that I will keep you…”

I looked at my children
and addressed them as well.

“And every one of you, as
my most valued personal possessions. This I swear to you
all.”

I looked at my girls as
tears washed down their cheeks. I watched my son as his eyes became
glossy. I reached into my pocket and pulled out small jewelry boxes
and handed one to all three of the kids.

“Open them.”

I told them. I looked up
at Elle who watched with pride in her eyes…

They opened them and all
eyes came to me.

“They’re…beautiful,
daddy.”

“These are my promise to
you, that no matter where you go…or what you do…you will always be
anchored to me. You may try and break free…just like your momma
here, but you won’t get far, I will pull you right back
in.”

Luc looked at the man’s
ring that I purchased for him and put it on his finger.

I turned my body back to
Elle and slid the diamond band on her ring finger.

“Forever and always,
baby.”

She slipped the white gold
band on my ring finger and looked up into my eyes.

“Forever and
always…babe.”

We both looked back at the
preacher who was standing there since we took care of the whole
ceremony. He waved his bible from side to side...

“Go ahead and kiss her…I’m
just standing here lookin’ good.”
We both laughed and leaned in for our first kiss. I heard the
applause that began behind us but it was Kip’s voice that caught my
attention.