Sunshine Valley

Bessie?

    Night had fallen as they put the last box where it needed to go. She had taken all the pictures from the album that she wanted. Even cut out a few of the people she either didn’t know or didn’t like.

    He had loaded all the garbage in the back of the SUV.

    “I need to have this on file at your office.” She handed him an envelope. He knew what was in it. He took it to the SUV so that he wouldn’t forget it.

    When he returned, he found her stretched out on the front porch swing. With the scoop of one hand, he picked up her legs, sat down on the swing, before resting her legs on his lap. She didn’t protest. So he slipped off her house shoes. Her small feet fit perfectly in his hands. She moaned slightly as he caressed those tired little feet. He remembered all the times he had painted her toenails for her and wished he had the stuff to do it now.

    “That feels really nice.”

    “I’m glad.”

    “Someday you will have to allow me to return the favor.”

    He was doing this because he wanted to be close to her. Why couldn’t he tell her how he’d missed her? “Evelyn, I’m really sorry about what happened.” He stopped short.

    “But?” She picked up on his dropped sentence.

    How was she able to read him like a book? This is what she was referring to when she spoke of their connection. He stared down at the floor, “I’m glad you’re home.”

   “I never thought I’d say this but it feels good to be back.”

    Dillon couldn’t stop the smile that crept across his lips.

    “Dad tells me you haven’t been to church in a long time.”

    His smile quickly faded away. “Can’t,” was all he could say.

    “When we were little, you were the first one there when the doors opened and the last one to leave. Some times Pastor Sam had to run you off.

    “Not little anymore.” He had to change the subject off of himself. “I don’t like it that you’re out here all alone.”

    “I’m not all by myself.” She grinned.

    His head shot around as if she was lying to him. “Is your dad comin’?”

    “No, I have God to protect me.”

    God! He thought, how’s God going to protect you? Dillon said it before he could stop himself, “Where was God the last time?”

    Evelyn sat up in the swing; her feet still in his lap. “He was with me. He warned me something was going to happen, I just didn’t know what. This happened to me for a reason and in his time, I will find out why.”

     What was she saying? “You’re not angry with God that you almost died?”

    “Should I be?”

    “How can you not be?” How’d she do that? Come to think about it, she’d always been able to see right through him. He couldn’t face her. He just stared at her tiny feet.

    “The hand of man struck me Dillon, not the hand of God.”

    He was getting more aggravated by the minute. “God could have struck him dead. God could have caused him to change his mind.” He was about ready to cry.

    “Then I wouldn’t be here.” Came her calm reply.

    He rubbed his fingers through his hair. Why was she able to get under his skin so?

Sunshine Valley