Sunshine Valley

Instead of answering the daily prompt with personal stuff; I’m gonna work the prompt into my story. Hope you enjoy.

Thinking 

     Dillon lay in his bed thinking. Evie was right. The people of Sunshine Valley did give Sunshine Sue a lot of their time. Including him. She lived rent free in his mind for something that happened 30 some odd years ago. He was a different man now than he was back then. He was hostile, hurt, lonely and in all honesty, just wanted to hurt someone else. Everything in Sunshine Valley reminded him of Evie. He didn’t have the courage to leave. Didn’t have the courage to end it all. Though, he prayed someone else would. Hurting someone else the way he was hurting, left him empty and ashamed. 

     His Evie had come home. She had come back to him. Gettin’ to know adult Evie was amazin’. But was she enjoying this exploration period? Well, she had agreed to marry him. 

     Before she came home, the only time he had darken the door of a church was for a funeral. Watchin’ Evie struggle with the humanity of church was eye opening, sad and he had this deep seated need to help her. He could offer to go with her? Why did she feel this dread? Shame? Guilt? Worse than he had? He didn’t think about it much at all. She was there. It was done to her face. In front of the body of the church. ‘That’s why’, he told himself. Then to offer to help the very woman that had called her out. He was wowed in that moment. He was just getting to see the magnitude of her faith. 

     Her faith? To step into a relationship with the man that had been waiting on her. That some would say, was pinein’ his life away. Waiting on her. While there were plenty of good women in Sunshine Valley to choose from. He was waiting on her. 

     He really didn’t know Rebecca. He was familiar with Simon because of Teka but didn’t know him either. Whatever was goin’ on with Rebecca toward Evie, was this what jealousy looked like in adults? If this was jealousy? Why? Adult Evie had never lived in Sunshine Valley. All those childhood connections were that, childhood connections. She had to work her way back into the community like a stranger. It helped that Jack was so respected and loved. He wanted to think that he had been a big help, but he knew better. Most people in Sunshine Valley forgot he existed, until the shit hit the fan.  

     He had to admit to himself, she didn’t complain about gettin’ churched much. He knew it hurt. And she talked to him about it. But to say she complained wasn’t accurate. Come to think about it, he hadn’t heard Evie complain about much. Not even Doug. He smiled to himself, she did complain about her shoes when they went hikin’. Even that was short lived. The car wreck didn’t seem to phase her. Her dad’s truck not having heat caused her some temporary discomfort but not really complaints. Adult Evie was much more fascinating than childhood Evie. 

     How long had it been since he prayed? ‘Dear God, please don’t take her away from me again. Let us grow old together. Let our love grow in you, together as you would guide us too. Give me the strength to forgive myself. To ask for forgiveness. To be the man, husband, member of this community that you need me to be. Amen’. He let out a long sigh. 

     His phone chimed. It was a message from Evie. ‘Happy Valentine’s Day 💕 Stay safe out there lawman.’ A huge smile crept across his face. Yeah, she loved him.

     He decided to send her an emoji back. Did she know his heart was all hers? 💝

Sunshine Valley