Broken &(closed)

[wideeyedone]

The pastor prayed and Colonel Parker read Dan's obituary. A few hymns were sung. Jamie swiped away tears but she was able to keep them at bay. Then it was time for Ben to give the eulogy.

She squeezed his hand. "You will do great."

 

[Rick345]

Raising from the pew, “thanks Jamie”, grasping her hand and giving it a squeeze before walking to the podium doing his best to hide his limp. Once situated his eyes scan the crowd many in uniform, many looking at Dan at rest, and not on him for which he was grateful. Looking down at the page he laid out he read it silently one last time and cleared his throat as began his knees quivering.

I was asked to give Dan’s eulogy and to be honest this is the most frightening this I have ever done on two fronts, one I am not a speech maker, secondly how does one sum up and pay homage to a good man in just simple words. I asked myself what would Dan wanted? How would he want us to live our lives?

Fist he’d say live your life that the fear of death can never enters your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their views,
and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of people.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
even a stranger, show respect to all people yet grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.

Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise into fools.

When it comes your time to die, do not be like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Die knowing you lived well, in the service of others.

Dan was devoted to this country and gave it his last full measure of devotion, yet he loved his wife even more, as I held him the last words to pass through his lips were, “Jamie, Jamie, Jamie”

With that Ben’s lips quivered and the paper became a blur as he hung his head and and a tear blotted the paper. With a heavy sigh, he wiped his eyes and lifted his gaze, his hands loosened their knuckle white grip from the pulpit and slowly limped back to his seat.

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie crushed him in a hug when he returned to her pew. She didn't let go. She hid her face against his chest and just held him tight. Amy and the Colonel held them close as the pastor prayed a closing prayer.

Next they headed to the graveside. The flag covered casket. Taps. 21 gun salute. It was fraught with symbolism and emotion. Jamie just sipped in breath. She tried to focus on Dan. Dan would want them to celebrate. Dan would want them to be together and be the extended family that they were to each other.

Jamie held the flag to her chest when it was handed to her.

 

[Rick345]

With each volley of the 21 gun salute Ben’s body shook, he had had enough of guns, enough of war, enough killing and dying to last him this lifetime and the next. But, he knew in a month maybe less he’d return to his unit. It wasn’t that he wanted to, it was he didn’t want anyone else to go through what he had gone through…

He looked over at Jamie, she was clutching the flag like it was her soul. He stepped toward Jamie and put his arm around her shoulder and give her a hug.

“I’m here for you, we can stay as long as you want.”, Positioning himself to block her from a bone chilling north wind howling through the trees rattling branches as the air turn cold and damp.

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie looked up at him with a gentle smile.

"We should go. The guys from the unit will want to see you. And Amy will worry that we aren't eating."

Colonel Parker was waiting for the two of them at the car.

"Miss Amy has headed back to the house. She intends to feed everyone until the bust."

 

[Rick345]

Ben opened the car door for Jamie, and when she was safely in he slid in beside her.

Ben patted his stomach, “Gooood night, I bet Miss Amy has every pot in the house on the stove and a couple more in the oven for good measure” pausing for a moment then glancing at the Colonel, “Sir with all due respect how come you don’t weigh three hundred pounds?”

The Colonel eyes never leaving the road he chuckled, “Son she doesn’t always put out spread that would feed an army, its just her way being a good hostess.. When we are by ourselves she rarely cooks, most of the time we grab a bite at the officers club or go to a restaurant”

“OH I see.”, Ben replied politely, as the car turned left and crunch gravel made in known to all they were home as the car slowed to a stop, in front of the walkway leading to the back door. There were dozens of cars parked in the yard...

Scanning the horizon, “Why don’t you two run inside before in starts to rain, I’ll put the car in the garage and be inside in a minute.”

Ben opened the door and held it open for Jamie...

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie slipped inside and couldn't help but smile at the rag tag family that Dan had given them through his military service. The house was full of food, conversation and even the laughter of children. Several of the guys in the unit had kids and Amy always kept some toys for them. The kids were playing some elaborate game of chase.

Jamie was glad to see that people were talking and eating and not just mourning. This was the family that Dan had built and wanted for the two of them.

She headed to the kitchen to see if Amy needed any help.

 

[Rick345]

Ben joined Joe and Frank in a corner and they caught up on what had happened to them since they graduated infantry school at Ft. Benning years ago. Ft. Benning was only twenty miles away he seemed odd there had gone so far only to come back home again.

Ben had lost track of Jamie, but he could smell delicious mouth watering aromas drifting from the kitchen. In bounded Buffalo Bob, with a football in hand, “anyone up for a game?”

Soon Ben and a mixture of men and women were in the front yard playing touch football… It was only touch but Ben knew he pay off it in the morning, but that thought disappeared as soon as he seen the ball sailing toward him… He caught it, tucked it in close and ran down the field, he hadn’t made four steps before Sally touched his butt..

He stopped proud that he had gained a few yard for his team, Sally grinned wiggled her fingers then winked at him as he passed her to line up she whispered, “Nice butt”… It was nothing serious everyone was just letting their hair down.

Within minutes he seen Amy standing on the porch ringing a cowbell, “Y’all come on, suppers ready...”

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie was sitting in the dining room, holding Joe and Karen's little girl, Ava. She was just a few months old and Jamie had held her and rocked her until she was asleep. It was a good feeling to have the baby snuggled in her arms and it allowed Karen to have a few minutes to herself while the guys were playing outside.

Amy had everyone come in to eat. The Colonel said grace and every fixed plates. Amy placed an iced tea in front of Jamie and she sipped at it while she held the baby.

Jamie watched people fixing plates, and talking and laughing. She looked down at little Ava and kissed her forehead. It was good to be surrounded with family.

 

[Rick345]

While placing a peice of cornbread on his plate and passing the golden squares of deliciousness to his left, he glanced at Jamie setting directly across the table, with a little red headed blue eyes bundle in her lap. It was the first time he seen her smile in days, it was obvious nurturing was second nature to her.

He looked around and stopped worrying about his troubles and counted his blessings, good people, good food, and good fellowship he was indeed very blessed.

Amy had outdid herself, there was corn on the cob, burgers, hot dogs, homemade potato salad, butter-beans, green beans, and for the adventurous there was a venison stew and fried rabbit..

“Jamie you want me to fix you a plate? And can your little friend handle corn on the cob?”, asked Ben as he scooped into the potato salad...

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie smiled at Ben. She cuddled Ava to her closely.

"I will eat in a little while. I just want to enjoy the company for a bit. And I am under strict orders not to feed Miss Ava anything as she is still nursing."

Jamie hummed a lullaby as she rocked Ava in her arms. People were reminiscing and storytelling. It made her smile. Dan would be happy that the people he loved most were loving on each other.

 

[Rick345]

“OK, Ava has an excuse and I’m not going to nag, but promise me you’ll eat something before you go to bed. I’m a little worried about you.”, smiling at Ava, then lifting his gaze to Jamie with a slide wise smirk, he knew she wasn’t one that took kindly to badgering, even if it was for the very of intentions.

His eyes softened she looked at how natural Jamie looked with Ava, it is such a shame that with Dan gone she wouldn’t be having children of her own…

 

[wideeyedone]

Janie smiled. "I will eat, I promise."

Soon Ava's mom collected her little bundle and the colonel placed a plate in front of Jamie. Jamie slathered the cornbread with butter and after it melted she ate two pieces of cornbread. She figured since it was her husband's wake she could indulge in her favorite instead of eating it in moderation.

After her cornbread, Jamie took Ben by the hand and lead him to the porch swing. There were still people in the yard and some sitting on the porch visiting. But Jamie just needed to sit quietly. She curled up next to Ben on the swing and closed her eyes.

 

[Rick345]

He could feel the warmth of Jamie as she curled up next to him. His feet flat the pouch he slowly and gently rocked his knees causing the swing to rock to and fro in a lazy arch. The day was still warm but as night fell the temperatures would drop, even though it was only April the night time low would only be sixty, perfect sleeping weather.

It had been a long hard day and he was nice to enjoy the quite conversations stirring about him, the mockingbird singing in the softly in the treetop as the purple irises bloomed and swayed in the gentle breeze.

“Jamie did it rain last night all the irises are in bloom I didn’t notice that yesterday.”

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie looked out at the yard. "I didn't notice a rain. But you are right, these irises weren't blooming yesterday."

Jamie closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

"I wonder how much longer I can stay here with Amy and the Colonel. I don't think I can go back to our house yet. Everything there reminds me of Dan." She whispered.

 

[Rick345]

As she spoke Ben’s eyes never left Jamie’s own, he couldn’t brake the eye contact not that he wanted to, he was content to become lost in her ice blue eyes. As soon as they closed, he was able to pull his thoughts together.

“I am sure they wouldn’t have a problem with you staying longer, but if you want you could stay at my place. It’s little more than a studio apartment but you’re welcome and I could certainly use your help. But I warn you its small probably not what you’re used to.”

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie shook her head.

"You can stay in our guest room. Then I can start cleaning out Dan's things, and I need to finish painting the living room."

Jamie got up from the swing.

"I need to start saying my goodbyes to folks." Jamie squeezed his shoulder lightly.

 

[Rick345]

“OK...”, was all he could mutter as he felt her hand on his shoulder and she was off saying goodbye to everyone.

He hated goodbyes but he knew he had to do the same, so he rose from the swing and made his rounds. Shaking hands and patting backs. He didn’t even know if Jamie had a car… He was happy he could take care of the soimple things while Jamie took care of the thousand and one details needed to resume living and life.

 

[wideeyedone]

Jamie headed into the kitchen to help Amy wash dishes. She wrapped up left overs and rinsed dishes. She tied on an apron and slipped off her shoes as she did her chores.

She and Mrs. Parker chatted as they cleaned up the kitchen. The Colonel wiped down the table and stacked up the extra chairs that had been brought in.

Jamie felt a little better knowing that she was doing a little to help.