Mending Hearts by Brenda Kennedy

wipe the tears from my face. I
read the letter again, before I tuck his letter and the unopened
letters under my pillow. I can’t read anymore right now.
    The glitter on my lap shimmers from the
sunshine beaming in through the windows, and I am reminded of my
daughter. I still have a daughter, unlike Bobby. This is all the
more reason for me to fight for my sobriety.
    I attend every meeting I
can, I share my sad and pathetic story with others during group
therapy, and I call Raelynn everyday I am allowed phone calls. I
work hard to get better for myself but more
importantly for Raelynn. I realize I need to be the best person I
can be for me so I can attend my daughter’s needs and be the person
that she deserves me to be. I keep a journal of my goals and my
plan to keep them.
    After group therapy and right before lights
out, I return to my unopened mail that is stashed under my pillow.
I open the last letter and find it is from Adam McDaniel. I smile
and open it carefully. 
    Dear Molly, if you are reading this letter,
then it means you are still with the program. I can’t begin to tell
you how proud I am of you. It is three weeks into your recovery,
and I figure now would be a good time to write. If I remember my
own experience correctly, your cravings are almost gone and you no
longer feel that the world is out to get you (smile, you know it’s
true). The hardest part is done. Did you notice I said the hardest
part? I would like to lie to you and tell you it’s all sugar and
spice from here on out, but I can’t. You are making great progress,
and I am proud of you. It will get easier as the days and weeks
pass.
    I would like to think that once you are
home, you’ll continue coming to the meetings at Addicts Anonymous.
You are always welcome there and it helps being with people who can
relate to what we have been through. Not everyone will be
understanding and/or supportive outside of the group. Call me
anytime to talk seriously or to just hang out. I would really like
to see you again. Take care, Adam.
    I read his letter again and tuck it under my
pillow with Bobby’s letter. I fall into a restful sleep.
    Emma
    Alec and I sit under the
gazebo of our new house; we have just set a wedding date. On
Veterans Day, November 11 th , I’ll be Emma Grace Collins,
aka Mrs. Alec Ray Collins.
    “ Less than three months
doesn’t give us a lot of time to plan a wedding.” I look at Alec
and he is watching me.
    “ It’s the right amount of
time to plan a wedding.”
    I ask, “How do you figure?” 
    “ Because you don’t have time
to focus on things that don’t matter, things that in a year, no one
will remember.” 
    “ Like
what?” 
    “ Like the color of carpet
you walk on that leads you down the aisle. Or the brand of birdseed
you have for our guests to toss at us.” He smiles and winks at me.
“We’ll have three months to prepare for our wedding. We’ll focus on
our guest list, the food to serve at the reception, and the time of
day that I want to make you my wife.” 
    “ I think you’re right. What
time of day are you thinking for the wedding?” 
    “ Is 6:00 a.m. too
early?” 
    I laugh and lean into him. “I think it’s a
little early for a wedding.” 
    “ I guess we’ll have to
discuss it later. In the meantime, would you like to see your
surprise?” he asks.
    “ I would love to; lead the
way.” I stand and take his hand. We walk up the cobblestone walk
towards our house. It is dark with only the moonlight illuminating
the walkway. Alec opens the kitchen door and turns on the
light. 
    I walk into the house as Alec locks the door
behind us. I am in awe. I look around and ask, “How did you do
this?” 
    “ Don’t get too excited. I
paid a moving company to move our things. They set up the beds, but
that’s about it. The unpacking is left for us to
do.” 
    “ Oh, Alec, I can’t believe
it. As of now, this is our house? This is where we’ll be staying
from now on?” 
    “ It is.