Chapter 18: The Promise
1072 Words
Three years later …
The house smelled of toys and crayons and children’s laughter that echoed from every wall.
Little shoes were tucked underneath the front porch door.
Pencils and crayons littered the kitchen table.
The family room floor was covered in a half-completed puzzle waiting for a quieter time than this to be completed.
Becca laughed as she stepped over a discarded stuffed animal lying in the middle of the hallway.
Three years ago, she might have found the mess overwhelming.
Today …
It warmed her heart.
“Daddy!” Their daughter screamed as she skipped toward him outside.
Craig glanced up from fixing a loose board on the old fence just as a little blur of blonde hair careened toward him.
“Daddy, catch me!” She yelled.
Before he could protest, their little girl tossed herself into his outstretched arms.
He chuckled as he raised her toward the afternoon sky.
“There she is!”
She giggled happily.
“Again!”
Craig set his daughter down carefully and watched her dash back across the lawn toward her mother.
Becca stood at the end of the porch rocker, watching her little family with delight. She’d never thought happiness could feel so simple.
Becca and Craig packed a picnic lunch that afternoon and drove back to the mountain lake where they had spent their honeymoon.
The little cottage was still there. Weathered from years of lake storms but still standing.
The porch still looked out over the glassy water.
Two rocking chairs still waited patiently beneath the old pine tree that had shaded their wedding portrait thirty-two years ago.
Their daughter ran ahead of them, stumbling every few steps to pick up smooth rocks and colorful wildflowers.
“Look, Mommy!” She said, handing them to her mother.
Beautiful.
“I’m making you a bouquet.”
Becca couldn’t help but melt.
“I’ll keep it forever.”
Craig leaned on the back porch post, watching his family, a small smile resting on his lips.
For as long as he could remember, he’d dreamed of days like this.
Days full of simple moments.
Precious moments that money could never buy.
As the sun began to sink below the mountains that evening, they sat side by side on the dock with their toes dangling over the edge.
Their little girl lay quietly against Craig’s shoulder, exhausted from a day of hiking and splashing in the lake.
Becca slipped her hand into his.
“It feels like yesterday.”
“What does?”
“When we stood on this dock at the end of our wedding.”
He smiled softly. “I remember thinking there couldn’t possibly be anything more perfect.”
“And now?”
Craig snorted gently. He glanced over at their little girl who had fallen asleep softly against him.
“Perfect doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“That’s what you think now.”
She was teased.
He kissed her cheek. “I think you’re right.”
After tucking their daughter into bed that night in the small mountain cabin, Craig and Becca found themselves back on the porch once again.
The moon hung low over the mountain lake.
Thousands of stars were reflected in the still water below them.
Silence stretched between them for a long moment.
Then Craig spoke.
“You know what I realized today?”
Becca turned to face him on the rocking chair.
“What?”
“We spent so much time trying to plan for tomorrow…”
He held up his hand to stop her from speaking. “…that we almost forgot to live today.”
Her head came to rest on his shoulder.
“I love that we don’t do that anymore.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
Slowly he stood and disappeared into the cabin for a moment.
When he returned, he cradled the worn keepsake box in his hands.
The small wooden box they had begun so many years ago.
Becca smiled at the sight of it.
“You brought it out?”
Craig nodded. “Thought tonight was as good a night as any.”
Carefully they opened the old box together.
Wedding invitations.
Pressed wildflowers from their honeymoon.
Baby socks were too small to even contain socks.
Hospital bracelets and medical cards.
Pictures of the two of them kissing with their newborn daughter nestled between them.
Pictures they had taken of their newborn daughter.
Becca gently placed one more item inside.
A bouquet of wildflowers their daughter had gathered that afternoon.
Craig wiped a tear from his cheek and grinned at her.
“I think that might be my favorite.”
Becca kissed him. “Mine too.”
Midnight found them rocking quietly on the cabin porch.
Side by side.
Watching the moon twinkle across the surface of the lake.
Craig leaned forward, twining his fingers with hers.
“If I could make one wish…”
She beamed up at him.
“What?” He teased.
Craig leaned closer and gazed into the eyes of the woman he loved more than life itself.
“When we’re old and gray…”
Becca nodded slowly. “I know.”
…and sitting on this porch.”
Craig cupped her cheek. “I want to…”
She squeezed his fingers gently. “Forever?”
“We still spend our evenings together.”
“I know.”
His lips brushed over hers.
“And we still hold hands.”
“So, we will.”
Smiling, he kissed her forehead.
“I’ll just keep choosing you,” He vowed. “Every day for the rest of eternity.”
“Oh Craig,” She cried as a lone tear traced a path down her cheek. “I will choose you too.”
As one.
Everyday.
For the rest of our lives.
A shooting star streaked across the sky.
The breeze whispered through the trees.
Becca snapped back to attention and opened her eyes.
She had every wish her heart could desire.
Her forever had finally come.
And it was right here with her and Craig on a porch in the mountains.
Thank you for letting me be part of Craig and Emily's journey. From heartbreak and healing to marriage, parenthood, and a peaceful future together, it's been a wonderful story to help bring to life. If you decide to continue with this family someday, there will always be more stories waiting to be told.
- Writer
