Page 5 of Chasing Fireflies

“He seemed nice,” she says, licking her vanilla ice cream.

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Let’s grab some groceries and then head back home.”

*

After we get all of our shopping done, we leave town and turn back onto our road. “I think I’m going to like it here.” I look over at my wife and out at the vast land that surrounds us. It’s secluded out our way—nothing but fields and woods. I see our house come into view, and I slow the truck down. We have a circular driveway and an old barn at the rear of the house. Nothing else but wheat fields in the back and across the road from us. Our front porch is big enough for some rocking chairs, and it already holds a swing, but it’s got some boards that need replacing, so that’s what I’m going to work on in the next day or so. I stop the truck, and we climb out. I grab the boards I bought from the back and walk them to the porch before we head inside to get ready for supper.

*

“I could get used to this view,” my wife says. I grin and look down. I’m shirtless, screwing in a light bulb on our front porch for when the power gets cut on. It’s nice out, and a breeze blows in from the wheat field. Sara sits on the porch swing, one knee bent and the other lightly kicking off of the porch. Her baby pink toes hardly touch the ground, but she makes it work.

“Well, you’ll be seeing a lot of it.” I climb down from the ladder and fold it together. “This house needs a ton of work.”

“I can help, you know.”

“I’ll put you to work then, woman.”

“We’ll be coworkers.” She winks. I take a seat beside her, and she lifts her other leg up, letting me push us now.

“I do believe you’re the prettiest coworker I’ve ever had.”

Her lips lift. “You’re only saying that because I married you.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true.”

Shaking her head slightly, she hugs her knees and looks out into the yard.

“Do you want babies?” she asks after a minute.

“I want whatever you want.”

“What if our babies have my disorder?”

“We’ll deal. Like we deal now,” I tell her. She grabs my hand and lightly runs her fingers over my palm.

“You have rough hands.” She laces our fingers together. “Our hands don’t fit.”

“They fit perfect.” I hold hers tighter and bring it to my lips, lightly kissing each of her fingers before I put our hands back down.

“Why do you love me so much?” she asks. I look up and push off of the porch. The old swing creaks as I think about her question.

“My love for you makes me who I am. Without it I’d be a different person. Just as the ocean would be different without the waves, the blue sky without the sun, the darkness without the light. You are my other half. You are what makes me… me.” I shrug, looking down at her. Her baby blue eyes are filled with tears, and I can say for sure this time that they are happy ones. I kiss her nose, and she closes her eyes. Tears roll down her cheeks, and she wipes them away before she sniffs.

“You say the sappiest things.” She smiles.

“Only to you.”

“Oh, look!” she yells and points into the yard. “Lightning bugs! I used to capture them when I was a kid and put them in a jar. Go get a jar, baby, please.” She jumps up from the swing. I run inside and grab two jars from the kitchen.

“Here,” I say, walking out onto the porch. She is in the yard, and I stare at her as she chases fireflies in the dark. Her curls bounce, and she catches one in her hand. They light up all around her. It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen—wild curls, pretty bugs, and a sky filled with stars.

Chapter Three

Cash

The lights have been cut on so I make Sara breakfast and take it upstairs. “Baby,” I say, tapping on the door to our room. “I’ve brought you breakfast. Can you get up and eat?”

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