The next morning went the same as usual. David and Brie were the first ones up and everyone else trickled in as they woke up. But, that morning, everyone was excited. They were finally going home. It was about time. There was no conversation at the breakfast table from the adults that morning. The children however were saying their good- byes. They’d all become close during the eight years that they’d been stuck together, especially the older kids.
Finally, after breakfast, Mike and Dan loaded up their families. Brie, Nicole, and Tina talked briefly as they said their good- byes. “Be sure to include us in the planning for your second wedding”, Nicole said to Brie.
“Of course I will Nikki. Like I could exclude the three of you from that. You’re my sisters”, Brie said with a smile.
“I never thought I’d hear you say that”, Tina said, fighting back tears.
“Look, ladies, we may have had our differences, but we’re family. It happens. I still love you both and I can’t imagine leaving you guys out of the planning for my second wedding.” She gave each of them a hug in turn. “Now, get in your trucks and go see what your houses look like now. I’ll call or text you as soon as we get back to the house in the Springs and start planning everything.” Nicole and Tina got in the trucks given to them and waited on their husbands. After they said their good- byes to David they went to Brie and did the same as David said good- bye to the wives and his nieces and nephews. Brie did that same, giving all of the kids each a hug and telling them to be good, then she held onto David as they waved and watched Dan and Mike pull away.
About an hour later, the scene replayed with John and Kristen’s family. The adults said good bye to each other, then said their good- byes to the kids, and finally David and Brie watched as they drove away.
Finally, David and Brie loaded up the kids in the van. Once the kids were settled in their seats, Brie put in a movie for the kids, and David pulled out of the driveway, looking over his shoulder one last time at the safe house that he, his family, and his brothers had called home for the last four months. He smiled and looked at his wife. “It’s finally over”, he said. “We’re going home.”
She looked at him and reached across the space the separated them to take his hand. “I know. It seems so surreal, doesn’t it?”
“It does. But, we can finally go home and not have to worry about some ignorant fucking government trying to take us out. It’s over.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“That it is.” She smiled and brought his hand up to her face and pressed a soft kiss into his palm. “I love you, David”, she whispered against his palm.
“I love you too, Brie”, he said and couldn’t help but smile.
--------------
Three hours after taking off, David pulled into the driveway of the house in Colorado Springs. He looked at the house and smiled. Good God it’s good to be home, he thought. He looked over at Brie, who had dosed off about an hour into the trip, then looked over his shoulder at his children. All but the oldest three were asleep. Malachai, Jacob, and Jordan were engrossed in the movie they were watching. He chuckled to himself before gently waking Brie. “Brie, baby, we’re home”, he said, as he gently rocked her.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. “Whoa, that’s a sight for sore eyes”, she said with a smile.
“It is. We need to get the younger ones in and settled into their rooms so that we can get dinner started.”
She laughed. “Wow, I get to cook dinner in my own kitchen and I don’t have to cook to accommodate a bunch of other people. It’s amazing.”
He chuckled. “I know. You can cook for just us.”
“Well, let’s get the kids into the house and then we can think about dinner.” She leaned across the space between them and pressed her lips to his, then opened her door.
He followed suit and got of the younger kids out of the van, letting Malachai get one of his little sisters after turning off the movie and putting it back in its case. Jacob, always wanting to help, carried one of his younger brothers.
Once the five younger kids were in bed, David let the three older kids put their movie on the large flat screen TV while he took Brie up to their room. After opening the door, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her from behind. “Brings back memories, doesn’t it?”
She giggled. “It does. You want to make some more memories in this room?”
He laughed. “Maybe later. We’ve got eight kids to feed, Morbus and Karyn on the way and they’re gonna be hungry, and we’ve got to unpack all our shit from the safe house.”
She turned in his arms and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Then why don’t I get started on dinner and after Morbus and Karyn get here, you and Morbus can start bringing in all the stuff from the van? Doesn’t that sound like a plan?”
He laughed. “Yeah, that sounds good. I might have Malachai and Jake help me with all that as well.”
“They’re old enough and strong enough to help bring in the stuff from the move.”
“And if I have my way about it, this is going to be the last move we ever make.”
No comments:
Post a Comment