Broken Butterfly

by Cindy Patterson

  “Where is he?” Eric searched her eyes. “Where’s Jake?”

  Tremors jolted up her spine hearing Jake’s name. Clearing her throat, she looked away. “He died.”

  Eric lifted his head and winced. “What?”

  Pulling her body forward, she tried to scoot closer to the edge. What had she been thinking? She shouldn’t be taking up his space. “I should move. You need more room.”

  “No, I want you to stay.” He shifted, and his face contorted.

  “You need to lie still.”

  “Mallory, I’m sorry.” He squeezed her hand tighter. “I saw Jake in the audience and ran outside to catch him. Before he could drive away, I jumped in his truck. We were fighting and he wasn’t paying attention to his speed. There was a buggy … the ice …”

  “You saved my life.” A new realization wound its way through her chest. He didn’t know. “The buggy, it was Thomas, his whole family …” His lips slipped into a deep frown. “You saved them.” Mallory brushed her fingers across his cheek.

  “Don’t get up.” He cleared his throat. “I need you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. Just please lay back down.”

  He gave in and sank deeper into his pillow. Pulling her hand to his mouth, his IV dangling, he brushed a kiss across her fingers. They held hands in deep silence, with only the shallow sound of monitors echoing. Eric drifted back to sleep before she dared to close her eyes.

  Four months later

  Eric laughed as Paul paced back and forth in his shiny, black shoes, leaving a trail in the thick carpet. “Settle down. It’ll be over before you know it and you’ll be heading to your honeymoon.”

  “This should be the happiest day of my life. Why am I so nervous?”

  “Because you’re marrying the woman of your dreams, and you have every right to be. She might change her mind.” Eric took a quick step back.

  “Thanks man, you really know how to make a fella feel better.” Checking his reflection, Paul adjusted his tie. “I’ll be sure to tell Mallory about all your bad habits.”

  “What bad habits?”

  “Uh, you snore like a big bear …” Paul’s mouth twitched with suppressed laughter.

  “I don’t snore.”

  “How could you possibly know whether you snore? You’re sleeping. I wouldn’t call you the neatest person either. I’m constantly picking up after you.”

  Eric crossed his arms. “Whatever you say.”

  “I’m just a plain Amish boy. She’ll believe me over you any day.”

  The door opened and the wedding director peeked in the Sunday school classroom. “They’re ready for you.”

  Paul stared at Eric wide-eyed. “It’s time?”

  “That’s right. Come on my fanatical liar Amish friend. Let’s get you married.”

  Paul moved at Eric’s prompting, his face pale as a ghost. Eric couldn’t stifle his laugh as he followed. The church had already filled with guests. Soft music played in the background as Paul shifted from foot to foot. Eric drew in a deep breath as the double doors opened in the rear of the church and Mallory appeared.

  Eric studied the silver silk of the full-length dress that flared just below her waist. The shimmering material twirled with each step she took. His eyes followed the steady rise and fall of her exposed neck, a strand of diamonds stirring with each motion. She walked down the aisle with grace and beauty. He couldn’t wait until they could spend some time together after this wedding. It had been a full day since he’d seen her with all the hustle of the arrangements.

  Mallory had anticipated this moment for Rachel, but as her eyes met Eric’s, butterflies assailed with a fluttering explosion.

  Images of walking down the aisle wearing a wedding dress, Eric waiting to gather her in his arms, captivated her. She imagined living with Eric as his wife, spending lazy Saturdays together on the sofa watching movies, cooking on the grill, standing together at the sink washing dishes. The passion absorbed in his eyes held her spellbound. With each stride his gaze grew stronger, more intense. With a force only millimeters stronger than her desire, she escaped the powerful gaze he held over her.

  Taking her place, she watched as Rachel’s friend from Florida moved in the place next to her. Mallory took several slow deep breaths.

  Brianna sat on the pew next to Mr. Chamberlain and Mallory gave her biggest smile.

  Moments later, Rachel walked down the aisle claiming every eye in the building. Mallory had never known a more beautiful girl inside and out. If she could choose a sister, Rachel would be hers. Paul had seemed scared to death, but not now—not with Rachel walking toward him. His expression softened as his smile widened. Captured in the moment, Mallory watched two beautiful people who had shown her true friendship, finally have their perfect day.

  “You may kiss the bride.” The preacher’s voice droned through, breaking her spell.

  After pictures were taken, Brianna ran into her arms. “Hey, Ms. Mallory. You look so pretty.”

  Mallory bent to her level. “Thank you, sweet girl. So do you in your blue dress.”

  Brianna’s wide eyes looked up at the woman standing beside her. “Ms. Nancy took me to the mall and let me try it on.”

  “Well you both have very good taste.”

  “I have to go eat cake.” With a big smile, Brianna walked away, holding to Nancy’s hand, her long curls bouncing.

  Nancy turned and, with a wink, led Brianna through the double doors.

  Eric took her hand. “Hi.”

  “It was beautiful. I’m so happy for them.” Mallory squeezed his hand.

  “You,” he kissed her hand softly, “look absolutely radiant. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’ll be right back. I have to do a toast.”

  Mallory followed his diminishing form, his strong shoulders stretching against the black fabric. She couldn’t possibly love him more than she did now. His strength, his character, his ability to brighten even her darkest days—she would be honored to call him her husband.

  Eric took the stage, his smile broad. “Two of my very best friends are now married, and I couldn’t be happier for them. I’ve watched this couple grow in friendship and love as they’ve put God first in their relationship. There’s no doubt in my mind, he will bless this marriage.”

  Mallory took a deep breath as Eric strolled off the stage and moved toward her. A song played in the background and he pulled her gently against him with each motion. He moved his lips to the words as he kept his gaze locked with hers.

  Mallory didn’t make a sound, but her happiness breathed in the air surrounding them.

  Rachel stepped to her side, bouquet in hand. “Go get with the other single ladies.”

  Mallory found a spot in the middle. She stumbled back when the flowers flew through the air and landed perfectly in her hands.

  Rachel put her arm around Mallory, jolting her from her thoughts. “This is the most wonderful day of my life.”

  Paul followed closely behind. “Mallory, thank you for being such a good friend to Rachel. She loves you so much.” He glanced at Rachel. “We both do.”

  She caught a glimpse of Brianna’s full smile reaching all the way to her eyes and her heart squeezed full.

  Mallory squeezed her friend in a tight hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “I can’t wait until your day comes.” Rachel’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

  Mallory nodded, unable to voice her thoughts. What if Eric never asked?

  Forty

  Eric had been planning this day for weeks and took Mallory’s hand as they walked from the dimly lit restaurant. Candlelight flickered on the tables, the glow bouncing off the other couples deep in conversation. Yellow tangs, clownfish, and a copperband butterfly swam in and out of vibrant coral through a wall aquarium.

  Placing
his hand in the small of her back, he guided her outside and along the paved road that led to the covered bridge. They reached the barrier separating car traffic from foot traffic. She leaned against the wood rail, her gaze focused below on the rushing water. He rested against the cobblestone wall, his gaze intent on her. The unseasonably warm air drifted through her hair, shifting her top layers across her cheek.

  Her gaze flickered in his direction. The same beautiful, pink color he was used to seeing when he embarrassed Mallory filled her cheeks. He studied her expression. It was different than it had been only months ago. Her smile genuine, no longer guarded. Reaching toward her, he opened the small box secure in his hand. He waited as she studied the brilliant diamond staring back at her. The soft wrinkles between her eyes deepened, and her lighthearted smile plummeted. Eric sat quietly stunned, waiting for something … anything that would make him feel better. What if she says no?

  A small smile replaced her frown. “What’s this?”

  He inhaled a deep breath of briny air. “Marry me, Mallory. I want to spend every day of my life loving you.”

  Her frown intensified, and his heart constricted.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head. “I … I didn’t expect … I didn’t think. Oh, Eric, you’ll never know how much I love you. I always have.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks.

  His world tilted off its axis, and he closed his eyes to gather his thoughts.

  She wrapped her hand around his.

  “It must be hard to forgive me for leaving you after everything that happened.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I should’ve come for you … but I didn’t know. If only I’d known.” Eric pressed against the wall, his gaze resting on her fingers. “I overheard you and Rachel talking. I had left my cell phone.” He gently squeezed her hand. “When you mentioned his name, I couldn’t move.”

  Without another word, she pulled something from her purse. His gaze clouded and he blinked. Was it her wedding ring? Had he misunderstood what she’d told Rachel? She slowly slipped a ring on her left finger. His eyes searched the hands he’d memorized, willing it not to be true, when the familiar sight caused a simple laugh.

  “Is that the same one?” He studied the simple gold ring, the diamond imbedded butterfly. “You kept it all these years.”

  “It’s been my most precious possession.”

  Relief eased through every muscle as he stared into Mallory’s tear-filled eyes.

  “It’s beautiful. I never would’ve believed the night I was taken to Nancy’s house, that I would end up here.” She straightened, her gaze fixed on the ring. “I’ve been given so much love, so much more than I deserve, almost more than I can contain. You … finding you again, the only hope that I had for most of my life is like God himself has …” The hiccup in her voice, the soft echo of silent tears ripped through him. She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “I believe with all my heart, God chose this time and place for us to meet again. Yes, Eric, my Dragonfly, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.”

  A gentle throb vibrated against his chest as he moved in the space next to her.

  She said yes.

  He lifted the ring from the box, and slipped it on her finger. “You’ve had to wait too long to have a happy ending. Things will never be perfect, but I believe with all my heart they will be very close.”

  He didn’t have to wonder where life would take them. It wasn’t important. The only thing that mattered was this very moment, and he wrapped his arm around her, the only girl he’d ever loved.

  His Butterfly.

  Mallory captured the moment, like a butterfly in a glass jar, for the first time grasping the truth, her real truth. Jesus had found his way into the depth of her soul and surrounded her with a family, one she’d only dared to imagine. She had lost so much, had hurt until it felt as though the pain itself would kill her. But it hadn’t.

  He had given her strength, and a longing to live, a longing to love, a longing to make a difference. And he glued all the missing parts that were scattered all over her life, until she was no longer broken.

  The End