The HeartFelt Promise

Furiously wiping her fingertips underneath her eyes, Emelynn whimpers for self control.  "For those whom have gathered here with us today, we thank you.  Each and every one of us knew Marcus Blaine very well, as if he was one of our own family members, and he practically was.  His passing was very sudden, and there was not time to say goodbye.  His young wife, Emelynn has a few words that she would like to say this morning.  Emelynn, dear."  Pastor Sheryln mummers as he moves to make room for Emelynn on the stand.  

Nodding her head slightly, she turns to the Pastor with tears in her eyes, sending him a silent 'Thank You'. Taking her stance behind the podium, she tucks a stray hair behind her ear and looks out at the crowd, his family, her family, his friends, her friends...their family and friends.  "Hello. First I would like to say thank you all for coming today.  I know that Mark's passing was very sudden, and I am sorry that none of us could say goodbye, or see ya' soon.  I know that he is looking down at us, watching and waiting to see our next moves, kind of like his checker games.  We all know how much he loves checkers...well, loved."  She mummbles and then breaks.  "I am so sorry...but I cannot do this, I cannot do this."  Emelynn screams as she stumbles from the stage and through the church doors.  

Running, and running, and running, until finally her feet bring her to the one place that she knew she needed to go.  The RiverSide.  The one place that Marky would always bring her on a long, hard day, the one place that was always theirs.  That will always be theirs, forever and for always.  It would have been theirs, and their childs...the child that Marcus will never know.

"Sweetheart....come here."  A familiar voice mummers from behind her, before a pair of arms wrap around her waist.  "Bentlee, it just isnt the same...I cannot do this alone...I just can't."  She whimpers as she turns in his arms and presses her face into his strong, hard chest.  "Baby, yes you can.  How long have I known you?  Since birth...you've known me the same.  We have been best friends forever...each others first for everything, and then Marcus was there...my big brother, Sweetheart.  I miss him too, I miss him too.  I know that this is really hard for you, because it is for me too, for everyone, but we have to live, he would want that, especially for you.  He would want you to live, and to be happy, and to grow to be able to love again.  He would want you to be able to love your child...baby, you can do this.  I will always be here to help you, I promise.  I will always be here for you."  He whispers as he presses a soft kiss to the top of her head, inhaling her scent.  

God he was in love with this woman.  He always had been, but then Marcus came along and pushed him out of the picture.  Marcus knew that he didnt have long, and in that time that he had left he talked to his brother.  He made him promise that he would be there for Emelynn, that he would love her and take care of her, even though he didnt know if he could.  Bentlee is in the Military, a hard headed, tough as nails, Marine. He has been deployed many times, and always made sure to come home for one thing, one person in particular...his Emelynn.  He never wanted to join the Military until Marcus came back home, took Emelynn away...married her. He left the day of their wedding, shipped out and deployed to Korea...with a picture of her in his pocket, and the wedding band he wanted to slip onto her finger before Marcus came home.

"How did you know?"  Emelynn whispers against his cheek.  "I just did, baby, I just did."  He says as he wraps his arms tighter around her.  "Do you promise that you will always be here?"  He nods his head and plants a tender kiss on her cheek.  "I promise, Emmie, I promise."