It was evening by the time she got home, high upon her horse like a fine lady. Her family looked out their windows to see her return. They all smiled as her horse reeled in and spun down towards the cottage. The family tradition was played.
Katherine grinned as she saw her family pile out of the house, small compared to others but large enough for their family. Her family consisted of her English red-haired General father, strong in heart only weakened by the loss of a child. Her French blond mother was petite, ladylike and as sweet as a mother can be. Her little sister, Marie Claire, 6, and little brother, Jean, 3 were both the most energetic children one could meet in their lifetime. Katie had just come back from her aunt's in Paris. As soon as she got off her horse so gently that her family gasped in delight they gathered around barely letting her to breath.
Her father smiled at her, "I'm glad to have you back, we've missed you."
Little Mae bounced up and down her golden locks flying about her, "Did you get anything for me? You promised you would, and you never break a promise."
"Marie Claire Hartington! That is very improper of you. How many times must I tell you not to speak unless you are spoken to?"
"But Mamma I…"
Gently interrupting her, and kissing her mother's cheek, "It's all right, mother. Any way I did promise." On saying so she brought out a box full of sweets for Mae and a big sucker for Jean.
"And as for you.." Heading towards her older brother. Edward and her playfully fought together as they used to.
Her mother shook her head, but still smiled, "Now come, come, children it's time for a delicious home-coming meal and don't forget Katherine you must tell us of everything that happened during your stay in Paris." All laughed and gleefully went inside.
All of the sudden Katie woke up. There seemed to be a sound of cracking and sudden exploding, almost like the fireworks she used to see in Paris. She had written about them to her fiancé, Pierre and as well as her family. Pierre had promised to give her surprise on the third week back from Paris. She was curious yet she sincerely hoped he hadn't spent too much money on it.
At that moment her mother rushed in, "My dear you must come out on the terrace right away."
"What is it, Mother?" as she was slipping on her slippers and robe.
"Never mind that, just hurry before it finishes."
"Before what finishes?" she sighed as she followed her mother out.
"What is it, Katie?" Teddy came out, rubbing his neck in weariness.
"I don't know, but I can't wait, it must be important to get mother up in the middle of the night." When they reached the terrace they gasped in delight. The sky was ablaze in lights and colors. It was as if the colors themselves were bursting at their seams and then they would explode. The fireworks lit the skies, almost to the point that the stars seemed to envy them because of their brilliance.
The only thing brighter was the smile on Katherine's face.
It was a rainy, stormy afternoon; Mother had been knitting quietly, Katie reading, and the toddlers playing on the floor while the General looked over his spectacles over-seeing them. Edward had gone to town with Pierre to get a surprise for their families for when the wedding came about.
As they were coming home, the storm hit. They could barely see their way, both decided it would be best to stay at Pierre's uncle's till' the storm calmed. In order to go there, they had to cross a bridge. Their horses turned away. A wind picked up, it blew without stop. They could barely see farther than their horse's noses. They uselessly looked for a place to hide. Suddenly, the boards of the bridge began to creak and bend. Hurriedly, Pierre tried to get his horse off, but without success for at that second, the bridge collapsed.
There was a pounding on the door. Bettina hurried to the door, muttering to herself, "Who in the world would call at this time of night?"
Her husband was at the door, he was white as a sheet and seemed terribly shaken. She held her arms out to him. He shrugged them away and said he must speak to the General; the words he needed to say seemed to drain every bit of energy out of him.
"Why, Gerard, what are you doing here at this hour of the night?" Katherine's father exclaimed.
"Gerard, are you all right, you look terribly pale?" Mother asked worriedly, fetching a blanket for his shoulders. When she brought it over he rejected.
"I don't deserve such kindness for what I must tell you." The family looked at each other quizzically.
Gerard uneasily began, "As I was coming back from town, a storm hit. I was not ready to face it, so I took care and went to the tavern," At this he looked nervously at his wife and then continued. "Just till' the storm wore out. But as I was about to decide to bunker there for the night one of them stable boys burst in and yelled, 'The south bridge has collapsed!' 'That's alright,' said the bartender, 'nobody's foolish enough to cross that bridge in this weather.' 'But monsieur, there was two horses by the riverbank and they seemed scared out of their wits.' As he was saying this all the men were gathering' up anything that could float, as well as ropes and such. We rescued one man, but he died in my arms, the other man was found dead a couple miles down river." The family fell silent.
Katie finally asked, "Were you able to find out who they were?" He turned away and spoke quietly, "Yes." He looked into the General's eyes and then right back down.
"Tell us." The General commanded.
"The man who died in my arms clung to me with his last strength and made me swear to take care of his family, especially Katie…. his sister."
The funeral was held the next day. It was sunny and a beautiful rainbow swept over the sky. The whole town gathered there, as well as Katie's aunt from Paris (whom was heartbroken because of her nephew's death, yet relieved that Katie wasn't to become a widow at such a young age.
The families huddled together after the funerals and burials.
Slowly they departed not knowing what to say for each father and mother had lost a son on that awful night of storms and lightning. They only could glance at each other sadly, then slowly and regretfully turn away. All were thinking a similar thought,
"If only."
The family was plunged into darkness. Aunt Giselle at last went back to Paris after staying half a year with the family, comforting them. She said she had things to do needed to catch up. But Katie knew that her aunt needed to leave the grief behind. How Katie wished to do so, but then she'd feel guilty. Her father didn't read the newspaper anymore in the living room, her mother no longer sung lullabies to the babies. Certain things that seemed so normal, the picnics and the song filled evenings no longer existed. Katie no longer had that spark in her. Yet she tried her best for her parents, for the house almost was as silent as a tomb except for the occasional quarrels of the children. The house was dreary with no more light days.