It had been a year. One lousy year and Mrs Cade was still torn up by her son's death. Mr. Cade didn't seem to care in the least. He hardly even liked the boy to begin with. He was just there. He shouldn't have had a child at his age. Last he checked anyways. Mrs. Cade often would go to her child's grave and weep. Sometimes she wouldn't go alone.
One of Johnny's friends would accompany her to make sure she was alright. It took some time but eventually what was left of the Curtis gang did forgive Mrs. Cade. Every time Mrs Cade would visit her son alone she'd sing him a lullaby she used to when he was still a baby. It always put him to sleep. Then once done with her lullaby she'd place some wish flowers on his grave and just sit there waiting for the wind to blow the flowers away.
She remember fondly how her boy would grab a fist full of them and rush back over to her with the biggest smile on his face. "Mama! Mama! Look! I got wishes for you!" He'd say so happy and would watch her mother blow at the flowers and giggle some as the seeds got every witch way.
Her husband never went with her once to visit the child's grave. He used Johnny's death as leverage to drink more and to snap more at his wife.
Then one day his wife came home and she was silent. She didn't talk back to him. Even though he had yelled at her several times about trivial things like not cooking dinner fast enough for him. Even though he hardly ever ate what she cooked.
She didn't do the laundry as she was suppose to. She wasn't the spitfire woman he had fallen for. He watched her grab her shoes again and off the door she went.
He'd never seen her so lost looking. So depressed if you will.
Mr. Cade stared at the beer in his hands and sighed some. It was still early and he hadn't had a drop of it just yet. Something in him made him quickly set it down and rushed off to follow his wife. He needed to know just where she had been going all this time. He hadn't cared before, but he would admit to being curious. He grew a bit uneasy seeing her walk straight to the graveyard.
He watched her collapse at a rather small grave and it took him a moment to read the owner of the unfortunate grave. Jonathan Cade. His son. The boy he never could love. He had hardly loved his wife for the longest time. Always drinking and never actually seeing the beauty he had for a wife. Silently Mr. Cade approached his wife and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Don't you have another beer case to go through." Mrs. Cade snapped at her husband , glaring at him whilst she sniffled. Mr. Cade sighed softly rubbing his temple. It's not like he didn't deserve to be snapped at. He didn't say a word as his wife cursed him out and yelled at him to leave her alone. He backed away and made his way back home. He'd never felt more guilty than he had now. Somehow and he wasn't sure how, he wound up at the park.
There where young boys there learning to play ball with their fathers. It made him smile slightly then grimace. The last time he and his son actually bonded was over baseball somewhat. But Mr. Cade always criticized how his son would play. He never was proud of the boy it seemed. Watching those boys smiling and rushing over to their dad's for hugs actually pulled at Mr. Cade's heart some. His son never wanted to be hugged by his father even at a young age.
Mr. cade couldn't even remember the last time he had actually held his own son. Perhaps when he was a baby. But even then the child would cry for his mother.
A ball landed right at his feet and a boy no more than three slowly approached him. He was tan and had dark hair much like Johnny did at that age. Mr. Cade picked the ball up gently and handed it to the boy. "Thanks Mister." The boy said smiling hugely and rushing back to his own father.
Mr. Cade smiled warmly wishing that he had been a better father. Maybe then his boy would be alive. No. He wouldn't be. His boy would still be dead. But Mr. Cade could dream. If he could he'd go back to the day he married his wife and threaten his own self. Tell him to shape up. Tell him that his wife is a beauty and that he's lucky to have her. Also above all else. To put down the beer. He didn't need to drink. He chose to do so.
He grabbed the only wish flower he could find and made his way back to the graveyard. His wife was still there sobbing her eyes out harder this time. Mr. Cade rubbed the back of his neck slightly nervous and sat down next to his wife. He placed the wish flower on his son's grave slowly. His wife looked over at him slightly smiling. Mr. Cade smiled back and pulled her close to him. For the first time in years he held her and let her cry on him.
The two let go of one another. Silently Mr. Cade bowed his head. Johnny I know I wasn't father of the century at all. I wasn't but for what it's worth I'm so sorry. I am. I swear I'll never lay a fowl hand on your mother ever again. I just pray when we meet again, if we ever do. That you'll forgive me.
Mr. Cade then opened his eyes and looked at his wife. She was leaning into him like they were an actual loving couple.
"Let's go home love." Mr. Cade said smiling still. "So no more drinking?" Mrs. Cade asked softly. Mr. Cade looked at his wife and chuckled softly. "Okay. No more drinking and getting drunk. I promise." Mr. Cade said firmly. "So you'll be sober from now on right?" Mrs. Cade asked seeing her husband shake his head amused. "Alright. We can dump all the beer down the drain." Mr. Cade said seeing his wife's eyes light up.
He might not ever get the chance to ever make it up to Johnny for being a lousy father, but he still had a chance to make it up to his wife for being a rather lousy husband.