Chapter 21

Tami looked around the house after AJ left. Andrew had gone out without saying where he was going and Sheena was closed up in her room. Tami tried to talk to her, but she was stonewalled when Sheena would not open her door. Going to her own room Tami lay on her lonely bed and stared up at the ceiling. She didn't want to cry anymore, so got up and looked around the room. Everywhere she looked she saw signs of Brad. Then she looked down at her hand and saw that she was still wearing her wedding rings.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she slowly removed her wedding band and engagement ring, placing them in her jewelry box. After kissing the rings, she said a silent and final good-bye to Brad. She also put away the pictures of just the two of them, leaving only the family pictures on display. Looking around Tami realized that they had taken very few pictures since Brad's death. He had always been the family shutterbug. About the only major occasion they had on film was Andrew's high school graduation. Tami thought to herself they would need to change that.

She climbed back into bed thinking that a phase of her life had come to an end, and she could now look forward again. She no longer thought of herself as Brad's widow and even though the marks from her rings were still there her hand and heart felt lighter for having removed them.

The next day neither of her children seemed to notice her missing rings, or if they did they weren't saying anything.

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

0700 EST

Running trials behind AJ's home

McLean, Virginia

After their run Tami asked, "AJ, may I come in and check on the puppies?"

"Sure and I'll put on some coffee to warm us up." Going into the house they took off their coats and gloves and AJ put them away. Picking up a puppy that was black just like its daddy. AJ noticed that Tami wasn't wearing her wedding ring set any longer. "Tami, when did you take off your rings?"

"Sunday, after you left, I got to thinking about what you said and thought it was time to remove them," she replied. "I also put away some pictures that night too."

"How do you feel about doing that?" he asked

"It was time. I know now, I am ready to move on."

Putting the puppy back she looked at the three others that looked like their daddy and three of the four that looked like Dammit. When she reached for the eighth one, Dammit refused to let her pick it up. "It's ok, girl, I just want to make sure it's healthy. I won't hurt it," she said reaching carefully for the puppy. Dammit allowed her to pick up the puppy, but hovered close as she examined it. "AJ, you will have trouble giving this puppy away with the way she mothers it."

"I hadn't intended to keep any, one dog around the house is enough."

"You may have to rethink that with the way Dammit hovers over this little guy."

"How soon before I can deliver them to their new owners?"

"A minimum of five weeks, but it would be better to wait a bit longer than that."

"Great that would be close to Easter, and they would make wonderful Easter gifts."

"You gave a rabbit for Christmas and now you're going to give puppies for Easter," laughed Tami.

"At least I'll be giving them as gifts and making everyone happy while emptying the house of them."

"Two are going to be turned over to the police to be trained for drug dogs aren't they?"

"Yes, Dammit has always had a good nose, so I thought her puppies could help fight crime," he replied. "I am thinking you will be taking one since it's all Harm's fault."

"Well, I guess one more animal around the house won't hurt anything," she said putting the pup down. "You have little three boys and five little girls and the runt is a boy. I still say she is going to keep the runt so you might as well pick out a boys name.

"Why don't you go ahead and pick the one you want now?" he asked.

"Since you are going to have a boy and girl here, and I have Harm at home. I'll take one of the little girls."

"What will you name her?"

"Since her mother is Dammit, maybe Darnit?"

To be continued…