Ch 7: Fireflies
Woody watched the firefly dance in the inky night, they're glowing bodies swirling around each other. Sitting on the porch, the steps worn from weather and time. The window behind him was lit up, looking warm and bright, he could see Jordan watching TV on the couch, Cal was in the kitchen, washing up the plates from dinner, no one spoke of his outburst at the funeral nor the broken picture frame in the trash.
He looked back at the darkness looming before him like his future, dark and full of mystery. It was cold outside, but he was numb to the freezing wind. The smell of the river was nauseating to him. He couldn't shake the look of Annie in her coffin, her head resting peacefully on the pillow as if she had just fallen asleep. If he had one prayer it would be to bring her back, make her like she used to be, bright and happy, how he saw her, it the morning light. He remembered the night he left, they had been engaged less than two weeks, Annie had been asleep on the couch, after watching some sappy Meg Ryan movie, he had been working and come home late.
He untied his tie and kicked off his shoes, shut his gun up in a drawer and heated up his dinner, when a hard knock came up on the screen door, for he had left the thick mahogany door open to allow in the soft warm summer breeze. "Hoyt." A familiar voice called out, Woody rolled his eyes and joined the stout sheriff on the porch.
"Sheriff Cody," he said respectfully, looking at him warily.
"I don't want you marrying Annie." He muttered shortly.
"Sir?" Woody asked with a confused voice.
"My girl isn't going to marry a cop… I've given a lot of thought to this and I have decided I won't allow her to go through the pain that my sister went through when her husband was shot…"
"With all due respect sir… Annie said yes… its her decision, not yours."
"I heard that you applied for a transfer and should be moving to Boston here pretty soon." He stated pointedly, raising his eyebrows. "Are you planning on taking her with you."
"This is what this is about…isn't it… Listen sir." Woody started in an angry voice.
"you love my daughter Hoyt."
"Yes Sir." Woody said with simple conviction.
"Then be careful with her, because she goes with you and I will never speak to her again."
"Sheriff, she's your daughter, how could you keep her from what will keep her happy…"
"She's my daughter yes… and she belongs in Wisconsin… her life is here, consider this a warning, if you love her you'd let her go." With that the sheriff turned and left on his heel, leaving Woody on the porch.
After what seemed an eternity Woody came back inside, she was still snoring softly on the couch. Slowly he packed his bags… two suitcases and a box of his most prized possessions. After he was done, he set his things in his car and came back inside. He knelt beside her, much like he had done when he had seen her ashen skin at the funeral.
"Goodnight Annie." He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. She stirred a little and her eyes opened a slit. "Shh go back to sleep." He soothed, smoothing back her hair a little, she smiled softly and closed her eyes again, and she was off dreaming somewhere.
With that, he was gone.
Woody sighed, when he heard footsteps behind him, knowing it was Jordan. "Hi." He said with out looking behind him.
"You say that like you know its me." She said with a tingly laugh.
"But it is you." He added, taking in what she was wearing, boy's plaid sweats and a black tanktop her hair pulled back into a slick ponytail. She sat next to him, so close he could smell her shampoo.
"How are you Woody?" she asked concerned. He shrugged, plastering on a happy smile.
"As well as can be expected."
She smiled "That's good." He could feel a familiar awkwardness come inside him, like an old friend, she did this to him, made him feel like a twelve year old with the first girl he ever liked. He could tell she felt the same from the blush that aroused on her cheeks.
"You know…" she said all seriousness "My mom used to tell me stories… you know Cinderella and the like." He smiled and encouraged her to go on. "And I thought to myself, I would love to have my knight and shining armor come and rescue me… after she was murdered I knew I didn't believe in happy endings, they didn't exsist… I had a sad story… and then I met you and I thought you were too perfect for me, to good, you already had your happy ending… then I learned about you mom and your dad and maybe everyone had that bad start, but its up to them to make their own happy ending…" she swallowed hard. "I think I've held you at arms length long enough, I've pushed, I've disappointed… but if you want, we can make our own happy ending, what do you say." Before she could get out another word he had leaned in kissing her softly on the lips, his hands tangling her hair. When they both surfaced for air, they were smiling, like they had never smiled before.
With that she got up and walked back inside. "See yah later Hoyt." She said with a wink.
"See yah later? Where you going?" he asked playfully.
"Inside where I can catch my breath see yah tomorrow." He smiled and watched as the screen door shut behind her.
He stayed outside for a long time listening to the crickets chirp and the wind whistle. Finally with a smile he stood and walked inside.
