Chapter Forty-Three

The harvest was a beautiful time in Pennsylvania. The leaves turned bright and the air smelled crisp and fresh. Eddie was relieved to see the day start beautifully wanting everything to be perfect.

Faith and Rachel had made her a lovely dress for her vow renewal. It was traditionally Amish in style but with embellishments only the English would wear.

Eddie smiled, they had come over to help her dress. Jamie was at in another part of the house dressing.

Today, they would stand before their friends and neighbors, English and Amish alike, and promise themselves to each other again

Eddie grabbed a quick breakfast to settle her stomach.

There was a knock at the door and Eddie went to open it, she beamed when she saw Frank had come for the festivities

"Frank! I'm so glad you're here!" she gave him a hug. "I'm glad you came for this."

"Any chance to see my family," he smiled. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you. Two of my friends helped, they did a fantastic job," Eddie beamed.

"Grandpa!" Mary called out hearing the deep tenor of Frank's voice.

"There's my Mary! Come here and give Grandpa a big hug," Frank smiled

Mary looked at Eddie, "Can I show Grandpa?"

"Of course, you can honey," Eddie encouraged.

Mary locked her chair and smiled her new pink sneakers showing and flashing. She moved both her little legs and stood up taking slow and shaky steps.

Frank and Eddie watched quietly Frank beaming

"Look Grandpa!" she smiled. "I can do it!"

Frank grinned picking her up to give an extra tight hug. "I am so proud of you."

"I worked really hard," Mary smiled. "I miss you, when will you move here too?"

Frank laughed, "Soon sweetie. I see you have worked so hard! That's wonderful."

"Mary, why don't you go and sit with Grandpa and Mommy will be out a little later?"

"Okay Mommy," Frank smiled taking Mary out to sit.

Eddie turned and put her hair up in a bun with some of the flowers she picked with Faith the other day. Eddie heard the window creak and turned her head to see who it was.

Jamie smiled, climbing in slowly letting the window close. "Wow Eddie."

"Jamie, what are you doing here?" Eddie asked. Eddie was surprised but smiled.

"I wanted to see, you look amazing," he walked over pulling Eddie close.

Eddie snaked her arms around Jamie's neck and tipped her head back.

Smiling, Jamie met her lips letting the kiss linger, holding her close.

Their tongues touched softly, and they inhaled each other's breath. "Make that last... until tonight."

"I can't wait to be together in each other's arms."

"Soon my love," Jamie murmured. "I don't ever want to let you go."

"You won't, I'm not going anywhere," Eddie sighed into his chest.

Jamie held her close and danced her a little bit. "Oh, I love you so much! Did you see my Dad?"

"Yeah, he stopped in to see me. I'm so glad he was able to come," Eddie said.

"Me too, and it's good for Mary to have him too."

"Yeah, she was so excited to see him."

"Good..." Jamie replied. "I better go, see you outside. I love you."

"Love you too," Eddie leaned up wanting one more kiss.

Jamie bestowed that kiss upon her lips then reached into his jacket and pulled out a small package. "Just a little token…"

Eddie smiled and slowly opened the package. It was a key chain sporting the Big Apple and Hershey chocolate bar charm. "The first part of our married life was in New York and it was good, but now…" He reached out with a Hersey Kiss in his hand and fed it to her, "It'll be even sweeter."

Eddie blushed, "I have a little gift for you too…"

She went into the drawer in the bedroom and pulled out a box. It was a shiny, copper penny with the date engraved on it. "I had this minted specially for us, to mark us renewing our vows during our seventh year of marriage. There's nothing I want more than this Jamie. There is nothing I want more than to love you forever, Jamie."

"My thoughts, exactly," Jamie whispered. "See you at the altar, Mrs. Reagan," he whispered and slipped out the window, each with their precious gifts in hand.

Jamie was only gone a minute before the door opened again and Linda walked in wearing a lovely green day dress. "Eddie, you are radiant!"

Eddie smiled, "Thanks Linda. You look great too."

"So good to see you," Linda smiled. "I saw Mary and Bella outside they are so cute matching you!"

Eddie smiled, "Thanks they don't seem to mind yet so I'm taking advantage."

Linda chuckled quietly, "I'm so grateful you let me come be part of this Eddie."

"So am I," Eddie replied. "And I glad you understand about Danny."

"Of course I do, he's my husband, but I'm a mother too I don't know how I'd react if…"

"It was that video," Eddie replied. "That's why I can't... what he did that day plays over and over in my mind when I see him."

Linda nodded, "Forget all that today, it's about you and Jamie."

"I can't forget it, today has to happen because we lost our Joe and almost lost each other too."

"I understand, I don't mean forget him, but focus on you and Jamie." Linda touched her arm softly, she wanted Eddie and Jamie to enjoy happiness.

Eddie took a breath, "Okay, I will try. My mother's heart...you don't really understand, but at least you also have a mother's heart." Eddie leaned over and hugged Linda so glad she and Jamie agreed to this visit.

There was no music, no flowers, and no fanfare of any kind. They had decided that Sheriff Paul would preside over the small ceremony without formal vows, this would be their declaration of love.

Jamie waited in front of the crowd, eyes twinkling as Eddie started toward him and all guests stood up.

Eddie did a very short walk to the simple alter and reflected in how different today was from their first wedding. Jamie held out his arm to link with Eddie's. Together they turned toward the alter.

There were few words spoken over them.

Their eyes met when Sheriff Paul prompted for their vows, both reflecting a deep love.

"Eddie," Jamie spoke softly. "You are my best friend, my heart, my soul."

Eddie smiled at him keeping her eyes locked with his the entire time.

"We have been through such difficult times this year, but through it all I never stopped loving you, and I will never stop. This is my solemn vow to you."

Eddie smiled, tears starting to glisten in her eyes listening to him

She took a deep breath, "Jamie, I'm so proud to be your wife. I will try to make each day of the rest of our lives one to love and to celebrate. I love you so much and I could not have gotten through this last year without your support and your friendshipPu."

Several people in the crowd smiled, including Faith teary eyed at the exchange.

Eddie reached up and touched Jamie's face, he reached down and clasped her hand. They stared into each other's eyes, not speaking, there was no need.

Sheriff Paul smiled, "I pronounce you once again husband and wife... you may kiss."

They didn't even hear him, Jamie slowly kissed her lips, she smiled against his lips. She didn't remember ever feeling so happy, not even on their first wedding day. They didn't need all the hoopla and fanfare, this simple setting outside with their friends, their girls, Linda and Frank. It all meant just as much, if not more.

Jamie moved back slowly offering Eddie his arm, "I love you so much Mrs. Reagan."

"I love you, Sheriff Reagan," she whispered. "You ready to party so we can check out that cabin?"

"Oh, of course," Jamie chuckled giving her one more kiss before walking down the aisle together.

Jamie took time to introduce Frank to their new Amish friends and to his deputies including the newly crowned undersheriff, Deputy Harris. "It's such an honor, I've followed your career and your father's too," the young man beamed.

"Thank you very much. Jamie is very lucky to have a wonderful force behind him," Frank said

"We are," Jamie replied and smiled. "We are, they've helped us so much. So did you Dad, without you and our friends, we'd be divorced. I never wanted that but we were so lost in anger and hate...we were lost."

"And now look at you. I'm glad that you made such nice friends here both you and-Eddie are lucky."

"We are..." Jamie reached out for his wife and pulled her into his arms. "I am for sure, so very lucky." Jamie and Eddie didn't care where they were or who was looking, they kissed in the beautiful sunshine, in front of all of their friends. Rachel looked at her husband John and smiled at him, Levi and Ruth smiled too, Faith beamed, she was so glad for her friend, and she was glad this time at least she wasn't part of the Amish church, she could get all the second honeymoon details, those would be fun!

"Mommy, Daddy, you look so pretty. Can we eat now? I'm hungry," Mary asked receiving laughs from everyone.

"You bet we can eat now," Eddie replied. 'Go find Miss Rachel and Miss Rebecca and ask them if you can help them okay? Be polite." Mary worked her way over to Rachel on her little crutches to ask.

"Enjoy this day both of you, it's a wonderful celebration," Faith told them smiling.

Eddie gave her friend a warm hug, "Thank you so much for this, for being such a welcoming friend. I love you like the sister I never had, I feel such a part of all of you." Eddie bit her lip.

Faith smiled too hugging Eddie back, "Oh, that is so sweet Eddie I'm glad to help ".

"I know you'll take great care of my girls the next few days, Mary, she still gets so scared and I don't feel comfortable leaving her with anyone but you or Frank, but we won't be far."

"We'll take good care of her don't worry. She'll love it especially helping with the animals," Faith smiled

"I think we have a future vet on our hands," Eddie smiled. "Oh, it looks like she's stuck on the ground there, I better go over."

"Poor baby we'll see you in a bit," Faith nodded at her husband going to their own table.

The party lasted long past sunset and Mary's bedtime. Eddie sat her on her lap to speak to her before departing with Jamie.

"Mommy, are you and Daddy going away now and leaving me and Bella?" Mary asked.

"We are going away for a couple of days," Eddie replied softly. "But Mommy and Daddy will never leave you and Bella, okay? We will always come back, sweetie. You get to stay with Faith and play with her girls and the animals, won't that be fun?"

"Yeah, but I'm going to miss you and Daddy. Will you call every night and come back to pick us up?"

"We can't call you honey," Eddie replied. "We aren't going to a place with a phone, but we will come and pick you up. Mommy and Daddy need a few days alone to get better at being Mommy and Daddy to you and Bella." Eddie and Jamie both believed if they were strong as husband and wife, they would be strong as parents.

Mary's eyes rounded starting to tear, "So we won't hear from you or Daddy? I'm going to miss you so much."

"It's okay, Buttons," Jamie soothed. "You know sometimes Mommy and Daddy leave you with the babysitter, but we always come home, right? And what do we do when we come home?" Jamie nuzzled her.

"We have a snuggle party and talk and watch movies," Mary sniffled softly. "I love you Mommy, I love you Daddy "

"Yes and we will have the biggest snuggle party ever!" Jamie replied. "Bella is big enough now to snuggle too, you take good care of Bella and work hard in therapy, make us proud."

Frank watched Jamie and Eddie with Mary and smiled. He saw the couple that they had been before loss, anger, and hurt feelings interfered in their marriage. A weaker couple may not have made it, but they did. Jamie and Eddie were a team, a solid pair once again.