Countdown To Destiny-Ch 2
As the family continued celebrating the holidays together the 26th went by, followed closely by the 27th, then the 28th, the plan had been for everybody to head back to their homes like they always had on the 27th but with the snow and the amount of fun they were having together they extended their stay till the 29th.
The girls along with Henry and Jack loved eating the gingerbread houses that they had lovingly prepared during Christmas Penelope especially because it reminded her just how important her life, family and friends were to her and how fragile life was, she had learned the hard way that nobody is promised a tomorrow so you need to love the ones you love while you still have them with you.
She was standing in the living room looking out at the snow that was high in Dave and Fran's yard, she sighed and turned when Payton said, "I know that sigh, what's wrong P?, she looked at her brother and said, "it's just, well it's just", he then wrapped an arm around her and said, "thinking of mom and dad today?", she nodded her head and said, "yeah, but that's not all, I think of them every day".
Payton said, "so do I, we all do P, we wonder what might have been had they not been killed by that drunk driver that night, what if they'd just stayed home, what if they'd went a few minutes earlier or a few minutes later?", Penelope looked at him and with tears streaming down her face she said, "it's all my fault".
He hugged her tight and said, "no it wasn't, it wasn't your fault, it was the man that hit them after he popped double the legal amount, it was him that got behind the wheel of that car, him, not you P, not you".
She said, "but if I'd just not gone to that party, I'f I'd just stayed home then none of it would have happened, they would have been here with us today", Payton said, "they might not be here with us physically P but they are here with us, they are here" as he touched his heart, then he said, "and they are here" as he put his hand over her heart for a second.
Penelope weakly smiled and said, "I miss them so much and holidays are the worst, because I remember what Christmas's were like when I was little, how much fun we would all have", Payton nodded his head and said, "it's like it has been here, everybody together laughing, talking and just loving each other".
Penelope said, "I know that if mom and dad were here they would be so happy for you and Parker, you've both found the loves of your lives and are going to be daddies", he said, "true but what about you, you've found the love of your life in Derek and Paul and Patrick in Desi and Sarah".
Payton put his hand on top of his sisters and said, "we're all doing great P, sure we miss them and think of them all the time but they will never be gone because we will always have their memories and the love they had for us", she said, "true, it's just I wish that daddy could have been here to walk me down the aisle and momma could have been here to help me plan my wedding".
Payton said, "trust me P I know, I know but we've all grown up and some of us have families of our own while the rest of us are getting them now and I know that mom and dad are watching us from heaven and smiling down on us", Penelope wiped her eyes and said, "ya really think that?", he hugged her again and said, "I know so".
They were pulled from their conversation when Fran said, "come on you two, dinner's ready", they stood up, hugged again and then walked into the dining room to enjoy the last dinner they would have together during the holidays because the next morning everybody was getting up and heading back to their homes.
As Penelope looked around the table at all of the happy smiling faces she knew that they were her life, her family, her destiny, now and forever.