Chapter 12: Fires of Hope, Ashes of the Past

Fires of Hope, Ashes of the Past

[Day POV]

"Okay. You can look now." I pull June's hands away from her eyes.

"Day! It's beautiful!" She exclaims.

"You really like it?"

"I love it." June whispers, fingering the mobile. Her hands brush over the cherry wood crib. I look around the nursery I had made in the months June was gone. The walls are pastel green. The floor is half wood and half cream-colored carpet. Several large picture frames adorn the walls. One of them has a recent picture, of June in a meadow on a sunny day, her belly protruding proudly. The others are empty, to be filled with future baby pictures. Some other decorations are hung, paintings or chains of colorful beads (child safe, of course). I had a lot of time to decorate and research. June fingers the blankets and stuffed animals dispersed about the cozy room. Her hand rests on her stomach and a smile graces her lovely face. I step towards June, enveloping her small, warm hand in my own larger one.

"Now," I say, "There's something we have to think about."

June's eyebrows tilt, "What?"

A gentle pink blush sweeps her cheeks as I say, "Names!"

June looks down, "But we don't even know if it's a girl or boy!"

I laugh, "Then let's think of names for both." June looks as if she's about to say something, but then her communicator buzzes. She sighs apologetically.

"That's okay," I tell her, "answer it."

June picks up the device, "Tess?" She asks. After a pause, "Oh yeah! Sure."

I ask June, "What is it?"

"Tess wants me to go dress shopping with her. Is that okay?"

Lately I've been a bit- okay, perhaps more than a bit- protective of June, but I know I need to be more relaxed.

With a (hopefully) imperceptible grimace, I say, "Yeah that's fine." I'm startled by a buzz on my wrist.

"Oh! It's Eden." I pick it up. Eden says, "Hey, Daniel. Tess is going dress shopping... You wanna hang out?"

I chuckle and say, "Sure."

[June's POV]

I meet Tess at the nearest shopping square. We greet one another with a hug, though my large stomach almost impedes it. I look around at the shops surrounding us. The cool breeze whips strands of my hair around. The sun, almost at it's apex, is deep set in the turquoise sky.

I ask Tess, "Are you sure you want to dress shop here? These aren't bridal shops..." Tess interrupts, "I already got a dress." She says it like a confession.

I look at her, surprised, "Really? Then why are we dress shopping? Can I see the dress?" Questions spill out of my mouth. Tess laughs. She waves at me to follow her, and walks across the parking lot. We reach her jeep and she pulls open the door. Hanging in the car is a gorgeous dress. It's tight at the top, with an empire waist. The sleeves are sheer ruffles. The top of the dress is pale pink, almost white, and fades to a bright fusia at the bottom.

"Tess," I breathe, "it's beautiful!"

Tess thanks me and I continue, "What are we here for?" Tess' face turns serious, her large brown eyes widening.

"Lately," She tells me, "I've been thinking about Kaede."

"Kaede?"
"Yes... I know you and Day didn't know her that well, but she was like a sister to me. I was only with her a short while, but I went through so much and she was always there... Always protective and loving, like family should be."

I nod, "I understand; I lost a sibling too." I smile understandingly at Tess. "Neither of us will ever forget them. I'm sorry for your loss... But what does that have to do with being here?"
Tess flashes a devilish smile at me, "I'm gonna get a tattoo."

That was an honest surprise. "Okay, does Eden know?"

"Err... No. But he'll understand."

I shrug, "Alright then."

Forty minutes later, Tess has a sprawling vine twisting around her neck, and down onto her shoulder. It's an elegant swirl of different greens, accented by a single pink rose bud at the center of the vine.

"The flower will match your dress." I tell Tess.

She smiles, "It will, won't it?"

"What does it mean- the flower?"
Tess grins, "Hope. The whole vine grows out from the flower, see?" She pokes the flower, then winces. Her skin is an angry red color from the needle. Tess continues, "That's hope to me, something that let's new, beautiful, strong things grow from it." I smile, astounded by the thought and meaning Tess has poured into this.

I tell her, "Eden will love it."