Chapter 17 - REBECCA STOPS WAITINGRebecca married Aaron Whitaker when Noah was thirteen.
Small ceremony.
No military honors.
No symbolic empty chair for Caleb.
That decision upset one relative.
“Shouldn’t Caleb be represented?”
Rebecca answered:
“He is part of our lives. He does not need seat at wedding to another man.”
Healthy.
Before wedding, Rebecca visited grave alone.
She sat.
“I’m getting married Saturday.”
No answer.
She smiled.
“You would probably make joke.”
She told Caleb about Noah:
robotics.
algebra.
terrible haircut.
first school dance refusal.
She told:
“I stopped waiting.”
Tears came.
“That doesn’t mean I stopped loving.”
She touched gravestone.
“You left first.”
“Not your choice exactly.”
“But you’re gone.”
She removed nothing.
Left no ring.
Her Caleb wedding ring had been stored years earlier.
Aaron’s ring would not replace.
Different chapter.
At wedding Noah did not “give Mom away.”
He stood beside Lucy in family photos.
Aaron did not ask him call Dad.
Noah continued Aaron.
Sometimes “A” joking.
Later, during difficult adolescence, Aaron became parent figure through behavior.
Titles maybe never.
Fine.
At reception Rebecca danced with Noah.
He said:
“Are you sad?”
“Yes.”
“Why marry if sad?”
“Because people can feel more than one thing.”
Noah rolled eyes.
“Adults always say that.”
“Because true.”
He smiled.
Then:
“Dad would like Aaron?”
Rebecca thought.
“I think Caleb would be grateful someone good loves us.”
“Maybe he’d also be jealous.”
Noah laughed.
“Dead people jealous?”
“I don’t know.”
“But your dad was human.”
Good.
That night after wedding, porch light turned off automatically at midnight on timer.
Rebecca noticed.
She smiled.
May you like
No waiting.
Home still warm.
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