April 28, 1917

“Mama!” Maisie yelled.

“Yes love?” Evie said, faking a tired smile as she turned around.

“I’m not tired!” Maisie whined, climbing her long dress and curling up on her lap.

“Sweetheart, little girls shouldn’t be up this late. Maybe if you close your eyes hard enough you’ll fall asleep,” Evie soothed.

“C’n I have ‘nother story Mama?” Maisie asked.

“You know the rules, one story per night,” Evie sighed.

“But Mama!” she whined back, giving her puppy eyes she earned from her father.

“All right fine,” Evie caved, “but no other stories after. Deal?”

“Deal!” Maisie smiled.

…

“Which one darling?” Evie asked as she tucked Maisie in her bed.

“One from your head,” she replied, squirming in the bed.

“What do you mean? Oh.” Evie said.

“One ‘bout Daddy!” Maisie replied. Evie sighed, five years. Five damn years and she still couldn’t talk about him, let alone tell a story about him.

“Alright then. Get comfortable because this is a long one…” Maisie smiled.

“Well one day Mama was in Texas with all your uncles and Auntie Laura. Daddy and I wanted to go out to the forest so we decided to go together-“

“When does Daddy kiss you, Mama?” Maisie interrupted.

“Hush baby. That parts comes in soon.” Evie smiled.

“So we end up sharing a horse to go out to the trees and forest. I attempt to steer the horse, but I can’t. Now Daddy, Daddy’s good with horses and can see that I’m struggling with the reins. After this, he wraps his hands around mine and teaches me how to control the horse-“

“What horse Mama?” Maisie interrupted again.

“He died a long time ago, love,” Evie sighed.

“Okay let’s continue and no more interruptions or you’re gonna have to ask multiple different uncles and aunts,” Evie laughed which caused stern nod from Maisie.

“So he teaches me how to steer the horse and steers me towards a tree. We get off the horse and he tells me to close my eyes. He slowly guides me more towards the tree and he sits me down under it. He tells me that ever since he has known me, he had loved me, and I told him I love him too. Out of nowhere, we both kiss and soon we’re riding the horse together again, back to the ranch. But what comes next?”

“You two got married, Mama!” Maisie grinned.

“Ah yes. Then what comes after that?”

“Me!” Maisie snickered.

“Ah yes my love. Now go to sleep. No waking up till the morning, alright?” Evie said.

“But why’d Daddy have to leave?” Evie sighed. She couldn’t tell him. Death was so simple, yet so hard for her to understand.

“Daddy was sick darlin’, so God had to bring him up to Heaven so he could feel better,” Evie said.

“Oh, does he still love me and you?” Maisie asked.

“Yes baby. He both loves us very much,” Evie soothed.

“Good night Mama,” Maisie whispered as she squirmed.

“Good night my love, now get some rest alright? I love you so much, sweetheart,” Evie whispered back, but Maisie was fast asleep. Evie slowly closed the door on her way out. That was hard, she thought to herself. She didn’t know what Maisie was thinking at that point. Maisie never said anything about Zachary, let alone asking for a story. Evie sighed as she closed the door and went back to her typewriter.

…

She couldn’t focus. Everything Maisie said about her father disturbed her. “I guess this was my fault,” Evie thought as she stood up from her desk and went to go undo her hair. She missed Zachary. From the way he touched her shoulder when she was sad, to when he’d come home from a long night, and snuggle up right next to Evie, her warmth against his cold. “He still loves me, he wouldn’t ever stopped, and he promised me that even on his deathbed,” she thought to herself, “I guess that’s too much emotion for one night,” She slowly got into bed and soon fell asleep with the image of Zachary, holding both Maisie and Evie close to his chest, an image of love, something always in and out of their household. ~