Mending Hearts by Brenda Kennedy Page A

and I carry the other boxes out to the hallway. I take the
box of items that I want to keep and place it on the top shelf in
James’ closet.
    Brooke and I finish up in the bedroom just
as Brice and Alec walk in. Alec looks in each closet and smiles.
“It looks great up here.” He walks back to the doorway and says,
“Where do you want these boxes stored?” he asks, looking at the
boxes that say “Max.” 
    “ I’m going to offer those
boxes to Danny and Cheryl. Brooke and I sorted through them, and I
kept a box for James, but everything else can go to Danny and
Cheryl, or we can donate them.” 
    Alec walks over to me and says, “Are you
sure, Baby? I don’t mind you hanging on to them.” 
    “ I know and thank you. I
just think it’s time. I took what I wanted for James. Brice, if
there’s anything in there you want, please help yourself.” I smile
so everyone knows that I am really ok with my
decision. 
    “ If you’re sure, I would
like one of his tee shirts, a hoodie, or
something.” 
    “ Please, help yourself. Max
would want you to have anything you want.”

Chapter Four: Chaos
    Alec
    “ Your bedrooms better be
picked up,” I yell as I make my way down the hallway. I walk in
Raelynn’s room and it is spotless. She is sitting on her bed
playing with her Barbie doll. “Wow, Rae, it looks great in here.
Thank you.” 
    “ Thank you, Daddy, and
you’re welcome. James and I helped each other clean our
rooms.” 
    I look around the room and
everything is put away. Even the toy box is out of view. I look on
the dresser and there isn’t anything on there. No lamp, no books,
no toys, nothing. I walk into James’ room and he is sitting on the
floor playing with his train. “Good job, James. Your room looks
wonderful.” I think to myself, It’s clean,
almost too clean.  
    “ Thank you, Alec. Rae helped
me.”
    In James’ room everything is put away.
Nothing is on his nightstand or dresser. No toy box, no toys
scattered about, nothing. 
    “ Hey, James, it looks
fantastic in here,” Emma says as she walks into the room. She looks
around the room and looks over at me. She gets on her hands and
knees and looks under the bed. When she stands up, she says, “Um,
James, where is everything? 
    “ Rae and I put everything in
the closet.”
    I walk over to the closet with her and she
slowly opens the closet door. When nothing falls out, she opens the
door wider. Inside the closet is everything he owns but the
dresser, night stand, and his bed. His clothes are still in the
boxes and the boxes are piled in his closet. The toy box and all of
his toys are also in there.
    “ I’ll be right back. I’m
going to check Rae’s room again,” I say. 
    “ I think that’s a good
idea,” she says as she starts removing items from James’
closet.
    I walk into Rae’s room and she is getting
something from inside her overstuffed closet. “What are you trying
to get, Rae?” I ask. 
    “ I’m trying to get my
pajamas.” 
    “ Where are they?” I walk
over and open her closet door wider. 
    “ In one of these boxes,” she
says innocently.
    “ I thought I asked you to
put your things away?” 
    “ I did, Daddy. James and I
put everything away in here.” 
    “ Here, let’s put everything
away where they need to be.” 
    When Raelynn and I get
everything put away, we walk in James’ room. Emma and James are
sitting on the bed unpacking all the boxes. “The next time when we tell the
kids to put their things away, can you remind me to say, ‘Put them
away where they belong’?” I ask, trying hard not to
laugh.
    “ Ok, I will.”
    After the kids bathe and have a snack before
bed, Emma tucks in James and I tuck in Raelynn. Then I tuck in
James, and she tucks in Rae. It was much easier when the kids
shared a room. I walk into the bedroom and Emma is pulling back the
covers on the bed. “I need to shower before work tonight.”
    “ I almost forgot about you
working nightshift tonight.” Emma