The couple and the child scrambled over the dunes onto a beach swept clean by the morning tide. A small golden retriever puppy, all paws and wagging tail, tumbled ahead of them, barking and sliding in the deeper sand.
The child, a little girl of about seven, turned, grinned widely, displaying two missing front teeth, laughed, shouted back to the man and woman following her, “Look, Goldie loves it!”
Coryn met Mark’s eyes, and the glance between them was one of mutual awareness, amusement and affection.
They caught hands and swung them as they all walked down the beach. The waves rushed to shore in foamy curves. Above them, seagulls whirled, screeching, the sound mingling with Ginny’s happy cries to the rambunctious puppy.
Was it really possible to be this happy? Coryn asked herself.
The last five months had been the happiest of Coryn’s life. They had been married in a small, private ceremony at the church they now attended. Coryn had wanted the wedding to take place before her mother had slipped too far from reality. Clare had looked beautiful in a blue lace gown, a widebrimmed hat framing her still lovely face.
Coryn wanted Ginny to be part of the ceremony so she was the only attendant. Looking adorable in a smocked and ruffled dress and carrying a small bouquet of violets, she stood proud and happy at the altar with them, as they spoke their vows. It had been an unforgettable occasion.
Her mother’s slow progress to oblivion was still taking its measured toll. Yet through it all, Coryn had found Mark and a love she had at one time thought out of her reach. Truly, God had been good. In every trial there was a triumph, in every loss gain.
Mark had taught her that grieving is the healing. To grieve the loss of a loved one is the path to healing. The length of time it takes is different for everyone. There is no set number of weeks, months, even years. It cannot be hastened. If the grieving is not suppressed, it does the healing. To be open to the grief and allow it to do its work is what is important. Help comes in all forms, understanding supportive friends, spiritual sources.
It had taken Mark more than three years to heal from Shari’s death, to be ready, not to replace her, but to find another relationship was possible, to welcome the healing, to risk loving again.
Although her mother’s death would not be the sudden death Shari’s accident had been, but gradual, still Coryn had to learn to let her go, to allow the grieving to do its work.
Mark understood this and was there for Coryn as she slowly, painfully learned it, too. The puppy he had given her to mark their engagement, had been part of Mark’s therapy to help her. Sensitively he had chosen a female golden retriever, not a black male one that might suppose she was meant to replace Ranger. Not to be afraid to love a dog again was another healing step for Coryn.
In the past months, Ginny had been an important part of that progress. There had been a touching bond between the little girl and Coryn’s mother. They had spent time together in the sunny solarium of the Dodges’ home where they had set up Ginny’s dollhouse, now furnished and with its complete doll family. With some of Clare’s favorite music playing in the background, Ginny had played happily in the quiet, dreamy presence of the older woman. Ginny had proven the center of a widening circle of love that included her and Mark.
After Coryn, Mark, and Ginny became a family certain changes were made. Mrs. Aguilar who had heartily approved of the marriage, offered to serve as caregiver of her mother the days Coryn went to the University pursuing her degree in occupational therapy. In the evenings, Neil Dodge took over, seeming to cherish the time spent with his beloved wife. He had mellowed in his acceptance of her illness and his devotion was unflagging. Their loving relationship was an inspiration to Mark and Coryn as they began their own life’s journey together.
None of this was easy. But together they had traveled this difficult path, making the journey together. Together they had learned that “weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning.”
Just then, sunshine broke through the clouds, tinting the bluffs behind them with gilded light. The wind off the ocean was crisp and smelled of brine. The surf swooped in with a roar, casting huge clumps of seaweed onto the sand. Down on the beach Ginny ran ahead, Goldie scampered along beside her.
Coryn looked over at Mark. He was looking at her. They stopped, threw their arms around each other and kissed. There was a taste of salt on his lips, but the kiss was sweet, long and infinitely tender.
Yes! It was possible to be this happy. Even walking in the shadow of death. In spite of everything! It would be wrong not to be happy on this beautiful day, not to appreciate it and the love that had been given her as a gift.
Coryn heard Goldie’s bark, Ginny’s happy laugh behind Mark’s voice saying, “I love you.”
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