The Journal: Crimson Skies: (The Journal Book 3) Read Free

we’ve been lucky that the first
cloud lasted only a week and not more.
    We will all, though, face a sunless, cold future,
for perhaps two years, maybe more, hopefully less.

CHAPTER 4
     
     
    JOURNAL ENTRY: August 2
     
    The gray and dismal clouds we’ve been having for the
past two days moved out before noon and left us with a beautiful
blue sky, sunshine and a pleasant seventy-five degrees.
     
    *
     
    “Are you getting nervous, Mark?” I asked my
intended over a light lunch that he had barely touched.
    “A little,” he replied, pushing his plate
aside. “Aren’t you?”
    “Somewhat, yes, although I’m more nervous for
the reception than the wedding. I’ve never been surer of a decision
than I am about marrying you,” I said with a sincere smile.
    “I think you were born to entertain, Allex,”
Mark snorted. “In three days you have put together a party for a
dozen people and done most of the cooking, too.”
    “Oh, that’s not true, Mark. Kathy is doing a
dish, plus something else she won’t tell me about. Amanda is making
several dishes, and Emilee is trying her hand at making mini-sweet
rolls for desert,” I reminded him. “I’m left with making the bread
rolls and a spaghetti salad. That’s all. That does remind me that I
need to do the next step with those rolls or they won’t be done in
time.” I set our bowls in the sink full of warm, soapy water after
scraping the bread crusts into a bowl for the chickens.
    “While you do that, would you like me to take
care of the chickens?” Mark asked, nuzzling the back of my
neck.
    Now that the birds were back out in their
coop, it was a bit more time consuming to haul water out to them.
Having them in the greenhouse for their daily feeding and watering
was convenient though it was nice to have the increasing odor away
from the house again.
    “That would be wonderful, thank you.” I
really did have more things to do. The least of all was to choose a
dress to wear.
    I set the bread on the next rise and then
filled a pot of water to cook the pasta for the spaghetti salad. I
decided on using multiple shaped pasta to make it fun: bow ties,
penne, spirals, and shells, whatever I could find. I knew it would
be limited because of not having certain fresh things like green
onions, cukes, green pepper and cherry tomatoes, though I doubted
anyone would notice that there were only sliced black olives,
canned tomatoes, and rehydrated onions with the pasta.
    After I drained the cooked pasta, I drenched
it with my remaining half bottle of Italian dressing and added the
few extras. It would have to do.
    The rolls were formed and on the final rise,
so I took a shower and started getting ready. Kathy and Bob arrived
early so Kathy could help with any last minute things, and Bob kept
a nervous Mark occupied.
    “Have you decided on a dress, Allexa?” Kathy
asked, flipping through my closet.
    “I was thinking about this one.” I pulled a
hanger out from the back of the half bath door. It was a soft sage
green, with a long skirt, long sleeves, and a deep V neckline. It
was plain, but I thought it lovely and wearing it made me feel
good.
    “Oh! That is very pretty, Allexa! I don’t
think I’ve seen it before. When did you get it?”
    “Actually, it’s sort of new. I bought it last
year because it just called to me. It was a size too small then, so
it’s hung it the closet. Now that I’ve lost almost thirty pounds
since November, it fits perfectly, even a bit loosely. I know it’s
rather plain, but I love the color.”
    “I think it will be perfect,” Kathy said.
“Can I pick out earrings for you?”
    I agreed. She selected two pairs for my
double piercing; one simple gold chains and the other long and
sparkling.
    “What about wedding rings, Allex?” she
asked.
    “I hadn’t given it much thought,” I said, and
a touch of panic hit me until a memory slid to the front of my
thoughts. “I have an idea.” I opened a glass box on my dresser.
“This box was