Looking up, Harriet saw a butterfly making its way from one tree branch to another. She pointed. “Davy, there. Isn’t it pretty? Just like you. It won’t stay. Just like you.”
He lowered his forehead to meet hers and whispered, “Oh, Harriet, don’t say that.”
“I’m sorry.” Lifting his head with her hand, she wiped tears from his ruddy cheeks. “Now we can’t let anyone think you cried. It’s not manly.” She straightened his shoulders and smiled. “Go home. Be happy. And promise me you’ll never run away again.”
“I promise.”

***
Elizabeth cried into Robert’s shoulder as David rode his chestnut back to the farmhouse, his hands cupped. Dismounting, he walked over to her. When she saw him, she quit crying, her eyes widened in incomprehension.
“I couldn’t leave without one last gift.” He opened his hands.
“A butterfly,” Sissy said in awe.
“It’s purty,” Matilda added, a cheery tone returning to her voice.
“Butterfly,” Elizabeth whispered. “Yes, I remember. The day you came home. Those big, rough hands, but they held that delicate li’l creature so tenderly … with … so … much … love.”
She dissolved into tears again, and Robert held her saying in a muted voice, “I guess you should let the butterfly go now.”
“I guess so,” David replied, letting it fly away.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, her voice raspy with emotion, “butterflies ain’t supposed to be cooped up. You enjoy them for the moment you have them in your hands, and thank God you at least had that moment.”

***

Lonnie looked across the sofa at Tiffany who was leaning into Dave and holding his hand. “Imagine. A little gal with a butterfly tattooed on her shoulder.” He smiled at Dave. “So Puppy’s got himself a butterfly.” Sighing, he returned his gaze to the television screen. “That’s good. Hang on to your butterfly, son. I had a butterfly once too. Once they’re gone, you can’t get them back.”
Dave looked to the wall where his mother’s portrait was hanged and understood what his father was trying to say. He glanced at Vince in the kitchen and thought he would have never seen him washing dishes. His eyes went to Tiffany who made his heart happy and then to Lonnie who had never seemed so content. Dave became aware that his father’s warm hand had moved discreetly to his knee and slightly squeezed it. Content with his butterfly, he smiled, pleased at last to be home to stay.