Predestined Hearts

by Kelly Elliott

  Letting out a frustrated moan, I sat in the seat as Colett sat opposite of me, giving me that damn smile of hers. “Stop giving me that chipper smile, Colett. Sometimes I just want to be mad.”

  Pressing her lips together, she held her smile and laughter back.

  Dropping my head back, I asked, “What is the date today, Colett?”

  “It is the tenth of August.”

  My heart was pounding in my chest. In less than three days, I would be reunited with Sophia. Lifting my head off the back of the seat, I stared at Colett. She had already pulled out her book and had her face buried in it. She informed me that she had sent a letter to my mother and to Sophia’s parents’ house as soon as she was able to once we arrived back in New York. She informed them of our arrival in Savannah, pending on if I was well enough to travel as scheduled.

  “Daniel, everything is going to be okay.”

  Attempting to give Colett a smile, I failed. “I fear something is wrong. I feel it in my heart.”

  Dropping her book down, she got up and fell to her knees in front of me. “Daniel Stowe, we have made it this far. Do not give up hope now.” Shaking her head her eyes filled with tears. “She’s waiting for you, Daniel. I have to believe that she received one of our letters and she and your child are waiting.”

  Placing my hand on the side of Colett’s face, she leaned into it. “Do you know what a remarkable woman you are, Colett?”

  Blushing, she looked away. Leaning forward, I whispered, “Cast your eyes upon mine, Colett.” Peeking up at me, she looked into my eyes. The sadness was slowly disappearing. A small part of my heart had opened itself to Colett. I cared about her deeply and didn’t want to see her hurt in any way.

  “My desire for you to kiss my lips is both a blessing and a curse, Daniel. For I know your heart belongs to another, and I am very fond of our friendship. Yet, that desire has opened up hope for me to find love again someday. I feel as though I should be forthcoming with my feelings with you always. I want nor do I desire anything but friendship, it’s just—”

  Leaning over, I lightly brushed my lips across Colett’s lips. “I understand your feelings, Colett. I truly do.”

  Pulling away, she smiled as she stood. Returning to her seat she resumed her reading as I turned and gazed out the window.

  Sophia. My heart needs you.

  “Daniel, you will pull my arm from my body if you drag me along any faster.”

  Laughing, I peeked over my shoulder. “We are so close, Colett. I cannot wait for you to meet my Sophia.”

  Grinning, she replied, “I am excited to meet her as well. That does not lessen the ache in my arm though.”

  Stopping in front of my parents’ house, I dragged in a deep breath. Colett stood next to me. “Well, what in the world are you waiting for?”

  Smiling like a fool, I attempted to calm my heart. “Finally,” I whispered. Racing up the stairs, I gently opened the door. I quickly began looking around as I turned and motioned for Colett to hurry. Lifting her skirts, she ran up the steps, leaving our entire luggage at the bottom of the stairs.

  Giving me a smile, she prompted me to move on. I closed my eyes and dreamed I would walk into the parlor and see Sophia holding our child. Taking a step, I rounded the corner.

  I smiled as I saw my mother sitting on the sofa and my father behind his desk.

  “Mother, Father, I’m finally home.”

  They both snapped their heads up and stared at me. Slowly my father stood as my mother placed her hands over her mouth. She instantly started crying.

  “This cannot be. This is a dream. This truly must be a dream, Chester,” my mother said between her sobs.

  Walking up to me, my father touched the side of my face and broke down crying. “You were dead. They said you were dead.”

  My heart had never beat so hard in my chest. If my parents thought I was dead, Sophia thought the same.

  Placing my hand on my father’s shoulders, I said, “No, Father, the boat sank and I was badly injured. I ended up in France and—” Turning to Colett, I pointed—“Colett’s family nursed me back to health. I wrote numerous letters home and to Sophia’s parents, did you not receive them?”

  Standing, my mother shook her head. “No. Not a one! Oh, my baby boy!” Running to me, my mother threw herself into my arms. “We thought you were dead. Sophia, she was devastated.”

  Pulling back from my mother, I looked around. “Where is she? Where is my child?”

  Staring at me with tears streaming down her face, she frantically began shaking her head. “Chester! Oh god, Chester!” My father took my mother into his arms. He held her tightly as she fell apart. “She thought you were dead!” my mother called out as Father took her to the sofa. Colett quickly walked over and sat next to my mother and tried to comfort her.

  “Father?”

  Turning to me, he smiled. “Daniel, please give me a moment or two, for I thought my youngest son to be dead. Now you appear before me, almost a year later, and my eyes do not believe what they see.”

  Smiling, I nodded my head. “I’m very much alive and want nothing more than to see my wife and child.”

  His smile faded and grief moved across his face. Feeling sick, I asked, “What has become of Sophia and my child?”

  “Daniel, please, sit down, son.”

  Feeling my heart rate raise, my breathing became shallow. Dear God, no. Please no.

  “Father, just tell me what has happened to my wife and child!”

  My mother attempted to control her sobs as my father slowly took in a deep breath and let it out as his hand pushed through his hair.

  “We received a telegram from your uncle. It stated your ship had never arrived in England. There was a terrible storm and all who were aboard were feared … lost.”

  Shaking my head, I tried to talk but nothing came out.

  “Sophia did not take the news very well and ran out of the house. She wouldn’t stop running. Devlin, found her bent over screaming out in pain.”

  A tear slowly moved down my face as I whispered, “No.”

  “Sophia lost your child, Daniel. After losing the baby, Sophia fell apart and people began talking that she had lost her mind. Devlin took her out of Savannah and to his country estate, away from all the gossip. She has never recovered from losing you, Daniel.”

  Rubbing my hands down my face, I glanced over to Colett and my mother. Both of them were crying.

  “I’m back now, I’m here for Sophia. Is she home? Is she here? I must see her at once! She is the only thing that kept me going, knowing I would be back in her arms.”

  My mother turned to Colett and began crying again as she kept repeating, “She thought you had died.”

  Walking up to me, my father placed his hand on my shoulder. “Daniel, listen to me and listen well, Son, before you do anything.”

  Holding my breath, I didn’t know what to expect.

  “Sophia was lost and terribly unhappy. Devlin did everything he could to keep the rumors from circling.”

  “W-what are you saying, Father?”

  Swallowing hard, he looked into my eyes. “Sophia had been honest with Devlin, she told him her heart would forever belong to you.”

  Tears began falling freely from my eyes as I listened to my father.

  “They married last fall and almost two weeks ago, Sophia gave birth to a daughter.”

  Falling to my knees, I cried out, “No! God, please no!” Colett was next to me holding me as my body shook with sobs.

  My Sophia, my Sophia was with another man. “Oh God. Why did you do this to me? Why?”

  Taking my face in her hands, Colett began talking as she wiped my tears away. “Daniel, it is not too late. Sophia thought you were dead. You are home now. There is still a chance!”

  Nodding, I quickly stood. “Where is she? I must see her at once.”

  Looking to the ground I watched as a tear rolled down my father’s face and hit the floor.

  “Sophia has
the fever. The doctor is not giving her much time.”

  Stumbling backward, I whispered, “What? What are you saying?” Pushing my hands through my hair, I fell back against the wall. “No, God wouldn’t be so cruel as to keep me from her, only to … only to rip her from me again. Where is she?” I screamed out.

  “Devlin’s,” my father said.

  Spinning around, I ran toward the door. Throwing the door open, I ran as fast as I could to Devlin’s. I could hear Colett calling out for me as I ran. I needed to get to my Sophia. Nothing else in this world mattered, except for my Sophia.

  Running up the stairs, I pounded on the door. Not even ten seconds later the door opened and Devlin stood before me. I couldn’t help but notice his eyes. They were red and swollen.

  Dear God, please don’t be so cruel as to take her before I see her.

  “Oh. My. God. Daniel? You’re … you’re …” Reaching out for me, Devlin pulled me into his house. “Daniel. Lord have mercy, this is a miracle. Sophia was right. She said she would have felt it in her heart.”

  Not knowing what to say, I whispered, “Where is she?”

  Devlin looked at me like I was a ghost. He shook his head and said, “She is at your brother’s. I just came home to check on Annabelle.”

  Looking at Devlin with a shocked look on my face, I asked, “What do you mean, she is at my brother’s?”

  “Daniel, Sophia has Scarlet Fever and the doctors are not giving her much time. She wanted to feel closer to you and asked to be taken to where you had spent your last night together.”

  I didn’t even wait for Devlin to finish talking. I quickly ran from his house to my brother Thomas’s house.

  Rushing through the door and up the stairs, I ran to the guest room. My brother sat in a chair outside the door. When he looked up, he fell backward. “Daniel?”

  “Not now, Thomas,” I said as I opened the door. The moment I saw her, I about fell to my knees.

  Sophia.

  Dashing over to her side, I dropped to my knees and began praying. “Please God, please don’t take her from me. I beg of you. I’ll do anything, but please do not take her from me.”

  Dropping my head to the bed, I began crying. I wasn’t sure how long I knelt there for before I heard her sweet voice.

  “Danny …”

  Jumping up, I looked into her beautiful chocolate eyes.

  “Have I died?”

  Shaking my head quickly, I whispered, “No darling. I’m here. I promised you I would come back to you, Sophia. I promised you.”

  Her eyes filled with tears as she gently bit onto her lower lip. “Truly? I am not dreaming?”

  Nodding my head, I said, “No. I’m here, Sophia. I fought like hell to get back to you sooner, darling.” Wiping my tears away, I smiled. “I’m home.”

  Sophia let out a small sob as tears fell from her eyes. “Kiss me, Danny. Kiss me so I know this is not a dream.” Slowly moving to the bed, I leaned over and placed my lips against hers as I kissed her. I knew she was weak, but our kiss quickly turned deeper. Sophia cried harder as her fingers pushed through my hair and she pulled tightly, cradling the back of my head in her hands.

  Pulling my lips from hers, she spoke between her sobs. “I thought … they told me …” Closing her eyes she whispered, “I knew it. I knew in my heart … you weren’t gone. Everyone said … you were dead.”

  Crawling into bed next to her, I held her in my arms. “I’m so sorry I got on that ship. I’m so sorry I left you, darling.”

  Sophia held onto my shirt and cried. “I thought you were gone … my heart was destroyed. I prayed every night you would come back to me. God answered my prayers! He brought you back to me. He brought back my one and only true love.”

  Lifting her eyes to mine, they filled with horror as she whispered, “Devlin.”

  Trying to keep the sick feeling buried deep in my soul, I shook my head. “Sophia, darling—” My voice cracked and I closed my eyes.

  Gripping my shirt more, she pulled at me until I looked back into her eyes. “I lost our child. I was so lost and … I love you, Danny. You must know this before I leave. I’ve only ever loved you with my whole heart. Please know this! Please!”

  Kissing the top of forehead, I shuddered when I felt how hot she was. “Shh … please don’t be upset. I understand, Sophia, I’m here now, my darling, I’m here.”

  Burying her face into my body, she said, “Make love to me. Please.”

  My heart dropped. “Sophia, you’re sick and can barely move. I can’t—”

  Her head slowly lifted as her eyes met mine. “Please, Danny. I’ve waited so long for you.”

  Tears fell as I listened to Sophia beg me. Opening my eyes, I glanced over my shoulder and saw my brother Thomas standing at the door. He looked older than I had remembered. Like he had aged ten years since I had last seen him.

  Nodding his head, he said, “I shall stand outside the door, Daniel. No one will disturb you.”

  Opening my mouth to argue with him, I felt Sophia slowly sit up. She looked so weak, fragile.

  “You promised, Danny. You promised you would come back to me. I want all of you. I need all of you.”

  “Sophia, you are married to—”

  “You. I am married to you. My one and only true love is you. Danny, do not make me beg for you.”

  Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked into her eyes. “Do you know how many nights I dreamed of you, Sophia? Being back in your arms as we made love in front of the fire. The night I held you in my arms as we dreamed of our future. I want you more than anything, my darling, Sophia.”

  “Help me remove my gown, Danny.”

  Closing my eyes, my head and heart waged a battle with one another. My head told me no, but my heart told me yes. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw the woman I would love forever. The woman I had spent the last year clawing my way to get back to.

  Reaching out, I lifted her gown and removed it. Helping Sophia lie back down, I quickly removed my shirt as our eyes never broke from each other.

  “I memorized your body, Sophia. Every inch of you belongs to me.”

  Closing her eyes she whispered, “Forever.”

  Crawling onto the bed, I slipped under the covers.

  “Remove them, Danny. I’m so hot.”

  Pushing the covers away, I took in her body. Placing my hands on her breasts, I slowly moved my hands down her stomach to her delicate undergarments. Sophia’s body shook as she began to cry again.

  “I have longed for your touch for so long, Danny. The countless hours I have dreamed for this.”

  Pulling her garments down, Sophia attempted to assist. “Sophia, I am not sure—”

  “Danny, I’m going to die. The doctor said I shall not recover. The fever is weakening my body. I was okay with dying because I knew I would soon be with you. But fate did not have that as our destiny. So I beg of you, please give yourself to me one more time.”

  I moved my body over Sophia’s. “You must promise me you will speak if I hurt you or you can no longer take the action.”

  Biting her lip, she smiled. “I promise you, Danny.”

  Brushing my lips against hers, I whispered, “I’m going to make love to you now, darling.”

  Pushing slowly into her body, Sophia arched her back and whispered, “Yes. Finally, my love came back to me.”

  Slowly, I made love to my wife. To the only woman I would ever truly be able to give my heart to. The love of my life.

  Sophia wrapped her legs around me as she moved with me. It was as if her fever had vanished and we had picked up where we had left off the night before I boarded that ship. We were even in the same bed.

  “Danny …” she whispered as I moved my lips along her neck and to her ear.

  “You are my forever, Sophia.”

  Crying, she wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “You are and shall always be my forever.”

  Sitting in the chair, I stared at Sophia as she tried to sleep. Closing my
eyes, I thought back to yesterday, when I made love to her. Afterward, I held her in my arms as she cried herself to sleep.

  Life is not fair.

  Sophia moaned. The fever was growing higher and she was having nightmares. Her breathing had become labored and the doctor told us it would be within hours. Devlin had spent some time with Sophia earlier. When I attempted to leave the room, he asked me to stay. I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay and hear them talk to each other, but I was thankful I did when I heard the words Sophia had spoken to Devlin.

  “Devlin, I’m sorry I wasn’t the wife you deserved. You deserve someone who will love you with her whole heart. You deserve happiness. Please don’t stop looking for it.”

  Closing my eyes, I dropped my head down. I wasn’t sure if Devlin knew Sophia and I had made love. When I got up after Sophia had fallen asleep, I decided to keep her undressed. Her body was burning up. Opening the door, Devlin had been standing in the hallway with Colett, Thomas, and Nelly. I hadn’t even had the energy to speak to any of them. Thomas, Devlin, and Nelly still had looks of shock on their faces.

  “Danny …” Sophia whispered. Lifting my head, I quickly moved to her side.

  “My darling, Sophia. I’m here.”

  Smiling weakly, I watched a tear fall from her eye. “Will you promise me that you shall take care of Annabelle?”

  Lifting her hand to my mouth, I gently kissed it. “With all my heart, I promise you.”

  Closing her eyes, she slowly dragged in a breath. “Promise me you won’t be angry with Devlin. He loved me, Danny. He was there for me in my darkest hour. Do not hold that against him. Please.”

  Nodding my head, I pressed her hand closer to my lips as I let my tears fall freely. “I … promise you … I won’t be angry.”

  Nodding her head slowly, she looked into my eyes. “Promise me you will find love again.”

  Shaking my head, I whispered, “No. I cannot promise you that. For the only woman who shall ever have my heart is here in this room.”

  “Danny … I’m going to be with our little girl. Promise me,” Sophia whispered.