The Game Has Changed
Page 20
“Let me check,” the vision whispered playfully.
He reached into the inside jacket pocket of the handsome black blazer he wore. He pulled out a wallet, opened it up, and held it out before her. She looked down to see the same California driver's license she had peered at a year and a half ago. That same handsome and cocky 'screw you' picture smiled back at her.
“Yeah, I think it's me,” he replied, at last, as his wallet disappeared back into his jacket.
“But . . . but . . .” she stammered, breathless.
“You thought I was dead?” he asked as he stared down at her. “Yeah, well, so did I, but I promised you that I’d come back for you, remember?”
She stared up at him with disbelief. “Yes, you did promise me!”
“And you're still wearing the promise necklace,” he pointed out, reaching out to curl his fingers about its fragile chain as it lay against her chest.
Was he really touching her? She shook her head to clear it, wanting to feel his hand in order to reassure herself that it was indeed real. Instead, she grasped the special pendant he had given her as if it were a lifeline that she needed to hold on to before she bobbed under the waves of emotion that threatened to claim her.
“I've never taken it off! Not since you put it on me at the Grand Canyon! Am I . . . am I dreaming?” she whispered, her voice tinged with despair. “If I am, this is so cruel!”
“You're not, Luv,” he assured.
She watched as her 'vision' gazed at the infant sitting in the high chair. A look of bewilderment crossed his lovely features. He gently placed his hand upon the boy's head, tears shining within the depths of his dark brown eyes.
“My child?” the ethereal apparition whispered with sudden amazement. “Jesus, he's beautiful!”
Jaime stared up at him with astonishment. Tears blurred her eyes. “Is it really you!?”
He nodded tenderly as he gazed in her direction. “Yeah, it's really me.”
Her mouth trembled slightly as she struggled with her wavering emotions. “Why didn't you come sooner?”
“I couldn't. I had a restraining order drawn against me until you turned nineteen,” he murmured softly.
She had considered that very possibility over and over within her dreams. But in her reality, could it have been true? She had seen him collapse after the gun had been fired. He had been bleeding profusely. No movements had come from him when the police had searched him for additional weapons and handcuffed him. Nor had he offered any physical response, whatsoever.
She had witnessed his lifeless body being taken away by paramedics who seemed quite resigned to the fact that there wasn’t much that they could do for him. Yet, for months and months, she had tried to convince herself that she had seen things in a different way. That there had been something she might have missed, something that meant he had survived.
She sensed his hand beneath her chin and felt it tug her head up so that they were staring at one another eye to eye. “Happy birthday, my dear, sweet Jaime.”
After a contemplative and hopeful moment, a look of complete happiness and satisfaction danced across her face. She blinked rapidly as a rush of tears surfaced once more. “Looks like I won the game. You finally came back to me!” she whispered passionately.
She could see the love he felt for her shining within his eyes. “We both won this game, my love,” he whispered. “We're together again.”
“For all eternity? Like the necklace you gave me says?” she asked, sounding hopeful as she pushed herself out of the booth and stood up. “I'll love you for all eternity, Evan!”
“Yes,” he said with certainty. “For all eternity, Luv. Come with me.”
He extended his hand toward her and waited. Without any further hesitation, she took it.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D. L. Wu is a married mother of three beautiful children. She loves to write and has been doing so quite steadily since she was twelve-years-old. This is her first attempt at publishing a work.
She loves traveling, listening to rock music and watching films of all types; her favorites being of the sci-fi/adventure genre such as the "Star Wars" series. She also considers herself a super geek because she loves attending Comic-Con every year.
Connect With Her Online:
Website: http://caspiansprincess.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hockeymom_12
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDLWu
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6427163.D_L_Wu
Email: debwu2@gmail.com