by L. K. Kuhl
I shook, finding it hard to concentrate on the road. “It can wait until we get home, I guess. It’s not all that important.” I kept my tone polite and flashed him a fake smile.
“See, I figured it wasn’t that big of a deal.” He rubbed my leg. “Things always seem to be at their worst until you sleep on them and then everything looks better the next day.”
Not this so much.
We drove home in silence, and when we pulled into the driveway, I turned toward him, beginning again. I didn’t want to go into the house and have Mom hear. “The reason I was so upset…let me rephrase that…why I am still so upset, is that I went to the bank the other day.” My eyes searched his, and I stopped, watching his expression.
Expressionless, except for a slight frost in his eyes, he stared at me. “And…go on.” He waved his hand impatiently.
“You took all my money.” It spilled forth like a raging monsoon. Unable to contain my emotions, I had reached the boiling point, and the tears spilled forth like a boiling river. “I had thirteen million dollars, and you and Stacy played your little games and stole every last penny! How dare you!” Everything came tumbling out. I balled my hands into fists, aimed and ready, throwing numerous punches.
Aaron grabbed my wrists. I fought to get free. “Sophia, calm down.” He laughed at me derisively. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”
“Oh…you…you smart aleck…you know exactly what I’m talking about.” I wrestled, still trying to break my hands free from his grasp. “They told me at the bank that you came in and took all of my money out. I thought I could trust you. And…and…you said you were in Denver. I can’t believe you lied to me!”
“Money? What money? You’re going to be my wife in three days and you’re hiding money from me? I should be the one not trusting you!” His eyes flashed with animosity.
“Oh, come on, Aaron, you can’t be serious.” I sobbed, my world crashing in around me. “You’re blaming me for not telling you? That money came along way before we got together, and I’d planned on surprising you with it as a wedding gift.” My fists went limp, and I dropped my head to my chin, sobbing into my hands.
Aaron let go of my wrists and gathered me in his arms. My hot tears dripped down onto his pale, yellow silk shirt. “Shh, don’t cry, Sophia. I can’t stand to see you this way. We shouldn’t be fighting, anyway, we’re about to be married.”
His lips slanted into a smile, and he lifted my chin to expose my face. Then he kissed me. My breath hitched, and I toned down the sobs. We were both silent.
“I’m sorry I did this to you. And I do have something to confess.” His thick voice sliced the heavy air, and his tongue rolled along the inside of his cheek.
I looked up at him, my eyes fixating on the coldness in his. “What’s that?”
“I did know about the money.”
“From Stacy? Since she conveniently worked at the bank?”
“No, from my sister, Mandy. You and Mom weren’t the only ones who saw her ghost.” He stared into my eyes. I gasped. “She came to me, too, and told me that Tate was giving you the money.”
“Wow, I’m stunned. So you knew way back then and never bothered to mention it to me?” I flopped my head back against the seat and folded my arms over my chest, exhaling a heavy sigh.
“Yes, I knew Mandy was a ghost, but I didn’t want anyone to think I was crazy. And yes, I did know about the money…but hear my story out…I have more to tell you.”
“I’ll listen.” I watched him intently.
“I met up with Stacy on my first day back in town, and she told me she had gotten hired on at the bank.” His eyes darted to the windshield, to his feet, then back to me again. “This started the wheels turning when I knew you had plans to go to college to be a lawyer, and we had decided to become partners in my firm.” He paused. “I didn’t want you to find out about any of this, but now I feel I have to tell you. I, too, had a grand wedding gift to give to you.
“You see, I needed this money to surprise you with a new law firm—one I’m going to build here—for the two of us. I bought ten lots over on the edge of town by the bank, and I intend to erect a large brick building, filled with offices for us and other lawyers, if they wish to rent from us. I would like to build a grand firm and have both of them going, the one in Denver and here. That way, you wouldn’t have to move away from Cascade. You could live here and stay close to your family, and we could raise our children here in the safe confines of our small hometown.”
I sat for a long time and just stared at him. He seemed so genuine and true, and my anger dissipated, little by little. My face flushed with heat, embarrassed by the monumental fit I’d just thrown because he did do this for the both of us, didn’t he?
“Well…don’t I feel the fool.” I disguised my stupidity with a laugh, brushing my soggy hair off my face. “So…when Stacy put your name on the account and told you my account number, was it her idea or yours?”
“It was mine. I’ve had this planned for a long time.” His eyes shifted again.
“Where’s the money now?” I still felt somewhat violated.
“I’ve used a lot of it to buy the land…and the rest…,” he paused, squinting his eyes and calculating, “is pinned for the building construction, so I’ve put it in a safe-deposit box.”
“Well, maybe tomorrow you can take me to see the site.” I rubbed my hand over his.
His eyes darted again, mouth tight. “Sure…I’d like to. But it would be best to wait until after the wedding.”
Mom was peeking out from behind the kitchen window curtain. “I guess we’d better go in, my parents are wondering if we died out here.” I reached for the door handle.
Aaron grabbed my face and turned it toward him, enveloping me with his kiss. “I love you, Sophia, always remember that. And I would do nothing to hurt you.” He kissed me again, his eyes glancing toward the front door of our house.
Mom looked up when we opened the front door. “Did you two love birds decide to come in?” She stood beside the stove, a red apron wrapped around her middle, stirring a pot of bubbling gravy. “Marrian called me earlier. She said her and Steve should be arriving at the airport at five-thirty tomorrow evening. Will you and Aaron be able to pick them up?”
“Sure, we can get them.” I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. I wiped my eyes to hide the tears from Mom and offered one to Aaron.
“No thanks, but I will have one of those beers.” He pointed to the back of the fridge at a partial six-pack that hadn’t been touched for months.
I wrinkled my nose. “Open at your own risk. They’ve been there awhile.” We sat down to Mom’s home-cooked meal. Under the table, I squeezed Aaron’s hand, my mind tumbling.
I couldn’t quite pinpoint the feeling that simmered just below the surface of my throat. It could have been pre-wedding jitters or something else entirely. Only time would tell. I buttered a homemade dinner roll and smiled at him. He winked, then continued on with his meal.
Epilogue
The evening before my wedding I was up in my room, sitting on the bed, running tomorrow’s script through my mind, making sure I had everything ready before my real world began.
We had just gotten back from the rehearsal supper. Aaron was at Dave Timber’s tonight because everyone knew it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. I knew there wouldn’t be any sleeping for me, the nerves in my stomach already intertwined and tangled.
I slid into bed, and just as I reached over to shut off my bedside lamp, a ladybug crawled on my curtain. I smiled at the dainty little thing and watched while she moved along. Looking like she knew where she was going, she continued on her way as I clicked off the light.
Sometime around three in the morning, I dreamed I was falling, the horrendous cement below hurling toward my face. I bolted upright, my heart pounding severely. My head spun strangely—an almost free feeling—as if some kind of weight ha
d been lifted, leaving it clear, reassuring me that this was what I was supposed to do. But I couldn’t explain the feeling if I’d tried. One thing I knew for sure, though—the pull for Tate was stronger than ever before, and I had to see him.
I got up and slid my jacket on over my T-shirt and shorts, heading for my car. A deep, thick fog clung to the early morning as I started up the car, turning on the wipers to clear the windshield. The car almost drove itself as I backed up, leading me out toward the river where Aaron and I had parked one night in his car and made out.
On the winding gravel road, the heavy fog made the blue moon’s glow even sharper, casting an aberrant hue. A deer, standing in the middle of the road, quickly rushed into view. I gasped and squeezed my eyes tight, slamming on my brakes. The car skidded to the right on the loose gravel, then back to the left. I lost control, and the car went spinning down in the ditch.
In slow motion, I felt myself getting thrown around in the car, even though I had remembered to put my seat belt on. I hit my head on the steering wheel, and instantly the warm blood ran down my face.
The car came to rest on its wheels, but steam billowed up, pouring out of the hood. I turned the key. It wouldn’t start, so I pushed the heavy door open and gazed at the road. The deer still stood there. It hadn’t moved at all from the first time I’d first seen it. I climbed out of the car, a haunting urge guiding me to the deer.
I used my jacket sleeve and wiped away the blood on my face. The heaviness of the air made everything muffled, the air still thick and heavy. The only other sounds, besides my footsteps brushing through the long grass to make it back out of the ditch, was an owl hooting off in the distance and the soothing chirping of crickets.
The deer stood rigid, looking at me, its ears turning at times to listen to another sound off in the distance, in the trees. I walked up to it, ambling slow so as not to scare it. It came up to me and nuzzled my hand, its mouth searching for something. I held my hand there for a long time, letting it get to know me.
A single blink of my eyes gave way to changing the dynamic of the night. As soon as I opened them, Tate stood where the deer had been. I covered my mouth, not wanting to break the serenity of the night with my scream. “Oh, Tate…it was you that brought me here.” I flung myself into his waiting arms.
“Yes, it was, Ladybug.” His voice, smooth and strong, placated me. “I had to see you one last time, before your life changes, and I’m no longer included in it. I’m sorry I had to leave you so soon the other day when you saved me from the Livids, but it was for the best.” He looked beautiful, just like always. “But are you okay? You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine, just a little shook up, but nothing serious.” My laugh was frivolous and giddy while I tried to downplay the issue. “I think my car might need help, though. I needed to see you, too, but you know you’ll always be included in my life.”
I reassured him. He pulled me closer and lowered his head down to my ears…my throat…nibbling, kissing, and whispering. A soft groan escaped from the back of my throat, neither one of us getting enough. My excitement upon seeing him swelled to new heights, getting lost in his soft caresses.
He then grabbed my shoulders and pulled me away from him, looking into my eyes. “I know you probably don’t want to hear what I have to say, Sophia, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it…? I don’t like the look in your eyes.” I panicked, shivering.
“It’s Aaron. He’s hiding something from you about the money. But I’m told I can’t interfere. You must be the one to figure it out. I shouldn’t have even told you this.”
“Shh, don’t say anymore.” I held my finger to his lips. “You might not realize this, but you taught me so much in the time I’ve known you, and I’ve gotten things figured out. You told me to follow my dreams…so I am. I’ve used my free will…and I know who I’m supposed to be with. No matter what you say or how you try to talk me out of it, it does no good, my mind’s made up. I’m so glad you brought me here tonight, so I could tell you in person.”
His eyes swept over mine, searching endlessly, reading me deep and finally finding the answer. “Are you sure? Is this what you really want?”
“It is, Tate. I’ve made my decision…long ago…. And please, I beg of you…don’t try to change my mind.”
Behind him, in the thick of the trees, hordes of Livids moved the weeds. Their arms outstretched like bat wings, they moved toward us—a low screeching chant cutting through the thick air. Tate grabbed my hand, leading me back down to the ditch as the steam from my car still growled with a beckoning hiss. I didn’t hear—too lost in his kisses to care.
The End
About the Author
L.K. Kuhl lives in Nebraska with her husband of twenty-nine years, young son, Nathan and Greg the dog. She has two older daughters Morgan and Brittani and son-in-law, Trevor. She loves to spend time with her family, vacation, write, read and go for long walks.
L.K. loves to hear from her readers!
@lynettehoff1
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