A Saint for Life

by Nicole Heck

  “When you know what?” I said through my tears.

  “When you know that you’ve met your soul mate.”

  “I love you. I love you so much.” I wiped the tears away from under my eyes.

  “So is that a yes?”

  “My answer is yes but, only if Gabe says yes.”

  “I don’t think he will have a problem with being my best man.” Christian said as he laughed and rose up off of his knees so his face was parallel with mine.

  “Me either.” He kissed me softly and for the first time, I felt complete.

  Epilogue

  Gabe

  Seven Years Later

  Grabbing my permit, I raced down the stairs and through the door, almost forgetting to shut it. Janice was waiting outside in her car. She drove here the minute Chris called us. Now that we lived in a different neighborhood, she couldn’t just walk over anymore.

  “I’ll drive! I’ll drive!” I shouted to her, motioning for her to let me in the driver’s seat. I got my permit only a few months back. Chris taught me how to drive, and Zoe promised that once I got my license they would get me a car. That is if I get a job. She’s been driving me nuts to get one.

  “No, sir. Not with me, you’re not!” She gripped her hands against the steering wheel.

  “Oh, come on! Chris says I’m a good driver!”

  “We have to get there now! I am not letting you drive. Maybe on the way back.”

  I got in the passenger side of her car, and she backed out of the driveway so fast she almost hit our mailbox.

  “Where were they when Chris called?”

  “They just got to the hospital. He said they were taken immediately, and they didn’t have to wait. I guess they were picking up flowers so we could bring them to the cemetery later.”

  “Oh, that’s right, it’s the third. Oh wow, I can’t believe it’s been fifteen years already. Oh my God, and today of all days!”

  “I know! It’s freaky right? How far away from the hospital are we?”

  “Only a few more minutes. Did Chris seem nervous?”

  “He definitely seemed scared, but heck, I would be too. I hope Zoe is okay!”

  “She will be,” Janice reassured me.

  Arriving at the hospital, we raced through the doors and to the wing where Christian said they would be. I looked around at my surroundings. Even though it wasn’t the same wing, I was no stranger to this hospital. It’s been about five years since I’ve had to come back here, and it’s all because of Chris. He saved my life.

  When the doctors sat down with the three of us and told us I was cancer free, it was the beginning of an entire new life for us. We take a vacation every year around that date to celebrate my good health. Zoe and Christian finally got married two years ago. They were too busy starting their careers to ever plan the wedding she’s always dreamed of. She wanted to wait until she finished med school. She’s a doctor now, and she is going to specialize in pediatrics because of everything that happened with me. Christian started up his own non-profit that raises money for the families of sick children if they can’t afford the treatments. It’s pretty awesome. I help him out sometimes at the fundraisers and tell my story.

  “There he is!” I shouted when I spotted Chris walking down the hallway.

  “Oh, Chris! How is she?” Janice said greeting him with a hug.

  “Follow me. I’ll bring you to her, and you can see for yourself.”

  I was nervous. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen Zoe in a hospital bed before. Usually it was me and she was the one sitting at my bedside.

  Walking into the room, Chris moved the curtain, revealing the bed Zoe was laying in. She was grinning from ear to ear looking down at her arms.

  “This little one didn’t waste any time at all making an appearance in the world,” Chris said as he approached Zoe’s bedside and then reached his arms out.

  “It’s a boy! Do you want to meet your new nephew?” Zoe asked me.

  Janice walked over to Zoe and gave her a kiss on the forehead. I can’t believe my sister is now a mother to her own child. She’s going to make an amazing mother to her new son, just like she was for me when I was growing up. Chris approached me, and I let him place the baby in my arms.

  “Hi there. I’m your Uncle Gabe. What’s his name?” I turned to Chris, but I could hardly take my eyes off of my nephew. He opened his eyes and looked right up at me before letting out a big yawn.

  I waited for them to announce his name. Zoe and Chris turned to each other and then back to me and Janice, who was now by my side admiring the new addition to the family.

  “Well, we couldn’t think of a more fitting name for this precious angel. Say hi to AJ.” Chris smiled.

  “Anderson James.” Zoe reached for Chris’s hand and he leaned down to kiss her.

  “Hi, AJ. Happy birthday.” I smiled.