by Mary Manners
He opened the refrigerator and drew out a pitcher. “I have plenty of tea. I made some this morning. Would you like a slice of lemon, too?”
“Please.”
“I’ve been trying to call you.” His voice was guarded. He found a lemon in the crisper drawer and drew a paring knife from the block beside the sink to slice off a hunk and drop it into an ice-filled glass.
“I know. I flew to Chicago for an interview.”
His head came up, his eyes dark with a million questions. “And?”
“It went very well. I was offered my old position teaching kindergarten at Elmwood Elementary.”
“So you’re going, then? When?”
She shook her head slowly. “I needed time. But I’m sure now.” She watched his eyes cloud over, saw the way his jaw clenched.
“Sure of what?”
Her voice caught. The room grew so still she thought all the air had gone right out of it. “That I love you...enough to stay. More than enough.”
His eyes widened and his chest rose with a deep breath. He took a step toward her, and the floor creaked beneath his feet. But she lifted a hand, and he paused, stepped back. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. Oh, how she ached to be held by those strong arms, to feel his touch.
“But?”
Her heart hammered in her chest. “I need to know something else.”
His voice gently coaxed. “What?”
“I need to know...whether or not you love me.”
She heard the air as he sucked it into his lungs. The room grew still, and she felt the blood rush to her ears, the flame of blush on her face. It was like that moment a decade ago, when, together, they’d hovered above the world at the first drop of the roller coaster, and all was still around them but the wild, expectant beating of their hearts.
He strode across the room and drew her into his arms. His warm, solid body pressed close caused her heart to flutter, and she swore she felt his heart pounding, too.
“I love you.” His lips found hers. His kiss was full of all the promises the future held. “I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you, back in high school. I’ve loved you since that day on the coaster, when I kissed you for the first time.”
Tears of relief choked her. She wrapped her arms around him and held tight. “Then, I’m staying.”
“You’d better.”
“Let’s go tell Susie, OK?”
“Let’s tell her together.”
Epilogue
Autumn sunlight filtered through the trees while blue jays serenaded overhead. Hues of gold and red fluttered down and scattered across the yellow-green grass. The musky scent of leaves filled the air as Susie chased Maggie across the back yard and they both tumbled into the pile Shane had raked together for them. Giggles ensued as they wrestled and Maggie lapped at Susie’s angelic face.
“Watch me, Jade!” she called as she bounded from the pile. When Jade nodded, she waved her arms and rumbled like an airplane headed for takeoff before she sprinted full-speed across the yard. The braid Jade had woven down her back as she dressed for school that morning flapped in the breeze. Maggie barked and bounded merrily around her feet. “I can fly.”
“Yes, you can.” Jade knew she’d soar far. Shane would make sure of that. They’d help her together, love her together, and watch her grow together. She smiled and fingered the silver locket that hung around her neck. Soon, it would be filled.
“Here’s your tea.” Shane handed her a cool glass garnished with a generous lemon slice. The sight of him, tall and strong, filled her heart with longing. She still shuddered at the thought of how close she’d come to losing him, how foolish she’d once been.
“Thanks.” She took the glass. The diamond he’d given her a year ago glinted on her finger in sunlight that refracted into a brilliant rainbow. And last May, surrounded in love by family and friends, he’d added a wedding band. She smiled at him and patted the lounge chair beside her. “Sit for a minute?”
He settled into the chair, and together they watched Susie spin circles and dance around the yard as she sang the I’ll Love You Forever song. She still loved to hear the story, and one of them read to her every night without fail. She’d grown a few inches and lost a few more baby teeth over the past year, and she’d settled nicely into second grade. She liked to have friends over now, and Shane had added a climbing wall and a suspended bridge to the play set he’d constructed. “She never slows down, does she?”
“Only when she sleeps.” Jade sighed with contentment. “It’s a wonderful thing. She’s going to make an amazing big sister.”
“Yeah, she sure will.” Shane’s eyes settled on her, and a smile twitched the corners of his lips. “Bryce called today. He’s coming into town next week.”
“That’s good news. It’s been way too long, and I’ve missed him. We’ll have to let Carly know, too. She’ll want to show him some of her new stories. He’s really taken an interest in them.”
“She’s got a talent, that’s for sure.”
Jade reached for his hand and pressed it against her growing belly. “The doctor did an ultrasound today.” She delighted in watching Shane’s eyes brighten as the realization of her words sunk in.
“Tell me.”
“You’re going to have a son.” She breathed in the familiar scent of spearmint and smiled. “And a daughter.” She’d seen the babies for herself on the monitor, and they were beautiful.
“Twins? Oh, Jade.” His lips found hers as his warm, gentle hand caressed the tiny lives growing inside her. “I love you so much.”
She kissed the top of his head, right over the scar that lay hidden beneath rich, black hair. Thank God for that scar, and the events that led to it...all of them. “And I love you.”
“Let’s go tell Susie.”
“Yes. Let’s tell her together.”
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG