My Soul to Save (Soul Keeper)

by Melissa Solis

  “Never better. How much longer?” I say with an obvious edge to my voice.

  “About fifteen more minutes till we reach Hatteras airport.”

  “Awesome. Keep up the good piloting.” Sam laughs and shakes his head probably thinking this is the last time he asks me to fly.

  I look around again to see where they went and if they’re alright.

  “What are you looking for?” Sam questions again.

  “Geese, ducks, giant black ravens, you know. I’ve heard that large birds can bring a plane down.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s rabbit season,” he says in his best Daffy duck voice, and I can’t help but laugh at that one. I don’t see them anywhere. I glance back at Inara who still isn’t showing an inkling of stress or worry.

  “They’re fine, Elena is above us and Will is below us.” Inara says like she just received a message from them. Telepathy? They are still such a mystery to me.

  “So have you ever been to the Outer Banks?”

  “No, but I hear it’s pretty.”

  “It’s no Hawaii, but yeah it’s picturesque for sure.”

  I lived in Hawaii with my dad for a short time and I immediately fell in love with the culture, the people and the beaches. He always made sure we were stationed in the coolest places. I think he must have been well connected when it came to that. Sam squeezes my hand. I’m sure he knows he just made me think of my dad with his comment.

  “The airport is unmanned, so I’ll have to keep a sharp eye out.”

  “That’s awesome.”

  “Don’t be afraid, that’s how most of these small airports are.”

  “I’m sorry if I’m acting weird I just… Well I guess I never got over the plane crash.”

  “That’s understandable. I think you’re incredibly brave for doing this.”

  “Sweet Sam is back hm?”

  “I plan on being sweet to you as long as you’ll let me.”

  His words tug on my heart, Sam’s leaving for Texas and I start my internship. Not to mention we’ll begin being officially single. It’s terrifying knowing I gave him full permission to run off and fall in love with someone else. He agreed to it fairly easily too and that has me a little confused. What if he already has a plan B girl all lined up? Oh God what did I do?

  “There it is straight ahead.”

  “That’s our airport? It looks like an abandoned parking lot.”

  “It’s a fine airport. Look they even have porta-potties.” He snickers out as we land. I want to get out and kiss the ground. I’ve never been so happy to have two feet on this earth before.

  “Can you call us a taxi while I put her up?”

  “Your plane is a female?”

  “She most definitely is a female. Can’t you tell by her sleek body and quiet purr?” He rolls out a lazy smile that makes him look adorable. I cut him a sideways glance to let him know what I think of him sexualizing an airplane. I head inside the small office building to sign us in, and dial a cab company.

  Once we’re on our way again, I ask Sam where he plans on us spending this week. He gave the driver an address so I don’t think it’s a hotel. He says I’ll have to wait and see when I get there. My heart is in flutters with excitement. The car meanders along the coastline and I get lost looking out at the infinite ocean pushing up against the coast. I relax into Sam’s chest and he pulls me in, kissing the top of my head.

  “We’re here,” I hear him say. I blink slowly, still half asleep, and try to gather my bearings. The driver unloads our bags, and Sam pays him. The warm air is rich with salt and brine.

  “Where is here exactly?” We are standing at the end of a driveway but I can’t see what’s at the other end. The taxi drives off, and I hope there is something on the other side of this dune. There are no other houses around that I can see. It feels very remote and isolated. Perfect place to murder your girlfriend and dispose of the body if you were overly upset with her for wanting permission to date other men.

  Sam takes our bags and leads me up the hill. “Alright it’s not much, but it belongs to a friend of my dad who comes fishing down here a lot.”

  “It’s perfect.” The tiny white cottage stands all alone, battered by the elements over the years, but it looks like it has been well kept otherwise. Sam fishes a key out and unlocks the door. Inside smells a bit musty, so Sam goes around opening the windows. He powers on a small air conditioner and the place gets a breath of fresh air.

  “There’s only one bed.” No sofa, no cot in the corner.

  “Yes, it seems like that is the case detective,” he teases.

  “Is there any food?”

  “He said the place is stocked with non-perishables. And there’s fishing poles downstairs.” Sam opens the fridge, and by well stocked, he must mean in beer.

  “Oh and the water is non-potable. But there’s bottled for cooking and drinking.”

  The walls are painted a soft yellow, instantly cheering the small space up. The queen size bed consist of black iron scrolled into a sleigh shape with a handmade quilt over it in bright colors and floral patterns.

  “Thank you for planning all of this Sam. It's really great.”

  “I love you. I wanted to make our last bit of summer something to remember.” He brushes his silky waves back off of his forehead and holds me in his arms for a long time without saying anything at all.

  “Are you sure you’re okay with all of this?” I ask. His only response is to pull me in tighter. Oh God, what have I done? I want to say forget it. I want to shoot the whole being single plan dead in the water, but some nagging feeling keeps my mouth from saying anything at all. When he finally lets me go he walks outside.

  “What should I do?” I ask Elena who oddly seems to find perching herself atop dressers comfortable.

  “Never had a boyfriend or a demonic ex-lover stalking me, so my advice would be a guess at best.”

  "Demonic? He's not like those creatures is he?" The thought of Elijah sprouting a beak and claws horrifies me.

  "No he's not a demon, you're saying he never explained the differences?"

  "No we never had a talk about all the different species Hell has to offer, Elena."

  "The fallen, created demons and other creatures of evil."

  There areother creatures? God, I hope I never have to know what else is out there. The angry birds are enough to haunt my dreams for eternity.

  “Now back to Sam. Elena, you know people right?”

  “They’re not my favorite species for this very reason.”

  “Inara?” Inara smiles warmly and sits me down on the bed next to her. Her mocha curls sprawl around her face, held back by a red scarf. She’s dressed in a linen peasant top and blue jeans.

  “Close your eyes and listen to your heart. Don’t worry about what Sam, or Elijah, or what everyone else wants for you. You made a choice yesterday and I think it is because you were listening to your heart. Did you know that’s exactly how prayers work? That’s how he talks to us. His spirit lives inside you, right here.” She extends her finger out and a light begins to glow from within it. E.T, phone home?

  “What are you doing?” I ask. She smiles again, looking as innocent as a small child.

  “I’m turning up the volume.” She presses her finger into my sternum for a moment.

  “Do I have to speak out loud?”

  She shakes her head.

  Please tell me what to do, I’m so confused. Why do I have this feeling like I should keep things distant with Sam when my heart loves him so much it hurts? I wait.

  “Brennen you have a pure heart, like your mother, when you listen to it, you will always chose the correct path. You are doing everything right for both you and Sam. That path will not always be easy. However, I have lit the way so it’s easy for you to see. I know it hurts right now but over time it will get easier. Find comfort in each other this week. Build lasting memories. You won’t have any regrets later,” a man’s voice says to me in a timeless cadence lik
e the melodious Morgan Freeman or some other easy to listen to narrator.

  “God just talked to me, like the real creator of the universe.”

  “He talks to all of us, you just have to listen. It’s not always what you want to hear.”

  “But it was, he confirmed everything.” Elena and Inara share a knowing glance that I don’t bother questioning. I have to find Sam. I ease open the screen door and spot Sam at the water’s edge. I run over to him and slip my hand inside his shirt from behind him. He sniffs like he was crying.

  “Sam, are you alright?” I go around to see his face, but he turns from me. “Sam, please talk to me.”

  “I don’t know what to say, Bren. Is there something I can say or do that would change your mind?” he pleads out. Now I’m the one with nothing to say. Give me something to say to make him not hurt so much.

  Alright, repeat after me.

  And then God starts singing, If I Didn’t Have You by Thompson Square. There’s no way God likes country music, and is singing in my head. No wonder people don’t listen to their heart.

  “I am and I do, now it’s your turn, use that angelic voice I gave you and make Sam swoon,” he says sounding way too much like my father and I wonder who’s really behind the advice. Nonetheless, I take a deep breath and start out the song. I’ve never sang to anyone before and I feel like a total idiot, but Sam is the only one around for miles, not counting three nosy angels.

  He slowly turns to face me when I get to the chorus. Geeze, this song is like my anthem. He pulls me in and we dance in the sand as he joins in on the song. It’s working, God, you rock!

  We sound pretty good together; his smooth tenor harmonizes melodically with my voice. He spins me around and meets my lips with the softest kisses after it’s over. The sun hangs low over the cobalt water, drawing out this summer night for the two of us as if it would never end.

  “Your voice is amazing. Yet another reason why I want to marry you, so you can sing our babies to sleep at night with that sweet voice.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m sorry about earlier, I guess I was already missing you and you haven’t even left yet.”

  “I know, I can’t even think about it. I’m trying to pull off a Scarlet and worry about it tomorrow or better yet, next month.”

  “We can take the boat across the inlet and go have dinner and pick up some supplies. The dock is just a short walk.”

  “Okay let me just go freshen up.”

  I run a brush through my hair and finally give up and throw it into a ponytail. I’m in short denim shorts and a loose tank with one of those new cropped camis underneath. Sam helps me into the small motor boat and gets it started. He pulls the starter cord on the outboard motor, and I’m instantly mesmerized by his flexing biceps forcing the motor into compliance. He laughs when he catches me practically drooling over his body.

  “Enjoy the show?”

  “I can’t wait for the encore.” His eyes narrow at my comment and he looks as if he’s already plotting his next applaud worthy feat. The sky is painted hot pink and purple tonight, perhaps because God was in touch with his inner-teen tonight. We take a leisurely pace across the water and still reach the dock in just a few minutes. Sam ties up the boat and helps me out.

  The restaurant is a cool local seafood place decorated in the required nautical theme. The smell of crab boil fills the room and makes my mouth begin to water. A young girl emerges from behind the hostess stand and grabs two menus she looks no more than fourteen but visibly study’s Sam’s body like she may have a pop quiz on anatomy later this evening. As usual he pays her no mind and pulls out my chair instead.

  Sam draws the attention of every female in the room. I subtly glance around the room and watch as they try to catch a glimpse of him without being too obvious. One woman must tell her girl friend to check him out because I can see the woman twist around like she was a human pretzel. And yet, I’m sending him off to college with full permission to date, flirt, and sew oats. Again, am I crazy?

  Why am I really doing this? Is it because of him, the one whose name I have banned from my thoughts? Is it because my memories were stolen and replaced with replicas, knockoffs of a love that was very much real according to my guards. I have no idea of my motives, but God says it is the right choice. He’s the only one who can see the bigger picture.

  “Are you going to try something besides the crab cakes?”

  “You can always judge the quality of a seafood restaurant by the crab cakes Sam.”

  “We can get them as an appetizer.”

  “You want me to share crab cakes?” My eyes are reduced to slits wondering who this man is and what he did with Sam.

  “I’m sorry what was I thinking, I’d like to keep my fingers.”

  We both laugh, but really we both know how much I love the damn things.

  Back at our miniature cottage, we are both tired from the long day and the flight to get here. I take a shower and slip into flannel pajamas so as not to tempt Sam into anything but a good night’s sleep, curled up next to me, touching me all night long for seven nights. Sam takes his turn in the shower, and I pull out my kindle to read while he’s gone.

  He emerges from the tiny bathroom in a cloud of steam, shirtless and looking like some Irish Springs commercial or Axe body spray ad. And I totally start to rethink my whole Paul Bunyan look. His pants are hung way low on his hips and I don’t think I’ve taken a breath since he came out. He turns off the light over the sink and only a small nightlight in the corner, gives any visibility. He pulls back the sheets and slips under the covers with me.

  He’s not wearing any cologne, just the warm clean scent from his body wash, which wafts up from between the sheets. His hand glides over my waist and slips under the soft fabric that was meant to keep him out.

  “Goodnight,” he whispers. His hand still lingers on me like a white hot branding iron setting my skin on fire. The angels have surrounded the cottage outside allowing us a modicum of privacy.

  “Goodnight.” Sam finds my lips in the dark and gives me a soft kiss and retreats back to his pillow. A second later his lips find mine again, hungry and heated. He slowly moves his hands into mine and raises his body over me.

  “I know you're trying to be as unattractive as possible in this outfit, but I’m sorry it’s just not working. You’re beautiful inside and out.”

  “Well it is pretty hot, maybe you could help me out of it.”

  “That can be arranged.” I can’t see his face but I know he’s wearing his devilish smile right now. “These pants are way too warm for this weather.” His hands slide down the sides of my ribs and stop at my waist band. He slides them down about six inches and stops. Suddenly I feel his lips on my mid-thigh. My body rocks as my insides are turned to lava. He moves them down a bit more and repeat the process so that by the time they're on the floor, I’m ready to be there too.

  His fingers slowly trace my abdomen. “You’re exquisite.” He admires me in the dim light.

  “We should probably cool things down,” he breaths out.

  “What if I don’t want to?”

  “I don’t want you to do anything you’ll regret later Brennen.”

  “I know, and I’m not going to leave here with any regrets that is, unless you say no.”

  He sighs over me. “I would make love to you right now if I knew that’s what you really wanted, but I know how important waiting until we’re married is to you. Tell you what, I want you to sleep on it, and think about it all day tomorrow and if you still want this, then so do I.”

  Chapter 10 ~ Pants on Fire

  I wake up in Sam’s arms with my shirt still half-buttoned and his hand warm on my waist. Oddly, it doesn’t feel awkward. Something pressed into my thigh, however is a little more so. I shift out from under him so that I can see him better.

  Do I really want this? I watch him as he sleeps, his golden waves are scattered all around his head like a halo. He’s my true angel isn’t
he? I know he is. He is the one I see when I picture myself walking down the aisle. He’s the one they wanted me to marry in the first place. He’s already promised me he would propose. So why should we have to wait eight to ten years for something we both want right now? It sounds more like a prison sentence. I love him and he loves me. He’s the one I know I am going to marry one day.

  My mind is made up.

  We spend the morning fishing and Sam catches several speckled trout and I apparently am a fishing dud. After that, we rent a pair of jet skis and give the angels a run for their money trying to keep up with us. We end the day with a couple of beers on the beach.

  We lounge on a blanket and watch the sunset. Sam builds a fire in the sand and finds a grill stand to cook the fish on. I pair my iPod with a small Bluetooth speaker and let J.T bring sexy back.

  “I’ll go make us a salad while the fish is on.”

  “Okay babe.” Sam says lost in thought while gazing into the fire.

  Inside I pull out the mixed greens and toss it with a bottle of store bought vinaigrette. And break us each off a piece of bread from a baguette. Not a bad meal, considering it mostly came from a convenience store. Sam and I eat right on the blanket next to the fire, with the ocean waves our music and the stars our chandelier.

  “This is delicious. I like the seasonings you used.” I say mainly to break the silence. I wonder if his thoughts are the same place as mine right now. He hasn’t mentioned it at all today.

  “Lemon and pepper, shh don’t let anyone in on my secret.”

  “It’s in the vault.” I smile out and take a sip of my beer. Sam tips his bottle back too and offers a cool smoldering gaze as he does. I take our plates inside and clean up and bring out Sam’s favorite camping treat. S’mores.

  “Ooh you are the best, the very best.”

  “Good luck finding us a stick.”

  “You mean like these beauties.” He says producing two long slender sticks from behind his back.

  Sounding more like the Kool-Aid man, he says in a baritone, “Yes, it’s time to get our melty-chocolate on.” I laugh as he skewers my marshmallow. There is something about a big strong man, handling a delicate piece of fluffed sugar that makes me sigh a little out loud.