Love Never Dies

by Loren Lockner

  “I see you’ve made a friend,” said Mrs. Alistair, who’d arrived with a plate of cocktail sausages cut into bite-sized bits. She whistled to the dogs scurrying around her feet to greedily snatch the tidbits from her fingers.

  “Why don’t you give your new puppy a piece?” Mrs. Alistair asked Julia, handing her a sausage.

  Mira took it delicately from her fingers. Even at seven weeks this Keeshond was a real lady.

  It was with great reluctance, over thirty minutes later, that they left the puppies.

  “You’ll remember which one it is?” asked Mrs. Alistair, “because if you can’t, I’ll place a little red collar on her.”

  “I’ll remember who she is,” answered Julia confidently. “She’s the one with the four dainty black feet and silver-tipped ears. There’ll be no mistaking my Mira.”

  Seth once again felt the complete blanket of contentment wash over him. It was the same delicious feeling that had resided within him ever since he and Julia had exchanged souls. There was no way on God’s green earth he was going to lose all this now, and as he followed the gaily chattering Julia to his Jeep he realized it was time to call Angus O’Leary.

  Angus seemed hesitant to follow through on any of Seth’s options until the young architect nearly slammed the phone down in frustration.

  “Blast it man,” he snarled across the long-distance line at the portly police officer who he knew sat mildly at his desk. One thing Angus had gained from his many years of police work was the ability to stay calm. Seth felt that he was essentially a calm person as well, but not where Julia was concerned. If things weren’t resolved over the next couple of weeks, Seth didn’t know what he was going to do.

  “Be patient man, we’re working on it,” soothed Angus. “Adam Gable completely dropped out of sight until the Stockton police spotted him at a local bowling alley. I’ve sent Stan up there so don’t you worry, we’ll keep a tail on him. We’ve relocated Lucas to a new province so everything’s going to be just fine. Just keep your head low and your eyes open. The Santa Barbara Metro Police have been alerted to a possible stalker staking out your girlfriend and I’ve placed a female undercover officer in her building to keep an eye on her. Contact me after New Years and we’ll revisit your situation.”

  And so the days swirled by in a happy haze. New Year’s Eve was a joyous affair. The Morris’ and a few family friends celebrated New Year’s Eve with dancing and singing and the blare of horns at midnight. Later, in the dimly lit living room, the old black and white version of It’s a Wonderful life with Jimmy Stewart caused Julia to fall asleep in the crook of Seth’s arm. Seth drifted off, only to awaken at dawn with an old thick comforter placed considerately over them as the rest of the house slept.

  Over the next couple of days Seth accompanied Julia to her classroom and helped change the bulletin boards and cut out letters. They sat companionably by one another, cutting out stars and moons for the bulletin board she prepared for her upcoming space unit. As she stapled on the planets Seth examined the large cork bulletin board filled with photographs of the round faces of her pupils. They were of every color; black, white, brown, and many had not yet lost the baby fat some seven-year-olds still carry. One particular little boy resembled Julia, with curly blonde hair and wide blue-gray eyes and Seth felt an overwhelming longing to have a son. As he watched the woman of his dreams putter around her tidy classroom he prayed he’d live to see their child.

  It wasn’t until January fifth, the day before they were supposed to pick up the Keeshond puppy, that a momentous event happened. They’d all been invited over to the Morris residence, that final Sunday evening before school began, for a wonderful dinner consisting of ham drenched in honey and pineapple, baked potatoes, fresh sourdough bread, and an unusual green bean casserole whose secret ingredient seemed to be onion rings soon loaded their plates. Jim Morris filled their glasses full of a light California White Zinfandel wine and toasted his lovely wife, who still managed to blush after thirty years of marriage.

  Both Angie and Paul disappeared into the lounge directly after dinner to peruse some old photo albums while Seth and Julia retreated to the kitchen to relieve Mrs. Morris from dish duty. Halfway through the dishes a shout and roar of laughter issued from the front room, followed by a definite whoop of joy that could only have come from the boisterous Jim Morris.

  “What on earth can that be?” asked Julia, drying her hands upon a strawberry-colored hand towel. She scurried out of the kitchen with Seth close behind. Angie, lovely in a midnight blue silk dress, held her left hand up for all to see.

  “He did it,” she stammered. “He did it, lookie here!” and there on her slim white finger was the largest emerald-cut diamond Julia had ever seen. Julia’s hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened while Seth grinned knowingly at Paul. So he’d finally popped the question.

  “Hmm,” said Seth quite seriously after everyone had calmed down. “So I guess I’ll be looking for new digs pretty soon?”

  “Hold your horses Hayes; the wedding won’t happen until June or July, but I just couldn’t hold off asking her any longer. I had my proposal all planned for Valentines Day, but that ring’s been burning a hole in my pocket for weeks, and Angie was making such a fuss over my parents’ wedding pictures that I couldn’t resist.”

  “He actually got down on one knee,” burst out Angie, who looped her arms around Paul’s neck and kissed him tenderly.

  “This calls for a celebration,” declared Jim Morris, hugging his wife impulsively, and within five minutes the pop of a Brut Champagne cork bouncing off the ceiling echoed through the merry house. The evening was a lovely finale to a beautiful holiday break and as Julia walked Seth to his car she sighed in perfect contentment while he tightened his arm around her shoulder. He kissed her gently on the forehead before unlocking his Jeep.

  “I’m delighted to know that Paul is planning for his future. He couldn’t find a better girl than Angie.” said Seth.

  “He appeared so happy, and did you see the look on my parent’s faces; they couldn’t have been more overjoyed if it was their own engagement.”

  “So he planned to propose on Valentines Day,” commented Seth mischievously. “How very original.” He sent her a searing look before turning away and Julia’s heart leaped.

  “You rarely speak of your family,” Julia commented one misty evening in early January, as Seth lounged across from her at his favorite sushi restaurant. Sushi was a passion with him and he popped a crab California roll happily into his mouth after adding a healthy dose of wasabi and ginger to the concoction. He rolled his gray eyes in ecstasy. Julia relished his simple enjoyment of oriental food, thankful a wonderful sushi bar was located only ten minutes from her flat so Seth could get his weekly fix.

  “You know about my mother and father.”

  “Of course, but were you an only child?” Julia suspected he wasn’t, but had been afraid to pursue the subject before. She had a premonition his sibling was dead, but Seth was part of her and she had to know.

  A shadow darkened his face and he took a swallow of green tea before answering.

  “No. I have a brother and a cousin.”

  “A brother? What’s his name?”

  “Can’t be trusted.”

  “That’s his name?”

  “No, but it’s what I prefer to call him.”

  “Ooh. Do I detect a bitter note at the mention of him? Is this subject taboo?”

  Seth shrugged and mixed more wasabi into his soy sauce before dipping a portion of a prawn sandwich into it. He let it soak up the hot juice for a moment.

  “Let me put it this way. He’s not my favorite subject or relative. Maybe, in a few months, I’ll tell you more about him, but for now I prefer not to ruin my evening, the delicious sushi, or your sweet company by thinking about him.”

  Julia decided it was best to move on to the other relative. “And your cousin?”

  “The salt of the earth. The kindest, most dependable cuss you�
��d ever have the honor to meet. He is, however, a rover, a wanderer, and just a bit of a cad; at least where women are concerned.”

  “Where does he live?”

  “I’m not certain. I believe he’s traipsing about Canada somewhere, probably with a couple of redheads keeping him warm at night.”

  “I take it he’s not a one-woman man?”

  “Not in the least. Of course, he’s a full four years younger than me, a mere twenty-nine, and isn’t ready to settle down like your old staid Seth. I’m not sure he ever will be.”

  “And what’s this character’s name?”

  “A family secret.”

  “Seth!”

  “It’s true. I’ve got to make sure you’re the forgiving kind before introducing you to the black sheep in my family. I prefer you judge me on my own merits, not by my two miscreant relatives whose reputations with women leave something to be desired.”

  “You’re afraid I might like them!” she laughed.

  “Nope. I’m afraid that they, with all the valiant Hayes blood flowing through their veins, will find you as irresistible as I do. Perhaps someday, after the noose of marriage has tamed your wild, passion-eliciting eyes, I’ll introduce you to them. In fact—I promise you’ll meet the dynamic duo on your wedding date. I’ll make them swear to bring a clingy date and keep at least three meters away from you!”

  His tone, though mischievous, reflected a strange deep-seated pain in regards to his brother and cousin, which he couldn’t hide. So she reached across the black shiny table and squeezed his tanned fingers in her own. A warm glow tightened her chest cavity, as his soul responded and burned like a high-quality cognac neither had the desire nor power to resist. Love pulsated between them, turning his dark gray eyes silver with desire.

  “I’ve had enough sushi,” he said gruffly. “Would you care to join me for a nightcap in my room?”

  She nodded warmly as the dark-haired waitress removed their heavy sushi boards and deposited the bill upon the table.

  His joy joined hers in the dark less than thirty minutes later as his lips trailed down her neck and hovered over her heart.

  “I can feel the beckoning warmth here,” Seth whispered, kissing the tender skin where their two souls basked in the entwined fire of her pulsing heart.

  “Yes,” she panted, and let his body join her in a sweet symphony of motion, her chest burning and glowing as he took her roughly, crying out her name in joy.

  Later she held him close and kissed his damp forehead as he sighed deeply, relaxed and content in the confines of her arms. Life could not be more glorious than this, she thought before drifting off, never suspecting a grim-faced man in a big silver car watched and waited for his opportunity to kill that which she held most dear.

  

  The next morning, as Julia straightened the lapels of his tailored gray suit jacket, he promised, “I’ll be by your house just after five and we’ll drive to the beach and pick up the puppy.”

  “I can hardly wait,” she answered, and he knew she wasn’t just referring to the arrival of the eight-week-old puppy, but to the promise shining in his eyes.

  That evening the gray fur ball curled itself upon Julia’s lap as she stroked its soft springy fur. The little puppy immediately dropped off to sleep while Seth drove the twenty miles back to Santa Barbara. As soon as Julia had gotten home from work she’d made sure everything was ready for the new arrival; from the extra newspaper she’d retrieved from school to the softly cushioned basket where the puppy would sleep. Julia had filled the water and food bowls and the puppy sniffed at its new environment and lapped some water before falling asleep on the rug near the kitchen door.

  Seth glanced around the immaculate flat Julia shared with her roommate. “Where’s Angie?”

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you; Angie and Paul drove down to see her grandmother in Ventura to show off her new ring. It wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t return tonight.”

  “Oh really,” said Seth suggestively. “You know you may need someone here tonight since a puppy can be just like a newborn child, whining and needing to be let out. I should probably stay and help out.”

  “A newborn child whines and needs to be let out?” An impish grin crossed Julia’s pretty oval face. “But I can see your point. I really might need some help, kind sir,” and pulling at his arm, left the sleeping puppy snoring blissfully in the warm kitchen.

  Julia woke peacefully that morning and stretched, Seth’s warm slumbering body stretched out beside her. She gave a deep sigh of contentment before bolting upright in bed as the puppy’s muffled whining and scratching penetrated her bedroom door.

  She shook her lover awake. “Seth, how did the puppy get out of the kitchen?”

  Seth quickly donned his briefs and trousers and rushed to the bedroom door. As soon as it opened the little Keeshond bolted across the carpet and leaped onto the bed. Julia, cradling the puppy in her arms, rose and followed Seth into the kitchen where he stood laughing and pointing.

  “I think you have adopted a bit of an imp; look there. She’s managed to push aside the baby gate you installed. Luckily it appears she hasn’t had an accident yet. Quick, take her outside and sit her on the patch of grass in your garden and see if she will do her business. I’ll clean up the newspaper in here.”

  They bustled around that morning taking care of the puppy, fixing each other toast and three-minute eggs, and dressing for work. Seth donned a navy blue suit he’d left in her closet, and appearing professional and well-groomed, kissed her on the cheek tenderly as she grabbed her lunch off the counter.

  “Why don’t you come over to my place tonight?” he suggested, “and I’ll fix you some dinner. I make a mean beef stroganoff. You can bring your bodyguard of course.” The little pup cocked a head and gave a small bark as if in approval.

  “I’ll be waiting,” said Julia, and kissed him full on the mouth, savoring the sweetness of his kiss. Later, she noticed the tug at her heart as he stepped up into his Jeep Grand Cherokee and lifted a hand to her. He adjusted his sunglasses and headed off to his firm as she put Mira outside and locked the apartment.

  Her day was busy; Stephen Susiku had a bloody nose within the first hour at school and she got a stain on her pale cream dress that no amount of scrubbing could get it out. Later that day, a classroom bookcase collapsed, nearly striking one of her little girls, who sat crying on her lap for a good fifteen minutes as Julia tried to soothe her. In the afternoon she received a call from an irate parent who demanded that her son, who honestly was one of the most spoiled and overly pampered children Julia had ever had the displeasure to run across, be given special treatment during the upcoming Standard Achievement Test because he was traumatized by the school’s rough handling of his delicate nature.

  Julia tried to placate the parent and looked forward to seeing Mira and enjoying some of Seth’s beef stroganoff. She wondered if it was wise to take her puppy to her brother’s condominium and knew she’d have a lot to answer for if her puppy soiled her brother’s beautiful beige carpet or parquet floor.

  At just a few minutes after five she let herself into her brother’s condominium, using the key Seth had given her, having left the whining puppy at home. It wasn’t worth Paul’s displeasure to risk an accident. Neither Seth nor Paul had arrived yet and the day had turned cloudy and overcast with a slow soaking drizzle. Julia strolled to the fireplace and using what few skills she’d acquired during her Girl Scout days managed to start a fire after fifteen minutes of frustrated stacking. It was at exactly 5:23 p.m. that early January evening that a monstrous pain ripped at her heart.

  One trembling hand flew to her chest while the other groped for support. A red haze flashed before her eyes and she was unable to breathe. In that moment of agony Julia visualized a shattered windshield and blood trickling down through splintered eggshell cracks. She screamed, Seth’s name reverberating through her brain. Julia dashed to the phone, not sure who or what to dial, and suddenly rememb
ered her lover always carried his cell phone in his briefcase. She punched in his number, striving to regain a normal steadying breath. There was no answering tone or activation of his voicemail; only a lifeless silence that filled her entire being with a horrible chilling numbness.

  Julia hysterically called her mother, who answered the phone after two rings and spent the next few panic-filled minutes trying to calm her distraught daughter.

  “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong dear. Please calm down; he’s going to walk through that door any minute. Would you like me to drive over and stay with you? Is Pauli there?”

  “He hasn’t shown up,” gasped Julia, a vice constricting her chest and threatening to suffocate her.

  “Why don’t you call Angie? I’m sure she’s home by now and you can ask her to come over until I get there. When Seth arrives you four can have a nice dinner party. I’ll show up later on the pretext of bringing some of my angel food cake. You wouldn’t mind that now would you?”

  Julia barely heard her mother’s soothing words, her heart throbbing as if she bled inwardly. “I’ll see you soon,” was all she could manage before hanging up the phone. Five minutes later the phone rang ominously and she snatched it up.

  “Hello.”

  “And to whom might I be speaking?” stated an official voice on the other end.

  “My name’s Julia Morris.”

  “Are you by any chance acquainted with a man by the name of Seth Hayes?”

  A debilitating horror crept across her. “Yes, I’m his girlfriend.”

  “I’m sorry to inform you Ms. Morris that there’s been an accident. I’m Officer Rodriquez from the California Highway Patrol.”

  “Is he hurt? Where is he? ” Her first hysterical reaction was to dash where ever and check upon him.

  “I’m afraid,” said Officer Rodriquez hesitantly, “that after the collision, his vehicle was hit head on by a semi-truck carrying petroleum and his car burst into flames. I’m afraid Madam that…”