A storm had been brewing for the last few days but as yet, it had not eventuated. That only left the weather humid and overcast. I looked at the sky as I locked my car and really hoped it would hold off until I’d finished my mission.
I found Eliza’s grave easily this time, remembering the way as if I’d done it regularly. I sat on the grass again and did a little bit more weed pulling. Only when the grave was tidy once more, did I open my bag and retrieve the bauble. I heard the thunder rumble in the distance as I unwrapped it, giving it a polish on my shirt before hanging it in its original home. As I did so, the sun moved through a gap in the clouds, sending prisms of light through the orb and causing colour to dance over the headstones around me. I heard the tinkering of laughter and looked up. Standing at a distance, watching the light, was the woman I had seen in my dream.
“I knew you were special,” said a gravelly voice behind me. I spun around and found myself looking at Earl. He still wore the same uniform he’d worn the day he sold me the tree. “I’ve been waiting a long time to find the person who would be able to return that home,” he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “She was very special too,” he said, nodding towards the grave.
“Why didn’t you bring the ornament here yourself?” I asked, finally managing to find my voice.
“I didn’t find it in time,” he said. “It was made especially for Eliza, you know. We used to have a gentleman in town who did glass blowing and Christmas was always her favourite time of year. It seemed like the least I could do to give her Christmas everyday.” I watched as emotion danced in his eyes.
“Who was she?” I asked.
“She was the love of my life. We’d known each other since we were kids, grew up living only two houses away from each other. That year for Christmas I bought her an engagement ring, got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She said yes. It was the happiest moment of my life,” he said, lost in memories. “Later that day, she was killed by a speeding car.”
His words sent shock waves all the way to my toes. Not for the first time, I realized life could be so unfair. “I had this ornament made for her and everyday I came here and tended to her grave, wishing I could hold her one more time. All the wishing and praying in the world couldn’t bring her back but I knew that wherever she was, she would be looking down at the ornament and smiling as the pretty light danced around. Then a few years after she died, it disappeared. I couldn’t have another one made as the man in town had moved on. I didn’t know what to do,” he said sadly. “I could feel her sadness every time I came here after that.” Looking at Earl, I understood his words. I could feel it too. “But I knew you were the right person to give it to,” he smiled. “You’re special.”
I looked to where the woman had stood, wanting to see her happiness, but she’d gone.
“Where did you find it?” I asked, turning back to Earl,but he was gone too.
I stood and looked around me but the only person I could see was a groundskeeper I walked towards him.
“Excuse me, but did you see where the elderly gentleman went?” I asked.
“Sorry, miss. I didn’t see anybody else here.”
“He was standing with me, telling me the story of the woman he loved.”
“Sorry, but you’ve been alone the whole time I’ve been here,” he replied.
“Well, how long have you been here?” I asked.
“About an hour.” This didn’t make any sense.
“But I was talking to a man. He was wearing a green shirt and long pants. Walked with a limp. His name was Earl.”
“Sorry, but I think you’re mistaken. Earl is the name on the grave next to the one you’ve been attending.”
I looked to where he was pointing and sure enough on the headstone next to Eliza’s was the inscription ‘Earl Winston, beloved fiancée of Eliza. They will travel through Eternity together.’
Chapter Seven
I was shell-shocked the whole way home. I didn’t believe in ghosts. True, that was mostly because if I admitted to myself that ghosts were real, there was a big possibility I could be visited by one. Obviously there was a flaw in my theory.
I had stood at the cemetery for about an hour after I had spoken to the groundskeeper. I’m not sure why. Partly I hoped Earl would return and tell me he wasn’t the man in the grave, and partly because I didn’t feel ready to leave. It was only when the clouds moved and the sun shone once again that I felt both Earl and Eliza were at peace. Wherever they were, they could both look down at the beautiful display and smile. I also made a note to ask Riley to come back with me with a different hook system so that no one could ever take the glass orb again.
On the drive home, Riley rang to see if I was okay. I pulled the car to the side of the road and answered the call.
“I wanted to make sure you were alright,” I heard his deep, sexy voice say through the speaker. “You’ve been gone for hours.”
“Oh sorry. I won’t be long. I’m nearly home,” I said, emotion causing my throat to constrict. Earl and Eliza kept playing in my mind.
“Alright. Well, we need to be at your mum’s soon but drive carefully.”
“I will. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Pressing end, I looked at the screen saver on my phone. It was a photo of Riley I had taken a few months ago. It wasn’t a spectacular setting. He had just gotten into his truck but the happiness in his beautiful eyes took my breath away. As I sat on the side of the road staring at the photo and his beautiful eyes staring back at me, I smiled at his humour and sensuality mixed together. I felt my heart squeeze. I was only away from him for a few hours but I missed him. More than I cared to admit, even to myself.
Okay, maybe I should admit a few things to myself. I knew I loved him, but how much did I love him? The answer to that sat in my throat as I swallowed the emotion he stirred.
I put my car in gear, indicated and pulled into traffic, driving as fast as the speed limit allowed to get back to him as quickly as I could.
Walking into the kitchen, I placed my bag on the chair and kissed Riley liked I hadn’t seen him for weeks. We were now standing only metres apart and I was drinking a cup of coffee he’d had waiting for me, as he patiently listened to me recount my day. I’m not sure if he believed my story of Earl and Eliza or not, but whatever it was, something stirred emotion in him too.
“I like to think that my Grandpop is watching over my Gran, waiting for her to finish her journey,” he said quietly. “I believe that kind of love lasts for eternity, even in death.”
“Yeah. Me too. Even though I never knew him, I feel like I knew him.”
Riley moved towards me and took the cup out of my hand. Placing it on the table, he gently pushed my hair away from my face and looked deep into my soul. “It must be hell for her to be without him,” he said, referring to his Gran. “I don’t ever want to experience that.” I could see the vulnerability and sheer nakedness of his emotions as he pulled me in close.
He loved me, more than anything else in his world. And if possible, I loved him a whole lot more. There was nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice for him. And as clichéd as it sounds, I would die for him because life without him would be unbearable. He made every day worth living, just to see his smile. I felt his fingers reach out and touch mine. I entwined mine with his and held on tight, for fear that if I let go, I may never have this connection again.
No, that’s just stupid. This connection would be there for eternity. And even though I knew I would be with this man for eternity even in death, I was damn well going to make the living part as long as possible. I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed Riley hard on the mouth. I felt his hand come around the back of my neck and he pulled me against him, his lips softening into a delicate kiss.
****
Dinner at Mum’s was fun. Everyone was in a festive mood, all dressed in their very best Christmas outfits. I had chosen a pair of cheery red shorts and white singlet with Merry Xmas wri
tten in gold, glittery scroll across the chest. Riley had decided on jeans and the red t-shirt Danny had bought him as an early gift. I’m not sure who the gift was actually for because it fitted Riley exceptionally well and molded his perfectly toned torso and flat stomach to perfection. Danny and Drew were in jeans and matching green shirts with pictures on Santa wearing shorts lying on a tropical beach and Harper had got into the festive spirit wearing his reindeer antlers with pride. Molly had chosen short shorts and a white t-shirt with Rudolph’s nose very inappropriately placed over her right nipple.
“Hey Molly, when you’re finished with the shirt, can I borrow it?” asked Grandma Mabel. “I think the men at bingo will get a kick out of me in that,” she smiled. We all stopped, looked at Molly’s shirt and wondered where exactly Rudolph’s’ nose would be if Grandma were wearing it. Dad choked on his peanuts.
“What’s wrong with you?” asked Grandma, turning to Dad.
“I’ll give you $50 not to give it to her,” said Dad to Molly.
“I might chip in on that too,” said Danny.
Grandma huffed.
I laughed. After the emotional day I’d had, this was exactly what I needed.
The storm from earlier in the day had moved in and the lights flickered as the lightning struck. The thunder was still a few seconds behind it, so the storm wasn’t here yet. Mum liked to be prepared though and gave both Molly and myself a lighter, and asked us to light all her candles so that in the event of a power cut, we’d be ready. When the power did go out, it just made the night magical.
By the time we had kissed everyone goodnight and promised to be at the river nice and early for the big family get together, I was exhausted but very, very happy.
The power was out at Riley’s as well, so we used a torch to shower and clean our teeth and we were in bed before the clock struck twelve.
I felt Riley’s body mould into mine as he pulled me close and tightened his grip around my waist. Spooning at its best. In this place I felt safe. I felt like the world was a great place and I never wanted to leave here. I was comfortable, secure and loved by the most wonderful, sexiest man on earth. I’ve said it before, if I could crawl under his skin and stay there forever, I would. I never want to be apart from him.
“Merry Christmas, Lizzie,” he whispered, kissing my neck. I rolled over to face him.
“Merry Christmas, Riley.” I smiled then snuggled into the crook under his arm and listened to his heartbeat.
I closed my eyes and drifted into a dream filled with Earl and Eliza, and laughter.
My world at least, was at peace.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
It Started With A Christmas Tree - A Lizzie Fuller Christmas Novella Page 6