by JoAnn Durgin
“When are you all planning on going home?” Cassie asked.
“The Houston crew, by mid-week. Mitch might be flying home when he’s released from the hospital.”
Cassie sat up straighter. “Tomorrow?”
“Most likely, Little One. He’s weakened from this and I don’t want him overdoing it. Landon can fly him home, and I don’t think he’ll mind being on a private jet this time. Hang on a second. I have someone here who wants to speak with you.”
“Hey, Moonbeam.”
“Mitch!” Cassie clamped her hand over her mouth and more tears sprang into her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.
“Sam’s calling from my room at the hospital. He seems to think I’m an invalid. He’s going to start spouting Bible verses any minute so talk to me. Distract me.” Sam’s laughter could be heard in the background.
“I heard you met Eliot,” she said, saying the first thing that popped into her mind. From the computer screen, she could tell Winnie was listening even though she turned aside to wipe strawberry ice cream from her son’s mouth. Cassie leaned closer to the screen to get a glimpse of baby Emily in her carrier next to Winnie.
“Eliot’s great. My hero. If you’re in trouble, Eliot’s the man to call. You should have seen him. He burst into that hole I’d reportedly called home for a day or so and knocked Bruiser out cold. Then he brought me out into the sunshine and among the land of the living again. It was pretty wild.”
“Bruiser?”
“Some guy who apparently wanted to see me dead.”
Cassie’s pulse stopped cold. “Are you serious? Please don’t say things like that, not even in jest.”
“I’m not joking. He told me he hoped”—he hesitated—“never mind. Doesn’t matter. I’m fine and can’t wait to see you.”
“Everyone’s been calling, emailing and asking about you. People from all over the country have been praying. You gave us a scare. Don’t ever do it again, okay?”
“Can’t promise that, but the Lord watches over His own. Always. No matter what happens, Cassie, everything will be okay.”
“Come back to me, Mitch.”
“I never left.”
Chapter 50
September 11, 2005
Cassie snuggled closer to Mitch, prepared to listen as he read to her.
“I want to read to you from Mark Twain’s Innocents Abroad, another favorite of mine,” Mitch said. “‘I began to feel that the old Venice of song and story had departed forever. But I was too hasty. In a few minutes, we swept gracefully out into the Grand Canal, and under the mellow moonlight, the Venice of poetry and romance stood revealed. Right from the water’s edge rose long lines of stately palaces of marble; gondolas were gliding swiftly hither and thither and disappearing suddenly through unsuspected gates and alleys; ponderous stone bridges threw their shadows athwart glittering waves. There was life and motion everywhere, and yet everywhere there was a hush, a stealthy sort of stillness, that was suggestive of secret enterprises of bravos and of lovers; and clad half in moonbeams and half in mysterious shadows, the grim old mansions of the Republic seemed to have an expression about them of having an eye out for just such enterprises as these at that same moment. Music came floating over the waters—Venice was complete.’”
“Cassie, you make me complete. Do you realize the significance of this day?”
“Besides being the day my husband came home to stay? At least for now?”
Mitch chuckled, and she felt the rumble beneath her cheek where she rested on his chest. Pulling up, she kissed him again. She couldn’t seem to stop kissing him since he’d come home to her. He was sore and he’d endured a few beatings, and she’d lovingly pressed her lips over every bruise and place where he’d been hurt.
“It’s September the eleventh,” he said, his voice reverent. “A day I’m going to celebrate life from this day forward.”
She pulled back, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe I didn’t even think about it. I’ve been so preoccupied with getting you home, it never crossed my mind.”
“I’ve learned it’s not our place to ask why things like 9/11 and Katrina happen. We need to trust in the Lord and know He’s got it all under control. Yet we can never forget.” Sitting up in the bed, he caressed her cheeks and drew her closer again. “We need to cherish our loved ones and treasure each day He gives us. And I’m so thankful He gave you to me.”
“And you to me,” she whispered. His kiss was exquisite, so filled with passion.
Much later, holding her in his arms, Mitch brushed his lips over hers and gazed at her through sleepy eyes.
“Rest now, my love,” she said.
“God knows what He’s doing,” Mitch murmured as she rolled over on her side. Then her husband wrapped himself around her, spooning her in the way she loved. “We’re a perfect fit in every way. I love you, Moonbeam.”
“Yes, we are,” Cassie breathed. “I love you, too, Mitch. Forever.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JoAnn Durgin is the author of The Lewis Legacy Series: Awakening, Second Time Around, Twin Hearts, Daydreams and Moonbeams as well as a standalone novel, Catching Serenity. Her books with Pelican Book Group/White Rose Publishing include Christmas novellas, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe and its sequels, Starlight, Star Bright and the upcoming Sleigh Ride Together with You (Christmas season 2014). A Passport to Romance novella, Echoes of Edinburgh, will also release in late September 2014.
A former estate administration paralegal in a Louisville, Kentucky law firm, JoAnn lives with her family in southern Indiana and has now “retired” to write her books full-time. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (National Chapter, ACFW Indiana, ACFW Kentucky) and the Louisville Christian Writers, JoAnn’s prayer is that her contemporary romantic adventures will touch hearts and lives with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. She loves to hear from readers!
WEBSITE: www.joanndurgin.com
BLOG: http://www.inspyromance.com/author/joann-durgin
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin
Books in The Lewis Legacy Series by JoAnn Durgin:
Awakening
Second Time Around
Twin Hearts
Daydreams
Moonbeams
Enchantment (Coming in 2015)
Prelude (Prequel to The Lewis Legacy Series – Coming Soon!)