Love Through Time ~ Revised Edition

by Nana Prah

  “You told Carly about the engagement?”

  “I had to. You know how she can get when it comes to me. She said I was glowing brighter than the house.”

  He chuckled and lifted her so she sat across his lap. “She’s right. You’re radiant.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But she’s wrong about us not being able to hold out. We are two self-controlled people.”

  Jasmine nodded once. “That’s what I told her.”

  “You are absolutely correct.”

  “Thank you, counselor. I’m knackered.” She used the word intentionally while trying not to laugh.

  “You think you’re funny?” He tickled her. Giggles escaped as she tried to push his hands away. “Merry Christmas, Jasmine.”

  “Merry Christmas, Sean.” He hugged her while rubbing her back. “Mmmm. I wouldn’t do that,” she added.

  “What? Rub your back?”

  “Yes. It’s turning me on,” she replied with a groan.

  “Rubbing your back is turning you on?”

  She pulled away and looked into his dark eyes. “Baby, almost everything you do turns me on, but the back rubbing is...well, I don’t know how to describe it, but it is.”

  His lips were on hers before she was aware of his movement. The kiss was ardent, filled with heat, longing, and promise. “I love you so much,” he said against her lips.

  “I love you, too.”

  “We should go to sleep now before they come out here in the morning and see us still out here.”

  “I don’t think they’d be surprised. They all know I’m smitten over you.”

  “Smitten?” He laughed. “Now you’re in for it. Who says smitten?”

  “It seemed appropriate.”

  “And old fashioned.”

  “Yeah, but it’s a good word.”

  At her bedroom door, he kissed the back of her hands. “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you more. Have a good night.”

  “You, too.”

  She turned the doorknob and let herself into the room.

  ***

  Her family and Sean sat gathered in the living room Christmas morning when Jasmine made her entrance. “Merry Christmas!”

  “Merry Christmas!” they called back.

  Wrapping paper had been strewn everywhere. “Thanks for waiting for me.”

  “We were going to wake you up, but Mr. Sean said we should let you sleep,” Carly said with a wink.

  “Where are my gifts?” Jasmine rubbed her hands together with enthusiasm.

  Grandma came out from the kitchen with Dad right behind her. “Now that you’re awake, we can eat,”

  “What’s for breakfast?” Ed asked.

  “Everything.”

  “Even cinnamon rolls? Do I smell cinnamon rolls?” Carly lead them to the dining room for their feast.

  ***

  Jasmine groaned after eating way more than she should have. Her palms sweated when Sean stood and announced, “Thank you for inviting me to share Christmas with you all.”

  “We’re happy to have you,” Mom responded.

  “Mr. Gibson. I’ve fallen in love with your daughter. She’s a wonderful woman. You and Mrs. Gibson did a great job raising her. I’ve already asked her, and now I’d like to ask for your permission to marry her.”

  “You can’t marry Carly, she’s already married,” Dad joked.

  “Sorry, I should’ve been clearer. I’d like to marry Jasmine.”

  Dad looked over at his wife who nodded. “Well, in that case, permission is granted.”

  Everyone spoke at once. Jasmine dug into her pocket and pulled out the ring she’d been secretly admiring all morning. Placing it on her hand she reveled in the attention of her family.

  As the day wore on, the unsettling feeling in the pit of Jasmine’s stomach returned as she observed the relationship her parents shared. She couldn’t keep it inside any longer. She needed to know if the feeling Sean had of her hurting him was still present.

  Had he gotten over her treatment of him during their past lives? Did he trust her?

  Jasmine tried to keep her voice light when she asked, “Can I talk to you for a minute in the kitchen, Sean?”

  “You know what that means?” Carly made kissing sounds.

  “Sure.” Sean stood and followed her.

  In the kitchen she leaned against the counter and held on for dear life, not trusting her legs alone to keep her standing.

  “What’s wrong?” He rushed toward her as if ready to catch her should she fall. “Are you dizzy?”

  Her heart melted at his concern. Such a wonderful man. She thought of letting the whole issue drop, yet couldn’t. “I haven’t felt dizzy in a while. We must be seeing enough of each other.”

  His voice got an octave deeper. “Not enough for my liking.”

  She took a deep breath and let the words tumble out. “Do you remember a while back when you said you didn’t trust me?”

  “I never said that.”

  “Yes, you did, when we had the conversation about our relationship.”

  Sean sighed. “No, I told you I felt as if you’d hurt me.”

  “Isn’t it the same thing?”

  “Not at all. It was you who called it mistrust.”

  Jasmine wasn’t in the state of mind to split hairs. “Do you still feel that way?”

  Sean answered by averting his eyes.

  “Does this mean you don’t fully trust me?”

  He was silent for a moment and then answered with, “I love you, Jasmine.”

  Jasmine’s stomach clenched. “You didn’t answer the question, Sean.”

  He sighed again. “All I know is that I’ve never felt for another woman as intensely as I feel for you. I know we’re supposed to be together. You’re the one the Gypsy told me about.” He ran his hand through his short curly locks. “Yet I continue to have this strange inexplicable feeling. And no, I don’t trust you completely, and yet I trust you with my life.”

  “You feel as if I’m going to hurt you?”

  “I’m not sure. I trust you enough to want you in my life as my wife.”

  “Will it be enough?”

  “I pray the love we share will erase this deep-seated feeling.”

  “What if it doesn’t?” She didn’t know how to expunge the pain she’d caused him in their previous lives. Over the past couple of days, she’d debated whether she should tell him about her past lives. She’d decided against it because it sounded far-fetched, even if it was true.

  “I have faith it will,” he said with conviction.

  She repeated the question weighing heavily on her heart. “Is it enough?”

  Sean reached out to touch her cheek, but let his hand drop before making contact.

  Before the tears could well up in her eyes, she walked out of the kitchen and into her room.

  ***

  Everyone was relaxing in the living room after lunch when Sean and Ed went out for a walk, at Ed’s insistence.

  “Now, Ed, you take it easy on the poor boy,” Mom warned.

  “Who? Me?” He plastered an innocent look on his face. “We’re going out for a walk. No big deal.”

  “As I said, Son, take it easy. He’s going to be your brother soon.”

  Ed clapped a hand on Sean’s shoulder. “Which is why this little...um...stroll is so necessary.”

  Sean tried to catch Jasmine’s gaze. She refused to look at him before they left. She was confused. She knew he loved her, and she definitely loved him, but what good was a relationship without trust?

  A few minutes later the door opened. Jasmine looked up expecting to see Sean and Ed back because they’d forgotten something. She leapt up as an unexpected visitor stood in the doorway. She hated surprises.

  Chapter 18

  Jasmine ran to stand in front of Carly before her sister could do something rash.

  “What are you doing here, David?” Carly asked with venom dripping from every word.


  Jasmine blocked Carly from getting to the door while at the same time, guiding her backward until they stood next to Kevin behind the couch.

  “You weren’t invited.” Dad’s voice was low and dangerous.

  “I don’t understand why not,” the man slurred as his wild-eyed gaze roved to each person in the room.

  “Well, I don’t know,” Carly snapped. “It might have something to do with you leaving Jasmine at the altar. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you.” Her face contorted in anger. “Jasmine, will you move out of my way?”

  Jasmine ignored her. Keeping her tone calm, she asked, “David, what are you doing here?”

  “I came to join the family for Christmas.” His high-pitched laugh brought fear to her heart.

  Jasmine squinted at his reddened, glazed eyes “Are you high?” Or possessed?

  He stared unmoving for several seconds before shaking his head. “No. I mean yes. No.”

  “You should leave.” Afraid Carly would lunge for David’s throat, Jasmine stayed by her sister.

  “Christmas has just started.” He smacked his lips. “Eggnog would hit the spot. You did put rum in it, didn’t you, Mrs. Gibson? Sorry, you insisted that I call you Mom. Mom.”

  Carly hissed as she tried to circumvent Jasmine and failed.

  Dad lost his patience. “David, get out. Now!”

  Grandma and Mom stood together on one side of the room, watching the man Jasmine had almost married. Jasmine slipped her phone out of her pocket and palmed it.

  “No, not until after the Christmas dinner.”

  Jasmine’s voice turned glacial as she slipped the phone to Carly behind her. “Kevin, hold your wife.”

  Kevin nodded and wrapped his arms around Carly, who growled like a caged tiger ready to pounce once the gate opened.

  Jasmine walked toward David. “It’s time for you to leave.”

  He pulled out a gun. “Stay right there. I’m not taking any chances this time.” The gun wavered precariously in his hand. He had to support it with his left hand in order to keep it steady.

  She raised her hands while keeping her eyes trained on David and the weapon. “What are you talking about?” He’d learned to shoot during his army days, but she wasn’t sure how accurate he’d be in his current state.

  “I know what you did to those guys I sent to your parents’ house.” He carelessly waved the gun at them as he slurred his words. “And the ones I sent after your lover-boy. Idiots. I never knew you were so violent. Maybe I did subconsciously and that’s why I dumped your ass.”

  Jasmine’s jaw tightened as her mind worked in high gear, trying to figure out a way out of the situation without anyone getting shot. “You’re Venge,” she stated as acceptance of the situation hit her in full force. She’d never wanted to believe it.

  He moved farther into the house. “In the flesh.”

  This wasn’t the David she’d loved for so many years and almost married. This was a shadow of that man.

  She needed time. “Why did you want to have my parents beaten by those thugs?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked with a goofy grin.

  “No.”

  “To hurt you. Duh.”

  “What?”

  “Have you grown deaf? Jeez! I did it to hurt you,” he repeated slowly in a loud voice.

  From the corner of her eye, Jasmine could see her father edging closer to David. She waved him down.

  “I think you hurt her enough when you left her at the altar and then married that pregnant woman,” Mom snapped.

  Jasmine snuck closer when he focused on Mom. “Yeah, but she hurt me more when she was happy I’d left.”

  Dad exploded. “What kind of sense does that make?”

  “She never really loved me. She never gave all of herself to me. There was always something--” He weaved a little. “--missing.”

  “I loved you. It almost killed me when you left.”

  “But you don’t look like you’re dying now. You’re happy as a clam. You always loved your precious family more than me.”

  The realization of his accusation hit her like a sucker punch. “I’m sorry,” she said, meaning it.

  David arched his brows and released that chilling laughter. “You’re sorry? No you aren’t. I was trying to make you sorry. That’s why I pushed your dear bitch of a sister off the edge of the cliff, so you’d feel the pain I felt.”

  “You cut the brake line, too.”

  “It was only supposed to be your brother in the car, but all my plans were spoiled.” He stomped his foot as he whined. “If I have to explain about why I wanted your boyfriend’s--” He literally spat the word out. “--face slashed, then you’re one stupid chick.”

  Jasmine had no intention of giving into her anger. “Where’s your wife?”

  “That whore took my money and left.”

  Karma always won. “She was pregnant with your baby,” Jasmine said.

  He didn’t seem to notice when she inched closer to him. “Turns out it wasn’t even my baby. Slut.”

  “You were seeing her the whole time we were engaged,” Jasmine managed to say without gritting her teeth.

  “Yes, I was. And you stay right there. I see you trying to sneak up on me. I know you do that kung-fu crap. Stay there. I was always screwing someone else while I was with you. Hell, I was screwing everyone else.” His silly giggle unnerved her more than his admission. “Well, maybe not everyone. I never touched my secretary, Fran. You remember her, don’t you? The one woman you accused me of sleeping with. Ironically, I never did. I didn’t want to become a cliché. She was one hot piece of ass, too. Pity she talked so damn much.”

  The news should’ve evoked some sort of emotion in Jasmine, but nothing came. She wasn’t angry, upset, or hurt. Only relieved that she hadn’t married him. Sean’s face came to her mind. She prayed he and her brother would stay out for a long time.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw her father’s murderous scowl. She feared he’d try to play the hero and tackle David to save his family. Jasmine had to make sure that didn’t happen.

  “With your scheming actions you nearly scared me out of my mind. You see--” She held out her arms with her palms upward. “--you’ve already hurt me enough. Why don’t you put the gun down?”

  “I haven’t hurt you at all. Your strength is your family. You’ll feel so much pain if I destroy them.” He tapped a finger to his head. “That’s the way I’ve got it all figured out”

  “What are you doing here now?”

  He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I don’t remember you being this dumb.”

  If she could just get a little closer, she could leap and maneuver the gun out of his hand without anyone getting shot.

  “I’ve been watching you. You’re happy while I’m miserable.”

  “You can be happy, too.”

  “Hmmph. I want you to be miserable. I can only do this by taking away what you love most in the world. Are you getting it now, Jazzy?”

  She ground her teeth. She’d always hated when he called her Jazzy and had told him so on many occasions. Yet, he’d insisted on using the annoying nickname.

  “I think so, but why not just kill me?”

  Her mother and grandmother gasped.

  “You wouldn’t suffer if I did. But you’d be in agonizing pain if I offed your family and, of course, your lover-boy.”

  “You’ll never get away with it, David.”

  His voice was garbled as he answered, “I’m on a mission so you can call me Venge.”

  “Why Venge?” Jasmine had hated the name since she’d first heard it.

  “It was my handle in the army. I was always trying to get revenge on those who did me wrong. Bet you didn’t know that did you, Jazzy? More secrets for me,” he sing-songed.

  The door opened. Ed and Sean came in, laughing.

  They froze as they saw the gun pointed at them. Jasmine made her move just as Sean leapt at David. There was a struggle between the
two men and then a shot rang out. Someone screamed. Sean fell to the floor, blood pooling around him.

  Jasmine went ballistic. Grabbing David’s hand, she bent his wrist back and snapped it.

  He yelled in agony. After taking the gun from his limp fingers, she elbowed his jaw, shoved his face into her knee, and threw him to the floor, head first.

  If Sean hadn’t been shot, she’d have taken the time to do more damage.

  She eased Sean over as he writhed in pain. Blood soaked through his shirt. “Call an ambulance!” she shouted. “Sean, you’re going to be all right!”

  “I already called them. They’re on the way.” Carly said. “The police, too.”

  “Get me some clean towels.” Jasmine ripped off his shirt and saw where the bullet had entered then turned him over to view the exit wound. A clean shot through his right side. The kidney might be involved, but she couldn’t be sure.

  She put both of her hands at each of the wound sites to stem the bleeding.

  Kevin brought over some towels and she applied more pressure. “Sean.”

  He growled in pain.

  “Cut a sheet,” she snapped. “I need to use it as a bandage.”

  Grandma came back with a cut sheet, but by that time the police and ambulance had arrived.

  Jasmine continued to apply pressure while telling them about Sean’s gunshot wound. One of the paramedics relieved her. She was reluctant to remove her hands. “We can take it from here, ma’am.”

  She let go and one of the guys took over. After their quick treatment they rolled him into the back of the ambulance where she joined them.

  Jasmine’s bloodstained hand held Sean’s. “Sean, you’re going to be all right,” she whispered, sending him all the love and comfort she possessed

  He grunted then closed his eyes.

  When they reached the Emergency Room, the doctor examined him right away.

  The bleeding had slowed, but hadn’t stopped. Had an artery been hit?