“He always does that to me,” he said disappointed.
“It’s a respect thing, don’t take it personal. When he gets here you’ll have plenty of time.” With that Jacob carefully leaned over Sheryl adjusting her seatbelt for maximum comfort before delivering a final kiss upon her moist ruby lips.
“Ready?” he inquired.
“Ready,” she said smiling.
Although conversation was nearly nonexistent, emotions were abound, as they headed toward their destination. Sheryl tried her best to stay awake but eventually slipped into a peaceful slumber. Jacob smiled again for what seemed the thousandth time as he placed his hand over hers making her relax even further.
Finally arriving, Sheryl woke with an ostentatious and powerful yawn. “Are we here?” she said looking out of the window at a tall black gate.
“Yeah,” said Jacob releasing his belt and opening the car door. With the straightening of his tie, he opened the back door and grabbed his suit jacket.
“Baby, I think you two deserve a little time alone. I’m gonna stay put and enjoy this beautiful breeze.”
Jacob looked at Sheryl nodding in agreement. How amazing this specimen of a woman was. The past seven months had been the happiest he could remember being in years. It’s funny how things had come to pass. With that thought, he grabbed a small bouquet of flowers and closed the door, waving goodbye to Sheryl as he approached the gate.
The sun was at its peak now as the afternoon graced the long and open courtyard. The crumpling of dried golden leaves could be heard as Jacob made his way to a large burnished marble headstone. He nervously took to his knees as he cleared his throat readying to speak to his late wife again for what seemed an eternity.
“Happy Birthday sweetheart,” he began. “Theresa…if God could have sent me an angel from heaven to watch over me…he couldn’t have made a better choice. For a time, I wondered whether or not what I had discovered of this simplistic device, would play a part in my undoing.” Jacob looked at his watch pausing for a second as he released a long but relaxing sigh. “But something told me to help those I had discovered in need…to not be selfish. And in some strange way I felt in my heart that you helped me make those decisions. It was as if…you were leading the way the whole time. I’ve always believed in having control over my own destiny, but I never imagined in a million years I would be where I am today. Make no mistake there isn’t a day that goes by where you are not in my thoughts. But I have come to terms that you are once again leading me in another direction.”
With those last words, Jacob looked back at his car. He could see Sheryl in the distanced, relaxed in the passenger’s seat and sound asleep once more. “I guess what I’m trying to say is…I want your blessing with moving on. Sheryl…she’s a great woman…and…and I love her.” Jacob paused for a second time realizing the true genuineness of his last statement. “I just…I just want to say, thank you Theresa. Thank you…and, and I will always love you.”
Jacob then released the latch of his watch, took it off, and slid it carefully around the bouquet of flowers before placing them next to Theresa’s headstone. “I won’t be needing this anymore…thank you.” he said (his voice now becoming unsteady). With that Jacob slowly looked to the sky and then kissed his hand placing it on the engravings of the marble that read; Here Lies, Theresa Parnell.
Back in the car, Sheryl now awake, looked back as she saw Jacob slowly approaching looking behind him from whence he came. It was her idea…for him to come today. To pay tribute to his late wife as she was grateful for the last seven months with Jacob and even more grateful for what their future held together. Smiling, she raised her left hand allowing the beautiful solitaire engagement ring to catch light, refracting it eloquently upon the car’s dashboard. She knew Jacob loved her and she would wait for him as long as it would take till he was ready to make her his wife.
“Did you miss me?” asked Jacob as he entered the car.
“We both did,” she replied. “So, you really did it huh?” Sheryl continued, making reference to Jacob’s bare wrist.
“Yeah, for some reason I think it served its purpose...and I’m clearly undeserving of such power.”
“Now I wouldn’t say that. I think you’d make a wonderful superhero,” she chuckled. “We could call you…Watch Out!”
“How about no,” replied Jacob cocking an eyebrow.
“So, what are you going to tell your father? The watch has only been in your family for like…ever.”
“I’ll think of something. But for now, what does my ‘Crimson Goddess’ want to eat?” Sheryl looked over at Jacob in a seductive manner biting her lower lip. “Ice-cream it is!” he announced. Ecstatic at Jacob being able to read her so well Sheryl clapped her hands like an excited child and rubbed her tummy as Jacob started the car and drove away slowly.
“Honey?” began Sheryl.
“Yes baby.”
“I love you…and later tonight…I’ll show you ‘The Crimson Goddess’!
As the two drove away, the leaves rustled behind their car seeing them off and bidding farewell. And then it happened. A mysterious figure approached and loomed over Theresa’s grave casting an ugly and foreboding shadow. A decrepit and quivering hand reached and grabbed the flowers removing the watch from their presence. “Oh no my boy Jacob, I’m not done with the Parnell family just yet,” croaked a familiar and eerie voice. “I’ll wait for the day your son is of age. For I am forever patient, and I have nothing…but time!
YOU made this possible. I thank you my reader for allowing me to share my vision with you. I want to assure you it doesn’t stop here. I am hard at work on my next three ventures;
THE KEY
THE HOLBERG COLLECTION vol 1
And
A. D. SOMMERIO’s BOOK of SHORT STORIES.
Don’t forget to visit sommeriobooks.com for more information on all of my work going forward.
No one does something like this alone. It is because of my support structure that any of this is possible. That said, I would like to take this time to give special thanks.
The Sommerio Family
You all motivate me. You drive me (nuts). I am forever grateful.
Chris Adams (Impakt)
There is no greater gift a writer can receive than a place to create. You provided my “Fortress of Solitude” at Impakt Studio. Without it, Borrowed Time would not be here today.
Jennifer Walsh
My second set of eyes. You gave invaluable insight, making Borrowed Time a much better read.
The BookBaby Team
You provided the avenue to make my dream come true. I look forward to working with you all again very soon.
My Readers
There is no me without you. I hope, I was able to make some of you laugh, cry, cringe or even cheer for our protagonist. Have we seen the last of him…?
Antonio D Sommerio has one main focus he strives to achieve in all of his writing. To write with such a visual style as to allow his readers to “interact” with the story and characters. “I don’t want my readers to feel ‘safe’. I want them anxious and ready, as if they are with my characters.”
His visual style of writing has gotten the attention of many local directors, praising him for his work, which eases the transition from literature to film. Antonio Sommerio lives in Chicago, IL with his wife and three children.
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