When she could finally speak, she hiccupped, which caused her to emit the smallest of chuckles.
“My sister has brain cancer.” She stared into his eyes, renewed strength gathered after the avalanche of emotion. “She’s been fighting it for over a year. I’ve been visiting off and on, but it was getting worse. About a month ago she went into a coma, and the doctors recommended that the only last course of action would be to remove the lobe of her brain containing the cancer.” Kristen took a deep cleansing breath again.
Chase reached for her hands and just held them in hers. He said nothing, waiting patiently for her to continue on her own time. She adored him for that.
“It was a last resort. She couldn’t even participate in the decision I had to make.” She knew her voice rose, but she didn’t care. “I just love her so much. I didn’t want her to die. I wanted to do whatever it would take to try to save her life, even if it meant unknown consequences. She’ll possibly never fully recover. They don’t know what the brain will do to make up for the loss. Every case is different. She may never walk again. She may never talk again. I…I just wanted the chance. Even if it was small. Maybe, just maybe, I could get my sister back.” Kristen stared straight in Chase’s eyes and leaned forward. “Am I selfish?”
He spoke for the first time since she began. “No, baby, of course not. Anyone would make the same decision. It’s natural.” Chase scooted his chair around the table and pulled Kristen into his embrace. His warmth reached into her soul. She relaxed her muscles and let him hold her. He just gently rocked almost imperceptibly back and forth and ran his hands through her hair.
She spoke against his chest. “It could be months, or years, or even the rest of my life that I have to stay with her, care for her. I…I didn’t…I don’t want to drag someone else through that with me.” She felt him stiffen.
“Can you let others make those decisions for themselves, honey?” Chase pulled her head back gently and gazed at her from just inches away. “I’ve missed you so much. What we had, however brief, meant the world to me. Didn’t you feel that, too?”
“Yes,” she conceded. “But…”
“No buts. Just feelings. You can’t deny feelings. Please, Kristen, don’t throw away what fate has given us, just because you are too stubborn to share your burden.” His words were harsh, but they rang true.
“What if…”
“Nope. There are no ‘what ifs’. I know it’s crazy, but I’m in love with you. I have been since the moment you walked into that restaurant. I want to be with you. Here. In Dallas. Anywhere. In whatever capacity your life can handle. Please, give this a chance. Give us a chance.” Hope spread across his face. A smile she would never tire of bloomed even brighter when she returned it.
“You can see.”
“You just noticed that?” Chase chuckled.
“God, I’m such an ass.” Kristen winced at her oversight.
“No you aren’t. Just preoccupied. I’ll forgive the indiscretion. But only if you’ll agree to put your faith in our relationship. In my ability to stand with you through thick and thin.” He was leaning closer now. His lips inches from hers.
“The corneas?” She had to know more. What had he been through?
“Good as new. A complete success. It took a few weeks to get where I am now, but they say I should stay stable at my new twenty-forty for years to come. And baby, you are even more gorgeous than I imagined.” Chase closed the gap between them and kissed Kristen like a starving man.
She grasped the front of his shirt with both hands and just held on for the ride. The ride of a lifetime. Eyes closed, Kristen realized just how blind love was.
“Hey.” She pulled back. “How did you know it as me? When I came in the room.”
“Are you kidding? I’d know your voice anywhere. And the Chanel. Don’t forget the Chanel.” He leaned in to nuzzle her neck and drag in a long whiff of her perfume. “And then there were the pictures of course.” He laughed.
Kristen swatted his arm. “You faker!” But she was smiling through it all.
Chase reached back with one hand and pulled out a tattered envelope to show her. Inside were about a dozen pictures she recognized from Margo’s collection.
“Margo.”
“Of, course. Who else? And wait ’til I tell you about her sneaky underhanded methods when it comes to investigating missing people…” Without continuing, he leaned in again and drew Kristen’s mouth close for another long heated kiss. The first of thousands she hoped to receive. At least to start with.
The End
About the Author:
Becca Jameson lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two kids. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, editing, scrapbooking, running, swimming, biking, or taxiing kids all over creation. She doesn’t sleep much…or sit down often…but she loves to be busy! To learn more about Becca Jameson, visit her blog at www.beccajameson.com or email her at beccajameson4@aol.com
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2007: Terran Realm
Urban fantasy world: TerranRealm.com
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
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