Part 20 (1/2)

Samuel turned to me. His face was solemn ”Yes. But no. Not anymore.”

”What happened?”

”He died two years ago. It was pretty rough on her.”

That must have been what Rebecca had eluded to. And though my heart went out to Annie, I could barely conceal my own selfish relief. She was single! There was a chance I might win her back! Certainly the years were unrecoverable, but if I could have Annie and my kids... I sucked in a deep breath, and leaned back on the seat, soaking up the peace brought by this newfound hope.

Again we sat with our own thoughts as the car veered off the highway and followed a dirt road. Slowly the car turned and the tires crunched down a gravel driveway to a log cabin overlooking a quiet lake. A figure stood in the doorway. I immediately recognized her. From the distance, she appeared the same as I remembered her, as if no time had pa.s.sed.

The car rolled to a stop. Samuel jumped out and opened my door. I looked nervously over the seat at Rebecca.

”Go ahead,” she said encouragingly.

”I don't know what to say,” I whispered.

”Just take one step at a time.” Her genuine smile brought me comfort. In spite of all the years that had pa.s.sed, she welcomed my return, and seemed excited at the prospect of my reconnecting with her mother.

I swung my legs out of the car and Samuel helped me up with a firm grasp. ”Do you have my cane, Sam?”

”Right here.” He grabbed it from the front seat.

I gripped the handle and rested my weight on it. Annie had come down to the bottom of the cobblestone path. Her eyes spoke volumes. She was happy to see me, but the many years stood between us like a gulf. For me it was only one day, but for her-- it was a lifetime.

She hadn't changed much. She looked considerably older, but age had done nothing to deface her beauty. Her eyes were the same brilliant sapphire, her blond hair twisted in curls to her shoulders. Pensively she stood with her arms folded over her midsection. I could tell she wanted to speak-- and yet, she remained silent.

Everything took on a new sense of realism as I stood looking at her face. It was the same feeling I'd had when I'd seen my reflection in the mirror earlier. Only this was worse. To see my beautiful bride looking so much older... How she must have suffered. And yet, in her eyes-- I actually saw a look of apology.

”Are you okay?” I said sheepishly.

”I had given up hope,” she said quietly.

”It was a long time to wait. I wouldn't expect you to...”

”I waited,” she said abruptly. ”It hurt terribly, but I waited.”

”I'm so sorry, Annie. I'm sorry you had to go through this. It must have been horrible.”

”It's not your your fault. It's just that-- seeing you is...” She squeezed herself a little tighter. ”It's just not what I expected.” fault. It's just that-- seeing you is...” She squeezed herself a little tighter. ”It's just not what I expected.”

I studied her expression. ”Is that good, good, or bad?” or bad?”

”Good,” she blurted. ”It's just that, it's been so long. long. I didn't think I would feel I didn't think I would feel anything, anything, and, I didn't. 'Til just now.” and, I didn't. 'Til just now.”

Was it true? Could she possibly still have feelings for me after all these years? It was more than I dared to hope.

”You-- recovered so quickly. It's remarkable,” she said, superficially.

”It's a miracle.”

”Yes.” She corrected herself. ”A miracle.” She stepped in toward me and her eyes flickered up. ”Do you remember remember us? Our life together? For me it was so long ago.” us? Our life together? For me it was so long ago.”

I shook my head. ”For me it was just last week week I was dancing with you, my very pregnant wife, on our balcony overlooking the bay.” I was dancing with you, my very pregnant wife, on our balcony overlooking the bay.”

She became contemplative.

”It was the night you told me we were going to have a son, and that you had never been so happy in all your life.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

”It was just yesterday for me. I had everything a man could desire, and more.”

She looked up at me and a tear trickled down her cheek. ”It was so perfect I thought I had dreamed it.” Her voice became a whisper. ”Were we that that happy once?” happy once?”

”If you could find it in yourself to give me a second chance, we could be happy again.” I immediately regretted the words. Talking about the past was one thing. But this was way too fast-- for someone who had lived twenty-one years since yesterday.

I started to mouth an apology. But she stopped me. ”You don't need a second chance, Thomas. You never failed me the first time.” She slid her arms under mine and hugged my chest. The smell of her hair had changed, but I was immediately satisfied by the new scent. This was not the wife of my memory, but she was still my Annie.

I looked up to see Rebecca standing by the back of the car, struggling to keep her emotions from overtaking her, and it was more than I could bear. My own tears began to flow. My baby girl... To me it was just yesterday she was strutting around the backyard in a paper crown, pretending to be a queen and giving orders to the dog. Now she was a grown woman! But she had not forgotten me. She had not stopped loving her daddy.

I held my hand out to her. ”Come here, sweetheart.”

She ran over and threw her arms around us. ”I love you, Daddy,” she whispered.

”I love you too, honey.”

I felt Samuel's hand on my back. ”Welcome home, Dad,” he said, his voice cracking. ”Welcome home.”

CHAPTER 19.

THE PLAN.

001001011001110.

Inside, the light was warm and inviting. Annie had always possessed a keen eye for interior decoration. Rectangular cedar pillars held up thick rustic beams, which crossed back and forth in the s.p.a.cious ceiling above. To the left, was the kitchen, to the right, a sunken living room, and straight in front of us, stairs leading up to a loft.

Annie helped me to a comfortable seat next to the kitchen table. I gripped the arms weakly and sat down.

”Be right back,” said Rebecca, heading up the stairs.

”Can I get you anything?” asked Annie. Her face was still flush from our unexpectedly tearful reunion.

”A cup of tea would be nice. Earl...”

”Grey,” she finished. ”Yes. I remember.”

I watched in silence as she pulled a cup from the cupboard. She was still very beautiful. The years had been far more gracious to her than they had been to me. Her face had thickened slightly and there was a hint of gray in her blonde hair, but other than that, she hadn't changed much at all.