“He motioned for us to take his hands, and he spoke a blessing over us. It was… very inspiring.” Her face glowed with an otherworldly peace, and Rafe envied her certainty about the future.
“What did he say?” Rafe asked, hoping for one last word of wisdom from their esteemed leader.
“He told us he felt blessed and honored to have led the Celestia for so many years, and he prayed that we would enjoy the same blessings. He said we shouldn’t be afraid to assume the responsibility, that we should be bold and confident in the position, and that he was passing the mantle on to us, and with it, all the truth and wisdom he had acquired over the years.”
Zeph lifted his head, tears running down his cheeks, his voice weak but also empowered. “I feel it, Rafe — all of it. Every ounce of his power and wisdom is radiating through my body. But it’s so heavy, the weight of it all, the responsibility. I can hardly bear it.”
Rafe put a hand on Zeph’s shoulder but immediately pulled back when a spark of electricity coursed through him. He had doubted that Zeph would be up for the challenge, but now he realized that neither Dominion nor the Father would leave Zeph unprepared for his duty. “He had faith in you, Zeph, and so do I.”
Zeph’s face twisted with emotion and he rose to his feet, taking a deep breath that seemed to double his stature as he assumed the most powerful role a Celestia could have. He reached out to Rafe and embraced him, his young body belying the intense power now held within. Rafe felt it crackle between them.
“Our lives are not our own, Rafe. We must always do the most good. No matter the cost.”
Rafe had come here looking for answers; was Zeph trying to give them to him? His words made sense and resonated with Rafe’s spirit, but what did they mean in regards to CeCe and Emily? What was the most good in their case? Like Dominion Connan, Zeph’s words were ambiguous. Maybe he wasn’t even referring to Rafe’s situation, maybe that was just the takeaway message Zeph had received for himself.
“Let’s go, Eve. We have work to do,” Zeph said, taking his wife’s hand and casting one last glance at Dominion Connan. He leaned over and kissed the man’s cheeks then laid a hand on his forehead. “Enjoy your reward, Dominion; you deserve it. I promise to do my best to live up to your example.”
Zeph nodded at Rafe, and Eve squeezed his hand as they passed by, suddenly in a hurry to start their assignment.
Rafe stared at the lifeless body of Dominion, the powerful presence gone, nothing left but a withered body. He sighed and gently caressed Dominion’s cheek, saying his own goodbye.
Eventually, he wandered out into the hallway in a daze, not sure what to do with himself. It was too early to go to the clinic. He decided to take a walk and enjoy the early morning air, maybe stop for a coffee.
The air was crisp, but the bright sun and cloudless sky promised a warm day, and Rafe had a sudden desire to spend the day enjoying it instead of working. Life was short, even if you lived a hundred years — Dominion Connan could attest to that. And you never knew when tragedy would strike.
The streets were fairly empty this early in the morning, only a few ambitious workers heading into the office already, briefcases and cellphones in hand, their energy supplied artificially by coffee. Rafe strolled leisurely around them, taking his time, enjoying the bite in the air and the warm sun on his face. He slowed to admire the displays in the store windows, something he normally never noticed.
The coffee shop where he had met CeCe had put out a sign announcing the day’s specials, and he noticed it from a block away, but before he got there, a floral display caught his attention. Daisies bloomed from a watering can planter set atop a decorative wagon filled with asters and dahlias. A familiar face was arranging the cheerful setting.
“Hi Annabelle,” Rafe said, drawing her attention away from the flowers.
The young florist smiled back at him. “Hi Rafe, how are you today? You’re out and about kind of early.” Annabelle Sera was tall and waif-like with wispy blonde hair and a sweet disposition.
“Yeah, I went to visit Dominion.” He cringed as soon as he said it, because he knew what was coming.
“How’s he doing?”
Rafe sighed. He might as well tell her the truth. The news would spread quickly, anyway. He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it. “He actually passed away this morning.”
“Oh, Rafe, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Her perky face instantly fell, a sharp contrast to the cheerful flowers surrounding her. “I’m glad you told me, though. I guess I’m going to be pretty busy this week.”
Understanding dawned on him. Of course. Their kind liked to support each other, and she was the only Celestia florist in town, so she would most likely get lots of orders for funeral arrangements.
“Yeah, I probably should order something, too. What do you think would be appropriate? I don’t know much about flowers.”
“Come on inside, I’ll show you a few things that would be nice.”
The shop was crowded with flowers in every shape and color — bright pink geraniums blooming from pots, orange trumpet flowers climbing up vines, lilacs laying in baskets, roses in every shade standing tall in crystal vases, and flowers Rafe couldn’t even name bursting from every nook and cranny of the little store. The air was layered with so many different scents Rafe could hardly breathe. Annabelle propped the door open, letting the fragrant air waft out into the street and circulating a stream of clean air through the small space.
“White is always nice for a funeral, but Dominion was such a vibrant person, it would be a shame not to have some color at the funeral,” Annabelle said, fingering an arrangement of snow white lilies. Rafe nodded. He was partial to bright colors, anyway.
“What about yellow? Yellow says hope to me, and I know that’s what Dominion would want us to feel about the future,” Annabelle suggested, and Rafe startled. Was that a word of encouragement for him? He wouldn’t put it past Dominion to speak from heaven. His eyes grew misty at the thought of it. He didn’t expect to miss him so much already.
“What kind of flowers are yellow? “His voice cracked with emotion. “I think I’d like something bold and powerful, like Dominion was.”
“Sunflowers,” a familiar voice called from behind him.
Rafe jerked around. “CeCe?”
“Hi, Rafe.” Her voice was a soothing balm to his aching soul. She approached him and he reached out to her, embracing her tightly.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was heading for the coffee shop, but then I smelled the flowers and decided to get some.”
“You like flowers?” Rafe laughed.
“Sure; who doesn’t?”
“It’s just, I mean, well,… you can’t see them.” Rafe struggled to explain what he thought was obvious.
“You can still appreciate flowers without being able to see them.” There was a touch of irritation in her voice, and Rafe immediately felt bad.
“You can smell them…” She buried her nose in a nearby bouquet. “Soft and feminine, but musky, with a touch of citrus — must be roses and baby’s breath.”
Rafe dropped his jaw, amazed. His nose was overwhelmed with the conflicting scents, but she was spot on.
“You can touch them…” She caressed the flowers of another arrangement, her fingers running slowly up the stems then gently tracing the swirls of the petals. Rafe shivered as he imagined her fingers paying that much attention to him. “Peonies, I believe.”
Rafe looked to Annabelle for confirmation and she nodded, impressed.
“You can even eat some of them…” She roamed around the shop, sniffing, then stopped and plucked some petals from a flower that reminded Rafe of a boutonnière. She popped them in her mouth and chewed delicately, savoring the flavor. “Like carnations.”
Annabelle raised an eyebrow and smirked, but Rafe couldn’t take his eyes off CeCe.
“Well, now that I know how much you like them, I’ll make sure to bring you some next time,” he murmured,
and CeCe smiled. “Which ones are your favorite?”
“Roses, of course. They’re every girl’s favorite, aren’t they?”
Rafe chuckled. “I’ll try to remember that.”
“What are you doing here, Rafe?” CeCe asked, running her fingers down his arm, momentarily stunning him.
“Uh, a friend died, so I thought I’d order some flowers for the funeral.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Were you close?” She moved in closer, making it impossible for Rafe to concentrate on the question.
“I wish we’d been closer.”
CeCe nodded solemnly, understanding his regret. “Isn’t that always the case?”
“He lived a really long and satisfying life, but it still hurts to see him go.” He was glad CeCe couldn’t see the tears pooling in his eyes.
“You know, Rafe, even though I can’t see the flowers, I can still appreciate them, maybe even more so than people who can see them, because I try hard to find the beauty in them. There’s always beauty to be found, even in death. Was your friend ill?”
“He was very old, and I think he was in quite a bit of pain at the end.”
“Then death brought relief to him. Do you think he’s in heaven?”
“Definitely.” Rafe smiled at the image of Dominion, celebrating in heaven with a healthy new body. He was probably playing pranks on St. Peter.
CeCe smiled at Rafe’s certainty. “Then death was his reward. Did he die with many regrets?”
“I doubt he had any.”
“Then he died at peace. What more could you ask for after a long and satisfying life?”
Rafe sighed and pulled her closer, resting his chin on her head. “How’d you get to be so wise, CeCe?”
She sighed and wrapped her arms around him. “I had to learn to find the good in things pretty early in life, so I guess I’ve just had a lot of practice. See, every tragedy has its own beauty.”
“Your take on the world is so refreshing, CeCe. I see so much pain and heartache every day…” He gulped as he realized that wouldn’t make sense coming from a college professor, but CeCe didn’t seem to notice. “Do you have time to go for a walk with me? I want to see the world through your eyes for a little while.”
“I’d like that.”
“Annabelle, can you make an arrangement of sunflowers for the funeral? I think they’d be perfect.”
“Sure, Rafe. I’ll see you there.”
Rafe nodded and waved goodbye then took CeCe’s hand to lead her out of the floral shop. They walked quietly for a few minutes before CeCe spoke.
“Can you feel the sun on your face, Rafe? It’s a beautiful day. The temperature is perfect. Although even rainy days can be nice.”
“I like the rain, as long as I don’t have to be out in it.”
“But being in the rain is fun — the tickle of raindrops on your skin, the sound of them pitter-pattering on every surface, the slosh of the water when you walk through puddles.”
“You make it sound like an adventure,” Rafe said and instantly wished it was raining so he could experience it with her.
“Life is an adventure, Rafe. You just have to learn to appreciate it. Stop and listen. Can you hear the symphony?” CeCe paused in the middle of the sidewalk and lifted her head, closing her sightless eyes.
“What?” All Rafe heard was cacophony.
“All the different instruments, playing in harmony. There’s the sound of footsteps providing the melody, the hum of the cars is the bass line, and the other sounds are like accents — the tweet of the birds, doors squeaking open, the jingle of cellphones. It’s beautiful.” She turned around in a circle, slowly, arms stretched wide.
“You’re beautiful, CeCe.” He slid his hands along her arms, capturing her hands with his. He pulled her close, wrapping their arms around her back as he leaned in to kiss her. He didn’t care that they were in the middle of the city, with hundreds of cars driving by and dozens of pedestrians swarming around them.
Her attitude amazed him. How could someone who endured so much be so positive about everything? He wondered what she would be like if she hadn’t experienced so much heartache, and he wished desperately to give the precious gift of sight back to her. She of all people would not take it for granted.
He needed more time with her, though, to make sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“CeCe, I have to go to work soon, but when can I see you again?”
Chapter 9
The week dragged for Rafe, even though he was busy every minute of it. He had a full schedule at the clinic, plus classes to teach most evenings. He wasn’t sure when the funeral for Dominion would be, so he didn’t want to make any firm plans with CeCe, but all he could think about was seeing her again.
He knew she had plans to visit Emily, and he was disappointed he couldn’t join them. His heart softened like a melting chocolate bar every time he thought of the little girl.
When the announcement was made that Dominion’s funeral would be on Sunday during their normal church time, Rafe immediately called to see if CeCe was free Saturday.
“Will you spend the whole day with me?” he begged. Going out in the evening wasn’t enough for him.
CeCe laughed at the sound of desperation in his voice, but inside she felt the same sense of longing. “What will we do all day?” she asked, curious. Not that it really mattered; she just wanted his company.
“We could take Emily somewhere fun in the morning, then in the evening maybe we can spend some time alone.”
“You want to spend more time with Emily?” She was surprised he was interested in the little girl. She felt a connection to her because of their shared experience, but she wasn’t sure why a man like Rafe would be interested in a random child. It warmed her heart, though, and the image of the three of them together sent tingles of familial comfort radiating through her.
“Sure, she’s a great kid, and I had fun last weekend. Is there something you’d like to do with her that’d be hard for you two to do alone?”
CeCe thought for a moment. “Well, it is supposed to be really warm and sunny on Saturday. What about going to the pool? I’m not sure if Emily can swim or not, but I’d feel safer knowing someone else was there to keep an eye on her.”
The image of CeCe in a swimsuit, water cascading from her body as she climbed from the pool in the bright sunlight made Rafe groan with desire, and the word “yes” came out of his mouth before his brain had a chance to contemplate whether or not that was a good idea.
Rafe was at CeCe’s door by 9am, dressed in a tee shirt and board shorts. CeCe opened the door as soon as he rang the bell, and he wondered if she had been waiting right next to it.
She was fresh-faced, and her cheeks were pink with eagerness and dotted with tiny freckles he’d never noticed before under the perfectly-applied makeup she usually wore. Only a hint of lip balm accentuated her naturally pink lips. She hadn’t bothered to wash and curl the blonde hair that usually hung in long, perfect tendrils, but instead had just brushed out yesterday’s style into loose, soft waves. The crocheted lace of her swimsuit cover-up offered an enticing peek at the curves beneath it.
Altogether, she looked much more touchable than normal, and Rafe couldn’t resist running his hands through her soft hair and pulling her in for a kiss. He caressed the clean skin of her cheeks and traced her nose and eyebrows with one finger. “I like this look on you,” he murmured.
CeCe giggled. “Jessica said I could go casual since I was just going to get all wet as soon as we got there.”
“You can go casual anytime. You’re beautiful just the way God made you.”
CeCe blushed and dropped her head, but Rafe lifted her chin and stared at her, wishing not for the first time that they could make eye contact. He smiled at her, and she smiled back, and Rafe wondered if she could sense that he was staring at her.
He pulled away reluctantly and picked up her tote bag so her hand would be free to hold onto him. With Dexter th
ere she really didn’t need him to guide her, but he loved the feel of her tiny hand wrapped around the crook of his elbow.
“I’ve never been to this pool before, have you?” Rafe asked as they drove to Emily’s.
“Yeah, my adoptive parents used to take us there a lot when we were little. Didn’t you ever go swimming?”
“Oh, I loved to swim. The house I grew up in had a pool in the backyard; my sister and I spent most of our summers there. She worked on her tan and I worked on my cannonballs. My parents downsized when we moved out, though.”
CeCe gave a small grin at the picture of Rafe as a young boy, splashing around in the water with his sister. “You haven’t told me much about your family.”
Rafe grimaced. That was because he wasn’t sure how she’d feel if she knew they were doctors. “It’s just the four of us,” he said, keeping it vague. “Me, my parents, and my sister, Elethea. She’s two years younger than me.”
“Are you close? What is your family like?”
Rafe chuckled. “Sometimes a little too close, I think.” Working with his father and sister meant they were always in his business — personal and professional. “My mom is really fun and easygoing, my dad and sister are more serious. I guess I’m somewhere in the middle. But we all get along well.”
“That sounds really nice.” Her voice was wistful.
“You never got close to your adoptive parents?”
“No, they were good to us, but they never accepted my blindness, and it was always a barrier between us. We still talk sometimes and see each other occasionally, but we’re not a close-knit family.”
“Maybe someday you’ll make your own family, and you can be as close as you want to.” Rafe didn’t say what he was really thinking, that he hoped to be part of her family someday, but the depth of emotion in his voice hinted at his intention.
CeCe squeezed his hand in answer, the lump in her throat too big to talk over. She wanted to ask more questions about his family, but they had arrived at Emily’s house.
Date with Destiny Collection: Angel Romance Series: Books 1 - 4 Page 51
