Her Deadly Reunion

by Beth Ziarnik

  Her thoughts turned to Clay and her father talking at the hospital. Though Clay hadn’t shared much of what they said, he told her enough to know all was now well between the two. “I’m so glad you and Dad have finally come to an understanding.”

  His silence made her nerves prickle. She sat up and stared at him. “What?”

  “Actually, he wanted to know if I was good enough for you.”

  Jill studied him. “He grilled you?”

  Clay chuckled. “Like a marshmallow in a fireplace.”

  She playfully slapped at his arm. “He did not.”

  Slowly rubbing his chin, Clay nodded like a lazy bobble-head doll. “He did, and then I asked him a point-blank question.”

  When Clay didn’t go on or even look at her, Jill tugged at him. “Well?”

  “I asked his permission to marry you.”

  “You what?” Jill sat straight up and stared at him. Had she heard right?

  He trailed his forefinger along her cheek. “You heard me.”

  Yes, she had, and she could kiss him soundly for including her father in this special way. “Oh, Clay, what a dear thing to do.”

  With the pads of his thumbs, he brushed her cheeks. Then taking her hand, he stood and drew her up with him. She leaned into his arms and kissed him long, savoring the joy and peace that made them seem as one.

  When she pulled away, her arms still holding him, he winked at her. “That was mighty fine, Miss Shepherd, but we still have unfinished business.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Come.” He held out his hand, waiting.

  She put her hand in his as she had that first time months ago, but this time followed him to the Christmas tree.

  Again, his eyes locked with hers as if he couldn’t get enough of the simple gesture. “We have not exchanged Christmas gifts.”

  Jill’s hand flew to her lips. “But I don’t have mine for you.”

  “Yes, you do. Look under the tree.”

  He was right. “But how—”

  “I smuggled them in from the truck in my coat pockets. While you had your audience with Mrs. Gates, I put them under the tree.” He grinned at her. “I figured she had invited us to a peace treaty, and we might have this opportunity.”

  “May I go first?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Jill snatched his gift from beneath the tree and placed it in his hands. She held her breath as he removed the silvery bow and wrapping paper. Would he love what she had especially picked out for their first Christmas?

  Clay opened the box and stared, not moving for a long moment before he removed the pure gold necklace with its cross. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his face appeared so sober that Jill panicked. Maybe he didn’t wear necklaces, not even masculine ones.

  “Where did you find this?” he asked with a catch in his throat.

  “I was praying and shopping online when I saw it. It seemed to jump out at me as if I was meant to buy it for you. Why? Is something the matter?” Had she made a huge mistake? It seemed so right at the time. Not to mention, it had cost her dearly.

  As he held it in his hand, he appeared baffled. “I lost one exactly like this in Iraq. My grandmother gave it to me before I deployed, saying it would remind me of Whose I was and that He was with me no matter what I faced.” He looked down at the gleaming necklace. “I never thought I would see it again.”

  She could barely breathe. “You think it’s the one you lost?”

  He turned the cross over and showed her three tiny, almost invisible initials. “Yes. Through you, God replaced what I lost. And now this treasure carries a double meaning. I could never thank you enough.”

  She savored the sweetness of the moment as Clay held the necklace.

  Jill looked up at him, still as stunned as he. “Are … are you going to put it on?”

  “Absolutely.” He undid the clasp. Within a few seconds, the necklace encircled his neck. He closed his right hand around the cross and bowed his head. “Lord, thank you for this gift given to me through the hands and heart of this woman I love. I will treasure You, her, and it always.”

  Jill watched Clay through misty eyes. How good of God to guide her. Their first Christmas could not be more special.

  Clay reached for the remaining gift under the tree. “I’ve been planning this moment for weeks, but it never occurred to me how difficult it might be to pull off. Until a collector who wanted my truck agreed to buy it for the right price.”

  “Oh, no, you didn’t. That truck means so much to you.”

  “I think Carl would approve. I can do without the truck, but I could never do without you.” He placed the gift in her hands. “Open it.”

  Removing the gold ribbon and wrappings, she found a white velvet jewelry box. Her heart thumped, and her hands trembled as she opened it. She gasped in delight. “Oh, Clay, it’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

  He carefully lifted the box from her hands and went down on one knee, his eyes still fixed on her as she stared at him wide-eyed.

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  “Jill Ashley Shepherd, loving you has made me realize my life will never be complete without you. I promise no one will work harder to make you happy or cherish you more. No matter what challenges life throws our way, I will love you always and forever. Will you marry me?”

  Tears blurred her vision as she sank to her knees and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

  In the glow of the Christmas lights, he took her hands and drew them back to stand before the tree. He removed from the box a pear-shaped diamond ring with a tiny, brilliant cut diamond on either side. His gray eyes shining, he lifted her left hand, kissed it, then slipped the ring onto her finger.

  Jill watched, fascinated as the beautiful symbol of their love blazed to life in the reflected lights of the tree. Her heart fairly burst with joy.

  Moving into his arms, she leaned back and drank in all the love that shone in his eyes. Slowly, he lowered his head and brushed her lips with his own. Warmth spread through her like wildfire. As she yielded her lips to his holy expression of undying love, the mantle clock chimed twelve times.

  Twelve. A number meaning completeness and perfection, everything sure to be theirs as, with the Lord, they moved into this grand New Year.

  THE END

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