Forever (Fallen Series Book 3)

by Micalea Smeltzer

  The flooring was wide plank hardwood stained in a dark but glossy finish. It felt smooth under my feet. The kitchen was a descent size with beautiful dark wood cabinets, Jonathon knew that I didn’t like light wood, and gray counter tops made out of a material I wasn’t familiar with. It looked like little pebbles or piece of glass. All the appliances were stainless steel and there was a huge farm house sink that I immediately gushed over. The backsplash was long white tiles that created a sleek modern look to the cottage house. The island had a raised portion where two stools were butted up against it. A large light hung above the island spotlighting the large vase of white tulips there.

  Jonathon tugged me on the arm to pull me away from the kitchen. I was already imagining all the meals I could make. He led me into the foyer, which looked up into the second story, a large lantern hung down adding to the beach cottage feel of the place. He pulled me into the family room that had one wall of windows, unlike Gabriel’s whole house. Like I had thought, the window overlooked the ocean and had a private stretch of beach. A dock stretched out into the water with a gazebo and a large boat.

  “Is that our boat?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he chuckled. “I always did enjoy the water and I thought what the hell, I bought a beach house, I might as well buy a boat.”

  “Oh, of course. Why not buy a massive boat?” I threw my hands in the air.

  He chuckled. I plunked myself down on the comfy white sectional with large navy and red pillows. There was a dark navy knit blanket draped over the couch and a large leather ottoman to put your feet up on. There was a fireplace where a low fire was blazing and large TV. Large white built in bookshelves, loaded with all kinds of books, movies, and games, flanked the fireplace. A large oriental rug, in blues and reds, defined the space. Little boats, anchors, and ropes added to the nautical beach house theme. Jonathon settled down next to me.

  “You really do like it?”

  “I love it,” I snuggled against his rock hard side. I was so used to the cold temperature of his skin that I barely felt it anymore. “I can’t believe you bought a house.”

  “Well, we can’t live with my aunt and uncle forever can we? We’re married now. I think we deserve our own place.”

  “But we will still see them won’t we?” I asked.

  “Of course,” he chuckled. “We’re going back to Rome after your brothers’ graduation.”

  “Oh, I had forgotten about that,” I mumbled. We had already been our honeymoon for almost a month but it felt like we had just left. In a week and a handful of days we’d have to end our honeymoon and head to Connecticut. Selfishly I did not want to go. I never wanted my honeymoon to end. It was too perfect.

  “Are you ready to see the rest of the house?” Jonathon asked.

  I smiled. “I can’t wait.”

  He helped me up and took my hand to lead me up the stairs. An oval window overlooked a plot of grass with a swing set. The stairs curved around and led to the landing that over looked the front door. The door immediately to my right held a hall bathroom and then across from it was a guest bedroom done in hues of greens and yellows. Jonathon led me away from the guest bedroom and towards the master. Next to the master was another bedroom but it was completely empty. Jonathon opened the door to the master bedroom with a flourish and motioned me inside.

  I gasped. “Oh, Jonathon.”

  He looked at me bashfully.

  The ceiling was lofted and covered in old barn wood. Large wood beams crisscrossed the room lowering the ceiling a little so it didn’t feel too tall. A branch like chandelier hung from the ceiling. The walls were done in a light blue-gray that stopped at about head height and was then trimmed in molding. The rest of the walls above that was an off-white color. There was a large fireplace trimmed in thick white molding. The large window that overlooked the ocean had a built in bench outfitted in a light blue fabric and adorned with many pillows. The headboard was huge and done in a tufted almond color fabric. The bed spread was a damask design in white and blue-gray. The end tables looked like antiques and there were two antique chairs on the opposite wall from the bench seat where a window overlooked the front yard. I could see into the master bathroom and saw that it had a large bathtub similar to the one in the hotel we stayed at in Paris.

  “It’s so beautiful,” I breathed. “You are amazing.”

  “I’m so happy you like it,” he came up behind me and put his arms around me.

  I leaned against him. “I can’t believe I have you. This whole place is everything I didn’t know I wanted. But-” I turned towards him. “You still haven’t told me where we are.”

  “Yes, I did. We’re home.”

  “I know that. But where? Where is here?”

  He gulped.

  “Jonathon?” I asked raising my eyebrows as I looked at him. Dread settled in my stomach. “Where are we?”

  “Santa Barbara, California.”

  “Jonathon,” I gasped grabbing my chest at the wound that still stung. Santa Barbara was where I had grown up. It was the place where everything had first started to fall apart for me. The pain of my parents’ divorce and my dad’s death opened up like a fresh wound. I knew it was silly, because without their divorce I may never have met Jonathon. And a world without Jonathon was unimaginable. He was my everything. I needed him like I needed air so why was I so suddenly angry?

  “Don’t be mad,” he whispered. “I just thought… I never wanted you to forget where you came from. You gave up everything for me so, I felt like you deserved a piece of your old life.”

  “I… I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry,” I croaked as I burst into tears again. I pulled away from his arms and he let me. I rushed into the bathroom and slammed the door closed and locked it behind me.

  “Kylie,” he knocked lightly on the door.

  “Go away,” I pleaded brokenly. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want you to see me like this,” I leaned over the sink taking deep gasping breaths.

  “Like what?”

  A complete and total basket case.

  “Just- please go away,” I cried.

  After a few moments I heard his feet padding away.

  I was a mess. Jonathon was amazing. This honeymoon was amazing. This house was amazing. Our house…

  I wanted to hit or yell at myself! I had serious issues if I was freaking out about the location of our home. Jonathon was doing this because he loved me. He wanted to give me a piece of my old life and I wasn’t sure I wanted it. What was wrong with me? I sat down on the closed toilet seat and sniffled. I dabbed at my face with a wet cloth. The pain never got any easier did it? My dad was dead and that still hurt and even though he was gone and my mom was now a vampire the pain of the divorce still hurt. And then there was the pain that went with my mother. She had tried to kill herself a day after we arrived in Rome. Try. I rolled my eyes. She had more than tried. She had succeeded. And now she was a vampire. I had barely seen anything of my mother since then. I didn’t really want to deal with her. She had hurt me and I still wasn’t over it, which was ridiculous. I was nineteen years old and married. More than an adult. So why couldn’t I forgive and forget? Because I was a bad person, that was the only answer I had. But still… It wasn’t really safe to be around my mother. Jonathon said that she was struggling with being a vampire more than most. But even if I could be around her I knew that I wouldn’t want to be. Why? I am a horrible selfish person, that’s why.

  That thought brought on another crying fit. At the rate I was going my tear ducts would be dried out before nightfall. I went and looked at myself in the mirror. I knew I needed to let everything go. Put the past in the past. Forgive my mother for what she did. If the roles were reversed, and I lost Jonathon, I knew I would do what she did. Kill myself. Without Jonathon my life would have no meaning.

  I wiped my face off with some warm water. It didn’t help my appearance at all.

  I unlocked the door and crept into the bedroom. He wasn’t there. I had thought
I heard him go downstairs so that’s where I headed. Passing the oval window, I saw that it was now sunset. Once at the bottom of the stairs I found Jonathon sitting on the couch with his back turned to me. He was staring at nothing. Just sitting. From the slope of his shoulders I could tell he was upset. And that was my fault. I had done that to him.

  “Jonathon,” I my voice cracked. He didn’t turn even though I knew he heard me. “Jonathon,” I repeated more clearly.

  His head turned slowly.

  “I’m sorry,” I croaked.

  “Don’t be sorry,” he whispered.

  “But I am sorry,” I took a step closer.

  “I shouldn’t have brought you here. It was wrong of me. What was I thinking?” he asked the ceiling.

  I took another step. His back was still turned to me, still in the same position on the couch.

  “You were thinking that you love me. And I was being ungrateful. Jonathon, this is the best gift you could have given me.”

  “I already called the realtor. It goes up for sale tomorrow.”

  “No,” I said firmly, clasping my hands together. “This is my house too and you will do no such thing. This is more than a house to me Jonathon. This is my home. This is where I grew up. You just took me by surprise, that’s all. I’m really sorry. But this really is the best gift you could have given me.”

  “How is that?” He asked the wall.

  “You gave me the gift of healing. This is a way for me to move on. A way for me to be home and not have it hurt. It’s a way for me to keep a piece of my old life.”

  He turned to look at me. “You mean that,” it was a statement and not a question. He could hear the sincerity ring in my voice.

  “I do,” I said even though it was unnecessary. “I’m a girl, I’m emotional, what can I say?”

  He walked over towards me and I met him halfway. “If you want me to sell the house we can. It won’t hurt my feelings.”

  “I love the house,” I looked around. “And I love you even more.” I stood on tiptoe to kiss his marble sculpted lips.

  “Then why were you so upset?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I guess it just brought back bad memories for me.”

  “You can’t let bad memories ruin your view of a place,” he cupped my cheek.

  “I know,” I sighed, placing my hand over his. “I’m sorry I let my feelings overcome me.”

  “Don’t ever apologize for having feelings. That’s silly. Your feelings are what make you human.”

  “You make it sound like you don’t have feelings,” I looked up into his silver gray eyes. They were warmer today.

  He sighed. “I have feelings. They’re just not… I don’t know how to describe it. It’s different somehow. Everything is so much more powerful; love, hate, sadness, it’s all different when you’re human. I guess it’s the monster coming out in us that keeps us from feeling certain things.”

  “You’re not a monster, Jonathon,” I stroked the side of his face. “Monsters can’t feel love.”

  His cheek relaxed into my hand. “That feels heavenly.”

  “You are my heaven.”

  The next week was paradise. In two days, though, we’d have to leave. I wasn’t looking forward to it. I loved this house. After the initial shock of being in my hometown I had grown content. I missed our family but not enough to leave this little oasis where it was just me and Jonathon in this bliss filled bubble. I sighed and rolled over in the bed. I traced the muscles in his stomach, the smooth v. He sighed and closed his eyes. I laid my head against his silent chest.

  “I never want to leave,” I moaned.

  “Me neither,” he said. I could feel the rumble of his voice through his chest. “But it’s not like we’re never going to come back. This is our home now too.”

  “I guess we’re lucky. We have two homes where some people have none,” I inhaled the delicious scent coming off his skin.

  “You’re right.”

  I sat up in the bed and looked around the room. In just a week this place had already become home. But I guess when you’re with the one you love they’re really your home. I knew Jonathon certainly was.

  I put my hand to my mouth a sudden wave of nausea overtaking me.

  “Are you okay, principessa?” asked Jonathon, his brow wrinkled in concern. His hand rubbed my neck.

  “Umhmm,” I shook my head yes. “But I think we might need to go to the drugstore today?”

  “Why?” asked Jonathon his concern returning.

  I looked over at him and all his perfection. He really was a god or an angel. He was far too perfect.

  A small, slow smile, spread over my lips, “Because, I think I’m pregnant.”

  Chapter Seven: Gift from Above

  A smile spread over his face. He sat up and brushed a hair behind my ear. “Really?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I think so. It’s still early though. So, we’ll have to get a pregnancy test today.”

  He smiled again. He pulled me down on the bed, from my sitting position, so I was lying beside him. He kissed me.

  “Are you happy?” I asked.

  “Of course. I’m ecstatic.” He put his hand to my stomach. His silver eyes looked up to meet mine and I was sure we were both wearing the same mystified expression. “Our baby?” He questioned in wonder. I put my hand to my flat stomach, to the miracle that might be growing inside me. “Get dressed,” he commanded, slipping from the bed. “We’ll go to the store right now.”

  I smiled, “You’re the best husband, vampire, soul mate, ever.”

  He chuckled and slipped into a pair of jeans and plain white shirt from the dresser. Jonathon had taken the time to have a personal shopper pick up a whole wardrobe to stock the closet and dresser so that when we come here from Rome we wouldn’t have to pack anything and vice versa. He thought of everything. I climbed out of bed and put on a loose fitting green dress and cream cardigan.

  “You look like a dessert,” he licked his lips.

  I grinned and put my hands on my hips. “Are you saying I’m good enough to eat?” I asked.

  “You are most certainly good enough to eat,” he replied and kissed me. “Come on, let’s go,” he took my hand.

  It amazed me how easily Jonathon navigated the streets of Santa Barbara. I didn’t even have to give him any directions, which surprised me. But for all I knew he’d been here before. Or maybe an excellent sense of direction was part of being a vampire. I didn’t know. When he and his family had come with me for my father’s funeral we hadn’t really gone anywhere.

  He pulled into the parking lot of the local Rite Aid and it did not go unnoticed by me that he took the long way around to avoid going by my childhood home.

  I took a deep breath. “Ready?” Jonathon asked killing the engine.

  “Yes,” I breathed. He came around and got the door for me and took my hand.

  Once inside he slid his sunglasses on top of his head. “Do you human’s really need all this stuff for your health?” he whispered in my ear. “In my time you were lucky if medical instruments were sterile.”

  I shivered. I hated to think about Jonathon’s childhood in the 1300’s. It was so long ago and everything was so different now. I knew it had to be hard, everything always changing, when you weren’t.

  The clerk smiled at us. She had short blond hair and looked about sixteen. She popped her gum.

  I scanned the aisle information signs looking for the one I wanted. “Come on,” I tugged Jonathon along behind me. The pregnancy tests were located against the wall next to the condoms. I thought that was kind of ironic.

  “There’s so many,” said Jonathon. “How do you know which one to get?” he asked picking up a random box.

  “Well,” I said taking the box from him, “this is an ovulation test not a pregnancy test.”

  “Oh,” he mumbled and I put the box back.

  But he was right. There were so many! I picked one up and read it. Then another. I finally settled on t
he third. It looked the most promising.

  “This one,” I stood from my crouched position.

  “You’re the expert.”

  I smiled. He took my hand while my other held the small pink box. But before we could make it to the checkout someone came out of an aisle not looking and bumped into me.

  Jonathon pulled me out of the way. The girl stumbled and he caught her too before she could fall.

  Either not noticing me, or just not caring, she gave Jonathon a significant look and puffed out her ample chest for his attention. He didn’t notice and was back at my side in a moment picking up the dropped box. He held onto the box this time. The girl, obviously disappointed, pouted her pink lips, fluffed her hair and turned to glare at me.

  Recognition flitted across her face. But I would’ve sworn I didn’t know her.

  “Kylie?” she asked. “Kylie Lyons?”

  “Pulmer, now, actually,” Jonathon informed her, holding out his hand. “I’m her husband.”

  “Oh,” surprise flickered across her face and she took his outstretched hand. I could tell his honey voice and Italian accent was making her even further jealous.

  Suddenly I remembered who she was. “Christina?” I gasped.

  “The one and only,” she replied tossing her dyed blond hair over her shoulder. Christina and I had been best friends since elementary school. That was until she slept with my one and only boyfriend before Jonathon.

  I didn’t say anything, I just wanted to leave, and seeing that she tried to prolong my misery by saying, “Well, I haven’t seen you since junior year ended. What happened to you?”

  “I moved to Rome.”

  “Wow, and so now you’re married?” she asked still clearly eyeing Jonathon even though I stood right there. Jonathon seemed to sense my growing tension and pulled me closer to his side as if by pure contact alone he could calm me. It worked…some.

  “Yes,” I said. “I met Jonathon and we’ve been together ever since.”