by Lacey Legend
She placed her hands around his wrists and pushed him away from her. He looked at her in surprise, his eyes widening as his mouth hung open in desire.
“What is it, baby? What’s up? Come on... Don’t you want this?” he tried to reach for her but she pushed him further away and let him go to fasten her bra and button her shirt back up.
“No, James, I really don’t want this. I’m sorry. We broke up, you’ve been gone, I started seeing someone else, and it didn’t work out, but I can’t let you come in here and do this with me just because I’m lonely!” she pulled her skirt back down and he smiled at her.
“Awe, baby, I don’t care if you use me to make yourself feel good. You use me all you want to, baby. I’m here... Let’s do this thing.” he reached for her again and she backed away from him and put her hands on her hips.
“You may not care if we use each other, but I do care. I don’t want anything with anyone; this isn’t real, and if it’s not the real thing, then I don’t want it.” she turned and walked to the door, holding it open for him and he grabbed his coat, shaking his head, and James walked out of the door in a huff.
“I ain’t never comin’ back, you hear me? Never!” he shook his head and tromped away angrily.
Aliyah closed the door behind him and locked it, leaning her back against it and closed her eyes. She had no idea what she had been thinking, but replacing Brad with James was definitely not the answer to fixing her heartache.
***
Aliyah woke on December 23rd and looked around her apartment. The tree looked sad and bare without a topper. She thought of the sparkly star and how perfectly it would fit on her little tree. Giving herself the time to think through the strange events of her life was a good thing. She had to move forward but the decision had to be hers and she had to be comfortable with it. She knew too many women who jumped into any relationship they could get with a man. Aliyah’s near death experiences made her pause to contemplate what she was getting herself into. Every day during that period away from Brad, she had placed her hand on her chest and continued to pray for the woman whose life ended and the family who lost her as she did earlier—before she knew who the family was. Gradually, she altered her prayer to be for Brad. She realized that it was okay for her to feel for him and for him to be drawn to her because she had been grateful to him since she received this gift of life.
She also sought therapy in the rooms of those on life support at New Hope. She watched families as they went through the painful process of letting go. She thought about Brad and how he had striven to hang on to her and yet he let her go. She saw that his love for her went beyond the lump of muscle beating in her chest to the person it powered.
Aliyah decided to do a little experiment. She had avoided the coffee shop where they had met throughout her period of contemplation. That morning she dressed carefully and went to the coffee shop. The bell over the door alerted the room when she walked in. The Christmas decorations brightened the room and people sat about with bags of Christmas shopping all around. Aliyah scanned the room until her eyes met those of her love.
***
Brad had great difficulty staying away from Aliyah while she worked through her confusion. He was very anxious about her decision, but he respected her and knew that he needed to give her space until she was ready to talk to him. Losing his wife had been devastating. Finding Aliyah had healed so many of the deep wounds and now he felt as if they had been torn open.
Mary saw his pain and fussed over him. She was constantly trying to get him to eat, plying him with hot tea, or simply sitting nearby in the hopes that human companionship would ease some of his pain. Brad appreciated her kind heart and loyal spirit, but his heart and body longed for Aliyah. One small gesture that helped him through those difficult days was his morning trip to what he deemed “their” coffee shop. Sitting alone, he could dream that the door would open and she would walk in. Sometimes he fantasized that they could start all over again. Other times he imagined her gliding through the door and forgiving him.
He knew that he hadn’t tried to hurt her, but he still felt guilty about how much he had. He would have done anything to ease her pain and take them back to their days as lovers. He knew that she loved him. Not only had she told him so, but she showed it in her every look. She treated him so kindly and the way they made love was proof enough for any man.
When Aliyah walked through the door, he wasn’t sure if she was real or if he was still fantasizing, but the meeting of their eyes produced the deep pulse that was a reality. Kevin, the barista, saw her and intervened. Aliyah wanted to go straight to Brad, but the edicts of society demanded that she respond to Kevin’s warm welcome.
“Hello, beautiful! How about an eggnog latte? It’s that close to Christmas!” He winked as she nodded in agreement. She gestured that she would be at the far table. Kevin’s eyes went to where she pointed and saw Brad. He noticed the tension between them and recognized that it was time to stay in the background and take his time putting together her latte.
Aliyah sat at his table. There were no words. They sat staring at each other for minutes. Brad’s mouth was dry. He was beginning to understand how Aliyah must have felt early on in the relationship when she had been forced to make the moves but then had to stop and wait to see what Brad would do on his own. Likewise, Brad had to let Aliyah take the lead when every fiber of his being wanted to throw himself at her feet and tell her he would do anything to have her back.
Kevin discreetly brought the latte to her and said, “It’s on the house. Merry Christmas!” He rapidly withdrew to allow them to talk. Aliyah sipped her drink and sighed. A glint came into her eyes and she smiled slightly.
Aliyah’s full gaze fell on Brad. “This tastes like Christmas. I love Christmas so much but I have one problem.” He almost held his breath to hear what she would say next. “I left my new tree topper at your house. Will you bring it to the apartment when we have dinner together on Christmas Eve?” The joy in her eyes was enough to tell him that all was forgiven and that they would be happy together.
***
The couple decided to spend Christmas Day between Amber’s home and Brad’s house. They wanted to see Jenna open her gifts at her own house and under her own tree. After that, they would go to Brad’s house for a large dinner.
Christmas Eve was just for them at Aliyah’s little apartment. Brad arrived with the tree topper. They positioned it and sat back to watch it sparkle on the tree. The joy of their reunion was complete and the evening was both a relief and a comfort. They held each other and talked over the path their love had taken. They went over their memories and tried to pinpoint exactly when each of them had fallen in love. He felt that his love for her was cemented when he saw her with Amber and Jenna. Her love of her friend and the baby warmed his heart and gave him hope for the future. She considered many happy moments that may have triggered her feelings of love. She thought of his thoughtfulness the night they went to the college play. She was terribly fond of him when he brought Jenna the big teddy bear. She knew beyond doubt that she loved him when they had their magical vacation together.
Brad opened up about his late wife. He shared their history. It was hard at first to talk about her, but when Aliyah listened with concern and without jealousy, he felt comfortable telling her all. He explained how they had met when they were young and fell into a romantic relationship. Their families were friends and so the path to love was clear and easy. She had been a nice girl who was selfless and good even though she had been given everything in life. Her wealthy family admitted to spoiling her, but she remained untainted. As they grew older, it was assumed that they would marry. The wedding itself was a huge event that seemed more like a state affair than a wedding.
They had given into her parents’ desire to have an enormous wedding with numerous guests and no expense spared. Brad felt that he barely survived the ordeal, but soon they settled into married life and found peace. Their love didn’t burn as hot as his
love for Aliyah. The love with his late wife was a friendly, sweet love that stemmed from youth and familiarity. Losing her the way he did was devastating, but he had not lost his ability to love.
He wrapped Aliyah tightly in his arms and snuggled into her neck. Then he pulled back enough to see her face. “Love, the heart you carry did bring us together. I do feel that we became connected through the heart I can feel even now, beating against me. I want you to know that this heart and the circumstances that brought us together are only the beginning. Our life together will grow into something new and beautiful of its own. Death brought you new life and the death of my old relationship brought us a love that is fresh and new.”
As Aliyah held him close, she knew that his words were true. She was not just an offshoot of the heart she carried. She was an individual—the same individual now that she was before the transplant. She also realized that she wasn’t a mere transplant in his life, but a new love that had found a way into his heart.
*
Epilogue
Easter morning dawned with pinks and blues and puffy white clouds which were perfect for a little girl’s first Easter egg hunt. Jenna was dressed in a frilly frock given to her by her godmother and her godmother’s fiancé. She flounced around the yard, gathering the brightly colored eggs and putting them in a basket. Mary stood nearby smiling. She wondered how a woman who came to a home as a maid could end up as family. Mary’s eyes followed the little girl who called her “Aunt Mary” and gave her sweet kisses and soft hugs around the neck.
Brad’s yard and garden made the perfect place for an Easter egg hunt. The staff had a great time preparing for it. Their jobs had become boring and there hadn’t been enough to do in the big house. The cook was happy to have people around to enjoy her good food. She happily boiled the eggs for Easter. They had made a little party of coloring eggs with the little girl and her mother. The cook had made pretty sandwiches that tasted heavenly and Jenna made a terrible mess all over the newspaper laid out for dying the eggs.
The grounds of Brad’s estate were large and, due to the age of the participant, the egg hunt was limited to a small space near the house. Aliyah and Brad hovered near the edge, watching with pleasure as the girl ran about. They would all dine at a nearby brunch that was known for its lovely Easter meals. Since Mary and many other members of his staff attended Easter services, Brad didn’t want to overwhelm them with the work of a big holiday meal. Brad made the reservations for himself, Aliyah, Amber, Jenna, Julia, Trinity, and several other displaced friends. Even Gavin would join them now that his spirits were renewed.
On the fateful day when Brad had run off to help Gavin, leaving Aliyah behind and alone in the house to find the photographs in his study, the attorney was able to straighten out the problems and set up ways to protect Gavin and his club from more trouble. Gavin’s fortune was immense and losing the night club wouldn’t have broken him, but he didn’t want to lose so much money and he really enjoyed the place. He was in a great mood and loved the brunch they were attending. He was a real connoisseur of fine food and wine, and the ladies were in for a treat as he pointed them to the tastiest items and the most impressive champagne.
Once Jenna had finished piling her eggs into the basket, they all walked for a bit through the garden. Brad’s gardener had put in extra effort to make the day perfect for the friends. Seeing the gardens in use did his soul good. It had been depressing to see only one, lone, silent figure lurk in the grounds and that usually at night. Brad appreciated the grounds, but since the death of the lady of the manse, the lawn seemed like an after-thought. The neglect of the gardens made the old man who tended them miss the original lady of the house who had planned them so carefully.
Now the yard thrived again and was filled with laughter and the scurrying feet of a child. There was a rose garden near the house. The adjacent room was normally left without air conditioning and the windows remained opened so that anyone wishing to could smell the lovely rose fragrance coming through the windows. Ceiling fans and proper ventilation kept the room cool enough and made for a lovely, fragrant retreat. French doors opened into the rose garden, which was lovingly tended.
There were many different spaces on the property. The pool area had bright perennials and annuals adorning it. The dressing rooms were surrounded by trellises and winding flowers. A more discreet part of the yard contained a vegetable garden for cook. An herb garden set off the back kitchen door. The cook loved to be able to walk outside and simply pluck the herbs she needed for the day’s meals.
There were paths, flower beds, and groves of trees creating a colorful maze behind the house and the young people were so happy to be outside in the spring air to enjoy it all.
They walked around the garden path to the lovely, wooden pavilion painted white. It had been a neutral tone, but the wedding planner insisted on white. Aliyah didn’t feel that she needed a wedding planner since she and Brad were going to have a simple wedding with only a few guests who were close to them and the house staff who were like family. The wedding planner became a necessity when Brad urged her to follow her dream to go to college.
After their precious Christmas together, the couple brought in the New Year at Gavin’s club, dancing far into the night. The next day they lolled about the mansion, reveling in their love and the year to come. It suddenly occurred to Brad that a new semester would be starting at the very university where Aliyah helped the actors with their plays.
“Love, let’s sign you up for classes.” He looked at her with love, knowing that she had always wanted to rise to a level in her field where she could make important and lasting changes that would affect the quality of life for the people suffering from brain injury and their families.
“Oh, it must be too late for that. I’m sure I couldn’t get in just like that. I would need to apply and be accepted.
A humble smile crossed Brad’s face as he looked at her. “Do you remember the name of the hall where we had our first date?” He asked.
“Why, of course, Brad. It was Case Hall.” Her eyes opened wide as it hit her. “Brad Case… Case Hall. Coincidence?”
Brad laughed lightly, shaking his head. He explained that it was no coincidence and that his grandparents had donated the money to have the hall built. His connections with the university were sure to remove anything that would keep Aliyah from entering school for the winter/spring semester. They poured over the course catalogue online and discussed the many class possibilities. They were as excited as kids in a candy store. When it was time to sign up for classes, Brad guided her through the process without being condescending. She was grateful that he wanted to provide not only for her physical needs, but for her emotional and mental needs as well.
She took a break out of her first semester to spend a long Valentine’s weekend with Brad in Jamaica. It was their first romantic vacation since the one that sealed their love early in their relationship. The sands of the tropical beaches were warm beneath their feet and the weekend passed too quickly, sending them back to the February snow. Before they left for home, Brad got down on one knee and presented her with a gorgeous ruby engagement ring surrounded by diamonds. It was the perfect mate to the ruby necklace she had been sporting since Christmas day.
Aliyah thrived in her classes. She couldn’t manage her job, classes, and time with Brad and reluctantly gave up her position at New Hope. She still visited every week and read with some of the patients or helped with letters and notes. She also found the wedding planning to be difficult. They would only have about thirty people and the ceremony would be in their own gardens, but every contingency had to be covered for the comfort of the guests and every weather scenario had to be planned for. Hence, Brad felt compelled to hire a wedding planner.
Aliyah loved Ralph immediately. He was large and in charge even though he was an inch shorter than Aliyah. He swept into any room and could assess where chairs should be, how to keep people from tracking mud in from outside, how many people could c
omfortably mill about the room, and what had to be changed to make it appealing for a party. He took over the planning and Aliyah, who had the final say on any decision, could relax and choose her dress and honeymoon.
The spring wore on and summer came swiftly. The house was busy with caterers, decorating staff, gardeners hired for last minute touch-ups, bartenders, and more being managed by Ralph. Amber, Julia, and Aliyah were safe in her private suite upstairs, with their own team of hair dressers, manicurists, makeup artists, and a masseuse. Their little corner of the big house was devoted to a calm time for friends so that they could start her on her way to an exciting, new life with Brad with finesse.
Brad and several of his friends spent much of the day in Brad’s study with sports on the TV, trying to take their minds off of the day’s events. Brad wanted nothing more than to get married, but he was very glad that Aliyah didn’t insist on a big wedding. He was a little disturbed that this small affair seemed to be turning the house upside down. He was glad that the guest list was small and only the people they wanted were there.
The wedding went off without a hitch. Aliyah was lovely in her white, sleeveless gown. The simple veil didn’t take away from her shining face and the glow in her eyes. The best part of the day was Jenna’s walk down the aisle, dropping flower petals all the way. Several times she stopped to pick one back up while saying, “So pretty!” with a smile spreading across her little face. The wedding guests were immediately taken with the little princess. She was distracted until she was close to the end of this pavilion aisle and she saw Brad and Gavin. “Uncle Brad! Uncle Gavin!” She ran the last few steps and threw up her arms, giving Brad no other choice than to sweep the little girl off of her feet and give her a hug that wasn’t in the wedding plan.
