He leaned his head back against the headboard. The video appeared to be taking a lot out of him, but he pressed on. “You’re going to have a lot of questions about me. Ask them. Your mother will tell you everything you need to know. I can’t apologize enough at the fact that you’ll never get to meet me. I hope it makes you stronger. Losing my father was hard, but I was a better man, striving to be just like him. I’m not saying you have to be like me, but I hope I’ve paved a good road ahead for you to follow. If you ever feel like you’re straying from the path, lean on your mom. Keep your eyes forward, your heart light, and never forget that I’m here with you, always. In your heart, in your dreams, and in the subtle breeze you feel late in the afternoon. I love you, Son. Never forget that. Even when you’re old and grey, looking back on everything.”
“And to Alice. I’ve requested that you not see this until you’re ready to show our child. I’m sorry to make you wait. I’m certain you are doing well. You are such a strong woman, full of life, full of motivation, and I know my death will serve in helping you become even stronger. Live your life. Thank you for giving birth to our son. It’s the greatest gift we both can give each other. One last thing before I turn this camcorder off. My death is not goodbye. Our time together is not over. You’ll see me again. I promise you that. I love you. I’ll always love you.”
Pushing off of the bed, he stepped to the camera, reaching around it, until the picture faded and the TV went black. No one moved from where they were. Even Jack Junior sat quiet, all of them watching the blank screen. Alice’s pulse raced. Seeing him again was like he had never left, and once the video finished, it was like losing him all over again. Tears stung her eyes and she swiped them away with the back of her hand.
“He looks just like he does in my dreams,” Jack said, his voice full of admiration. “He always says he loves me.”
Alice pulled him for a side hug, kissing the top of his head. “He loved you from the moment I told him I was pregnant with you, Babe.”
“I love him too, Mommy.”
“Me too, Jack. Me too.”
“Why did he have to die? All of my friends at school still have their dad’s.”
Alice wasn’t sure how to answer him. Looking at her mom and over at her dad, they sat in silence, each of them just as awestruck by what had just played out as she was.
“It was his time. Sometimes the most special people you’ll ever know are only here for a short time before it’s time for them to go away again. Your dad was one of those people. He gave me the best thing I could have ever hoped for, you know?”
“What did he give you?” Jack looked up at her with such innocence, his green eyes so beautiful.
“He gave me you.”
“Can I be a fireman like he was?”
“You can be whatever you want to be, Jack.”
***
After the video, Alice had to get out of the house. The day was cool and rainy, much like the day Jack had passed away. Gathering up some fresh flowers from her flowerbed, she tossed them in the back of her SUV, made sure Jack was buckled in tight, and backed out onto the street.
The whole drive, Jack was jabbering about anything and everything, mainly about his dad and the awesome video he had left him. Alice watched him in the rear view mirror, making his action figures fly around, along with sound effects and crash sounds.
Pulling off on a side road, she bit her lip when she saw the entrance to the cemetery. It had been a few months since she had visited Jack’s grave. It felt the perfect time to take their son out there. Edging along the curb, she put the vehicle in park.
“Unbuckle and help me grab the flowers I picked.”
Jack climbed over the seat, scooping up the tulips and daisies, dropping a few that fell through his small hands. “Are these for Dad?”
“Yep! How’d you know?”
Jack didn’t answer and climbed out from the back, grabbing her hand as they walked toward his headstone. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe and protect you.”
“You are?” Alice smiled down at him. For the first time, she wasn’t filled with sorrow coming to the cemetery.
“I am, just like Dad wants me to do!”
They weaved through a few graves, finally reaching his. Alice read the headstone multiple times.
Jack Aaron Turner – Beloved Father, Husband, and Son. We will never forget our fallen brother.
She traced her finger over the fire helmet and badge inscribed beside it. It was still strange seeing her name next to his with the death date missing. Many had scrutinized her for already making the decision to be buried next to him, but she couldn’t imagine it any other way.
“Jack, how about you put those flowers in the vase?”
Jack did as asked, pushing the stems down inside and standing back, admiring them with her. “They’re beautiful, Mommy.”
“Yes, they are. I bet your Daddy is loving them.”
For the first time in a while, Alice felt strong hope for the future. Maybe Jack’s video gave her the jolt she needed to continue to move forward. Maybe Jack Junior’s positive attitude about everything was rubbing off on her. Maybe, just maybe, she was finally seeing the blessings hidden within her husband’s death. It didn’t matter what was causing it – she was glad to feel alive again.
Something caught her attention, and she looked up at a white dove on a tree branch above them. It flew down, resting on the headstone right in front of them, not even spooked at the fact that two people were close enough to reach out and touch it. It held eye contact with her longer than normal. A quick breeze brushed past them, unseasonably warm for fall.
“You feel that?” Jack Junior asked, his voice full of energy.
“The breeze?”
“That’s him, Mommy. He said he’d be the breeze we feel late in the afternoon.”
Was it Jack visiting them? Was the dove a sign? Was the breeze? Alice couldn’t honestly answer it. All she knew is that she was blessed beyond measure. Sure, her husband had died at a young age and she was left as a widow long before she should have been. Sure, it didn’t seem fair.
One thing could never be ripped from her. The memories, the love shared, and the beautiful child they had made together.
Jack was hers for a while. The short few years spent with him ranked higher than hundreds of years spent with anyone else.
Taking one last look at the white dove on his headstone, Alice held her smile. “You said it yourself, Jack. This isn’t goodbye. I’ll see you again.” Turning to Jack Junior, she picked him up and held him in her arms, his giggle music to her ears. “Let’s go home. You have so much more to learn about your father and I can’t wait to teach you.”
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More books by Danica -
Her Lifeline: (A Romantic Suspense)
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Without a purpose -
Nick Miller is lost. Discharged from the United States Army after fifteen years of service, he is tossed out onto the streets with no job, no family, and no real plans for the future. With a failing economy, he fears that the country he once fought for will now turn its back on him, leaving him homeless, hungry, and without a purpose. Physically and emotionally scarred, Nick wants a place to call home.
Alone and worried -
Amelia Tucker, alone with a young son and a disabled father, has taken on the sole financial responsibility of her family’s ranch in Texas. She refuses to let it be sold, but she finds herself falling behind on much of the work t
hat was usually done by her husband who has abandoned them. With the bank and an unexpected bookie knocking at her door, she knows she needs help.
Desperate times -
Desperation brings Amelia and Nick together when he answers her want ad for a ranch hand. The pay is low, but it provides Nick with what he needs – a roof over his head, food on the table, and a place where he is wanted. Amelia is relieved to have an able bodied man around again, though the worry of losing the ranch still hovers over her.
Passion grows fast, and Amelia’s quick attraction to the tall, dark, and handsome man she hired hits her blindside. They are unable to resist each other, both realizing they are saving each other from the things that once darkened their lives. With Nick’s dark past and Amelia’s financial woes, they know there is a long road ahead in healing each other’s lives.
When her family is put in danger, Nick and Amelia pull together and prove that what they feel for each other is real. Nick is her lifeline, and Amelia is the only woman he has ever loved.
Hometown Glory: Fox Creek Series #1
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Jace Cooper always hated Fox Creek. Guilty by association, he took the blame for a crime committed by his friends one wild night four years ago. Recently paroled, he returns to his hometown, unsure of why he came back. With most of the town pulling up their welcome mats and closing the door on him, he has to find the one reason he wants to stay. Was it the familiarity? Was it his desire to rekindle broken relationships with family and friends? Or was it Annie Martin, his ex-girlfriend he left broken hearted? Reunited for the first time after all of those years, they discover intense sexual passion, igniting new feelings Jace has never felt before. Is it lust, or is Jace Cooper falling for Annie Martin? He must make a decision – stay in Fox Creek and act on what he is feeling, or go to a different town where no one knows his name or his past.
Private Desires: Fox Creek Series #2
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For Jace Cooper, life has never looked so promising. His time spent in prison is quickly becoming a distant memory and he is finding pride in the honest work he is putting in as a ranch hand. After a few short weeks of returning to Fox Creek, he realizes he is growing attached to Annie, the daughter of the ranch owner. They have re-discovered their passion for each other and Jace can't imagine a life without her. There is only one problem - Annie's family and their harsh disapproval of them ever having a future together. His troubled past is one that many can't forget, including her father, who fears he will break her heart again. Jace realizes that he can't continue to hide his feelings for the only woman he has ever felt such devotion for. Should he tell her family and risk being run out of town, or keep it a secret and hope no one finds out?
Building Trust: Fox Creek Series #3
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Jace should be on top of the world with a job doing what he loves, a roof over his head, and most of all, the love of his life by his side. Only one thing is spoiling his new found happiness--the rift between Jace and his father. He can't forget the hateful words his father had said to him before Jace was sent to prison, and now, he can't face the man. He can't risk knowing for sure that his father still hates him. Confronting him might give Jace the truth he is not yet ready to face. He is left wondering what it will take to work up the courage to see him and what it would take to gain his trust back. Annie urges him to make amends because nothing is more important than family. Putting his anger and fear aside, Jace takes a chance when his father is put in a dangerous situation. Is it enough to gain his respect, or will he and his father forever be estranged?
Dangerous Threat: Fox Creek Series #4
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A year ago, Jace would have never imagined his life going the way it was. His and Annie's relationship no longer has to be hidden, Mr. Martin and his father trust and respect him, and his reputation with everyone in Fox Creek is getting better every day. The ex-convict label that stained him before is now becoming a thing of the past. An unwelcome blast from the past catches him off guard and turns his and Annie's life upside down - an old friend involved in the robbery that landed Jace in prison shows up in town. Rather than just assume that the man is up to no good, Jace is gracious in giving him a chance, much like many others had given him. Is Jace's pal back to change his ways or is he in Fox Creek to cause more trouble?
Damaged Love: Fox Creek Series #5
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Jace and Annie’s relationship is going strong. As Fox Creek’s sweetheart couple, they are able to express everything they ever felt about each other without the fear of the small town rumor mill that once threatened them. One question continues to be brought up to both of them – when will they tie the knot and make it official? Jace knows she is the only woman he wants. Annie is completely head over heels for him. The sexual passion they share is stronger with every embrace. They try desperately to avoid the pressure being felt by friends and family, but with it constantly being brought up, neither can help but think about their future with each other. An eye-opening situation serves as a wake up call for both of them. With Jace in danger, both he and Annie realize that life is too short to drag their feet and put things off. Should they move their relationship to the next level or avoid putting a label on something that is already going great for both of them?
Midnight Oil: Fox Creek Series #6
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Things are going great for Jace and Annie. They have both taken a huge step forward in their relationship toward a long life together. After overcoming so many obstacles along the way, they feel there is nothing that can tear them apart. A past flame of Annie’s shows up in town on business, stirring things up in the small Texas town. Jace’s criminal past causes him to question his ability to take care of Annie when comparing himself with her rich ex-boyfriend. The longer he is in Fox Creek, the more it becomes known that he is there to shake up Jace’s life in more ways than one. Can Jace and Annie’s love for each other trump another challenge, or will the wealthy businessman sweep her off her feet and split them up for good?
Here is another short story compilation from Danica –
Working Class Hero: Four Sensual Short Stories
http://amzn.to/1y47dAK
Wyatt Brooks is the head football coach at a local high school. He’s a mentor, a father, and a husband to Layla. With football season right around the corner, stress is high, life is busy, and the Brooks family is faced with challenges both on and off the playing field. Will Wyatt and Layla be able to keep things steamy behind closed doors? Will they both be able to push through every day life and keep excitement in their marriage?
Working Class Hero is a compilation of four short, sexy, and sensual stories focused on Wyatt and Layla’s relationship.
Hers for a While Page 13
