Luke couldn’t let that happen.
After revving it to warm it up, he sped away into the clouds. After clearing the seventh chamber, he steered the bike down.
No extreme riding today. Unless imitating a bird of prey in a freefall dive counted. He broke the speed of light. The blue orb of Earth came into view, and he pressed against the handlebars, willing the Harley to move faster.
A glow of light appeared beside him, matching his pace.
Peter frowned over at him. “Turn back.”
Luke grimaced. “I can’t.”
“I have the subcommittee’s decision. Stop now.”
Luke pressed lower over the motorcycle. “No.”
When Peter dropped away, an unease crept over Luke. He glanced around. Had the saint given up? It seemed unlikely but—
A lightning bolt shot past his ear.
“Whoa!” Luke steered the bike away.
Another bolt zinged by, then another. Obviously, the saint hadn’t aimed to destroy him, or Luke would be a smoldering pile of ash.
Luke flattened himself against the Harley and hit the gas. “Sorry Peter. Alice needs me more than you.” And I need her. More than he wanted to admit. He couldn’t face eternity without her.
A cloud in his path darkened to charcoal, and a light shone from within. “Luke. I want to talk to you. Stop.”
Not even Peter could stop him. “I said no.”
“Don’t be a fool, Luke. Is Alice worth your demise?”
“Yes.”
“So you admit you believe in love? That you have feelings for the girl?”
“Yes, I love her! I believe!” With the admission came the most freeing, wonderful feeling. Luke loved Alice. He couldn’t wait to tell her.
“All right,” Peter said. “Have it your way.” The cloud dissipated.
Luke passed through the thinning mist. A jolt sent him flying from the Harley. Both spun down in a wild dance. Pure white feathers whirled around them.
The earth rose up faster than Luke would have liked. His ethereal form filled in with flesh and bone. Breakable bone.
Just in time to splat on touchdown.
“Peter, you can’t.” Not now. He had so much to say to Alice. So much to share with her. Now he’d never have the chance.
Buildings loomed larger. “Please.” Luke whooshed past a church spire, stained glass images of pious souls, so much more pious than himself. “Forgive me!”
Peter’s voice echoed from above. “That’s all you needed to say. The subcommittee decided to grant your wish.”
My wish? Arms flailing, he braced for impact with the sidewalk he rushed toward.
A flash blinded him. The scene evaporated into light.
Through it, Peter’s voice echoed. “You will return to earth as a man, Luke. Winning Alice’s heart will be up to you.”
The next moment, Luke stood on Main Street. Across town from Alice’s loft.
Scanning his body, he patted his chest. Flesh and bone. A man. “I’m me. I’m here.” He wore his same boots, jeans, tee shirt and leather jacket, more dull than before. Limbs shaking, but he felt. Felt the snowflakes on his cheek, cold and wet. Felt the frosty air scrape his lungs. Felt the old familiar nervousness mingling with excitement.
He was on Earth. He had another chance. He had to find Alice. Now. But how?
In one of the pockets, he found keys to a motorcycle. Glancing to his left, he saw it. His Harley. A little battered than he remembered, but absolutely real. “Thank you, Peter.”
The bike roared to life, but Luke hesitated. What if she didn’t want him in dull human form? Fear held him in place until he resolved he had only one way to find out.
*~*~*
A flutter of white caught Alice’s eye. “No. No more snow.”
Beside the Christmas tree, she found a feather, the purest white. “He’s been here,” she told Archimedes.
Holding it tight, she closed her eyes. “You’re my wish, Luke. My most fervent, final wish in this world.”
Her breath caught when a motorcycle rumbled in the street. “Who’d be crazy enough to drive one in February?”
Only one person she knew would be that crazy. She ran downstairs, barefoot. Definitely feeling the snow, but she didn’t care.
The Harley sat by the curb. The rider cut the engine. He rose, and swung his leg over the bike to stand on the sidewalk.
“Luke?” It was him, she knew it. It had to be. She wanted to run out there, throw herself at him, but fear froze her in place.
The guy just stood there, snowflakes swirling all around him. Finally he took off his helmet and set it atop the bike. “Hello Alice.”
He sounded different. Looked different—no glow about him, not picture perfect as he was before. The helmet had matted his hair. He no longer appeared perfect.
He was… human.
Joy welled up. “Luke!” It freed her to run to him. Her bare feet slid on the cold slush, but it barely registered. She reveled in the solid feel of his body as she flung her arms around his neck. “I knew you’d be back.”
Through a grin, he winced. “No you didn’t.”
“I believed.” She stroked his hair. Not as silky to the touch, but she loved it even more. It felt real—like him.
Looking down at her, he shifted a hip. “You doubted.”
“Okay, maybe a little. I am human. So are you.” She filled her arms with his solid form. So unbelievably good to hold him and know he couldn’t vanish without a trace.
“Yes.” He appeared shy, uncertain of himself. “Are you sorry I’m here?”
“Don’t be crazy. I wished for you.” Why wasn’t he kissing her?
One side of his mouth tugged up in a lopsided grin. “I know. I heard.”
Her heart raced, but still she held back. “But I have to know—did you wish for me too?”
He dropped his chin to his chest. “Alice…”
“Did you?” If he didn’t want to be here, could she stand the fact she’d forced him into returning? He’d hate her.
His eyes shone with a light brighter than any treetop star. “From the first moment I saw you.”
She released a sharp breath, giddy with relief. “Really? Because I couldn’t bear it if you didn’t really want to be here. With me.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “It’s all I’ve wanted.”
She breathed in his warm exhale. “Me too.”
His blue eyes had no eternal, shining depth, but she preferred them like this.
“You might regret it,” he said softly.
“I might,” she admitted. “Sometimes.”
At his crestfallen look, she went on. “So might you. But that goes with the territory.”
“The territory.” He glanced around. “I kind of like the territory.”
Would he never just…“Shut up and kiss me.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“Don’t wait for me to ask. Just do it.” Tightening her embrace, she drew him close.
If his kiss as an angel had thrilled her, his soft lips as a man felt even better. Her excitement doubled with the thought he would be staying. She jerked her head back.
“Now what’s wrong?” He slumped. “I knew it. I knew you’d be disappointed.”
“You are, right?” When he tilted his head in question, she clarified. “Staying. You’re here for good?”
His face softened. “Yes. For as long as you want me. Or as long as heaven allows.”
Thank God. “I guess we better not waste any time then. Why don’t you come upstairs?”
“Again, I thought you’d never ask.”
She clutched his jacket. “Again, don’t wait for me to ask. You have a lot to learn.”
He chuckled. “Apparently. Lucky I have you to teach me.”
“Yes you are. I’m lucky too.” She’d be grateful forever.
From somewhere in the distance, above the clouds, sounded a voice: He’s back. And this time, it’s personal.
Alice scanned the heavens, but saw nothing. “Who was that?” Or should she ask what?
Luke’s smile was lopsided. “A friend. Let’s go inside.”
Squeezing his hand, she led him to the door. “This is the best day ever.”
“No, the best day yet.”
In frustration, she turned to scold him for arguing already. Until he smiled.
“We’ll have plenty more.” Pulling her inside, he pressed his lips to hers in a heavenly kiss.
###
About the Author
Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. Most days, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/ paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
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