“She was very special,” Lani said.
“That she was.” Jeremy kissed his grandson goodnight and followed Lani into the hall.
As they walked down the hall, he gazed at the photos that lined the wall, touching each one with gnarled fingers. They were filled with memories of him and Leilani: their small wedding in the backyard with Sammy standing beside him as best man; their college graduations with Auntie Anela beaming with pride; Lani’s birth; Lani in a flowing wedding dress with her hand lying in the crook of his arm as he walked her down the aisle; and finally, the last photo they’d taken of Leilani and him sitting in the backyard, gazing at the glorious Kauai sunset.
He paused at the photo of Leilani in her wedding dress and pressed his hand against it. He’d had a wonderful life with her. He’d been blessed each and every day he’d woken up with her in his arms. She’d never complained when he’d had his little memory lapses or when he’d stop midsentence, thinking he’d heard someone calling his name. Or even when he’d complained that he thought someone was watching him.
She’d simply kissed him on the cheek and said it was stress. It made sense, because his little crazies always appeared to happen during the big events in their lives. The last time he’d felt it was the day Samuel had been born. The feeling was so strong he swore he’d seen flickering lights.
Sometimes in the early morning hours when the house was quiet, he felt a little sad. He didn’t know why. It just seemed to hit him. It was like something was missing. It was those times that Leilani would nuzzle deep into his chest, chasing away the gloom that seemed to linger in his heart.
“Do you want a snack before you go to bed, Dad? Trevor took on an extra shift, so he won’t be here until the morning.”
Her husband, Trevor, was a good man. He was the only one of her boyfriends who had come back for a second date after Jeremy had joined them for their first. No matter how much Lani had argued or Leilani had advocated on her behalf, he’d been adamant about going on the first date with all of her suitors. He wasn’t letting just anyone date his little girl. Trevor had proven himself and then some. Trevor was a great father and husband. He was glad Lani had him. Things were going to be difficult for her when he was gone.
“Nope, I’m fine. I’m just going to watch a movie for a while.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Dad.”
“Goodnight, sweet pea. Wait, Lani.” He held her hand for a moment. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
When the house was quiet and he was sure Lani and Samuel were sleeping, he quietly shuffled to kitchen where Lani kept her purse. They’d taken away his car keys last year. So what if he forgot to put on the brakes? The car had only rolled a few feet and smashed through the fence. No one had gotten hurt.
He hoped she’d forgive him for borrowing her car.
As he drove to the cliff where he and Leilani would hang glide, he let the memories of their life together filter through his mind. Parking the car, he trudged up the hill, gazing at the full moon. It looked just like that night, when he’d first told Leilani he loved her.
“You remember, my love, don’t you?” he said as he went to the exact spot where they’d made love under the moonlight.
He lay down on the grass and gazed at the twinkling stars. His breathing came out in gasps. A tingling sensation crawled up his left arm, and a warmth slowly radiated in the middle of his chest.
He wasn’t afraid. Well, maybe a little, but he was ready. He didn’t want to last another day without Leilani.
He wondered if she’d felt anything the last night they’d had together. The only thing she’d said was that she loved him and would see him in the morning. Then she’d settled into his arms, her breathing slowing down like it always did before she fell asleep.
After he’d woken up with Leilani still in his arms and he’d realized she was gone, his life had been over. He should’ve felt alone, but for some reason he didn’t. It was like she was still there with him. And that strange presence that had always seemed to follow him was there too.
His eyes grew heavy. He was tired. He blinked, wondering how long it would be before his heart stopped.
He closed his eyes, and after a few moments, just when he was beginning to relax, he heard muffled voices.
He groaned. No, he didn’t want anyone around. He wanted to be alone. He didn’t want anyone to find him.
“Jeremy,” a familiar voice called to him.
Damn it! A neighbor must’ve followed him. Lani had spies everywhere. She didn’t trust him. Well, he did steal her car.
“Jeremiel, we’re here.”
Jeremiel?
His eyes flashed open. Light surrounded him. Had he fallen asleep? It couldn’t be daylight already. He gazed down at his hands. They looked just like they had when he was young, before arthritis had taken over. The constant pain in his joints was gone. He touched his face. It felt smooth. What had happened to him? And what were his parents doing here?
Wait!
He jolted up as memories filled his mind: his past, being an archangel, and a god among men; the lives he had transported to the other side; his friends, his family, Lash, Naomi . . .
“Is he going to remember us, Gabrielle? He looks a little freaked out.”
“Give him a moment, Naomi.”
Jeremy’s eyes opened wide as he gazed into the green eyes of a stunning archangel.
“Gabrielle,” he breathed. “I know you. I know all of you.”
Gabrielle smiled. “It worked. I told you it would.”
“Oh, my son.” Rebecca rushed to him.
She sobbed happily into his chest as he hugged her. It was a familiar sound.
“It was you! That was the sound I kept hearing. I wasn’t crazy,” Jeremy said.
“I told you he could hear us.” Rachel elbowed Uri and bounced to Jeremy, hugging him. “Sorry if we made you think you were nuts.”
“We wanted to be with you, bro,” Lash said.
“We never left your side,” Naomi added.
Jeremy hugged his family. He remembered everything: their love for him, the sacrifices they’d made for him just so he could live a happy life with Leilani.
“There’s so much I want to tell you,” he said. “So much has happened. I don’t know where to start.”
“We know, my son. We were with you every step of the way,” Raphael said.
“I wish Leilani could’ve met you.”
“She did,” Lash said.
“We were there,” Rachel chirped. “All of us were when Naomi took her to the other side.”
“Uh, I hate to break up the party, but we need to get Jeremy to the other side,” Uri said, pointing to a swirling blue-white light.
He couldn’t leave. Not now. He was about to say so when he heard his name coming from the light.
“Leilani’s waiting for you,” Naomi said.
Jeremy sprinted toward the light.
“Wait.” He stopped when he reached the edge and turned to face his family. “I won’t see you again, will I?”
“We’ll always be with you. Nothing will change that, my son,” Raphael said. “Now go. Leilani is waiting.”
Jeremy took one last look at his family and stepped into the light. A warm sensation rushed over his body, making him feel alive. It was almost like he had his angelic gifts again. He could see every spectrum of light swirling around him. Then from the brightest segment in the light, a figure emerged.
“Leilani!”
She ran to him and leaped into his arms, laughing. She was young again, her pretty face unmarked by time. That fierce spirit that had stayed with her until she took her last breath was still there.
“You came,” she said with disbelief.
“Of course I did.”
“I don’t understand. Didn’t you see your family? They were waiting for you.”
“Yes. They said they met you, too.”
“They told me your story . . . about who you were. You c
an have it back, you know. There’s still a chance. It’s not too late. You shouldn’t have to give all that up for me.”
He gazed into her eyes as the lights whirled around them. He remembered clearly how it felt to be a powerful archangel. His memories of all the battles he’d won, the places he’d flown, and all the lives he’d helped cross over, were all there now. But the memories that stood out the most were the ones with her.
“My sweet Leilani, I haven’t given up anything. Your love gave me everything. It gave me our daughter and our grandson. Most of all it gave me eternity with you.” He ducked his head and kissed her deeply. His heart was finally home.
* * *
THE END
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Golden Angel: (Broken Angel #5) Page 15
