Forever
Page 17
“Do you smell that?” asked Alex as she finally woke up from her brief slumber. She opened her eyes and saw Mark and Ginger standing over her. “What's going on?” she asked puzzled.
Ginger's stoic expression finally changed. She smiled. “The power of Christ has healed you. What you smell is roses. Often after an exorcism the air is filled with the scent of roses. It signifies the presence of God.”
“Untie me. What's going on here?” Alex was clearly confused and unaware of what had happened. She had no recollection of the exorcism and didn't know who Ginger, Mark, and Samuel were.
Willie got up from the sofa. She still held an ice pack to her head. She walked over to the table and began to untie Alex. “Calm down, little buddy. I'll get you out of there.”
“You want to tell me what's going on?”
Willie stared into Alex's eyes. She knew it was her. It was no longer the demon that had possessed her. The bruising and scars upon her face began to disappear. They faded away then vanished completely as if they had never been there. Alex looked good as new as if nothing had ever happened to her. “You were under the weather for a couple days is all.”
“Where's Meghan and Aleghany?” questioned Alex when she was finally able to sit up. She swung her legs over the edge of the table.
“They're at home,” said Willie. “Waiting for you.”
“I feel like I've been asleep for days! Take me to them!” shouted Alex. “I want to see my family.”
Willie thanked Ginger and her team of investigators.
“How much do I owe your ghost busting team?” whispered Willie at the door, making sure Alex couldn't hear her.
“There is no charge,” said Ginger. “We provide a service for the good of the world. We are God's soldiers.”
“Thank you,” said Willie. She took a piece of paper and a pen and scribbled her number down. “If you're ever looking for more help, I'd like to join your cause. I'll be a pastor in the weeks to come.”
Ginger took the paper and slid it into her pocket. “I'll keep that in mind.” She turned around and walked out the door with Samuel and Mark following her with all their equipment.
Willie stood at the door and watched them drive away.
“Are we going or what? And who were those people?” asked Alex.
“A Shaman of sorts,” said Willie. She didn't want to tell her the truth about Alex's possession for fear it would terrify her. The last thing she wanted was for Alex to be afraid of being around Meghan and Aleghany.
Willie grabbed her car keys. “Let's go. Your loving family awaits you.”
Chapter Fifty
When Willie pulled up in front of Alex's house. She saw Meghan and Aleghany look out the window. She heard Aleghany's voice as they stepped out of the vehicle.
“It's Mom and Aunt Mena! Mom's finally come home! We can all be together now? We can be a family?” she asked.
“I don't know,” said Meghan with some hesitation.
As soon as Meghan took one look at Alex walking toward the house, she knew she was okay. She realized that Alex was herself again. She opened the door and darted out toward her and leaped into her arms.
“I missed you so much! I'm so glad you're okay!” shouted Meghan.
Aleghany ran up to hug her, too. She didn't fully understand what had happened, since she was mostly kept in the dark, but she knew it had to be something serious. Plus, she, too, missed Alex and was glad to see her Aunt Mena once again.
Aleghany jumped into Alex's arms, and she carried her inside the house as if she was a toddler. Her legs were wrapped around her waist and her arms held steadily around her neck.
Meghan hung back with Willie. “She doesn't remember anything at all,” said Willie.
“That's good isn't it?” asked Meghan.
“Yes, it's good that she doesn't remember the possession, but she claims to not remember anything for a while. She said it felt like she'd been asleep for weeks.”
“That's not good.” Meghan pressed her lips together. “I guess you'll have to be the one to tell her that her truck is wrecked.”
Willie laughed. “Me? Why me?”
Meghan grinned as she walked toward the house. “Because I'm going to tell her you wrecked it.”
Willie laughed as she chased Meghan into the house.
As soon as she entered, she felt a difference in the air. There was no longer a heaviness. There was much more light shining in through the windows. And again, she smelled the delightful smell of fresh roses.
Epilogue
Three months later
“I've never seen so many roses in all my life!” shouted Aleghany as she watched the flower delivery men unload dozens and dozens of white roses through the window. “I feel like I can smell them all from here! Can I go outside, Mom?”
Meghan was standing in front of the mirror in a long flowing white dress. “Aleghany, honey, you're going to get your dress all dirty if you go out. You can play outside and sniff all the flowers to your heart's content after the wedding ceremony, okay?”
Aleghany frowned. “Oh. O-kay.” She dragged out the words as if she was singing.
“Mom looked so good in her tuxedo. You don't think she should've worn a white one instead of a black one?” asked Aleghany.
Meghan shook her head. “No. It's not her style. She's the type that wants all the attention to be on me.”
“But she's a bride, too,” insisted Aleghany.
Meghan grinned. “Yes, she is. But she wanted the focus of the ceremony to be on me and my wedding gown. It's not like her to wear a dress, and like I said, she would rather dress the part of the groom and not have us both in white. Some women dress both in dresses, others both in white, but it's just not like Alex. She's the most loving, selfless person in the world. She wants this moment to be mine.”
“You look beautiful,” said Alehany. “Be sure not to get it dirty, okay? I might want to wear it on my wedding day.”
Meghan giggled. “Don't worry, Peanut. I won't get it dirty. And when you're ready to marry the man or woman of your dreams, the dress will be ready for you.”
A knock at the door interrupted the conversation. “Ceremony is about to begin. We need the bride and ring bearer.” It was the voice of the wedding planner.
“We're on our way down.” Meghan grabbed Aleghany's hand and kissed it. Then hand in hand they walked down the stairs together.
As Meghan stood at the back of the chairs, she watched as the few friends she had from work walked down the aisle as bridesmaids. Aleghany doubled as a rose petal bearer and ring bearer. She dropped rose petals all along the carpeted aisle. The crowd smiled at her as she walked by. When the wedding march commenced, the crowds on both sides of the aisle all turned to view Meghan walk down. She was absolutely stunning. She could hear the men and women gasping and see the flickers of light as people took photos of her. But she didn't dare turn to look at anyone. She was completely fixated on Alex's gaze. Their eyes were locked on one another as if no one else in the world existed.
Willie stood in the center waiting to marry them. The music stopped and Willie began to speak.
“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Meghan Jeffries to Alex Hunter.”
The couple stood facing one another. Their smiles were fixated as if they'd been drawn on with permanent paints, and they still held their gaze into one another's eyes. Their love for one another could be felt by everyone present. There was no doubt about it. They were in love.
“We wish to recite our own vows,” said Meghan.
Willie nodded.
Alex went first.
“I knew you were going to be someone special in my life when I first met you so many years ago. It was a sunny day like today that we went fishing, and I may not have captured any fish that day, since you did all the capturing. But the one thing you captured and have had all of these years was my heart. I have always loved you, Meghan. If love at first sight exists, then that was when it happened fo
r me. I feel like I have loved you ever since I first laid my eyes upon you. With this ring, I promise to love you, cherish you, and make sure that you are the happiest woman on the face of this earth for the rest of my years.” Alex took the ring and slid it onto Meghan's finger.
Meghan had tears running down her cheeks.
“Alex Hunter,” began Meghan. “We've been through so much together over the past three decades. I, too, gave you my heart many years ago. And although we were apart for some time, my love for you never changed. It never faltered and it never died. It burned like a fire in my heart and in my soul. Today it burns brighter than ever.”
Alex felt the warm tears fall down her face.
Meghan continued. “You are my lover, my protector, my rock when times are tough. You've been a good person to me and to our daughter. You are beautifully imperfect, but I found myself in you. I will always love you. With this ring, I bind our love and our hearts together for all eternity.”
Meghan slipped the ring onto Alex's finger. They both were in tears.
Willie smiled. “With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you both married. You may kiss the brides.”
Alex leaned toward Meghan and kissed her slowly, softly, and passionately. The crowd cheered and clapped. It was a long time coming, but they couldn't avoid their destiny. Meghan and Alex Hunter were meant for each other. They were two souls lost in the universe that finally reunited once again. It was a love that was meant to be. Forever.
THE END
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Her Maiden Voyage
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The Death Room
13 Urban Legends Volume 1
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Bad Moon Rising: Wolf Within
Touchdown Hero
Light of My Life
Holiday Homecoming
Something Different
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Down N' Dirty
Burning Desire
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Coffee Connection
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Christmas Kiss
Christmas Bear
Ho, Ho, Hoax?
The Knight Before Christmas
Christmas Locket
Perfect Christmas
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