by JD Penley
Eight
Love Eternal
Lucas drove into town to search for an engagement ring, and it had to be a perfect ring for the perfect woman. He didn’t know what he was looking for, but he knew he wanted it to be special. He searched store after store searching for something that spoke to him. Just as he was ready to give up and head to the next city over to search, his patience finally paid off at the last store he visited. After searching through the various cuts, sizes and arrangements he finally found one that stood out to him. It was a three-stone engagement ring, with three side-by-side emerald-cut stones, accented by an array of brilliant princess-cut stones. It was a 5 quarter carat ring set in 14k white gold, and it was absolutely beautiful. He knew the moment he saw it that it was perfect for her, and it was confirmed for him when he remembered reading about the meaning behind the three-stone ring. The three-stone rings were meant to symbolize the past, present, and future, as well as friendship, love, and fidelity. It was the perfect ring, and he knew she would love it. He purchased the ring and headed home to pack their bags for the trip. He carefully hid the ring box in his baggage and put everything into the trunk of his car, and his timing was perfect. Just as he got back into the house Alice arrived home with Eryn and Jaidyn. Jaidyn ran straight to Lucas and jumped up to hug him and Lucas picked him up high above his head and began to run around the manor with him like he was a superhero. They played together again until it was time for dinner, and then they watched a movie. When the movie was over Lucas noticed that Jaidyn had fallen asleep, so he carried him gently into his room and tucked him in as always. He found Eryn waiting outside the door for him once again. “Do you know how amazing it is watching you with him?” she asked. “I get the feeling that the sight of it invokes a certain desire you’d like to fulfill?” Lucas asked with a grin. “You’ve read my mind my love” she said as she smiled and jumped into his arms. He kissed her and hugged her tightly, and he carried her down the hall into their room.
The next morning he got up and went to fix breakfast for Jaidyn and Susan. He sat down beside Jaidyn while he ate breakfast, and watched the children devour their food. He cleaned up the dishes and then went to play with Jaidyn for a bit. “Jaidyn, can I ask you something?” he asked. “Yes” he replied. “How would you feel if I told you that I wanted to marry your mother and to become your father?” he asked as Jaidyn sat in his lap. “I would love that Lucas. I love when you come and play with me, and you are already a good daddy. My mommy loves you very much and I can tell you love her. You take care of us, and I love it here. You are already like my daddy, but I would like it very much” he replied. His answer was so sincere and it brought Lucas so close to tears. He loved Jaidyn like his own son, and nothing would make him happier than to become his father. “I’m going to borrow your mommy for a week, but Alice will be here to take care of you. Will that be ok?” Lucas asked. “Where are you going?” Jaidyn asked. “I want to take her somewhere very special and ask her to marry me, but that is our little secret ok Jaidyn?” he asked. “I won’t tell her Lucas, but I know you’ll make mommy very happy” he said as he hugged Lucas. “I’m going to miss you” Lucas said. “I’ll miss you and mommy both. Can we play more when you get back?” he asked softly. “Of course little one, I would be happy to. How would you like it if I had a nice playground set up for you here, with swings and slides and all sorts of things for you to play on?” he asked. “I would love that!” Jaidyn exclaimed with excitement. “Then I will have one installed as soon as I get back. I will have Alice take you to a park so you can play on one until we get one for you here” Lucas said. “Ok Lucas, you and mommy have fun” he said as he hugged him once again. “Ok Jaidyn, I’ll see you when I get back. Be good for Alice” he said. “Yes sir” Jaidyn replied. Lucas kissed his forehead and left him to play with his toys.
He walked back to the bedroom to find Eryn, and he heard the shower running. He snuck quietly into the bathroom and slipped into the shower behind her. He put his arms around her softly and she gasped as she was startled by his sudden appearance behind her. He kissed her neck and she moaned softly as his hands caressed her body. She turned around to face him and she kissed him softly biting his lip. “Did I scare you?” he asked playfully. “How do you do that? I’m supposed to be able to hear your thoughts” she asked curiously. “Well I’ve had centuries of practice and I’ve been able to read minds, communicate with them and also shield my thoughts for longer than you so I have a few tricks up my sleeve” he said as he laughed. “So where did you get off to this morning?” she asked. “I went to have a talk with Jaidyn” he replied. “A good talk I hope?” she asked. “Yes, I just asked if I could borrow you for a little trip” he replied as he pulled her closer. “Where are we going?” she asked as he kissed her neck again. “It’s going to be a surprise” he replied as he picked her up and held her against the wall of the shower and kissed her passionately. “You drive me crazy Lucas, and I can’t get enough of it. You treat Jaidyn and I like royalty and never ask for anything in return” she said. “Well technically I am royalty, and I technically don’t have to ask for anything in return because you are what I want” he replied as he kissed her once again. They stayed in the shower until the entire room was filled with steam, and it would have been almost impossible for humans to see to move around. “Let’s get you dried off and dressed. I’ve already got our bags packed and ready to go in the car” he said as he carried her out of the shower. “You really are full of surprises Lucas, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this” she replied. “I wouldn’t want you to get used to it. I told you I wanted to share my world with you, and this is how it is to be a part of my world. You’re my princess, and I want to give you the world. I can’t help but want to spoil you. You and Jaidyn are a part of my world now too, and I love you” he said as he brushed her cheek with his hand and kissed her gently. “I love you too Lucas” she replied as she dropped her towel and threw herself into his arms.
Several hours later they were finally dressed and headed to the car. He drove towards the hanger so that they could take the plane on the mystery trip he had planned for them. She held his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder as they drove, as she thought about how amazing life had become with him. He smiled as her thoughts turned towards the future and how she saw their lives, and how madly in love with him she was. He took her by surprise when he whispered into her mind “I’m madly in love with you too” he said. She gasped at the revelation that he had the ability to speak directly through thought alone. “You know you can do the same if you try” he said to her. “Are there any other little tricks up your sleeve I should know about?” she asked. “None that I can think of at the moment” he replied. They finally arrived at the hanger and boarded the plane and he took her to the cockpit with him as he did with the trip before. They took off and headed towards Iceland, where he had planned for their first stop. He took her to the Blue Lagoon and they swam in the geothermal spas together, and enjoyed watching the Northern Lights at night. He took her shopping and on the last night there he decided it was time to propose to her.
They were onboard a night cruise to see the northern lights from the water when he decided to make his move. He took her hand and looked deep into her eyes, and focused on keeping his thoughts blocked so that it would be a total surprise. “Eryn, you’ve been my best friend for centuries and no matter how much time or distance separated us we managed to find our way back to each other. You were there for me in my darkest hour, and you comforted me and stayed by my side when I needed you most. You have loved me in a way I could never love myself and never knew another person could. I was so broken when I lost you all those years ago and I feared I had lost my best friend forever. Now my only fear is living my life without you, and there is no one else I’d rather spend my life with than you” he said as he paused to get on one knee. “Eryn, will you marry me?” he asked as he pulled the ring from his pocket. “Yes!” she exclaimed as tears of joy streamed down h
er face. He got up and took her in his arms and kissed her. He put the ring on her finger, and took her in his arms again, and continued to kiss her for several minutes. “So this is what you talked to Jaidyn about?” she asked. “Yes, I asked if he would like it if I married you and became his father” he replied. “What did he say?” she asked. “Well, you would be quite proud of him. He told me that he could tell that I made you happy and that you loved me, and that he would be happy to have me as a daddy” he replied. “Aww, he’s such a sweet boy” she replied with tears in her eyes. “I know, it took everything in me not to cry when he said that” Lucas replied. “Lucas this is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me, and you make me so happy” she said. “You make me happy too, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know we have forever already because we’re immortal but I still want to marry you, my best friend and the love of my life” he replied. “Well I’m yours, forever and always my love” she replied. They spent hours dancing together and then went back to their cabin for the rest of the evening.
In the morning they headed back to the jet to head to the next stop on his trip agenda. They took off to Jamaica where they spent the rest of their trip. He took her to swim with the dolphins in Dolphin Cove, to visit Rose Hall in Montego Bay, and to Dunn’s River Falls. He took her diving off the coast, and on a tour of the Luminous Lagoon. He took her shopping there as well before they headed home so that she could have something to remember their trip together. They returned home from their trip and found Alice chasing Jaidyn around the house, playing with him, and having a good time. He ran to Lucas and his mom and hugged them both. “So how was the trip daddy?” Alice asked. “It was amazing little one, we had a wonderful time” he replied. “So?” she asked. “Yes, I asked her Alice” he replied as he laughed. “Well, what did she say? Do I have a new mom and brother?” she asked. “Yes, you do!” Eryn replied. “I’m so happy for you daddy, happy for both of you in fact!” Alice squealed with delight. “Thank you little one, I am truly the happiest and luckiest man in the world” he replied. “That makes me the happiest and luckiest woman in the world” Eryn replied. “I guess we have a wedding to plan then right daddy?” Alice asked. “Yes we do little one” he replied as he hugged her.
Lucas and Eryn started planning immediately and Alice and Krystal were happy to jump in and help, and they began planning for a spring wedding. Lucas wanted everything to be perfect for her, and he made sure not to overlook even the slightest detail. He decided that he didn’t need to go for such a fancy suit for himself this time as he wanted to make sure all of the focus was on her. He picked out a stunning Vera Wang black notch lapel tuxedo for himself and a smaller one for Jaidyn, and she had found the perfect dress after searching for weeks with Alice and Krystal. She had picked out an English rose lace ball gown wedding dress by Oleg Cassini. It was an elegant strapless lace wedding dress crafted with two types of rose lace appliques and a sparkling glitter tulle underlay, with a sheer lace corset back that was finished with luminous pearl buttons. The bridesmaids would wear open back and mesh lace dresses in a royal blue to match the wedding colors of royal and pale blue and ivory. The tables would be set with simple white dishes layered with delicate blue-and-white transferware china and the arrangements were to be traditional white roses dotted with blue hydrangeas and delphinium for a subtle pop of color. Lucas made sure that there were traces of white and blue everywhere in the garden, and this time he would make sure that his parents would be there to see it. He began searching for the perfect destination for a honeymoon and decided he wanted to take her to Bora Bora. It was one of the few places he had never been, and he wanted to share that experience with her. After weeks of planning, he finally felt he had everything perfect for her. He made an announcement at the office the next week and invited everyone to join them, and just like before everyone was ready to be there for him as they had been in the past.
Lucas continued working on his novel as the weeks went by, spending his days with Jaidyn and his nights with Eryn. He took her and Jaidyn to his condo in New York to show them the sights of the city, the shows on Broadway, the skyline from the Empire State Building, and the trains at Grand Central Station. They went for walks through Central Park and walked the streets to see Times Square and Rockefeller Center, and he showed them all the places he had been before. He took Jaidyn to the toy stores and let him pick anything he wanted and he took her shopping and spoiled her like no one ever had before. They also visited his penthouse in Seattle so she could see where he first saw Alice from the rooftops, and the Space Needle, the Puget Sound, and the Seattle Symphony. They came home just before his mortal birthday and he had intended to ignore it like always as he had for centuries, but this year Alice and Eryn wouldn’t have it. They would wait until he would head to the office to work and they would collaborate on plans to throw him a surprise party. They spent days planning in secret, working with Krystal to secretly invite everyone to come to celebrate with them. On Friday Krystal asked Lucas if she could ride with him to work to get a ride in his car, and he happily obliged. “So now that you’ve had some time to settle in and get some experience under your belt, how are you feeling about writing a book of your own?” Lucas asked. “Well, I’m still trying to find the right story, one that speaks to me on a personal level or can somehow touch someone else with its words, like yours do” she replied. “Well, I didn’t know you were a fan” he replied as he blushed. “Lucas you have a way with words like no one else I’ve ever seen. It may be because of your upbringing in a time when people used language with feeling rather than laziness. It was a time when people wrote poems and sonnets that would move your very soul, or then again maybe you just have a gift with words. It seems to be a lost art, and yet somehow you still work magic with words the way your fingers do across the keys of your piano” she replied. “I never thought of it that way Krystal. I’ve written the same way ever since I wrote my first book, I just wrote from the heart. I write the way I feel, or whenever something moves me. I find inspiration everywhere. It can be in a song, in a smile, in art, in the raw beauty of the world, or simply in the eyes or arms of my muse. I didn’t have to find a story to move me, I created the story that moved me and that inspired me to share it with the world” Lucas replied. “Wow, that’s really deep Lucas. I never thought of it that way. I’ve been racking my brain trying to find the inspiration or the story to influence me when I have the power to create my own. Thank you, I don’t know what I would have done if not for you” she replied. “You didn’t need me, the story is inside of you. You just have to decide how to tell it. I’ll give you a secret when I write something I do it from the heart. I pour myself into every page, every sentence, and every word. I write so that someone else can pick up my books and feel the emotion in every page and know how I felt and they can share in it with me” he replied. “Lucas that is so romantic, Eryn really is a lucky girl” she replied. “No Krystal, I’m the lucky one. I get to marry my best friend, and the love of my life. She was always there for me in the past and she was there when I needed her most. She’s been with me in the darkness and shown me the light, and she saved me and made me whole. She made me feel love in a way I never knew was possible. So you see, I’m the lucky one. I get to share my life with the one who makes it worth living” he replied.
They talked about the future, and about life, and books all the way to the office. She asked him about his life before becoming immortal and about his thoughts and opinions on love and how she would know if she found true love herself. “So Lucas, how do you know if you’ve found the one? You seem like you have everything figured out, and you always seem to have the right words to say. So how do you know when it’s real?” she asked. “For me, it’s about connection. It’s not so much physical, but emotional, you might even say spiritual. When you find the one you just know, something inside your very soul catches on fire when they’re near. You look into their eyes and realize that you never want to stare into another
pair of eyes again, for the rest of your life. You see it in their smile when you realize all you want to do is keep it on their face. You feel it in the way they hold you, kiss you, laugh with you, cry with you, or sing for you. For me, the one is finding someone that you cannot live without, that knows your every secret yet never judges you, that you can talk to about anything. It’s a person that is your safe place in the storm. Eryn is that for me, my best friend, my lover, and my soulmate” he replied. “I hope to find someone like you one day, a man that will look at me the way you look at her, and that can love the way you do” she said as she sighed. “I’ll tell you a secret about finding the one Krystal. True love isn’t found by searching for love. It’s found by looking for a person that means the world to you but not for the purpose of love. You have to find a person that you can be yourself around, that never judges you for anything and supports you through every situation. You find someone that can be your safe place, someone you can run to when life gets rough and that always welcomes you with open arms. You find someone that you love without question, that you’d do anything for and that feels the same way, someone you’re happy to be around just because they understand who you are and they brighten up your day. The secret to all of this is that this person isn’t a lover or found with the intention of being one, you seek this person as a friend because they will always be there for you and will never let you down. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, sometimes love will grow from that. When that happens, you have something so pure that you will come to realize that you never really understood what love was until you found it with that person, and you’ll find that all of the pain from your past, all the loss you felt from a broken heart and all of your fears will melt away, and the world will make sense again and you won’t hurt anymore. That is how you find true love, and that’s how you know it’s real” he replied. “That is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard Lucas. It’s no wonder your books are so amazing, you have the kindest soul of anyone I’ve ever known. I would have never thought that anyone that had endured the pain you have could love like that, let alone be so insightful in matters of the heart” Krystal replied. “Well, it helps to have experience. I found love the same way I told you. I found the reflection of myself and my soul in another person, and I trusted her completely. I was there for her when she needed me, and she in turn was there for me when I needed her. We were a safe haven for each other when things got rough, and we saw in each other someone so beautifully broken and we sought to heal the other person rather than ourselves and in turn, we were healed by them. We didn’t start off trying to find love. We found our best friend and the love from that friendship blossomed into a love that would endure the tests of time. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, friend, or lover, and I certainly couldn’t have created one on paper with my words. They haven’t invented the words that could capture that person yet, but she captured my heart” he replied as a smile came over him. “Still, I hope that one day I find someone that loves me the way you love her or the way she loves you. Even if she wasn’t blindly broadcasting her thoughts, it’s in the way she stares at you when you aren’t looking, and it’s written all over her face. I can only hope to find that one day” she replied. “Don’t worry Krystal, you’ll have it one day. You just have to stop looking for it, and let it find you” he replied.
