she held her breath for too long.
Taggert slid his arms underneath her, murmuring apologies and prayers the entire time. His words faded
in and out, or maybe it was her fading. How could she tell?
She was lifted into the air, and agony seared through her body like a bolt of lightning. She gasped then
choked as blood filled her mouth. She gagged and coughed and that sent another surge of pain through
her chest so fierce that her eyes rolled back into her head.
The next thing she knew she was lying on the seat of Taggert’s truck, and Taggert was shouting at her to
stay with him.
Blackness crowded her vision, closing in on her like night. She struggled to stay awake, to stay with
Taggert as he demanded over and over. It hurt too much, though. It was easier to slide toward the dark.
“Tagg…”
“Yes, baby, I’m here. I’m here, Emmy. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, honey.”
“L-love you. So…so much. Always…have. Tell Greer. Love…him…too.”
She was sliding. Endlessly. No handholds. No way to hang on.
Chapter Seventeen
When Emily opened her eyes, she knew something wasn’t right. It was too quiet, too peaceful, and there
was no pain. She wasn’t even lying down, but then after glancing down, she wasn’t exactly standing
either.
For the love of God¾literally¾don’t let this be one of those out of body experiences people talked about
when they died.
A chuckle had her whipping around, well, as much as one could when she had no sense of physical being.
Sean. Standing there with a big ole smile on his face, worn jeans—his favorite pair—boots and a
threadbare T-shirt. Looking just as gorgeous and as full of life as he’d ever looked.
“You’re not dead, Emmy,” he said.
“Sean,” she whispered. Tears filled her eyes. Her nose stung, and her throat ached.
“Hey, love,” he said in a husky voice. “Still causing trouble, I see.”
She smiled through her tears and then threw herself into his arms.
Oh it was the best feeling in the world. It wasn’t a dream. She could feel his arms around her when she
thought never to feel them again. He even smelled just like he always did.
She pulled away and looked up into his eyes. “Kiss me.”
His mouth lowered to hers. This was a gift like none she’d ever expected to receive. How many times had
she begged God for just one more time in Sean’s arms? One more chance to tell him how much she loved
him and how much she missed him.
“I love you,” she whispered into his mouth.
He gripped her shoulders, his thumbs rubbing a pattern over her skin. “I love you, Emmy. I’ve always
loved you. Now we need to have a talk.”
She groaned. “Don’t spoil things. I don’t want to talk. I just want to be with you.”
His eyes were so serious. He cupped her cheek and held her face between his hands.
“Taggert and Greer need you, Emmy.”
She shook her head, only focused on the miracle of seeing—of talking—to Sean again. How could she
even think of leaving him?
“I had three wonderful years with you, Songbird. Three years I’ll cherish for eternity. I don’t regret
anything. You weren’t to blame for my death.”
She looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Emmy, look at me.”
She raised her gaze again, overwhelmed at the love and understanding she found in his eyes.
“You weren’t to blame. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was my time. It’s not your time.”
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I’ll always be with you. Wherever you are, I’ll be.”
She rested her head on his chest, savoring the connection to him that time and his death hadn’t erased.
“I love you.”
His hands slid over her back and into her hair. “I love you too. Always. Taggert and Greer love you. They
always have even if they wouldn’t admit it. They need you, Emmy. They can’t lose us both.”
He tilted her head back up so she looked at him again.
“I’ll never leave you. Do you know that? I’m always here.”
Tears slipped rapidly down her cheeks as she stared wordlessly up at him.
“I don’t want to say goodbye,” she choked out.
He smiled. “Then don’t. Say you love me and then go back. I’ll be waiting for you. When it’s your time,
I’ll be there.”
“Oh Sean. I do love you so much.”
She threw her arms around him and held on desperately. This time…this time she knew she wouldn’t see
him again until it was her time.