Missing Grace(13)

"Hello." He stood up awkwardly and motioned for her to join him. She sat down on a bench shaded by a large oak tree, a few feet between them. He needed her. The large, loud fountain was to their right, and just as many people as yesterday, mostly tourists, were milling about. Despite the distractions, he spoke first. "I was thinking you might have some questions for me. You can ask me anything, anything you like, and I can show you a few pictures."

She glanced at her watch before leaning closer, her hand resting between, and whispering, "I don't have much time, but I couldn't stay away."



       
         
       
        

He could see the conflict in her eyes, and although it hurt him to see any doubt, he also knew she wanted to know more. When she sat back, he watched her hands as she held them tightly together as if she was restraining them, and he noticed her lip quiver ever so slightly.

Looking at him, she confided, "I believe you." She paused and swallowed hard. He could see her struggling to control her emotions. This must be so hard for her. "You showed me the picture, but something about you, something made me believe you the night of the awards dinner. You were so sure of yourself and there was kindness-a sense of knowing-in your eyes. I'm not sure I should be here. I'm confused. Maybe I'm a naturally trusting person, but I feel like you're being honest with me. So I'm here again."

"I'm glad you came. I know this must be difficult to believe everything I tell you-"

"I'll be honest. This is really messing with my head. I always wanted to know and spent over two years searching for information, but this past year, about nine months ago, I was finally ready to put it behind me and let it go. The doctors had no idea whether my memories would come back or not, and then I just woke up one day and I felt different. I felt it was time for me to move on." She laughed mockingly at herself. "I'm sure I sound ridiculous. But that's kind of how it happened."

"That's not ridiculous at all." He felt embarrassed at the thought of admitting how much time he'd spent on his own searching for her, but he thought she should hear the truth. He stood up and shoved his hands in his jacket pockets while looking out at the park-goers. "I've been searching for you for over three years. Every day. Every day since the day you disappeared." He couldn't look at her. He'd break. He was already so broken, and she needed him to be strong. For her.

The weight of her gaze was heavy, but he kept his own cast down. He felt ashamed. He could sense her approaching. He didn't look up, too afraid of what he'd see in her eyes after his confession. Would she think him crazy? Would she see the love he still held for her? He knew his eyes would give him away.

But, when her hand landed on his stomach, his eyes finally lifted to hers. Inside her tear-filled eyes he saw something he'd lost long ago. Hope. And in hers, he found his again. Covering her hand with his, he took it and slid up until it rested above his heart. The tears escaped the confines of her lower lids and ran down her cheeks.

His heartbeat was strong in his chest and beating faster than it should. Every beat was a love letter written long before this moment, every beat an eternal promise he'd vowed to keep. He didn't know if she could ever feel the same about him again, but the pulses that ran through their hands reconnected them intimately. 

She didn't remove her hand or try to pull away. She stared into his deep green eyes. Not ready to reveal everything, nor scare her with the deep-seated emotions, he held himself in check. But then she moved closer, eliminating half the space between them. Nothing could have stopped him from taking the next step to close the gap.

Grace's chin grazed across his chest as she looked up. His free hand went to her waist. Neither said anything because their body language spoke clearly.

Her breathing quickened, and she blinked before looking back down at his chest. The change in her mindset slinked across her features. He hated that being with him made her feel improper somehow and caused her to doubt. His fingers tightened minutely, though he knew he couldn't hold her there forever.

She pushed carefully off him and turned her back. "I need a moment." Her words were barely louder than the breeze that cooled them.

Already missing her touch, he reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder to reassure her and give her any kind of comfort he could.

With her head dropped and her back still to him, she whispered, "I shouldn't have done that."

"It's all right. Your heart still knows, Grace, even if your head doesn't."