Chapter 7
Stephen
Her words hit me hard.
She loved me?
She truly loved me and only me? How did I not see that? How could I not have known it was me she chose? I could feel her desperation for me and it tore me in half. I wanted so much to be able to be with her, touch her, caress her, hold her in my arms.
A part of her now knew. I could sense it in her. I could feel her desire, her frustration, and her need for answers. I knew they would never come, but it filled me with so much hope that something inside her, call it her subconscious, knew she was meant to be with me. I almost cried out with joy at the knowledge. Me…the man who thought for himself, risked everything, and didn’t let himself be ruled by anything…was practically dancing with jubilation.
She loved me. She loved me.
How could three little words mean so much? How could they turn your life upside-down, bringing new meaning to everything you had ever thought you knew? I knew nothing. I was fucking stupid to believe I did. Cassie was the exception to the rule. I felt bad that Michael was losing her to the likes of me, but the selfish part of me couldn’t help the euphoria running through my veins.
She loved me. She really did love me.
This changed everything. How could I live without her knowing she couldn’t live without me? I had to find a way to be with her. I had to fight for her—even if it was to my death. How on earth could she possibly feel that I would want this life more than her? How could she possibly feel I would want anything other than her? She was my life.
I had waited long enough. I knew they say patience had its rewards. My reward would be Cassie. I had to be with her. I had to make her mine once and for all. Her happiness was my only desire. She was my light in the dark, my sight to my eyes, my hearing to my ears. She filled all my senses because she was my whole.
She was certainly right about me being the air she breathed. We were each other’s oxygen. We couldn’t live without one another. She sustained my life, as I sustained hers. How could I possibly let her live her life knowing that? It just wasn’t an option.
I frantically scrambled to my feet in search of Archangel Gabriel. I had to seek permission to return. I didn’t think he would let me go so easily, but I had to try. I’d take whatever he threw at me as punishment, as long as it meant I would get to be with my Cassie again.
I was going to get her back and, this time, no one was going to stop me.
Chapter 8
When I woke up the next morning, I was angry Stephen never came to my dreams. I didn’t know why, though. Maybe it wasn’t possible for him to do. However, it still didn’t stop the disappointment. The one thing I did dream about was that bloody door and the laughing children again. I could hear them on the other side of it, but could never get the door open. No matter how much I banged and bashed at it, it would remain shut. For some reason, I kept feeling that the answer laid behind that door. The answer to what, I didn’t know, but it just felt important somehow.
The day was spent visiting Lisa-Marie and going shopping. Catherine was there, holding vigil. You could really see the love she had. There was no change with Lisa-Marie, but that meant there was no deterioration, either.
I left the hospital feeling a sudden anxiety. I felt it all the way through the shops as I bought some food for later. I felt it as I walked home. I didn’t know what it was until I bumped into Simeon.
“Cassie, you’re looking beautiful.”
I sighed as I stared into the eyes of a man who looked like the one I loved. He stood as tall as a statue, uniform looking made for him—just as it did with Stephen.
Actually, seeing him like that raised my hopes. Maybe he was working and would be unable to come with me to Simon’s.
“Hi, Simeon. How are you?”
He smiled, then saw the bags in my hand. “Here, let me carry that for you. May I walk you home?”
I let Simeon take the bags from me as I started for home. “Shouldn’t you be off doing your duty or whatever?”
The cheeky grin he now wore wasn’t lost on me. He wasn’t Stephen. I kept reminding myself of that.
“I could never leave you in the lurch when you need me.”
“What are you, my knight in shining armour?”
I saw the twinkle in his eyes as he laughed. “If you would like me to be.”
Looking away, I couldn’t help but feel the butterflies. No matter how much I kept reminding myself of who he was, it still didn’t stop that natural calming affect these angels had. It made me crave it.
“Simon wants us to go to dinner at his house tonight.” Regret filled me the moment the words left my lips. He didn’t invite us. He invited Stephen and me.