softening in his
eyes. “Unfortunately, I think I do.” He started toward the
stairs, and then looked over his shoulder. “I’ll see you
tomorrow. Lock the door behind you.”
Cyn stood in stunned silence long after Mike left,
feeling like she’d spent the last hour in a blender on high
speed. On wobbly legs she left the house and crossed the
yard to her apartment. But it wasn’t her apartment, not
really. What if Mike wanted her to leave sooner rather
45
Pam Champagne
than later?
She lifted her chin. If so, she’d deal with it. Even
though she’d hurt him tonight, someday he’d thank her.
****
“You handled that well,” Mike said to the empty
bedroom. He rested his head against the glass pane and
watched Cyn scurry across the lawn. He pulled over a
rocking chair and opened the window. An owl hooted in
the near distance. Bullfrogs croaked a symphony from
behind the house. He filled his lungs with the delicious
scent of sweet pepper bush. Sounds of the night generally
brought him comfort. So quiet, so peaceful; yet tonight it
did nothing to ease the ache in his heart.
He hadn’t wanted a woman so bad since Mary Jo.
Not only in his bed but in his life. He’d been a fool to tell
Cyn how he felt. Now, he’d have to live with the
consequences. Both of them would feel the strain. There’d
be no more camaraderie like there’d been for the last
several months.
One by one the lights in her apartment went out.
What were her thoughts as she climbed into bed? Did she,
like him, regret opening the can of worms? Or did she lie
in bed, thinking the time had arrived to leave what had
been her sanctuary since Peter died?
Goosebumps covered his arms two seconds before he
bolted out of the chair. His jaw dropped as he watched
Peter Jenks materialize. “Just going to give up and let
Cyn slip away?”
Mike wiped a shaky hand across his eyes. “Jesus,
Jenks. You know better than to sneak up on a man.”
“I no longer have to worry about the ramifications of
that, Sir.”
Mike loosened the top button of his shirt. Sweat
broke out at the sudden appearance of the dead tech
sergeant. He lowered himself back in the chair and
cleared his throat. “Cyn’s doing just fine.”
“I know. I’ve been keeping an eye on her. She has
accepted my death and is moving on.”
46
Bridge of Hope
Mike studied the apparition. Peter’s spirit had
changed since the night on the bridge. Tonight he was
almost translucent.
“You can tell I’m fading,” Peter stated in a matter-of-
fact tone. “It’s near time for me to move on. I’d hoped to
see you two together before that happened.”
Mike wanted to groan. How did he explain to a dead
man that the last thing his wife wanted was someone to
take care of her? “Don’t worry.”
“You never answered me. Are you gonna fight for
her?” “Look, this conversation is way too strange.”
“Do you deny having feelings for Cyn?”
“No. I care—more than I should. She’s not
interested.”
“Up to you to make sure she gets interested, Sir.”
“You’re wrong, Jenks. Cyn’s right. She has to find her
own way this time.”
Mike prepared for an argument and was surprised
when Jenks spoke. “You’re right.” The young man’s spirit
had further faded until it was barely discernible. He
doubted he’d be seeing the young soldier again.
“I’m rooting for you, Sir!” The young soldier vanished
so fast, Mike wondered if he’d imagined the whole
incident.
He bent to unlace his boots. This had been one hell of
a strange night. The woman he’d fallen for didn’t want his
love. Yet, her dead husband was on his side.
He was tempted to punch the wall. He wanted to yell.
Because of Katy sleeping down the hall, he did nothing
but struggle out of his uniform and made a beeline for the
bed. He’d sort it all out in the morning.
47
Pam Champagne
Chapter Eight
The nerves in Cyn’s stomach weren’t
eyes. “Unfortunately, I think I do.” He started toward the
stairs, and then looked over his shoulder. “I’ll see you
tomorrow. Lock the door behind you.”
Cyn stood in stunned silence long after Mike left,
feeling like she’d spent the last hour in a blender on high
speed. On wobbly legs she left the house and crossed the
yard to her apartment. But it wasn’t her apartment, not
really. What if Mike wanted her to leave sooner rather
45
Pam Champagne
than later?
She lifted her chin. If so, she’d deal with it. Even
though she’d hurt him tonight, someday he’d thank her.
****
“You handled that well,” Mike said to the empty
bedroom. He rested his head against the glass pane and
watched Cyn scurry across the lawn. He pulled over a
rocking chair and opened the window. An owl hooted in
the near distance. Bullfrogs croaked a symphony from
behind the house. He filled his lungs with the delicious
scent of sweet pepper bush. Sounds of the night generally
brought him comfort. So quiet, so peaceful; yet tonight it
did nothing to ease the ache in his heart.
He hadn’t wanted a woman so bad since Mary Jo.
Not only in his bed but in his life. He’d been a fool to tell
Cyn how he felt. Now, he’d have to live with the
consequences. Both of them would feel the strain. There’d
be no more camaraderie like there’d been for the last
several months.
One by one the lights in her apartment went out.
What were her thoughts as she climbed into bed? Did she,
like him, regret opening the can of worms? Or did she lie
in bed, thinking the time had arrived to leave what had
been her sanctuary since Peter died?
Goosebumps covered his arms two seconds before he
bolted out of the chair. His jaw dropped as he watched
Peter Jenks materialize. “Just going to give up and let
Cyn slip away?”
Mike wiped a shaky hand across his eyes. “Jesus,
Jenks. You know better than to sneak up on a man.”
“I no longer have to worry about the ramifications of
that, Sir.”
Mike loosened the top button of his shirt. Sweat
broke out at the sudden appearance of the dead tech
sergeant. He lowered himself back in the chair and
cleared his throat. “Cyn’s doing just fine.”
“I know. I’ve been keeping an eye on her. She has
accepted my death and is moving on.”
46
Bridge of Hope
Mike studied the apparition. Peter’s spirit had
changed since the night on the bridge. Tonight he was
almost translucent.
“You can tell I’m fading,” Peter stated in a matter-of-
fact tone. “It’s near time for me to move on. I’d hoped to
see you two together before that happened.”
Mike wanted to groan. How did he explain to a dead
man that the last thing his wife wanted was someone to
take care of her? “Don’t worry.”
“You never answered me. Are you gonna fight for
her?” “Look, this conversation is way too strange.”
“Do you deny having feelings for Cyn?”
“No. I care—more than I should. She’s not
interested.”
“Up to you to make sure she gets interested, Sir.”
“You’re wrong, Jenks. Cyn’s right. She has to find her
own way this time.”
Mike prepared for an argument and was surprised
when Jenks spoke. “You’re right.” The young man’s spirit
had further faded until it was barely discernible. He
doubted he’d be seeing the young soldier again.
“I’m rooting for you, Sir!” The young soldier vanished
so fast, Mike wondered if he’d imagined the whole
incident.
He bent to unlace his boots. This had been one hell of
a strange night. The woman he’d fallen for didn’t want his
love. Yet, her dead husband was on his side.
He was tempted to punch the wall. He wanted to yell.
Because of Katy sleeping down the hall, he did nothing
but struggle out of his uniform and made a beeline for the
bed. He’d sort it all out in the morning.
47
Pam Champagne
Chapter Eight
The nerves in Cyn’s stomach weren’t
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