Forever's Promises (Forever In Luck Series Book 1) by J. Darling Page B

it,
but I know now I didn’t. I understand if that’s too much to believe right now,
but soon the truth will come out, and you’ll know beyond a shadow of a doubt
that I didn’t. I’m sorry you were hurt in all this, and I’m sorry I was weak. I
let you down, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret the
minutes I’ve missed with you. I love you so much, and as I say those words I
know your trust in them is broken. I’ll wait. I’ll wait for you till you’re
ready. Just know that my heart is forever promised to you.”

 
    **********

 
    Falling,
she was falling, and yet he held her suspended above him. Why had she listened
to him? She knew she shouldn’t have listened to him. She looked upon him with
sadness. So much about the two of them had changed. Staring at him, at the man
he’d become, she felt completely overwhelmed. They really had just been
children before, hadn’t they?
    Seeing
him now, hearing what he had to say, made her realize she’d just been going
through the motions of life since he left. She’d loved him so much back then,
and when it became apparent he wasn’t coming back, she thought she’d reconciled
her feelings for him, and in effect, let him go. But she hadn’t. She still
loved him. She knew she did, but her emotions for him remained elusive. Nothing
bubbling to the surface, no giddy excitement, nothing but an echo of the pulse
that’d once run between them. Where had those feelings gone?
    Focusing
on the wasteland one could now call her heart, she wondered if she’d ever find
them under all the rubble, or if she even wanted to. Looking at him, she was
struck by his hopeful determination. Is that what was missing? Had she lost
hope? Using the strength and sincerity behind his words, she searched deep
within herself, and found much of the pain and sorrow that’d come with the
confusion of his leaving, gone. In its place, a kind of peace. The kind that
comes at the end of a raging storm, when one realizes that all that is truly
important in life had survived.
    She
didn’t know what happened all those years ago, or in the years since, but his
being alive, and well, undermined any anger she had. The hurt however, at being
left behind, remained. Could she forgive him after everything she’d been
through? Could she trust him again? She didn’t know, but what she did know, was
that although her heart wasn’t where it needed to be, it was a lot closer than
it had been because of him. Heart pounding, she released the chains holding her
from him, and fell into his waiting arms.

 
    **********

 
    He
had her. She was in his arms, and he held her. With her arms tight around his
neck, and her face buried in his shoulder, he felt her tremble, causing him to
hug her tighter. He’d never forget the moment, because just as his arms went
around her, the six o’clock church bells began to ring. After a few minutes,
she loosened her hold and pulled back, looking at him, troubled. This wasn’t
over, he thought. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but opted instead to drop his
forehead to hers, bringing them closer. As he’d held her up in the air, he’d watched
the war of emotions play over her face, and so he knew the depth to which she’d
struggled. That she didn’t move away now, was encouraging, but something told
him not to rush this. Pulling back, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead.
    She
quickly pushed, and moved, to be released from his hold. Not wanting to, he let
her go. Walking to the edge of Big Butternut Lake, she stood staring out over
the water. Coming up behind her, he did the same. Wishing she’d say something,
he laughed to himself. How many men out there wished their woman would stop
talking, and here he stood wishing he had one that wouldn’t? Linnie was like
that though, quiet and calm, until she was certain of what she was thinking or
doing. Looking at it that way, this behavior was encouraging, because if the
last few days were any indication,