Across the Creek (22 page)

Sarah smiled. “Thank you.” Then she grabbed the puppy with both hands and held its face up to hers. “We are going to have so much fun, Lil’ Jess.”

“Okay. There is one other stipulation.”

“And what’s that?”

“You have to name him something other than Lil’ Jess.”

Sarah looked at the puppy again and spoke in a baby voice. “He’s just no fun, is he? Now I can see why you want to live with me instead.” The puppy answered back with a high-pitched bark. “How about…Willow?”

“Willow?”

“Yeah, like the willow tree.”

The tree surfaced in Jesse’s mind; the one place that had been theirs. A place shared with no one else where they were safe and protected…and loved. “I think it sounds perfect.”

Sarah set Willow down on the floor and watched him explore the place. He stopped to sniff everything—the furniture, a pair of shoes—and then went scampering off into the kitchen.

“Thank you very much. It’s the best gift anyone has ever given me.”

“You’re welcome.” Jesse watched as the puppy disappeared behind the kitchen counter which held boxes of Stanley’s belongings. “The service was beautiful.”

“You were there?”

Jesse nodded.

Sarah gave him a studied look. “I didn’t see you.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “You had a lot on your plate and I didn’t want to get in the way. But I really liked the eulogy you gave. Very touching.”

“Thank you.” Her gaze turned away, as if embarrassed. “He was a wonderful father.”

“In the little time I knew him, he definitely seemed like a good man.”

“You want to have a seat?” Sarah sat on the couch and Jesse took a seat on the sofa across from her. “How have you been? How’s Robbie?”

Jesse let out a sigh. “He’s still in a lot of trouble.” He remembered his visit a few days ago. Robbie refused to speak and Jesse wanted to reach across the table and give him a smack. “I don’t know how to help him this time.”

“He needs his family more than anything right now. Just being there for him does more than you realize.”

“How’s the greenhouse coming along?” Jesse asked, wanting to talk about anything else, and still working up the nerve to discuss the thing he really came here to talk about.

“The funeral delayed everything about a week. But they broke ground last Monday. It’s going great though.” Sarah paused and looked out the window for a brief moment. “Dad would be so happy.”

“He’d be proud.” Jesse pulled his foot up onto his knee and looked around. Something seemed off, different. He noticed the walls naked of any artwork or photographs. Then he saw the packed bags and boxes just outside the hallway. “Are you taking a trip?”

“No, not really. Just getting ready to move.”

“Move? Where are you going?”

“Not far. Kevin and I thought it would be best to move everything into his place now. That way when we get back from the honeymoon it will already be done.”

Jesse’s muscles tightened and his heart began beating faster. “Are you still getting married next week?”

“We didn’t feel that it was necessary to postpone our plans. The invitations are sent and many of his relatives out of town have plane tickets and hotel reservations.”

“I see.” Jesse hadn’t expected this. The swift marriage had been due to Stanley’s condition. Now he was gone, but here she was, still getting married next week. “That’s…that’s so soon.”

“Are you okay?”

No! He didn’t know what to do. He thought about the conversation he had had with his aunt, but if he brought that up now, Sarah would probably kick him out and never want to see him again. Of course, if he said nothing at all, he would probably never see her again either. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Jesse, what’s on your mind?”

Love always comes with a consequence
. And here it was. Everything inside of him told him to stand up and walk out of her apartment. Walk out and never look back.

He stood up, looked at Sarah and said, “I should probably—”

“Just tell me what’s on your mind,” she interrupted.

He didn’t know how else to say it, so he looked her in the eyes and said, “Are you sure about this?”

“Sure about what?”

“Marrying Kevin.”

She stood up and crossed her arms. “Of course I’m sure. I love him very much. Why would you ask a question like that?”

“I just don’t think…” Jesse paused.

“What? Why don’t you just say what’s on your mind?” Frustration filled Sarah’s voice.

“He’s not right for you, Sarah.”

“How do you know that?” she asked. “You don’t know anything about him. If it wasn’t for him, the greenhouse wouldn’t be getting built right now. He sacrificed the job he loved to help build my dream. So why shouldn’t I be with a man like that? And besides, Jesse, when’s the last time you had a long-term relationship with a girl?”

“You’re right.” Her words were just as painful as they were true. “What do I know?” he asked, shaking his head. “I’m sorry I came by.” He turned to leave.

Sarah grabbed his arm. “Wait. I’m sorry. I’ve just been through a lot lately and I honestly don’t know how much more I can take. Please don’t go. I’m sorry.”

Jesse paused and turned to face her. She threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. He knew he should tell her how he felt about her. About the fire that burned deep inside of him every time the thought of her passed through his mind. But the words wouldn’t come. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just care about you.”

“I know,” she said.

It was now or never. If he didn’t tell her today, there would be no more chances.

She released her hug but kept her hands on his arms. Jesse stared into her eyes and swallowed. “Sarah, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” Her soft voice echoed music into his heart.

“I think…I think I’m in—”

A knock on the door interrupted Jesse. “Is that Kevin?”

She had a confused look on her face like she wasn’t sure. “It shouldn’t be. He’s out of town taking care of some business before the wedding. I don’t know who it could be.”

Sarah checked the peephole and then opened the door. “Dr. Bradtmiller.” She opened it wider. “Please, come inside.”

Dr. Bradtmiller’s scrubs and white coat had been replaced with a pair of khakis and a dark green polo shirt. “Thank you,” he said, taking a few steps inside. “It’s good to see you, Sarah.” He gave her a hug as if they were old friends. Then he turned to Jesse and held out his hand. “Hello again.”

Jesse shook his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

“What brings you here?” Sarah asked.

“Is it all right if we have a seat?”

“Of course,” she said, waving him over to the couch. “Can I get you anything?”

“No. I’m quite all right, but thank you.”

They both sat on the couch and Jesse took his seat on the sofa. Dr. Bradtmiller looked around, his smile never fading.

“That was a moving ceremony, dear. Your father would have loved it.”

“Thank you,” she said. “For everything. I never did get the chance to tell you how grateful I was for everything you did for Dad.”

He waved it off. “It was nothing. I was only doing my job.”

Sarah shook her head. “Not the times when you stopped by his house to check on him. Or when you’d come into the hospital during his treatments when it wasn’t even your day to be there. You went out of your way to make him feel comfortable and I am so thankful for that.”

The doctor placed a hand on Sarah’s “He was a good friend and a great man.” He paused as if trying not to cry. “I just wish I could have done more for him.”

“He knows you did the best you could. And if there was anything else you could do, you would have done it.”

“That’s actually what I’m here for.” Dr. Bradtmiller opened a thin leather briefcase that Jesse hadn’t realized he was carrying, and pulled out an envelope. “Your father did have one more thing that he wanted me to do. He asked me to give this to you.”

Sarah’s eyes narrowed on the envelope. “What is it?”

He handed it to her and shook his head. “That I don’t know. He gave me this letter the morning before he passed away. He told me to wait two weeks before giving it to you. I tried to talk him into giving it to you that day, but he made me promise that I’d wait two weeks.”

Sarah stared and then flipped it over. Her fingers traced the letters that spelled her name. “It’s Dad’s handwriting.”

“Your father was one of the kindest, most caring men I ever met. And one thing I know for sure is that he was very proud of you, Sarah.”

She turned to the doctor and reached over with a hug. “Thank you.”

“Well,” he said, standing up. “I really need to get back to work. I just wanted to give that to you and honor one final wish for a friend.”

Sarah and Jesse stood up and Jesse shook the doctor’s hand.

“It was nice seeing you again, Jesse.”

“Same here.”

Dr. Bradtmiller pulled Jesse closer and whispered, “Take care of her.”

Jesse nodded.

They both watched as Dr. Bradtmiller walked out of the apartment and shut the door behind him.

“Would you like me to leave?” Jesse asked.

Sarah didn’t answer. She stared at the envelope in her hands. “Actually, I think I’d rather you stayed. Is that okay?”

“Of course,” he said. “Anything you want.”

Lowering herself into the couch, Sarah took a deep breath, then finally worked up the courage to open it.

Inside was a folded-up piece of paper. Sarah said, “Would you mind reading this for me?”

Jesse nodded and took the letter from her. He waited as Sarah grabbed a tissue. “Just getting prepared,” she said.

Dear Sarah,

I’m so sorry you have to read this letter. The thought of leaving my beautiful little girl, especially someone as incredible as you, is difficult for me. But knowing that you won’t be alone brings me great comfort. You are about to be married, and Kevin is a good man. You also have surrounded yourself with good friends in your life. One who has recently come back into your life, one who I know cares about you very much and will see to it that you are safe and happy, just as he did when you were a little girl. Please tell both Kevin and Jesse thank you for me. It brings comfort to a father, knowing that his daughter is safe.

I want you to remember what I taught you. Don’t make the same mistakes I made. Make sure that you go after the things in life that you are passionate about. It’s passion that breathes life into the shells of our existence. Always take time to enjoy the small wonders that are all around us. They’re blessings in disguise. And don’t forget to enjoy a sunset now and then.

There’s one thing that I need for you to do for me. It’s something that I had planned on doing before your wedding but didn’t have the strength. Do you remember that time capsule we buried about ten years ago? I know that you made me promise that we wouldn’t dig it up for a hundred years, but there is something in there of value. Something that you need to have. Please do this one thing for me.

I’m so sorry that I won’t be there to walk you down the aisle. To stand by your side and give you away. But when you’re staring down that aisle and you feel the butterflies stirring as everyone stands to see you, I’ll be right there, looking down on you. You’ll feel my love like a warm and tender kiss on your cheek. I love you, Sarah. You will always be my sunshine.

Love,

Dad

Sarah

“Thank you for driving me to Whispering Meadows.” Sarah looked over at Jesse, staring through the windshield of his old truck. A truck she had grown to see as a perfect fit for Jesse, her old and dependable friend.

“Well, I couldn’t let you ride your bicycle there, could I?”

“I could have taken my dad’s car, but I don’t know if that old thing would make the trip.”

“It’s no problem. We should probably stop by my place and get some supplies though.”

“Sounds good.”

Sarah couldn’t believe she was doing this. Driving three hours to New Haven to dig up a time capsule that she and her father had buried nearly ten years ago.

Jesse’s truck came to a squealing stop as he pulled into the parking lot into the back of the store. “Did you want to come in or stay here?”

“I’ll stay.”

“Okay. I won’t be long.” Jesse got out and disappeared into the store.

Sarah looked up at the sky. Feathery clouds splayed across the expanse, glowing pink and purple in the fading sunset. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed a sunset. She thought about her father and how finite things like sunsets really are. You never really know how many are left.

When Jesse returned, his arms had an awkward grip around a bundle of tools and gloves. He tossed them into the back of his truck and climbed in. “Well,” he said. “We’re off to the willow tree.”

Sarah spent most of the first hour staring out the passenger window. Neither said much. She wondered how it must feel for Jesse, returning to a place so close to the awful events of his childhood.

Soon the sun had completely gone down, leaving the moon and stars as their only light as Jesse drove down the highway.

Jesse turned to Sarah. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’ve just been enjoying the ride,” she said. “What do you think our lives would have been like if we had never moved from Indiana?”

“It’s hard to say. I guess I would have had to take you to prom.”

“Had to? Jesse Malone, you would have begged me to go to prom with you. And then I’d have had to look into those big blue eyes and give in.”

Jesse let out a laugh. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I mean, you are a Whispering Meadows princess after all. I was just a poor boy from Clear Creek. In fact, you probably would have stopped talking to me by the time we were in high school.”

Sarah’s mouth opened wide. “What? I wouldn’t have done that.” Jesse gave her a
yeah, right
expression. “You’re the one who would have stopped talking to me,” she said. “You would’ve been too
cool
to talk to a Whispering Meadows girl.”