Across the Creek (24 page)

Just then Jesse sent the shovel back into the hole and the sound of metal hitting metal rang out. “I think we just found it.”

He tossed the shovel off to the side and fell to his hands and knees. Sarah stood up and walked over to the hole to shine light inside. Jesse tapped the bottom of the hole with his knuckles and heard a hollow can sound.

“That has to be it,” Sarah said. Excitement rose in her voice. “This is like a treasure hunt.”

Scooping out soil with his hands now, Jesse cleared the top edge of the box. He felt around, looking for something he could use to get a grip on it. As he pulled on one side, it turned over, breaking completely loose from the ground.

He lifted the time capsule from the hole and set it down between him and Sarah. Jesse could make out a smile on her face as she stared at the box.

“That’s it,” she said.

It was about the size of a shoebox and had a lid with hinges on one side and a latch on the other. Jesse slowly turned the box so that the latch faced Sarah.

“You should open it,” he said.

Sarah handed Jesse the flashlight and then flipped the latch up, unhooking the lid. She slowly opened it as Jesse placed a spotlight on what was inside. Butterflies danced within Jesse’s stomach and he could only imagine what Sarah was feeling at that moment.

She removed a small leather bag from the metal case. “Oh my gosh.”

Sarah

“What is it?” Jesse asked.

“It’s Susan, my Barbie. I forgot I put her in the time capsule.” She stared at the doll, noting the long blond hair that had always reminded her of her mother’s.

“You named your Barbie Susan?”

“Yes. What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing. Sounds like a typical name for a Barbie.”

Sarah set the doll on the blanket. She turned the bag upside down and dumped the rest of the contents into her hand. “Awww. It’s my old dog Sam’s collar tag. I can’t believe I buried that.” She set it next to her doll. Then a small white thing fell into her hand. “What is this?” Jesse shined his light on it. “Oh my gosh. It’s the first tooth I lost.”

“What? You saved your first baby tooth? I thought you were supposed to give those to the Tooth Fairy.”

“Not this one. It was my first, so I wanted to keep it. I guess I thought the time capsule would be a safe place where the Tooth Fairy wouldn’t find it.”

“Good call,” Jesse said teasingly. “What about that?” Now he shined the light on a bright red marble. Sarah rolled it in her hand. A lump formed in the back of her throat.

“What is it?” Jesse asked.

“It was the last thing Henry gave me. He had a bunch of marbles but this was the only red one he had. He knew that red was my favorite color, so he let me have it.”

“Are you okay?”

Sarah nodded and put the things back into the leather bag. “Can you shine the light inside the box?” she asked.

There was a manila envelope lying at the bottom. Sarah brought it up and knocked off the loose dirt. “What’s in there?” Jesse asked.

“I have no idea. I didn’t know it was in here. My dad must have put it in when I wasn’t looking.”

Opening the envelope, Sarah pulled out a family photograph that used to hang on a wall in her old house. Jesse put the light on it as they both took their time looking at it. It was a professionally taken portrait of her, her parents, and Henry. Sarah ran her finger across Stanley’s face.

“I miss him, Jesse.”

“I know you do.” He put an arm around her.

She took another peek into the envelope and took out a folded piece of paper. Jesse aimed the flashlight as she unfolded it. “It’s a letter from my dad.”

Dear Sarah,

Right now you’re up in your room looking for stuff to put into the time capsule. I’m hoping it’s nothing that you’ll make me dig up later because it’s something that you can’t live without. But knowing you, you are considering each item very carefully. That’s the type of person you are: considerate and thoughtful.

Trying to play the roles of dad and mom has been difficult for me. And I know that life hasn’t been the easiest for you either. Your mother leaving wasn’t something I planned on happening and I wish there was some way of undoing the hurt it’s brought you.

You asked me just the other day if your mommy left because she was mad at you. It was all I could do to keep from crying right then and there. Your question reminded me of just how fragile and precious you are. Not knowing what to say, I told you the one thing that I thought you would understand. I told you that it was because she was so sad about losing your brother that she felt she couldn’t stay anymore. And although this is true, it’s not the whole truth. When I first met your mother, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. It took me two weeks to work up the nerve to ask her out on a date, but after I did, it only took me two months to propose to her. She was beautiful, kind and funny, and she had a laugh that could melt my heart. In many ways, you are a lot like her.

Your mom loved you and Henry more than anything in the whole world. Losing Henry was like having her heart smashed into a million pieces. And just like you remind me of your mother, she said that every time she saw me, all she could think about was Henry. She tried to bury the pain, but it was so great that she simply could not. She didn’t like what that pain had turned her into and she didn’t know how to fix it. So she left.

I’m not saying that she was right, but this is why she went. I promise you, Sarah, that I will never leave you. No matter what comes our way, I’m here to stay.

Inside this envelope is the wedding ring that used to belong to my grandmother. And it was the same ring that I gave to your mother on the day I asked her to be my wife, which still is and forever will be one of the happiest days of my life. It was a day that brought me one day closer to you. And now I want you to have this ring. Someday, when the right man comes along, you can wear this ring as a symbol of the happiest day of your life. Until that time comes, this ring will be safe inside our time capsule. I love you, Sarah.

Love,

Dad

Jesse

“I’m a mess,” Sarah said.

“Everything’s going to be fine.” He wrapped the blanket over her shoulders and took a seat next to her.

“My dad’s gone. My mom is back, only I don’t know how to pretend that she never abandoned me and my dad. I’m getting married in a week and I just don’t…”

“What?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I’m just a wreck. This isn’t how things are supposed to be.”

“I know what you mean. Whenever something happens, like Robbie getting locked up, I always ask myself, ‘How the heck did we get here?’”

“Do you ever get any answers?”

Jesse pulled a few strands of hair from Sarah’s face. “No, there are no answers. Some things are just beyond logic.”

She looked him in the eyes. “You’re right.” She looked down at the ring in her hand and lit it with the flashlight. “It’s so beautiful.”

“Yes, it is. And now you finally have your engagement ring.”

Sarah looked down at the empty space on her finger where Kevin’s engagement ring should have been. “You’re right,” she said. “It’s like it was meant to be.”

Jesse felt the tension he had felt just before Dr. Bradtmiller showed up with the letter. His chance. His last chance at telling Sarah what he needed to. A moment that seemed to defy logic. “If that were the case, then why isn’t Kevin here instead of me?” The question went from his mind to his lips faster than he could stop it.

Sarah stood up and walked over to the willow tree. “That’s not fair.”

“Sarah, I know you don’t want to hear this, but he’s just not the guy for you,” Jesse said, rising.

“How can you say that? You barely know him.” She brought her hands to her chest. “You barely know me, for that matter. You have no right.”

Her eyes were glistening from tears and the glow of the flashlight. Jesse knew that if he pushed things further, he would risk losing her forever. But Aunt Sherry was right: he couldn’t spend the rest of his life wondering
what if
.

“You’re the same little girl I built a house for over there.” Jesse pointed to a cluster of trees a few feet away from the willow tree. “You’re the same little girl I shared my first kiss with right here beneath the tree.” He pointed to the spot where she was standing. “You’re the same little girl who brought me to her bedroom to keep me safe from the darkness that was suffocating me.” He took a few steps closer until his lips were practically touching hers, but she didn’t pull back. “You’re the same girl,” he whispered, “who, whenever I’m with you, feels like the only home I’ve ever known. And when I’m not with you, I can’t wait until the next time we’re together.”

He closed his eyes and slowly brought his lips closer to hers. As their lips touched, she cried out, “Oh, no!”

He opened his eyes. “What is it?”

“I dropped the ring,” she cried, looking down at the ground.

“It’s okay.” He crouched down and shined the flashlight on the ground. “It’s here somewhere.”

“I can’t lose it.” Panic filled Sarah’s voice.

Something glinted. “It’s okay. I found it.” Jesse brought it up in front of the flashlight. He blew a little dirt from it and held it up for Sarah to see.

On one knee, Jesse gently took her left hand and slowly slid the ring on her ring finger. Then he looked up at her. She ran her right hand through his long brown hair and then leaned into him.

His heart pounded as her lips came closer to his. She closed her eyes and he felt her soft lips press against his. Everything around them seemed to fade away, just like when they were twelve.

He felt both her hands on his face, touching him with a craving he had never felt before. He came to his feet and took a few steps forward, leading her back against the willow tree without stopping the kiss. Her sweet taste aroused every one of his senses. Electricity shot throughout his entire body as his tongue penetrated her lips, finding its way to hers.

She quietly moaned as he pressed his body next to hers. Her legs trembled as his hands slid down her side. Gravity seemed to disappear. Jesse stopped thinking, letting passion and instinct take over. They took turns leading and following. Heat from her body spread to his as the moment he had been thinking about ever since Sarah walked back into life was finally here.

Their kissing continued to the blanket on the ground. Sarah’s eyes locked onto Jesse’s as they knelt down. Their breathing grew heavy and faster.

Sarah closed her eyes as Jesse lowered himself on top of her, bringing his lips back to hers. It was a feeling that Jesse had never felt before. It was at this moment that he knew without a doubt that he loved her more than he had ever loved any woman, and more than he ever knew he could.

Jesse

The willow tree’s branches danced above as Jesse waited for his eyes to adjust to the early morning light. His left arm tingled. Sarah had used it as a pillow all night long. As much as he wanted to move his sore arm, he didn’t want to risk waking her. She looked like a serene angel curled up at his side. He lay there watching her, and as if she sensed it, she slowly opened her eyes.

“Good morning,” Jesse said.

A smile crossed Sarah’s face. “Good morning to you.” Stretching, she yawned. “What time is it?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have a watch and my cell phone is in the car.”

“Mine too.” She sat up and stretched some more. “How did you sleep?”

“Good. The best I’ve slept in a long time.” Jesse stood up and shook the pins and needles from his arm.

“I’m sorry. You must have been so uncomfortable.”

“That’s all right. Just tickles a little.”

He walked over to the creek and submerged his hands. The cool water felt good running through his fingers. He cupped his hands together and splashed water onto his face. A bit colder than he would have liked, but it made him alert better than a cup of coffee. After wiping the water from his face, he took a seat on the ground next to the willow tree.

Sarah sat beside him and wrapped his left arm in hers. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking,” he answered.

“About what?”

He turned to her and watched as the wind blew at her curls like tiny kites. “That every time I leave the willow tree, nothing good happens.”

“Don’t think about that now. Please, can we just not think about that stuff right now.” She looked out at the creek. “I don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring. But I know one thing. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this happy and this safe.”

Jesse wanted to ask her about Kevin, but he knew he wouldn’t like what Sarah would have to say. He’d done his part. His feelings were out there; the ball was in her court now.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“When Robbie told me to talk you out of helping him, he said that you felt like you owed him. And when I asked him what he was talking about, he got all weird and said that you would have to tell me that.”

Jesse picked up a pebble. Robbie has always had a big mouth. Too big. “He’s my brother. We look after each other.”

“It’s more than that, Jesse.” She shook his arm. “You can tell me.”

Jesse bounced the rock in his hand a few times, debating. Should he tell her the one thing he’d locked inside himself for so long?

He looked at Sarah and felt nothing but love for her. And for the first time, he trusted someone enough to reveal the dark secret from his past. “I told you that we both had it bad growing up.”

Sarah nodded.

“Well, he had it worse than me.” Jesse tossed the rock into the creek and watched it skip a few times before sinking.

“How so?”

“My dad was a drunk. A mean drunk. He was so full of anger all the time. And he enjoyed taking it out on my mom, Robbie, and me. That’s why Mom ran from him. She could handle the beatings he gave her, but when he started hitting Robbie and me, it was more than she could take.” Jesse picked up another rock. “The day he caught up with us, the last time I saw you, he was very drunk and very pissed off. He laid into Robbie, and then turned on my mom when she tried to stop him.” Jesse paused. “I was scared. I didn’t know what to do, so I told him to stop, but it was too late. She was already…”