Authors: J.A. Howell
Possess (27 page)
“Ya sure yer alright, love?” Nolan gently turned my face to his.
“I'm fine now.” I answered, then motioned for him to lay next to me. He pushed down the safety rails and ever so carefully climbed onto the bed next to me, lying on his side, and cradling his body around mine. His fingers combed through my hair, and I turned my face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. I never thought I’d get to feel his arms around me again, but I was happy I was wrong. His lips gently pressed against my forehead as my eyelids drifted shut.
“I love ya, Harley Martin,” was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep in his arms.
New Beginnings
December 31st, 1999
“I can’t wait to get rid of this stupid thing!” I frowned and pushed my walker toward the front of the pub. “It keeps getting stuck on the tiles...and I look like a grandma.”
“Mmm, a very sexy grandma though.” Nolan teased as he came up behind me and planted a kiss on my neck. Aggie, who had walked into the kitchen in time to hear the exchange, only cocked an eyebrow and gave us both a questioning look.
“Really? Sexy grandma?”
“What? I was merely trying ta help Harley feel better about having ta use her walker. So yes, sexy grandma.” Nolan defended his words, planting another soft kiss on my collarbone.
“I think it’s the yellow tennis balls that do it for him.” I added, wiggling an eyebrow at her. Her lips twitched into a smirk.
“I swear, you two were made for each other. Weirdos.” She laughed. “You coming up front? It’s getting close to the countdown.”
We both nodded.
“Nolan, why don’t you go on ahead and help Angus and my mom. I’m sure Aggie can help me get out there.” I turned my head, looking up at him.
“Alright love.” He gave me one more peck on the cheek before moving past us to the front of the pub.
“Let’s sit for a minute. I’m still exhausted from physical therapy today.” I nodded toward the table and carefully lowered myself onto a chair. She sat down across from me, her green eyes watching me with curiosity. Everyone else was out front, getting ready to ring in the New Year, but I had wanted a second to talk to her. Since I’d been home from the hospital things had been pretty hectic. After the media got wind of my story, Finley’s business had picked up tenfold and the phone hadn’t quit ringing with people wanting to talk to Nolan and me about my
harrowing tale
. Admittedly, she and I hadn’t gotten much time to hang out just the two of us, and I really missed her.
“Everything okay?” She asked me.
“Yes, I was actually wanting to ask you the same thing. With everything that happened with Brody, how are you doing?”
She breathed in deep, letting out a sigh a she stared off.
“I try not to regret how things went. What if I had told him how I felt sooner, ya know?” Aggie shrugged. “At least I know that he loved me. I’m doing my best not to think about what could have been between us. I’ve got to move forward, right?”
“Right,” I grabbed her hand, squeezing lightly. My fingers were healed but still a bit stiff.
“I suppose now’s a good time. New year and all.” She forced a smile but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Listen. I’ve got something for you,” I slid my hand from the table, reaching into the pocket of my jeans for a small box. “I found this the other day, after sorting through the boxes from the apartment.”
My mother and Nolan had gone to the apartment while I was still in the hospital, packed up everything, and moved me into his place. Mom was staying in his old bedroom while I recovered and had been helping with the added business at the pub. Now that the splints had been taken off my fingers, I had gotten a chance to look through some of the boxes. I slid the small jewelry box across the table to her.
“What is it?” She looked down at the unassuming little black box suspiciously, her fingers slowly grasping it.
“I believe it was meant for you.” I said, encouraging her to open it. Her fingers hesitantly pulled the lid off to find a small silver locket lying in plush emerald green velvet on top of dried thistle and moss. On the front of the locket was a traditional Claddagh symbol, two hands holding a crowned heart. When she opened it, one side of the locket held a picture of Aggie and Brody, no older than six or seven. The other side had the inscription, “Mo Chailín Rua.”
“I didn’t know what that meant, but I could have recognized that red hair anywhere.” I told her. Aggie sat there for a moment, her eyes running over the small picture of them as a smile slowly crept over her lips.
“Thank you, Harley.” Her voice was hushed and although her eyes were misty, the smile seemed to reach them finally as she pushed her hair to the side and carefully clasped the silver chain around her neck. “Let’s go ring in the new year, shall we?”
The End
J.A Howell is an office drone by day, and a writer by night. Her love of writing took off when she was eleven years old and decided to fill a composition notebook with stories to read to her friends. Many years (and notebooks) later, not much has changed. She still loves writing and sharing her works with others. When she isn’t writing, she can often be found trying her hand at whatever artistic pursuit strikes her fancy. J.A. Howell resides in Apopka, FL with her husband and their menagerie of animal children.
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