Absolution (38 page)

His time in the military and the field had changed him forever.

They were learning about each other all over again, but this time without her walking on eggshells. She was simply herself, and more than a few times her stubbornness or strong opinions had shocked him into silence. She didn’t go out of her way to avoid conflict with him, and she’d had to learn how to give up some of her responsibilities 312

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around the house. He’d told her he needed to be needed, and she was taking him at his word. All in all, the transition was going smoothly.

Luke still had nightmares sometimes, and he was pretty closed up about them. Didn’t want to talk about whatever had made him wake up in a sweat.

At least he let her hold him most of the time, unless it was a really bad one. Like the other night when he’d risen from their bed without a word and not responded to her calling after him. When those kinds of nightmares came, he retreated downstairs or out of the house for a while. And she let him go.

As for her, she tried to put the dark memories behind her and focus on her life with Luke. Though these days it seemed most of her energy was consumed by her ongoing battle with cancer.

At least she’d responded well to the chemo.

Better than her doctors had anticipated. But she faced plenty more radiation treatments that left her feeling like she had a permanent flu. After that, they’d give her body some time to heal and keep monitoring her blood for cancer cells. Though no one had said “remission” to her yet, everybody had their fingers crossed. It kept her going. Well, that and Luke. Not that he gave her a choice, but so far she was winning the war, one battle at a time. She prayed it stayed that way.

Emily moaned a protest when Luke pulled away and went into the bathroom. He came back and cleaned her up with a warm damp cloth, then pulled on a shirt, boxer briefs and jeans. “Come on,” he said, handing her a robe.

“But we don’t have to leave for at least another hour,” she grumbled, already dreading the next dose of radiation.

“The sun’s out. I want to take you outside for a bit.” Sighing, she sat up and slid into it, and let out a 313

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squeak when he gathered her up and lifted her into his arms.

“Your shoulder,” she admonished, squirming away.

He held her tighter. “My shoulder’s fine. More than strong enough to carry you, lightweight.”

Pushing open the door, he took her downstairs and through the kitchen out to the back porch. He set her on the porch swing and tucked a quilt around her before disappearing back into the house.

Snuggled up beneath the wedding ring pattern quilt, she looked out over the garden awakening from its long winter slumber. Spring in Charleston was a glorious thing. The bright morning light spilled over the tender, unfurling plants that raised their tentative faces toward the warm sunshine.

Life. So fragile and sweet. Precious beyond measure.

The screen door on the porch creaked as Luke came out carrying a steaming mug in one hand and a cup and saucer in another. Emily smiled and lifted the quilt so he could slide under it next to her, and accepted her fresh cup of tea. “Thank you.”

“Welcome.” Settling back, he laid an arm across her shoulders and set the swing rocking gently with his foot. The steam from their drinks curled into the breath of cool, salt-scented wind that ruffled the palmetto fronds. His loving smile warmed her to her toes. It was eerie, sitting there with him. Like she’d been swept back in time to when they were married.

She hated that they’d lost so many years in between...

No more of that.

They were together now, and that’s all that mattered. She intended to make the most of whatever time they had left together. Whether it was a day or another few decades.

Tilting her head, she admired Luke’s chiseled 314

Absolution

profile, and the leanness of his square jaw. Every day she woke up with him cradling her tight against his body, she wanted to pinch herself. However hard he pushed her in her fight, it was worth it just to have his arms around her each morning.

“What?” he asked, meeting her gaze. The swing rocked forward, and a shaft of sunlight filtering through the crepe myrtles transformed his eyes into a kaleidoscope of chocolate and coffee. A robin twilled somewhere in the yard.

“You sure you’re not going to go crazy being cooped up with me? Could get boring real fast for a man that’s lived on the edge his whole adult life.” He was already feeling it, though he’d never admit that.

His fingers toyed with the ends of her wig, the long one she wore most often because it was his favorite. “Bored? Trust me, I’m not bored. And as soon as we get the all clear, I’m taking you somewhere tropical with white sand beaches.”

Sounded good to her. She loved travelling with Luke. He never failed to impress her with his knowledge of so many languages and different cultures. And she never worried they’d get lost. He was a human GPS and loved exploring new places. It had been a long time since they’d had fun together, she mused, studying him. She’d like to have fun again. To hear him laugh the way he used to. Luke had an infectious laugh. Best of all, he made her feel completely safe, no matter where they were. “I’d like that.”

But a lingering fear crept in. That dark whisper in her head that never let her forget what she was fighting.

I’m still here. Inside you, just waiting…

She brushed the thought away. Luke’s fingers trailed over her cheek, bringing her gaze to his. His eyes held hers, magnetic and forceful. “I’m in no rush to go anywhere. We’ve got another fifty years 315

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together, Em, so we’ll fit it in when you’re ready.

We’ve got future grandkids to spoil and places to travel to. One day at a time, remember?”

It’s not like she could forget, because he said it to her every day. And when it came to her getting better, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He was going to push her, every step of the way through her treatments while she fought her battle. Bully her, if necessary. But he wasn’t going to let her give up when things got hard. And they would get hard.

When they did, he would be her anchor in the middle of the storm. The man who carried her when she was too weak to go on. He would give her his strength and his love and his unyielding support. He would hold her when she needed it, let her cry on his shoulder or give her space.

But whatever happened from here on out, he would never desert her. She would have him in her corner every step of the way. That meant everything to her.

Emily’s heart was full to overflowing when she grinned at the only man she’d ever loved. So long as Luke was with her, she could face anything. And dammit, she was going to beat this shitty disease and relish every minute of those next fifty years with him. “I can’t wait.”

Twining their fingers together, Emily squeezed his strong hand in a silent promise. Enjoying the sunshine, she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. A wide smile stretched her lips.
She was going to win this fight. She was going to
live
.

Just watch me.

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A word about the author...

Kaylea Cross has dreamed of being an author since she was a child. A Registered Massage Therapist, this mother of two is an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, belly dancer and former national level softball pitcher.

She lives near Vancouver, B.C. with her husband and energetic little boys.

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