Beyond These Walls (The Walls Duet #2)
Read Beyond These Walls (The Walls Duet #2) Online
Authors: J. L. Berg
Beyond These Walls
Copyright © 2015 by J.L. Berg
All rights reserved.
Cover Designer:
Okay Creations
Photography:
K. Keeton Design
Editors: Jovana Shirley,
Unforeseen Editing
, Ami Deason,
Book Glam by Ami
Interior Designer:
Champagne Formats
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Visit my website at www.jlberg.com
ISBN-13: 978–0-9903460–7-4
one
—An Unexpected Visitor—Lailah
five
—Doctors and Leftovers—Lailah
eight
—Restless in New York—Jude
sixteen
—Toes, Sand, and Sea—Jude
seventeen
—A Late Christmas Gift—Lailah
twenty-one
—Sea of Emotions—Lailah
twenty-two
—California Calm—Jude
twenty-three
—We’re Going to Disneyland—Lailah
twenty-five
—Let’s Make a Deal—Lailah
twenty-six
—Tick, Tick . . . Boom—Jude
twenty-seven
—Lights Out—Lailah
twenty-nine
—The New Normal- Lailah
Other Books by
J.L. Berg
The Ready Series
For Julie Fleming,
May we meet again sweet friend, but for now ... this one is for you.
THE
COOL OCEAN air rushed through the hills, tousling my hair and sending a chill up my spine, as we climbed a bit higher toward our destination.
“How are you doing?” Jude asked.
With his hand firmly wrapped around mine, we traveled through the vibrant green grass.
“Good, really good.” I smiled as my hand danced across the tops of purple wildflowers scattered everywhere. I took a deep breath through my lungs, letting the air swirl around my rib cage, and said a small prayer of thanks, knowing there had been a time in my life when a simple deep breath wasn’t possible.
“We’re almost there. Do you see it?” he asked, pointing with his free hand toward the water’s edge.
“Oh my gosh, yes!” I exclaimed.
In the distance, overlooking the ocean was a small church—or the remains of one. Three walls still stood, and as we walked closer, I could see the remnants of the fourth spread across the ground in piles. The roof and floor were long gone, but in its place, nature had taken over. Tiny daisies and beautiful blue sky had woven perfectly through the weathered foundation and walls, creating something that seemed almost part of the land.
Neither of us spoke for a long while. We just stood in the center, absorbing its quiet beauty. This was how I’d always imagined it. When I’d sat in my hospital bed, fantasizing about faraway places and exotic trips to destinations unknown, this was what I’d always pictured in my head.
And here I was, standing in my own dream.
Because of Jude.
I turned, and our eyes met. There, in the middle of the church, surrounded by wildflowers as waves crashed below us, the love of my life dropped to one knee.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice shaky and thin, as I looked down at him.
“Exactly what I’ve wanted to do since the moment I met you.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything.” He smiled warmly. “Just listen.”
I nodded as he took my hands in his own.
“I know you think that I saved you, but in all honesty, it was you who saved me. Anyone with the same amount of wealth could have paid for that surgery. It wasn’t hard. But you pulled me out of the darkness. If it weren’t for you, I would have spent the rest of my life in that hospital, hating myself for the mistakes of my past. You are my light, my angel, and now, I want to make you my wife. Please say yes, Lailah. Please make me the happiest man alive and marry me.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny black ring box. As he lifted the lid, I felt my new heart skip a beat at the sight of the dazzling ring tucked inside.
Traditional and timeless, it was exactly what I would have picked out. I couldn’t help but reach out and run my fingers over the top of the single solitaire set on a thin gold band.
“Yes,” I answered softly as happy tears trickled down my face.
I watched as he slipped the ring on my left hand. It was a perfect fit. Happiness and joy shone in his eyes as he stood, scooping me up into his arms. I knew forever with him was exactly where I should be.
“I love you,” I said, running my hands through his messy blond hair.
“I love you—hey, did you hear that?”
What? That’s not how this is supposed to go.
“Hear what?” I asked.
“I swear, I heard a child cry out. Didn’t you hear it?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
This never happened.
Dread flared to life in my chest as he looked around.
“Come on. Let’s go look.”
Suddenly, I heard the faint cry of a child. I looked around, but all I saw were hills and miles and miles of green countryside.
Another cry.
“Wait, I think it came from over here!” I pointed and turned right, which took us farther inland toward a group of trees.
I don’t remember a forest.
We entered the large cluster of trees, and suddenly, it grew dark. The tall tree limbs seemed to come to life, reaching out for us, as we walked deeper and deeper.
“I think I heard it again,” Jude said, moving faster.
His speed approached a run, and I tried to keep up. Huge tree roots leaped out of the group, blocking my path, and soon, we were separated.
“Jude!” I cried, looking right and left.
“Lailah! I’m right here!”
“I can’t see you!”
I turned around in circles, the rising panic taking over.
“Jude!” I screamed. Feeling my breath beginning to weaken, I stood frozen in place as the dark walls of the forest began to close in around me.
The child cried out again, and this time, it was a cry of anguish. I suddenly felt torn.
Where do I go? Who do I run toward?
“Jude! Help me!” I managed to say before collapsing.
Seconds later, the darkness swallowed me whole.
“LAILAH,” A VOICE called out in the darkness. “Wake up, angel. You’re having another bad dream.”
The fog began to lift, and I slowly opened my eyes. Looking down at me with an equal mixture of concern and amusement was Jude. A hand gently combed through my messy hair as a smile crept its way across his handsome face.
“There you are,” he said.
“Hi,” I answered back, stretching slightly as the last lingering bits of grogginess melted away.
“Same one?” he asked, obviously referring to the nightmare he’d awoken me from.
