Men of the Cave (Symbol of Hope Series) (23 page)

“Oh, what did you want to do with the private time,” I asked suggestive. I grabbed his tie and pulled him in for a kiss.

“There is time for that later,” he smiled. “I wanted to give you your Christmas present.”

“Okay, let me grab yours.” I rummaged through my bags of presents.

“Let us go out to the pool deck. In case, they come home. We will not be bothered out there.” He took my hand and led me out to the pool. He acted funny and stressed the private time. I began to let my crazy thoughts get the better of me. Why would he want to have the perfect private ambiance unless he was going to … Oh, God I thought, please don’t let him propose to me! By the time, we got out to the pool deck I was in an internal panic.

We sat down at the round wooden table. I couldn’t look at him.

“Kasey, is everything all right?”

I nodded, but said nothing.

“Would you like me to go first?” he asked unsure.

“Yes, please open yours first.” I passed him a big box and then a smaller one.

“Two presents! You out did yourself,” he smiled then began to unwrap the larger present. The orange hues of sunrise started to form on the crest of the Mediterranean Sea.

He undid the lid on the bigger box and began to laugh. “You got me running shoes!”

“I was told that they are the best out there for sprinting.” I laughed with him.

“That is great.” Then he proceeded to open the smaller box.

Anxious I stopped him. “Wait!” I said nervous. “I…” I swallowed hard, “It’s just…”

“Kasey, what is it?” he asked.

“Please tell me you aren’t going to propose to me.” I held my breath.

He froze and looked stunned. “Well obviously not anymore,” he said sarcastic. My eyes shot open in horror.

He bit his upper lip trying not to laugh. “That was mean of me, sorry Kasey. I could not help myself. No, I was not planning on proposing to you tonight.”

I let out a huge sigh, “Oh, Dion that was not funny.”

He lost it and laughed.

He reached over and caressed my cheek. “Kasey…there is nothing I would love more than for you to be my wife one day. I do not think that time is yet.”

“Oh, no, Dion, I completely agree. It was just the whole set up I…I am over analytical sometimes.” 

“Most of the time actually.” He removed his hand. “Can I open this now?” he asked.

“Yes, but don’t…” I started to say.

“Kasey, you are doing it again. Let me make up my own mind about it.”

I let out a big sigh, “Okay, open it.”

He began to un-wrap the small box. It was one of the glass Christmas ornaments with a wooden carving inside. The carving was the Irish trinity knot interwoven around an Irish Claddagh.

He grinned, “Hmm…the symbol of spiritual growth, eternal life, and undying love.”

I blushed. He took my hand and butterfly kissed the back of it.

“It is not too much and not too little. It is perfect my love,” he said. I blushed further giving him a radiant smile.

“Now for my gift,” he said excited.

“Yes,” I joined his enthusiasm. “Now that I know it is not a…”

He pulled out a ring box and set it on the table. My smile turned to a frown.

“Dion, what’s this?” I said harsh.

He smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, you wouldn’t? Would you?” I asked not knowing if he was pulling my chain again or not.

“Open it and you shall find out,” he said.

I took the little black box and creaked it open. A key sized pendant illuminated like a torch. With a ruby rose and emerald leaves resting on the hilt of a golden sword.  The rose’s stem coiled tightly down the silver blade.

“Oh, Dion,” I whispered.

“It belonged to Catherine the Great. I thought it matched your red hair and green eyes perfectly. It is something we acquired some time ago. I bought the necklace so that you could wear it around your neck,” he said pulling out a necklace from inside his coat.

“I can’t take this,” I whispered.

“Do you not like it?” he asked taking it out of the box and sliding it on the white gold necklace.

“Dion, it belonged to a prominent Russian empress. I can’t wear this around my neck. It’s value alone.”

“Do not worry about what it is worth.” He stood and walked behind me. Dion placed it on my neck. It radiated against my green sweater. I inhaled feeling the weight of the treasure on my chest. It was delicate, womanly, and amazing.

“Did I choose wrong do you not like it?” he asked as he sat back down.

I looked down at the remarkable charm. “It’s not too much, and it’s not too little. It’s perfect,” I smiled.

He placed his hand under my ear and held my cheek in his palm. Then we both leaned into each other and with a gentle embrace, we kissed. We stayed this way for what seemed too short of a time. I held his hand and rubbed my thumb on the inside of his palm.

   “Dion,” I said as we sat with our foreheads pressed together. “I want to find Pandora. Would you help me?”

He took his head back, “Yes.”

Here’s a sneak peek at

Book Two

Jar of Pandora

Coming in 2012

1

Kasey Farewell Spain

My fingers squeezed his hand. The takeoff always made me queasy. An hour earlier, I loaded myself with various drugs from motion sickness to nausea reducers. I shook my foot, closed my eyes, and tried to remember to breathe.

“How ever did you do this all alone when you came to Spain?” Dion asked me.

“Same. I held my breath and closed my eyes. I tried focusing on some music,” I said keeping my eyes shut and my head pressed against the first class seat cushion.

“It will be all right. We are soon to take off and then we shall be in the air. Is it take off or the entire plane ride that makes you ill?” he asked concerned.

“Takeoff and landing.” I wished he’d stop asking questions.

“Well, then good, it will soon be over.” Dion held my hand for reassurance.

“Is she all right, she looks ill? Can I help?” Max asked. I opened my eyes and he was leaning over us.

“Thank you but I do not think you can cure fear,” Dion smiled at his older brother who has the ability to heal with his touch.

Max gave me a sympathetic look, “It will soon be over Kasey. Remember take deep breaths.” He went back to his seat.

After the holidays, my second semester of high school in Mallorca, Spain was busy. Dion and I had grown close and unequivocally inseparable. With his ability for speed, he ran me to Barcelona and we spent a weekend sightseeing. Spain seemed like a dream.

       Other than the fact that I wanted to see my brother and family, Deia, Spain marked itself as a place with a thousand memories for me. I stole the best part of my trip, Dion.

The low vibrations of the plane intensified as we accelerated down the runway. I remembered slow steady breaths. The slight pressure pressed me back into my seat. Then the plane lifted and my stomach ascended. That is the sensation that makes me sick.

“Kasey, your color, you are turning green, are you breathing?” Dion sounded worried.

Once the plane stabilized, I relaxed. I opened my eyes and took in a few deep breaths.

“I have never seen someone’s skin turn that shade before. Quite impressive. I thought you would be sick for sure,” he said shocked.

“That’s why I skipped breakfast this morning and took all those meds.” I let go of his hand and stretched.

“Do you require anything?” he asked.

“Water, I could use some water.”

He motioned for the flight attendant. I grabbed one of those traveling pillows and laid it across Dion’s shoulder. Then I nestled myself into it. He lifted his arm and held me close. Our attendant came over. Dion asked for some water and a soda for himself then she went to get it. The seat belt light flashed off. John popped his head in our personal seating space. John and Martin, Dion’s twin younger brothers sat behind us.

“Hi,” John smiled.

“Yes, how can we assist you?” Dion asked.

“Well, actually I wanted to suggest something to Kasey,” he smiled amused.

I met his gaze. “Yes.”

“You know Martin and I were thinking sometime in this ten hour flight you might want to tell Dion about your parents. I do not think the surprise factor would go over well in this situation. Just food for thought.” Then he sat back down next to Martin.

I gasped. Dion looked confused.

“You know out of all the people to get the gift of past, present, and future, I wonder if it was such a good idea giving it to two fifteen year olds,” I said loud enough so that they could hear. John gave my chair an abrupt kick. I sat up from the pillow and ran my hands through my hair. Panicked at what they must have seen. With their ability to see the future, past, and present nothing was a secret around them.

“Kasey is something wrong with your parents? Will they not like me?” Dion asked alarmed.

“Oh, no it’s not that. No offense to you but they won’t care one way or the other who you are. They always were open to us being with whomever we wanted.”

“Then what is it?”

“Well, it’s really bizarre. You must realize that when I told you my parents were free spirits, I didn’t mean that lightly. Frankie and Sue are as free as birds in the sky.” I tried to stress the issue.

“I understand,” he chuckled. “Kasey, I have met all sorts of people from all sorts of walks of life throughout time, remember I am a two thousand year old saint. Nothing shocks me.” He assured with confidence.

“Dion, I doubt you have ever met people like this.”

“Kasey relax, it is going to be fine,” he had no idea.

“Dion my parents are nudist and live in a nudist colony,” I blurted out. His face froze his jaw dropped.

“Wait …what?” he stuttered confused and amused at the same time.

“They live naked,” I replied sully.

“No…really.” He pressed his lips together attempting to contain his laughter.

“Yes,” I began to worry.

Then his face went from amused to uncertain. “Were you raised in a nudist colony?”

“No! No, no they moved into the colony while I was in Spain. This is their most recent crazy fad. I’m hoping it’s a phase.”

He placed his hand over his heart and let out the biggest laugh.

“So, when they pick us up from the airport…”

I interrupted, “They will be clothed. They only live in a compound where they can be naked, but only within the walls of that compound. That’s why my brother hasn’t been living with them, they chose to live this life style about eight months ago.” I explained.

He starred straight into the seat in front of him.

“I’m so sorry and so embarrassed,” I muttered.

“It will be alright,” he smiled amused, “we do not choose our parents. So, are you staying with them and will you be naked too? Will I have to get naked, myself?” His lips widened his eyes unsure.

“No, people have a choice to be naked or to stay clothed, especially guests. As far as me staying there I was hoping I could stay in your house.”

“You never have to ask you are always welcome,” he said.

“That’s one of the issues I have to work out as soon as I get back to St. Cloud. I figure I’m going to have to get a place so that Nolan has a proper home. Now, he’s staying with…” I swallowed and decided to end my words there. I didn’t need to get into details about my little brother living with my ex-fiancé.

“We have time to figure it all out,” he said taking hold of my hand. Then his face went dead serious. He unbuckled himself, turned around in his seat so that his knees were on the seat cushion. He faced the twins, pointed a figure at them, and whispered sternly, “Not a word to anyone you understand!” He looked like a father scolding little children. Blatant laughter came from behind us.

I don’t know what made me more ill. The landing or the fact that in a few minutes my family was going to meet Dion’s family. After we landed, we passed through airport security easily. All we carried were duffel bags. Dion and his brothers shipped most of their possessions a week ago to their other brother Antony.

Antony having the ability to speak to animals left with his black panther, Layna a few months ago and purchased a home in St. Cloud, Florida. They shipped my one big suitcase.

My stomach sank the minute we came around the corner and approached the area where family members waited to pick up loved ones.

I saw Teal, my ex-fiancé with his perfect light tan skin, curly dirty blonde hair, band t-shirt, and board shorts. He stood with an assortment of balloons from ‘I love you’ to ‘welcome home’, and a small pot of dandelions. Nolan stood next to him anxiously looking out. My parents were nowhere in sight. They spotted me and both their faces lit up. Neither one would have guessed that the entourage of young men walking behind me, was not in fact random passengers heading in the same direction, but were with me.

Why Read?

By Marisette Burgess

As a teacher, I always began my first day of school with the same icebreaker. I would write two lies and a truth on the board about myself.  It would look something like this:

Went to France over the summer.

Had to repeat the first grade.

Am an expert water skier.

The kids would then have to figure out which one was true. Every year I conducted the same experiment and every year I received the same results. The kids were never right.

The truth is I repeated the first grade. I couldn’t read, didn’t like it, and wouldn’t do it. How does a person who wouldn’t and couldn’t read end up becoming an author?

Here’s how:

For many years, I spent my school days in the lowest reading group, with long hours of make-up work, and having to do summer school.  Then around fourth grade, I picked up a chapter book. Little did I know that that one chapter book would change my life forever?  It was the first Nancy Drew novel. I sat there and gave it my best shot.

Ask yourself this, what is the one thing about mystery books that gets people hooked into them?

The answer is simple, you have to finish the book to find out who committed the crime. Mystery books are hard to put down simply because we want to figure out the mystery. That was it my friends, I was hooked. I started to read Nancy Drew books one after another. Before I knew it, I was reading a chapter book or two a week!