My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (24 page)

On the menu is roasted duck, sweet potato casserole,
extra fine green beans with sliced almonds and cornbread. For dessert I make a
gingerbread crusted cheesecake with praline topping and caramel sauce. I start
by peeling the potatoes and starting them to boil. While that is going I snap
the ends off of the beans. I crush the cookies for the crust and take the
potatoes off the burner and drain. I spend the whole morning preparing
everything to be ready by the time Grandma gets here. The doorbell rings at one
O'clock and I go to answer it, taking off my apron along the way.

“Well look what we got here. Say this is a nice
place you have here.”

“Thank you, won't you please come in, Ann Marie.” It
still feels strange calling my grandmother by her first name but that is what
she knows now. I shake the nurse’s hand.

“Hello I am Brennen.
 
It’s nice to meet you.”
           
“Tabitha
miss
.”

“Tabitha please,
make
yourself at home.” I take their coats and hang them on
the
 
rack
by the door. I hug Grandma's neck
long and hard. She was always a hugger so she accepts it and pats my shoulder.

“
Gra
...Ann Marie, Tabitha,
would you like some eggnog or tea.”
 

“Oh I love eggnog!”
 
Grandma cheers out.

“I'll have a cup of tea, thank you.” Tabitha
politely accepts. She is a young black woman with short curly hair, clad in festive
red scrubs. She wears a small jeweled Christmas tree pin on her shirt collar. I
direct them to the family room so that they can sit near the tree. I have
Christmas songs playing softly in the back ground. I carry out a tray of eggnog
and tea and serve everyone. I made some sweet and savory appetizers as well so
I set those out on the oversized ottoman.

“Let's see, I have apple tarts and cheese straws, if
anyone cares for an appetizer.” Grandma picks up one of each and sits them on
the edge of her saucer. Tabitha follows suit.

“I am so glad you came, Ann Marie. I have missed you
so much.”

“Well I have missed you too.” She doesn't know who I
am, but her etiquette and deep southern manners have been ingrained into her
very essence and would never allow her to confirm it.

“That is Brennen, Ann Marie, she is your
granddaughter and this is your old house. You two used to live here together,”
Tabitha explains, contrary to what I have been told to do.

“Oh I'm sorry dear; my mind isn't what it used to
be.” Grandma looks around trying to remember her home. I hate this disease.
Why can't we cure this too, if cancer is on
my to-do list?
The house is far from the way she left it. With all new
living room furniture, it’s no surprise she looks around like a lost child. The
walls are even a different color. It has been fun decorating, it was the only
thing I had to do during Christmas break so I spent every waking minute
planning out the details. My room has a peacock blue duvet and a tufted grey
velvet headboard with a silver nail head trim. A picture of Elijah, Sam, Emily
and me at homecoming is framed on the wall.

 
I bring
Grandma a photo of the two of us sitting on the porch swing two summers ago.
She smiles at it and hands it back to me.

“Are you still in school dear?” Grandma asks.

“Yes I have one semester of high school left and I
am applying to Harvard in the spring. I have taken my SAT's and I think I did
pretty well. I won't know for a couple more weeks.”

“Well, how about that, you really are my
granddaughter, smart and pretty!” She laughs. It is a wonderful sound to have
back in this house.

“And what is it you want to do after college?” she
asks while sipping on her eggnog.

“I think I would like to go into politics. I am
already president in my government class at school and it has been really a fun
and challenging experience.”

“I see, well I wish you the best of luck Brennen.”

“Thank you.” I hug her neck again. “How have you
been lately?” Grandma looks to Tabitha for answers.

“The doctors say she is doing very well, she got
over that pneumonia last month just fine. She is a strong spirited woman and
she will fight it all the way down.” Tabitha gives her a knowing smile. I think
she is fond of Grandma.

“Please excuse me while I serve dinner.” I get the
duck and potatoes out of the oven and carve the duck to the best of my
abilities, which is just shy of mutilated. My dad always did the carving.

“Well dinner is ready, shall we go eat?”

The women get up from the sofa, Tabitha taking my
grandmother's elbow and leading her to the dining room. I decide to have dinner
in the family dining room instead of the formal. It is just the three of us
after all.

 
The duck is a
bit on the dry side, but not bad considering I have never made a duck before.
Elijah would have been impressed by my culinary feat.
Yes Elijah, I baked just for you, wherever you are.

“Did I teach you how to cook?” Grandma asks.

“You sure did. Did you know this is your sweet
potato recipe?”

“I thought so.” She smiles and takes another bite.
Tabitha passes her the cornbread.

“Look here Mrs. Hale, fresh corn bread.” Grandma
takes a piece. I feel so lucky to get one more Christmas with Grandma. After we
stuff ourselves silly we go back to the living room. I let their food digest
while I clear the table.

I join them in the living room. I give Grandma her
gift to open. She smiles and accepts the package. She seems like she likes it.

“Well thank you sweet heart. I needed some new night
clothes.”
           
“You’re welcome.” I hand a
small package to Tabitha. I didn't know who would be coming but I got a Scent
warmer for whoever had to work today. She thanks me and smiles like she really
likes it. I wish Grandma could stay here with me every day. I have been so
alone this last month.

Sam and I have made it back to friend status. I feel
like I broke his heart when I said I just needed more time,
again
. He still hasn’t started dating
anyone else. Our little group still eats lunch together. Chris has kept Emily
pretty well occupied so that made it easier to keep her at arm’s length. Being
on winter break, I haven't seen much of either of them though. I hear the
doorbell chime and I wonder who it could be. It’s too early for the center to
arrive to pick grandma up. Well Sam's ears must be ringing because he is on my
porch.

“Sam, what a surprise, Merry Christmas,” I wrap my
arms around him, oh he smells so good I almost forget to let go. He embraces me,
burying his nose in my hair. It feels so good to have him in my arms once
again.

“Merry Christmas, I just wanted to stop by and give
you your gift.” He holds out a small red gift bag.

“You didn't have to get me anything.” He smiles his
sweet boyish smile.

“I wanted to, I hope you like it.” I invite him into
the living room. He has never met Grandma.

“Grandma this is my friend Sam.” He walks over to
her and hugs her, to my surprise.

“It is a pleasure to meet you ma’am.”
 
Grandma gives me the wink of approval. Sam
hands me the tiny gift bag. I pull out the tissue paper and find a small gift
box inside labeled Tiffany & Co. I open it and I find the most lovely silver
charm bracelet I have ever seen. I smile taking it out to examine. Several
delicate charms hang from the links.

“Here let me show you.” Sam kneels down in front of
me on the rug. “The dolphin is for your love of the ocean. A Harvard pennant of
course, the strawberry is from our first date. The Navy's seal is for your dad.
And this is what I want to give to you.” He holds up the last charm which is a
tiny earth. He wants to give me the world, oh my goodness I want to kiss him a
million times over right now. He is so sweet. Of course tears spring from my
eyes as he fastens the bracelet around my wrist.

“I love it, thank you Sam,” I say while trying to
blot my eyes. He pulls a tissue from a nearby box and hands it to me. I laugh
through my tears. I hug him and whisper. “It really is perfect.” Why does he
have to be so good to me?

The van arrives to take Grandma back home. “Sam can
you give me a moment, I need to walk Grandma out. Help yourself to some
cheesecake if you like.” His eyes light up.

I see Grandma out and hug her neck, fighting for my
tears to stay back.
           
“Bye Grandma, I love you.”

“
Goodbye,
and thank you for
a lovely Christmas.” I am the stranger again. Tabitha gives a reserved smile.
She knows how hard this disease is on families.

“Thank you Tabitha and Merry Christmas.”

“You are quite welcome. Ann Marie is lucky to have
you in her life and thank you for a wonderful Christmas.” I didn't even ask her
about her family I wonder if she gets to go home now.

I find Sam in the kitchen with an empty plate.

“Oh my God, that was so good!” I smile and notice he
has a drop of caramel on his bottom lip. I remove it with my finger and then my
finger goes in my mouth without even thinking. His eyes change from satiate to
predatory in that instant. He pins me against the counter in one swift turn. He
is searching my eyes for a yes. I put my hand on his chest to stop him from
getting any closer. I can't even look him in the eyes because I really do want
him to close the gap.

“Sam
stop
,” I say just as his
face softens and his body relaxes. He takes my hand and sits on the bar stool.
He pulls me into an embrace and just holds me.
           
“I can do slow Brennen, but
please just let me in. I know you’re scared. I am too, but you can’t hide your
true feelings from me. I can see it all over your face.”

 
It feels
really good just to be held again. He strokes my hair and hugs me once more
before letting me go. Mm slow is good too. I wish he could spend the whole week
here with me. But I know it would put him in danger. It's Christmas, there is
no evil on Christmas, maybe just one night. He melts my skin with his liquid amber
eyes awaiting my decision.

“It’s getting late and the roads are icy, why don't
you stay a while?”

“Are you sure?” He reaches up and caresses my cheek
with the back of his hand.
 
His silky
warm skin makes me ache for him to continue.

“Can you behave?” He takes my hands in his and
kisses my knuckles. My chest rises and falls deeply, trying to suppress my
quickened heartbeat. Can I?

“Absolutely,” he chuckles. He offers to help clean
the kitchen while I change into something more comfortable. I think he just
wants another slice of cheesecake. When I come down stairs the kitchen is
spotless and I find he has made up the couch for sleeping. He takes my hand and
pulls me to the sofa. I see a blanket and pillow on the floor. I wonder what
this is all about.

“Can we just talk, here?” The house is dark, only
lit by the low flame of the fireplace and the slow twinkling lights of the
Christmas tree. I lay on the sofa and he on the floor. He takes my hand in his
and we make sweet pillow talk.

“I think your Grandma liked me.”

“Yes she gave me the wink.” My lids feel heavy.

“I have missed you,” Sam says the words with
despondency saturated syllables.

“I've missed you too. Where does your dad think you
are tonight?”

“He thinks I am staying with Chris so we can go deer
hunting early in the morning.”

“Oh.”

“I think you should go into the cheesecake
business.” I laugh at his inane suggestion through a yawn.

“It’s been done.” Hmm baker or president, I know,
Uncle Sam’s Cheesecakes- perfect!

“I love you,” Sam voices as he squeezes my hand. I
know he does, I think he’s wanted to tell me those words since our first dance.
Deep down I know it’s why he hasn’t even dated anyone else.
 

“I love you too.” With that I drift off to sleep
holding the hand of the one I love but knowing without a doubt that I love them
both, and I probably always will.

     
I awake
in a panic when I feel a hand pressing over my mouth. It’s still dark out and
the adrenaline pumps into my veins as I struggle and try to scream, but I can't
even look around to see what is going on. A large figure puts his face in my
field of vision. He puts a finger to his lips and I begin to recognize him. The
giant is Will... what in the world? He sees the panic subside in my eyes and
takes his hand off of my mouth. He motions for me to follow him. Sam is sound
asleep on the floor.
 
I climb over the
arm of the sofa as to avoid disturbing him. Will goes to a far corner room of
the house. He is dressed in a black sweater, black pants, and with his dark
skin, he is almost hidden from sight.

“What is going on?”

“You tell me, what are you thinking?” He stands with
his hands rigid on his hips.