Page 19 of Stolen Moments

Melia struggled to keep her composure. She walked into the room and signaled to Susan that she didn’t have to sit up. She pulled a chair to Susan’s bedside and clasped her cold tiny hands in both her warm ones. She shook her head, and opened and closed her mouth a few times. She cleared her throat.

“Susan, I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.

Susan’s eyes filled with tears. “Then just listen, Melia.” She adjusted her breathing tube so it wouldn’t be in her way. “I have loved that man for many years, but my time is up now. You must think me strange or unkind for attempting to manipulate you two into being together.”

Melia shook her head and squeezed Susan’s hands. “No, no. That’s not it at all, Susan. I just didn’t know.”

Susan coughed. When the fit was over, she gasped and declined the water Melia offered her. “He’s not the best with words. He’s a quiet guy, really likes to think things through before acting. I pushed him to talk to you before he had the words ready and I think that’s why when he tried to talk to you he wasn’t articulating it the way he wanted to. But I’ll let him explain to you how he feels in a moment. Right now, I need you to make me a promise.”

Melia nodded. “Anything for you.”

“Love him. Cherish him. Take care of him for me.” Her voice broke. “I’m scared for him. I want to go knowing that I’ve left him in good hands. Promise me that you’ll be there for him.”

Melia nodded. “Of course. If he’ll have me, I would do that gladly.”

Susan smiled weakly. “I know you would. And I know you’d do it well.” She closed her eyes for a moment and sat in silence. When she opened them again, the light in them had dimmed slightly and she spoke to Melia as if speaking from a great distance. Melia had to lean in to hear the rest of her words.

“I’ll give him to you, but don’t let him forget me.” Susan began to cry openly. “Don’t forget me. I don’t want to go and be forgotten. I didn’t have any children, and I feel like once I die my memory will be wiped off the face of this earth. Don’t let him forget me.”

Melia wept. “Of course not, Susan. Neither of us, not me or Luka, could ever forget you. I won’t replace you, that’s not what’s going to happen. We will love and cherish and honor your memory forever. You have brought so much happiness into our lives. How could you ever think anyone could forget you? You are light. You are the light in this darkness. You took this lost girl and you shone a beacon for her to find her way home. I love you, Susan. I will never, ever, forget you.”

Susan closed her eyes again and nodded. “I think Luka wants to talk to you. Once you do that, can you come back here and sit with me, the two of you?”

Melia smoothed Susan’s knit cap and kissed her forehead. “Of course. I’ll make it quick.”

Melia found Luka pacing the hallway outside of the master bedroom. When he saw her come out of the bedroom, he lit up. “I tried to tell you,” he said as he strode towards her.

“I know,” she said as she clung to him. He kissed her, the warm pressure of lips against hers brought her back to life and she felt all of her fear melt away. She was ready to give herself up entirely to this man. “I love you.” She looked up at him, her eyes filled with child-like wonder. “I love you, Luka. I just need to know…”

Luka smiled at her and pulled her closer. “I love you, too. I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you, and I’m only sorry that I fucked things up so badly and that we met under these circumstances.”

Melia kissed him over and over, kissed the tip of his nose, his cheeks, his eyes, and along his jaw line. “Let’s go. Susan’s asking for us.”

Susan smiled when Melia and Luka walked into the bedroom holding hands. She painfully moved over in the bed and indicated to them that she wanted them close to her. Melia and Luka climbed into bed on either side of Susan and hugged her. Luka and Melia each grabbed one of Susan’s hands and stretched their arms across her frail body to hold each other’s hands. There was a sad but jubilant peacefulness in the air. Susan sighed.

“I’m so happy you’re both here.” She squeezed their hands.

Then she sighed contently and closed her eyes.

Epilogue

“Did you put Susan to sleep?” asked Melia seductively from the bed.

“Yes. But she didn’t go down without a fight. That child doesnotlike to go to sleep.” He grinned as he crept into bed with her. “She gets that stubbornness from her mother.”

“Oh, yeah? Do I get the blame for all of our daughter’s bad traits?”

Luka straddled her. “Oh no, she gets your sense of humor, your charm, and your beauty as well.”

“Hmm, are you buttering me up for something, Mr. Rossiter?”

“No, Mrs. Rossiter, I wouldn’t dream of it.” He laughed and pinned her arms above her head. Slowly, lovingly, he tied her wrists to the bedposts above her head and her ankles to the grate at the bottom of the bed. He kissed her and reached into the bedside table. Rummaging around, he selected a medium-sized whip. He sat up in between Melia’s spread legs and smiled impishly. “Are you ready?”

Melia tried to steady the flutter in her chest. No matter the amount of years that had passed, she was still madly in love with Luka, and just the way he looked at her made her struggle to catch her breath.

“Yes,” she said breathily. She winced with pleasure at the sharp tap of the whip against her hip.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I’m ready,master.”

Luka grinned. He trailed his tongue down the center of her body and relished the shudders of desire that rocked Melia’s petite frame. He was looking forward to making her fly.

“Perfect. Let’s begin then.”

THE END!!!

---