Page 112 of Stone

Voices whispered in hushed tones, and I knew they were talking about me.

My vacant stare remained glued to the scene outside my window. I kept my mouth shut and let them whisper. Who cared what they thought when life without John didn’t seem feasible. The years without him stretched before me, and I knew I couldn’t do it.

After losing Dad, John, and Connie, who would’ve thought losing Bessie would be what finally broke me.

But I loved that damned truck.

It was my last link to John.

Except for my daughter.

My hand slid to my stomach, and a lone tear rolled down my cheek. How would I care for her when I couldn’t breathe? I fought against them sedating me—I knew it may hurt the baby—but they held me down and injected me regardless. When I eventually woke up, I forced myself to be calm because I didn’t want to hurt Constance anymore.

The bed depressed as somebody sat beside me, and a hand took mine. “I’m going to take you away, Elise. We think a change of scene will help, and after what happened with Bandit, I’m worried for your safety.”

“Okay,” I said flatly. I didn’t care. Wherever I was in the world, I’d still ache for John.

“How about the beach?” Robert asked, sliding an arm across my shoulders. “I was thinking California.”

A wave of despair hit me. “Not San Diego,” I implored. “Please, not there.”

“God, no. Jesus.” He laughed. “We’ll go somewhere classier. How about Santa Barbara?”

One shoulder lifted. “Okay.”

“I’ll apply for a special license. We’ll have a small wedding on the beach. Just my parents and your mother.”

Another tear rolled down my cheek.

“We’ll do it for the kids, Elise. I’ll look after you and them.”

I closed my eyes and whispered the one word that forever sealed my fate.

“Okay.”

One Week Later

I looked into blue eyes and sent up one last prayer that John would shout my name.

“If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

I closed my eyes.

Please, God, please, God, please, God, please, God, please, God.

But God wasn’t there. Just silence.

Two minutes later, I squeezed my eyes shut again, imagining golden eyes, a cocky smile, and all the beauty that was my John. Then, from deep down inside my shredded soul, to my ol’ man, I said, “I do.”

And then, finally, I let him go.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Elise

Robert decided we should stay in Santa Barbara, at least until the babies were born, so we did. You see, everything Robert wanted, Robert got, but only because the thought of going back to Hambleton made me throw up.

Anyway, I liked the beach. It wasn’t laid back, relaxed, and littered with families and students on their summer break like the one in San Diego. My new beach was pretty much deserted, because the land was owned by the owners of the large, expensive properties sitting adjacent.

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