Page 45 of Undo Me

“BD?”

“Bethany.” She was kneeling by his side, tears streaming down her cheeks as she touched his face, her expression one of relief and wonder.

“You remember?”

“A little.” She nodded and shrugged at the same time. “I remembered him. I remember you. I remember loving you.”

He lifted her onto his lap right there on the cold ground, rocking her as Rousseau and Ben helped the shaken and confused man out of the cemetery.

Michelle glanced up at the sky, which was already starting to change with the predawn light. She turned somberly toward the couple on the ground. “There’s not long now. We’ll wait for her outside the gate and let you say goodbye.”

BD looked away from Bethany long enough to smile up at Michelle. “You see, cher? I told you your gift would help people. You saved me. Saved us both.”

“You saved me first, remember?” Her smile trembled. “I owed you one.”

“Tell your babies about their skirt-chasing uncle, yes? Someday?”

Michelle’s laughter was choked by a sob as she cupped her stomach protectively. “I’ll tell them. Marcel?”

He nodded and she wiped her eyes, passing Allegra as she strode toward the gate with her head down.

Allegra was openly crying as she knelt beside them and gave them both a hug, kissing BD’s cheek tenderly. “Thank you for coming to my wedding.”

“Thank you for giving me that memory. I will treasure it always. And tell Rousseau I’m sorry.”

“I’ll tell him.” She got up and ran on her strong, slender legs, heading, BD knew, for her new husband’s arms.

Bethany held him tighter and he slid his hand beneath her chin, lifting her face up to the dim light. Everything else, everyone else disappeared. “I will treasure this day above all others, Blue Eyes. And never think it’s because I have you confused with another. It’s you. It will always be you.”

“If I had the mambo call you, would you be able to come back to me?” Her voice was wavering, and he knew she was hanging on by a thread.

He wished he could comfort her with false hope, but he’d promised he would never lie to her. “I want nothing more, but I don’t think it will work. This was my last day. The best day of both my lives.”

“It isn’t fair.”

“I have no regrets.” He caressed her face, his finger tracing the full curve of her upper lip. “I didn’t have to hold your dead body in my arms. Or your brother’s. It’s enough.”

He remembered finding Emmanuel crying beside her. The little boy had followed her to the cemetery, trying to protect her from what he sensed was a trap, but he’d been far too young. He’d hidden until it was over, afraid to go for help. Unfortunately, neither of them had realized that Antoine and his helpers were still there, waiting for their moment to finish Marcel.

“I wish I’d been able to save him, love. I tried, but I was injured. Gutted, knocked out and left for dead.”

Bethany shook her head at the self-loathing in his voice. “You came for us. In my book, you’re our hero. Mine.”

He held her close, pressing his forehead against hers and breathing in her scent. He wouldn’t pray for more than he’d gotten. But he wished. Wished to someday be given the chance to have a life with her at his side.

The light was getting stronger and with it, a strange tingling in his limbs. He gripped her shoulders urgently. “Bethany, listen to me. I love you. I loved you then, as Isabel, and I love you now, more than I thought possible. With everything that I am, I love you. No matter where or when I am, I will be there loving you. Believe in that. Always.”

She pressed her lips, salty and damp with tears, to his. She wouldn’t let go, even when he felt the tingles turn to ants, though this time there was no physical pain. But the ache inside was worse when he realized he’d faded from her sight.

He stood up, watching her collapse on the ground where he’d been only moments before, crying as though her heart would break. The way his was breaking.

“Time to go.” The familiar voice sounded regretful but resolute. There would be no second miracle for Bone Daddy.

He bent down and focused on blowing a tendril away from her temple. “Always, Blue Eyes.”

She lifted her hand to her face as if she felt the breeze and he smiled before following Legba through the gate that had appeared beside them.

His day was over.

---