Page 110 of Heartbeat

The stone was a rosette-cut sapphire, the same coloras Amalie’s eyes, with tiny diamonds set around it like a halo. The setting was silver, as was the single engraved wedding band beside it.

“There’s a word engraved inside the band,” Ella said.

He turned the band toward the light and saw one word.Forever.

His heart stopped.

“Jesus wept, Aunt Ella. This is the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s her, a thousand times over, and you knew it, didn’t you? But what if it doesn’t fit?”

Ella patted his hand. “I already asked Spirit before I called you. It’ll do just fine. So, you want it?”

He stood, put his arms around her thin bony shoulders, and just held her.

Ella was chuckling as she patted him on the back. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

He took a slow, shaky breath and let her go. “I don’t know how to navigate the waters common to you and my girl, but I’m trusting she’ll figure it out the same way you have. I know I love her so much it hurts, and sometimes I have an overwhelming fear of losing her.”

“That’s just soul memory, son, from when you lost her before. That won’t happen to you again, but I’m not talking about losing her in this life. Understand me?”

He nodded. “She keeps slipping into that time and sliding back into this one without even knowing it. She refers to herself as ‘Chickie’ when talking about Brendan. Her memories of him and her memories of me are all mixed up together right now.”

Ella nodded. “Because it’s all so new. That streak in her hair? Don’t tell her because she doesn’t need to know…but that’s where Meg suffered the injury that killed her. One of the soldiers hit her with the butt of his rifle. They thought she was dead when they threw her in that cellar. Suffering a second blow to her head in this life, and in the very same place, was where Spirit healed her so she wouldn’t die again.”

Sean shivered. Spirits and angels and reincarnated souls were so far out of his normal zone he could hardly bear it, and yet he knew it was so, and felt blessed by the journey with her.

“I will tell Amalie where this ring came from. She deserves to know your generous heart, but she’ll hold the secret, too. We’re both good at that. Is that okay?”

“Always,” Ella said. “Now get yourself on home before Shirley knows you’re gone. You don’t wanna have to lie to your mama. All anyone needs to know is that you chose one that was antique because it was the color of Amalie’s eyes, and let it be.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sean said. He put on his coat again, put the box in an inner pocket, and zipped the pocket.

Ella walked him to the door, then watched him going down the steps. So tall and handsome—those broad shoulders and that black hair. So young, with a soul so old. She sighed. This one would do just fine.

Sean drove home in a daze, put the ring in his safe, tore up the note he’d left for his mother, then glanced at the clock. Almost noon. Amalie would be taking a break forlunch about now, so he sat down at the kitchen table and called. Just to hear her voice.

Amalie was in the back room getting her sandwich and a bottle of Pepsi out of the refrigerator. She intended to kick back on the sofa to eat her lunch. Her eyes were tired from staring at a screen all morning, and admiring her painting of Pope Mountain as she ate was the best way she knew to rest them.

She had just taken the cap off of her Pepsi when her cell phone rang, and when she saw it was Sean, she abandoned all thoughts of food and quickly answered.

“Hello, my favorite person! What do you have to say for yourself this fine day?”

“Hope I’m not interrupting. If I am, just say so. All I wanted was to hear your voice,” he said.

“As always, your timing is perfect. I just stopped for lunch.”

“Eating in or eating out?” he asked.

“In. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a Pepsi.”

“I might echo that here,” he said. “Mom’s at Betty Raines’s house for the day.”

“Is Betty sick or something?” Amalie asked.

“She fell a few days ago. Really messed up her shoulder and whacked her head. Everyone’s been bringing them food, so Mom went to help her catch up with laundry and cleaning.”

“Sounds like the Shirley we know and love.”

“Have you heard from Wolf since he left?” he asked.

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