A Rocky Path (15 page)

She opened the window, careful not to
frighten the bird away. She reached out her hand, afraid that the
bird might peck her. But her curiosity outweighed her fear. With a
shaking hand, she took the cloth from the bird’s beak. He cocked
his head at her, and then he flew away. She closed the window and
drew the curtains back together. She untied the ribbon and opened
up the cloth, revealing the treasure inside. There, in the folds of
the cloth, was the little silver ring that she had lost in the
water. With a cry of delight, she slipped the ring back onto her
finger. Then she realized that there was also a piece of paper in
the cloth. She unfolded the paper and recognized the writing as
being the same as on the note she had found with the painting. It
was from Patrick!

My dearest Emily,

I found this ring where it had washed back up
onto the rocks. I knew you would be happy to have it back, so I
couldn’t wait to give it back to you. So I sent a friend to bring
it to you. I hope he didn’t startle you too badly. I miss you so
much already and am looking forward to seeing you this evening. I’m
sorry that my friend had to wake you. I hope that you can go back
to sleep and rest undisturbed until morning. I don’t know how I
could have hurt you and myself so badly by staying away from you.
Now that I have been with you again, I don’t know how I can ever
let you go again. Sleep easy, my love, and dream of me as you
slumber. I will see you soon and look forward to holding you in my
arms again.

Your love forever,

Patrick

Emily smiled as she thought of Patrick. He
was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. She could get lost in
his eyes, which could one moment be clear as a sapphire gem and the
next moment be the stormy blue of the sea. She wished there was a
way for the two of them to be happy together. But she knew they had
to discuss the fact that he needed to rest in Heaven after having
roamed the earth for 150 years. In fairness to him, she had to find
a way to send him away, even though it would break her heart. But
Sarah had done it. She had loved John with her whole heart and yet
when she had found a way to send him home, she hadn’t hesitated.
She had done what was right and noble. The question that burned in
Emily’s mind was whether or not she and Patrick would be happy
together when she died. When Patrick leaves this world, how long
would it be until she, too, would die and go to Heaven? Would he
know her there? Would they be reunited? And if she constantly
thought about that for the rest of her life, how could she be
happy? Would she go through her whole life waiting to die so she
could be with Patrick? That would be no way to live. She needed to
talk to Sarah and see what she thought and how she handled it.

She finally fell asleep. And she dreamed
about Patrick. It was a happy dream where they lived in a beautiful
little house and they were married with two kids and a dog. It was
a nice dream…so different from the reality she was living. But it
was nice to dream for just a little while….

Chapter Twenty Two

The next morning, Emily awoke with a feeling
of anticipation. She was going to see Patrick again! And yet she
was a little apprehensive, not knowing what the future would bring.
But at least now she knew that he really loved her and that’s all
that mattered right now. Whatever times she had with him would be
precious and she would have to be content with it.

She went down to the basement for her
workout. Jamie was there, just finishing up his routine.

“Hi Emily,” he said as she came down the
stairs.

“Good morning. Already finished?”

“Yep. I got up early this morning. I could
tell that I hadn’t been working out lately. I hope I don’t take off
from working out that long ever again!”

“Jamie, why did you stop working out?”

He sighed. “I was trying to give you some
space. After what happened, I know that you’re uncomfortable around
me. I just didn’t want to invade your privacy.”

“That’s ok, Jamie. You’ve lived in this house
a lot longer than I have. You shouldn’t have to abandon your
workout just because of me. I appreciate the thought, but I have to
get over it.”

Jamie looked at her with regret. “Emily, I
can’t tell you how sorry I am for what happened. I know that I’ve
already apologized and you said you forgave me, but I still feel
like a jerk. There’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do to make it
up to you, but I know that I can’t. I just hope I haven’t ruined
any chance of friendship between us.”

“It will take time to completely forget about
what happened. I guess I’ll never really forget it completely. But
we have to move on. I don’t want you to feel miserable the rest of
your life for what you did. I do want you to promise me something,
though”

“Anything,” he said, sincerely.

“Promise me that you will never take a drink
again as long as you live. You know what it does to you, and
something worse could happen the next time.”

“Emily, I promise. I don’t want to even be
around the stuff anymore. If it made me do what I did to you, I
don’t want to have anything to do with alcohol ever again!”

“Good. That’s the best thing you can do for
yourself. And I won’t ever have to be afraid of you anymore.”

Jamie winced. “I can’t believe I did
something that would make you afraid of me. I’m not really that
kind of guy.”

“I know that. Alcohol makes you someone else
completely. Ok, let’s not talk about this anymore. I have a workout
to do before I get to work.”

Work was light that day and she was antsy.
She couldn’t wait to see Patrick.

“Let’s only work half a day. I’m restless,
you’re restless, and there’s not that much to do,” said
Rebecca.

“That suits me just fine. I think I’ll go see
Sarah Stone again.”

Rebecca laughed. “That crazy woman? Why in
the world do you keep wanting to go see her?”

“I like her. And she’s not crazy. She’s one
of the most interesting people I have ever met.”

“Whatever you say. Well, enjoy your day.”

Emily called Sarah and asked if she could
come over. Sarah was full of questions, but Emily told her she
would tell her everything when she got there.

When she arrived at Sarah’s house, the door
was opened as soon as she started walking up the path to the
house.

“Come in, come in. I can’t wait to find out
what happened with Patrick!’

Emily walked into the living room and saw
that Sarah had lunch laid out on a small table. There were little
sandwiches, cakes and the inevitable tea.

“Wow, you sure whipped this up fast. I just
called you about a half hour ago!”

Sarah smiled. “I want my guests to feel
welcome. Besides, if I ply you with food, you may be more willing
to talk.”

Emily laughed at that. “You don’t have to
worry. I’ll tell you everything.”

Over lunch, Emily related all the events of
the previous night. She didn’t leave out any detail. When she was
finished, Sarah was smiling.

“That’s an incredible story. I’m sorry that
you were in danger, but it all turned out alright. I’m glad you got
to be with Patrick again.”

“Sarah, I don’t understand why a ghost and a
human can’t have a physical relationship. I guess I was dreaming of
marriage and a little house and a normal life. The part of me that
wants Patrick to stay is warring with the part that wants him to go
to Heaven where he belongs. I was hoping that maybe we could get
married, even if it was just for a short while. That maybe he would
stay with me for a little while.”

“That would be a very strange thing, a ghost
and a human getting married. After all, who would marry you? Would
you get someone to come down to the rocks and perform the ceremony
there? It brings up some interesting questions. Would it be legal?
Would it even matter if it was legal or not? What are God’s laws
about something like that?”

“Sarah, Patrick says there can’t be a
physical relationship. He said he would answer all my questions
tonight. But I would like to be prepared for the answers. Do you
have any ideas?”

Sarah frowned. “No, I don’t know why that’s
not possible. John and I never discussed anything like that. Of
course, things like that weren’t discussed as openly then as they
are now. Besides, I was so smitten with him that being in the same
room with him was almost enough.”

Emily sighed. “I guess I’ll just have to wait
until I talk to him tonight. I just feel a little shy talking to
him about this.”

“I can understand that. But I think you have
the right to know everything about what he is and what he is
capable and incapable of. Maybe he will tell you more about what
happened in his life and you can figure out what holds him
here.”

“I’m sure it has something to do with his
death and whether or not his fiancée was responsible for it. The
records and journals pertaining to that time speculate on her
guilt, but no one seemed to know for sure. There certainly wasn’t
enough proof to have her arrested for his murder. And maybe it
really was an accident. Maybe Patrick doesn’t know for sure what
happened. Maybe that’s what’s holding him here.”

“If it is, maybe you can find out what
happened.”

“But I don’t see how I can. What about when
John took your hand and showed you what happened to him? You said
you saw the murder, but couldn’t tell who did it. When you
researched it, you found out someone had been arrested, but John
didn’t know that. But if I could see what happened to Patrick,
maybe I can see it all.”

“That’s certainly a possibility. It’s worth a
try.”

“Do I have your permission to tell Patrick
about you and John? That way I can tell him what you saw and ask
him if I can see his past as well.”

“Of course you have my permission. Anything
to get the answers you need to help your ghost.”

“Sarah, I don’t want to send him away! It’s
so hard. A part of me hopes that I won’t find out anything.”

“I know it’s hard. But you are stronger than
you think. Everything will work out in the end.”

As Emily drove home that evening, she was
tense, almost scared. What would happen tonight? Would she lose him
this quickly? The possibility frightened her. But Sarah was
right…she had to be strong and do the right thing.

Chapter Twenty Three

It was agony trying to get through dinner
without jumping up and rushing out in the middle of the main
course. She could barely eat.

“What’s wrong with you tonight?” asked Sam.
“Still feeling the effects of your late night last night?”

“Shut up,” she said and threw a roll at
him.

“Emily!” exclaimed Rebecca. But there was a
smile twitching at the corner of her mouth.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

She made it through dinner, even though she
hardly touched her food. Then she asked to be excused when it
looked like everyone would linger at the table awhile.

She went upstairs and put on some extra
clothing for warmth. Her hands were shaking as she was tying her
boots. She put on her coat and a hat.

As she was coming down the stairs, Jamie was
coming out of the dining room and saw her.

“Where are you going in this cold weather?
Are you planning to pull an all nighter again?”

“Jamie, please leave me alone about this. I
have things to do. I promise I’ll be safe. You don’t have to worry
about me.”

“You’re meeting that man, aren’t you? The one
who put me in the hospital.”

Emily looked at him steadily and said, “Yes,
I am. I’m going to see him and it’s my business. Please don’t
question me about this, Jamie. I’m an adult. In fact, I’m older
than you and I have my own life to live outside this house. So, I’m
going. Goodnight, Jamie.”

He watched her as she went out the door, but
he didn’t try to stop her. He knew that it would be useless to even
attempt it.

When Emily got to the water, Patrick was
there waiting for her. When he saw her, he came to her and put his
arms around her. It felt so good and so right to be in his arms.
She had never felt so loved and so safe.

“I was counting the hours until I could see
you,” he said.

“Me, too. I couldn’t even eat!”

“Let’s go back to the cave where it’s
warmer,” he said.

He led her back to the cave and she could see
why she hadn’t ever seen it before. It was well concealed among the
other rocks and the opening was behind a large boulder.

When they got inside, Emily was delighted to
see that a fire had been built.

“Did you start a fire just for me?”

He grinned. “Of course I did. What do I need
with a fire? I’m a ghost, after all. But even if I wasn’t, the fire
you start in me would be enough to keep me warm.”

Emily blushed. “I know what you mean. When
I’m around you, it’s as if I’m burning.”

“Burning? How are you burning?” he asked,
slowly stroking her face and neck.

“You make me burn with desire and longing. I
don’t understand why we can’t be together.”

Patrick bent his head down to her and kissed
her lightly on the lips. Then his kiss became deeper until his
tongue was probing deep into her mouth. He tasted like the sweetest
honey and she never wanted him to stop. He drew back for just an
instant and looked at her with his stormy eyes. Then he lowered his
mouth to her neck and started kissing and gently biting her skin.
Then he ran his tongue from her neck up to her ear. He nipped the
lobe lightly and ran his tongue around the outside of her ear. She
shivered with delight. She definitely felt like she was on fire and
if that fire consumed her, then so be it.

He finally stopped kissing her and she
uttered a little cry of protest. He stroked her face with his
fingers and then drew her head down to his chest and held her.