The Purple Heart (23 page)

A nurse entered the room, saying
something about having to take the baby for some tests and that she
would return her shortly. Cheryl sat on the bed and put her arm
around Gina and broke into tears.

“
This is the happiest day
of my life, other than the day I married you. I wish that Sydney
could be here with us. I’m so sorry to bring us both down, but she
was like a sister to me. Fuck that, she
was
my
sister.”

Gina nuzzled into Cheryl’s side. “I
loved her, too, babe. So we’ll just have to make sure that
our
Sydney knows what wonderful a person her Aunt was. We
just won’t let her memory ever die with her. I know she’s here with
us. I can feel her. Can you?”

“
I’ve been feeling her
since we came downstairs to leave for the hospital. I feel like
she’s been with us the entire time. I’d say it was creeping me out,
but it isn’t. It just feels like if I turn around, she’d be
standing right there.”

And I was. I put my hand on her arm and
gave it a squeeze. Her head whipped around and faced exactly where
I was standing.

“
Sydney? Are you here with
us? I can feel you. I miss you so damn much. Life isn’t the same
without you. It’s not bad, just different. I’d do anything to see
you one more time. I hated how I never got to say goodbye to you. I
hated how you left me. I wish you were here right now.”

“
I am
always
with
you. I love you. You
are
my sister, and so is Gina. We will
always be close by to watch over you both and especially that
baby.”

“
Wow, that’s the strangest
thing. I swear I just heard Sydney’s voice in my head,” Cheryl told
Gina.

“
I don’t think it’s
strange. I believe she’s here. I think Aiden’s here, too. I can
feel more than just her. What did she say?”

“
She said she loved us and
that she’s always close by.”

“
I was right. Our baby has
the two most wonderful guardian angels watching over her. What a
blessed child she is. Thank you, Sydney and Aiden. Thank you for
coming back to be here with us today.”

I leaned over and kissed Gina on the
cheek. Her hand flew up to where I had touched her and a tear
rolled down her face.

Aiden took this as a sign to say what
he needed to. He leaned between them both and whispered,” Thank you
for honoring me in so many ways. You didn’t even know me, and you
gave me more than even my real family did. I will hold you dear to
me for that sweet gesture. I will watch over your daughter
throughout her entire life. Now don’t you worry about Sydney; I’ll
take care of her for eternity. Everything is perfect now.
Everything is as it should be. I love all three of you.”

Gina and Cheryl smiled when he
finished, as if they could hear him.

“
We should go now, Sydney,”
Aiden said.

“
I know. I’m just so happy
for them. It’s hard to leave.”

“
We can stay longer if you
like.”

“
No, let’s give them some
privacy. I’m ready. Can we check back in with them?”

“
We made them a promise to
watch over that baby, so whenever your little heart desires, we can
pop back in.”

“
I’d like that. Are you
ready to go home now?”

“
Home is wherever you are,
love. But yes, I’m ready.”

I smiled at him and he smiled back. He
put his arm around me and we moved into the light, together, to
love eternally.

Christie A.C. Gucker lives in NJ with
her husband, two daughters and a menagerie of pets. Being a mother
is one of the greatest joys of her life. She has worked in the
advertising industry for over 20 years as a degreed artist, but
also works in the fine arts, especially sculpting out of stone or
snapping photographs. Christie is also a singer and musician, and
can be found singing on a few CDs.

After the death of her father, Christie
searched for something to fill her desire to make a mark in this
world. Her love of the arts and creativity allowed her to search
for a new medium, which she found with a pen instead of a brush.
Being an avid reader her whole life, and with her family cheering
her on, she decided to take her shot, and began writing.

Fascinated by the supernatural and
sharks, Christie studies both avidly. You’ll be sure to find
something spooky lurking somewhere in her stories. Her greatest joy
is sitting on a beach with her family while surf fishing, flying
kites or building sandcastles with her girls.