Wishing on the Water (Water Series Book 1)

• Wishing on the Water
  
• Midpoint
  

Copyright @ 2015 by Elizabeth York

First Print July 2015

Editing by Laura Hampton at
Editing For You and Steve Czach

All rights reserved in all media. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The moral right of Elizabeth York as an author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act of 1988.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locales, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental or fictionalized.

ISBN: 9780692420430

Alyssa
-
You were always my rock star. You always knew what you wanted and never stopped till you got it. I see so much of me in you with the sacrifices you make for your family. You are growing up to be a wonderful lady with a beautiful soul. In the evilness of the world it is easy to lose your way, never change who you are because of that. Keep your kindness and your civility. I love you more than there are stars in the sky and never forget that they don’t hold your wishes. The water holds our wishes.

Ashton
–
Every day I hug you and tell you I love you. Every day I tell you that you are so very special to me, & I do that because you were born with a mature soul. You were just a little boy when life changed and it made you grow up entirely too fast so take this advice and run with it. Go to Chik-fil-A and slide down the slide, go to the nearest grocery store and throw a pop tart, go to the nearest lake and just stick your toe in, call a friend & have a water balloon fight, or even make a wish on the dandelion you blow on in the yard. Do whatever it takes to get some of that childishness back & enjoy because being a grown up can suck. I love you!

I love you all more than my own life. You are the air I breathe. I thought my life was full until I had you & then I realized I had been missing the greatest gift of all. The gift of three mini-me’s. I love you all and hope one day you will read this and be as proud of me as I am of you.

“
Come on Candice
, we need to take our seats.”

I was not aware of anything except that I was staring at my fiancé lying in a coffin. How could this be possible? I had just talked to him; we went to cake tastings last week. I reached down and fixed the sleeve of his policeman’s jacket. There was a peacefulness to him, but not to me. I was devastated.

How many times had I wished him dead when we played together on the playground as kids? He made me eat dirt and pulled my hair and I wished for some divine intervention to make him go away.
I did not mean it; I take it back.

“
Candice, we need to move and let the others see him before the service starts.”

My best friend Christina was ushering me into a seat. I had no fight in me at the moment and I let her steer me away. The police Chaplain ushered everyone to take their seats as the services were about to begin. I turned to look beside me to see his mother, Michelle, crying uncontrollably.

“
Michelle, I am here for anything you need.” I whispered as I grabbed her hand in mine and smiled as tears filled my eyes.

“
I just miss him. He is happy with his dad in Heaven now, but I selfishly want them both here with me.” Michelle’s brittle voice broke as she cried into the tissue she held. I squeezed her hand and rubbed her back.

I looked around the church and saw his fellow policemen wearing the same uniform he had on. They had taken up every pew in the church and still they lined the walls. They cast looks of sorrow and sympathy at me.

Trying to stay strong was disabling my ability to be supportive to others. I felt like someone had stolen all my lifelines and left me in the ocean to drown. I watched as the men nodded to each other and knew they were talking about me without saying a word.

The chaplain began speaking to the crowd as people were still filing into the church. He began the opening prayer and I placed my hands on my lap and bowed my head. I didn’t hear a word that was spoken I was numb to the core. This wasn’t real; his partner, Jaxson, wasn’t even here yet. They would never bury Chase without his partner here to say goodbye.

Movement caught my attention, and I watched as the men came forward and closed the casket, as Elvis’s version of “Go rest high on that mountain” played in the background.

I hadn’t even noticed that Christina had left my side until I looked for her. I saw her over in the corner lighting a white candle for Chase; she had tears pouring out of her eyes. I didn’t remember her even liking Chase, but she was there, as the chaplain began the prayer.

When the commissioner came and held his hand out for us, I stood up and walked up with Michelle, to the closed casket and put my hand on top. This was supposed to be goodbye, but yet I felt as though he was still with me. The thought of him actually being gone left me breathless, and my chest went tight. I was in a panic as I couldn’t bring my heart to say goodbye. I turned my head as I began to gasp and stared into the stormy gray eyes I had known for most of my life. It was Chase’s partner and best friend, Jax.

“
Candice, are you ok?” He asked as he took hold of me and his hands rubbed my back. I felt like I was being suffocated in the church, I had hidden my tears and feelings for days, but with Jax finally here I was going to crumble.

“
Jax, I can’t…” I couldn’t even finish what I was trying to say. He was my lifeline and was always in tune with what I needed. I was grateful that he was my best friend.

Jax was in his policeman’s dress uniform. The same uniform I was burying my fiancé in. The thought flashed through my mind that I was lucky I didn’t lose both of them, followed by the thought of what if Jax dies too. Suddenly I felt weak. I swayed as Jax pulled me closer and walked me out of the church. I heard the murmurs of “poor girl”, and “she will never move on.” I didn’t want the snickers or sympathy; I merely wanted to breathe through the suffocation of my broken heart.

“
It’s alright Candy. You don’t have to be the strong one holding everyone together right now.” Jax murmured, as he walked me out of the church.

We stood outside under an old oak tree. I wrapped my arms around him with my face leaning on his chest facing the front door of the church. I never even tried to move as Jax held me as tightly against him. I would probably drench his jacket in tears, but I don’t think he'd care.