Chapter 25
It was several months later when Avery felt the call to return to Little Round Top in the middle of the night.
He had been wandering the streets around two o’clock in the morning.
It was increasingly harder for him to vanish anymore, and the nights were long and lonely.
He longed for the warmth of Remy’s companionship and the light of her beautiful smile.
She was always out of reach during the night since her apartment was too far for him to travel, but now she was even farther away.
She had left for Maryland earlier in the day to help Lucy prepare for her upcoming wedding that weekend.
Avery had been aimlessly wandering down the empty streets when he felt the urgent pull to go to Little Round Top.
He almost never went there at night because there was no reason to.
He spent a lot of time there during the day so Remy would always know where to find him.
Now he turned on his heel and headed straight for the battlefield where he had died.
It was his time. He knew it in his heart. Avery felt an all-encompassing sensation of joy at the thought of seeing his beloved daughter again.
Charlotte, Charlotte, my little girl!
Avery felt the urge to run to Little Round Top, to rush to see his baby girl again.
Remy.
Avery pictured her lovely face and sweet smile. Grief tore through him at the thought of leaving without being able to say goodbye to her. He pictured her returning after the wedding, desperately searching for him to no avail.
No! A chuisle, mo chuisle… Please, no. I can’t go without telling her that I love her one more time! Avery’s heart cried out for her, but he knew he had no choice. There was no way to fight the supernatural strength and power of the call to cross over. He had to go.
Avery got to Little Round Top, and there was nothing but dead silence. He looked around for any sign of what was to come. As he gazed from atop the huge hill at the wide expanse of dark sky and battlefields below, a blinding white portal appeared right in front of him.
Avery stared in awe as a pretty young woman who looked to be in her twenties stepped out of the portal. She had his gray eyes. She smiled softly and looked like an angel.
“Hi, Daddy!” she chirped happily.
Avery was too overcome to speak at first. Finally, he found his voice. “Charlotte, me girl…Charlotte…”
Charlotte gazed lovingly at her father. Avery felt the decades of grieving for her fade away, replaced with sheer joy.
“Jaysus, look at you. You’re all grown up!” Avery exclaimed as he stared at his beloved daughter.
“I actually lived until I was sixty-two years old, but I didn’t want to show up lookin’ older than me father!” Charlotte laughed, a delicately feminine, tinkling sound.
“My God, how I’ve missed you,” Avery said, his voice almost a whisper. “Oh, me sweet girl, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I never should have left you…”
“Daddy, it’s not your fault you died,” she said, looking at him with adoration. It was like Avery could physically feel pure love radiating from her.
“I shouldn’t have joined up to fight. You grew up without a father!” Avery gazed sorrowfully at the beautiful young woman his daughter had become. He grieved for the loss of missing her childhood, her young womanhood. Her whole life.
“I grew up knowin’ I had a father who loved me very, very much. Mama told me all about you, talked about you all the time. And I was old enough to remember you, Daddy. I remember our walks to town. I remember our talks together.”
“Oh, Ch-Charlotte,” Avery moaned, finally breaking down with emotion. “My baby!”
“I’m still your baby,” Charlotte said soothingly. “I love you, and I’m so happy to see you, but it’s not my turn to be with you yet.”
Avery looked at her, but was still too emotional to speak.
“I know what’s in your heart, Daddy. I know you’re hurting because you feel like you’re bein’ disloyal to me by wantin’ to stay, but you’re not. A certain wild-eyed black-hatted man kept insistin’ to me that the only way you’ll be able to let go of the past is if I come back and see you!”
Ellis.
“He’s mighty persistent, I’ll give ’im that.
He knew what a debt he owed Remy, and he wouldn’t rest ’til he settled it.
Wouldn’t let go ’til I was allowed to come see you.
And I’m sure glad he did,” Charlotte said, her soft gray eyes sparkling with happiness.
She looked into Avery’s eyes and said, “Daddy, I’m happy.
I had a long and wonderful life. I had four sons.
I lost one when he was just a little boy, but it’s all right because we’re together now.
You have beautiful grandchildren, Daddy.
I have beautiful grandchildren,” she said with her lovely, tinkling laugh.
“I’m at peace where I am now. I’m not goin’ anywhere, so I’ll be here when you’re ready to join me. But you’re not ready, are ye?”
“I don’t know,” Avery said, still conflicted. How could he look Charlotte in the eye and tell her he was leaving her again?
“I think Remy is such a wonderful lady,” Charlotte said, and Avery could feel his daughter’s love for Remy, too. “She has such a good, pure heart. She loves you so much.”
“I love her, too.”
“I know you do. I kinda like the idea of her as me stepmother,” she said, a twinkle in her eye.
That thought made Avery smile. The idea of he, Remy, and Charlotte as a family, even if separated temporarily by death.
“Be happy, Daddy. I know you want to stay with Remy. It doesn’t mean you love me any less. All I want is for you to be as happy as I am.”
“What do I do?” Avery asked.
“Decide,” Charlotte told him.
“I want to stay with Remy,” Avery whispered.
Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and giggled. “Then it’s done!”
“Just like that?” Avery asked.
“Well, just one more thing,” Charlotte said with a smile. She opened her arms.
Avery gasped.
“Well, you can’t stay behind without a proper hug, now can ye?” Charlotte said.
Avery opened his arms and walked toward her, afraid to hope that was she was saying was true. Could he really touch her?
Avery let out a choked cry when he wrapped his arms around her and felt the warmth and softness of her body. He held her close, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Charlotte, Charlotte,” Avery cried as he held her in his arms. “My baby, my little girl.”
“It’s all right, Daddy. I’m here. I love you so very much,” Charlotte said in a soothing voice.
Charlotte held him close until he finally stopped weeping.
She looked him in the eyes, love still radiating from her whole being. “I love you, Daddy. It’s all right to miss me, but you don’t have to grieve for me anymore. I’m not lost. I’m home. And your home is with Remy until it’s time for us all to be together again.”
Avery nodded as a sense of peace and calm settled over him.
Charlotte was right. His home was with Remy.
* * *
As a bride, Lucy was about as low-maintenance as they come.
She had one demand and one demand only for her wedding day; she wanted to marry Jesse.
As long as they were husband and wife by the end of the day, she wasn’t about to fret over anything else.
She had said that the flowers could wilt or the wedding cake could collapse and it would all be fine with her.
That being said, she was an excited, happy bride who gushed over every aspect of the wedding that her mother had meticulously planned.
Lucy exclaimed that the church looked beautiful, the flowers were exquisite, and she loved how her hair and makeup had turned out.
The wedding vendors adored her and seemed to go out of their way to cater to her needs since she was so gracious and appreciative of everything they did.
“Oh, Lucy, you look so beautiful!” Remy gushed.
Lucy did look lovely in her elegant gown with her brown hair falling in soft curls at her shoulders. She was excited and so much in love that it enhanced her natural beauty.
“So do you, Remy,” Lucy said, admiring the way Remy looked in her blue bridesmaid dress. “That dress brings out your eyes like you wouldn’t believe. I only wish Avery could see you. We’ll be sure to show him lots of pictures.”
Remy nodded and smiled.
Theresa came bustling in, looking incredible in her blue bridesmaid dress as well. The dress also brought out the color in her light blue eyes, and it seemed to make her strawberry-blonde hair look a darker red. She looked amazing, and Remy knew Sean would be thrilled when he got a look at her.
“Girl, your cowboy cleans up good. He looks so adorable. Wait ’til you see him!” Theresa said, her eyes sparkling with affection. Jesse was wonderful, and it was impossible not to love him.
“Is he nervous?” Lucy asked.
“No, not at all. He’s just really, really excited. It’s so cute!” Theresa gushed.
“I’m a nervous wreck,” Lucy admitted. “Not about marrying him! I just mean, all those people…”
“I know, Lucy,” Remy said sympathetically. Lucy was one of the few brides who didn’t really enjoy being the center of attention. “I know crowds aren’t really your thing.”
“You can say that again,” Lucy said nervously.
Remy faced Lucy and gently fussed with her hair until her brown curls fell just right onto her shoulders.
She looked into Lucy’s eyes and said, “Just focus on Jesse when you walk down the aisle. Just look at him, waiting for you at the front of the church. I promise, you’ll forget about everybody else. ”
Lucy smiled softly. “You’re right. All I have to do is look at him, and I’ll be just fine.” She let out a soft, happy sigh and looked calmer already.
* * *
Jesse could hardly wait to see his lovely bride walking down the aisle.
He stood at the front of the church with Sean and Lucy’s brother, David, at his side.
He hadn’t seen Lucy since yesterday. They had decided to spend the night apart so he wouldn’t see her until she was all gussied up in her gown.