Chapter Twenty-Four #2
She wrinkled her nose. “While I hate that Christopher will benefit from the land, it’s unavoidable, since he and Richard are partners.
On the upside, their money will fund upgrades to Ivy House, and unless they sell the parcel of land outright to a developer, they have to navigate years of red tape, environmental studies, town hall meetings, and delays that are inevitably involved in any large project.
But that’s their headache, not mine. I want to put this behind me.
” She reached out and took his hand. “Behind us.”
Alex leaned back in his chair, more content than he’d ever been.
“If anyone had told me I’d give up everything to stay in a small town for the duration of a human life, I would have laughed and told them they were out of their mind.
I had it all—money, influence, property, immortality.
Now, I’m penniless, all too human, and have to figure out a way to make a living. ”
Beside him, Cilla set down her fork and pushed her plate away.
He caught her hand and brought it to his lips.
“I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.” Sam gave him a nod of approval.
Not that he needed it, but it made him feel closer to his brother than he had in a very long time.
It also begged the question. “What are the odds Kieran will show up here eventually?”
Sam shrugged. “He desperately wants to please the old man, has always gone out of his way to try to show us up. Guess time will tell.” He stood and offered his hand. “Thanks for lunch. Don’t be a stranger.”
Alex got to his feet and yanked his brother toward him. “That works both ways.” They hugged and slapped each other on the back. Alex had lost so much, but he’d gained far more.
After a flurry of goodbyes and promises to get together again soon, he and Cilla stood on the front porch watching them drive away.
A lock of her hair had escaped the clip she’d used to anchor it, the light breeze teasing it.
Her face was flushed from the success of the first get-together in their rebuilt home.
Their home. A sense of satisfaction permeated him.
“That went well.” Her smile stirred more than his heart. Whether they had a single day or another fifty-plus years, each second was precious.
“It did.” Better than he’d expected. “How about we pack up and drive out to the coast? Spend a night or two at the beach.” They’d managed a couple of short jaunts on his motorcycle over the past few weeks, but hadn’t made it to the ocean.
“I’d love to. If we’re lucky enough to get a reservation right away, Rosa would stay at Ivy House and take care of the guests while we’re away.”
Once inside, he swept her off her feet and swung her around. She laughed, looped her arms around his neck, and kissed his jaw. “How about we go for a ride?” Cilla had taken to his bike and was already talking about getting her motorcycle license and one of her own.
“I should really clean up the mess in the kitchen.”
“Tell you what? I’ll put away the leftovers while you change into jeans and grab your jacket. If there’s anything else left to do, we’ll finish it when we get back.”
“Deal.” She rose up on her toes and kissed him before bolting toward their room.
He ambled behind her, smiling all the way. He’d moved into the suite off the kitchen and they were slowly turning it into their private getaway. They already had plans to renovate his old room to expand the capacity for guests.
It took him no time to handle the mess. Food was refrigerated and the dishes were loaded into the dishwasher when Cilla strolled into the kitchen, looking fine in jeans and a brown leather jacket.
“Perfect timing.” Alex wiped his hands on a towel.
“You’d almost think I planned it that way.” Laughing, she winked at him and tossed him his helmet. Hers was already on her head.
“You’ll pay for that.” He put on his helmet and reached for the jacket she held out to him.
“I’m so scared.”
He was still grinning minutes later as they cruised down Ivy Lane and onto Main Street. When they hit the town limits, he increased his speed. Cilla’s whoop of joy echoed in his ears.
A hint of autumn was in the late September air.
A sense of freedom and joy roared through him.
He maneuvered the machine around a turn.
Her arms tightened around him as the spot of their original collision came into view.
At that exact moment, sunlight hit the charm on his keychain, drawing his attention—accident or on purpose he couldn’t say.
The silver scythe glinted, a reminder of all he’d lost… and all he’d gained.
“I love you,” she yelled, loud enough to be heard over the sound of the engine and the wind.
His father had set out to teach him a lesson. Alex had failed the assignment, but maybe he had learned the right lesson after all. “I love you, too!”
Failure had never tasted so sweet.
…
“That went well.”
Caw! Perched on Death’s shoulder, Malaki voiced his opinion. His companion was not as confident.
Fatherhood had changed Death. While he was content with his life, and had no plans to change it, he couldn’t say the same about his sons. They were more than reapers—something he hadn’t anticipated.
He’d arrogantly assumed they’d take after him completely. Reaping was in their blood, but so was a very human sense of dissatisfaction. It was up to him to help them find their way, even if he wasn’t going about it in a conventional manner. “Gain without struggle isn’t valued, Malaki.”
Not that they hadn’t worked. All his boys had reaped for millennia, never shirking their duty, but there’d always been something missing.
They’d grown detached, almost cold. In trying to prepare them for their roles, Death had distanced himself from them, something he now deeply regretted.
They were long past the age of needing a parent.
He gripped his scythe tighter and conjured a portal. Malaki fluttered his wings and settled. Reaching up, he brushed his fingers over dark feathers. It was time to bring his youngest to Redemption. “It’s time for a different approach.” A partial smile on his face, Death stepped forward.
The love doesn’t end here…