Taking The Heat (26 page)

TOAD

“It’s a beautiful spot, here under the tree,” Sydney whispered.

I nodded my head, “It’s perfect. I put that up there twelve years ago.”

“The wind chime?” she asked as she looked up toward the tree.

“It came from his house. He listened to it while he watched the birds. It was relaxing to him. I figured he’d be able to relax here with the sound from it,” I said as I knelt down and wiped the dust from the top of the stone.

“I’m really glad you brought me here. And your parents are just precious. I love…I uhhm, I really…I really love your...your mother…”

The emotion in her voice was apparent. I imagined she felt like she was introduced to my family, only to have them stripped away, no differently than her family had been taken from her.

“We’ll come back. Often,” I assured her as I stood.

After a hug and a long embrace, she wiped her eyes and nodded her head.

“I’m…I’m going to walk over to the bike,” she said, “Take your time.”

“Thank you,” I said, “I’ll just be a few minutes.”

As she walked away, I admired her. To me, she was the perfect woman. The thought of one day having a family with her, and bringing her in to my existing family, would be my dream come true. As she leaned against the bike and tilted her head toward the sky, I turned toward the head stone.

“Nonno, it’s about that time again. I’m sorry, but I didn’t write anything this time. You know I love you,” I said as I stood.

“Momma gave me the ring, Nonno. She said you wanted me to have it. I’m going to just tell you now, because I may not make it back in time, but she’s the one, Nonno,” I hesitated and turned toward Sydney.

“I’ll take care of her, and protect her like you told me to. You know she saved my life. Well, kind of. No, I guess she really did. She keeps me grounded, Nonno. She makes living life pretty simple. I love her, I just wish you were here to see it when I asked her to marry me, I really do…”

A slight pain shot through my left shoulder as if someone were squeezing it. I spun around quickly and faced the gravestone.

I shrugged my shoulders and gazed at the stone.

“You probably think I’m crazy, don’t you old man?” I chuckled.

“Anyway, I’ll ask her as soon as the time is right, don’t you worry. And she’ll wear the ring with pride. I’ll see you again real soon, Nonno. I’m sorry you can’t be here for all of it,” I sighed as I bent down and kissed the top of the stone.

I turned to face Sydney. A hand gripped my shoulder. I spun around and raised my fists.

The stubble on the back of my freshly shaved neck began to rise. I felt a chill run down my spine. My shoulder began to throb. Although I was certain I was going insane, I asked the question anyway.

“Is that you, old man?” I whispered.

My shoulder throbbed as if being squeezed.

My entire body shuddered.

I shook my head.

“Oh…I uhhm. Oh shit…uhhm, you’re here?”

The dull pain returned.

“Uhhm. Holy shit, Nonno. You want me to uhhm…you want me to ask her
now
?”

My shoulder felt as if someone patted it twice. Although I knew no one had touched me,
something
did. Be it my mind, his spirit, or be it the good Lord himself, someone was speaking to me. As crazy as it seemed, and as unbelievable as it was to comprehend, I continued.

“I’m glad you could be here, old man. Hold on,” I sighed as I brushed my hand along the edge of the stone.

  I reached into my pocket and removed the ring. I glanced over my shoulder toward the bike, and Sydney. She stared up at the sky, smiling.

“Come here, I need to ask you something,” I shouted as I knelt down in front of the stone.

As I watched her approach, my heart began to race. I slid my hand between my knees and clenched the ring in my fist. As she stepped in front of me and gazed down into my eyes, she looked worried.

“Yes?’ she whispered.

“Sydney, I uhhm, I want to ask you something. I uhhm. I was talking to my grandfather, you know how I told you we talk?”

She nodded her head, “I think it’s adorable.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Come on, old man. Help me out. Don’t make me look like a fool.

“Well. Sydney Shephard,” I paused and lifted my hand from my knees.

She stared down at my hand. As I opened it, she gasped.

“Will you honor me by being my wife?” I asked as I opened the box.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks. She nodded her head. After looking up to the sky, she gazed down and opened her mouth.

“I will,” she responded.

I stood, slipped the ring onto her finger, and pulled her to my chest. After a long, soft kiss, I held her close to my chest and said a short prayer. As she lifted her head from my shoulder, she pressed her arms against my chest, stood back, and lowered herself to a kneeling position.

“Don’t worry, Nonno, he’s in good hands,” she whispered.

Suddenly, she turned and looked over her left shoulder.

“What?’ I shrugged.

“Oh, that was
really weird
,” she said as she stood.

“I would have sworn you just patted me on the shoulder,” she shrugged.

Some things in life aren’t meant to be understood. As much as I wanted to, I was never able to understand what happened at the gravesite that day. Not for certain.

But I knew one thing without a doubt.

I loved Sydney Shephard more than I loved myself.

And I’d spend a lifetime proving it.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

THIS BOOK IS A WORK OF FICTION.

If the reader wishes to find out more about Shane Dekkar, A-Train, Ripp, Kace, or Vee, their story is told in the completed Boxer Series.

UNDEFEATED

UNSTOPPABLE

UNLEASHED

And

UNBROKEN