The Protector (51 page)

I waited until everyone was off the plane before I rose from my seat and gathered my things. I took my time knowing full well that the red headed crazy man I had grown to respect would be waiting for me and was not going anywhere without me. I was excited to see Seth again, and to hear his voice. He had promised to tell me more about Jack’s life.  He had even mentioned that if I was a good girl, he would make sure I met Jack’s mom someday.  She too wanted to meet the woman who had captured her son’s heart and soul.

I walked slowly off the plane and down the stairs onto the tarmac. The sun was shining and it was still warm in the Atlantic.  From the air, the islands seemed so tropical in nature.  The ocean that surrounded was a beautiful deep blue and I was looking forward to walking along the beach.  I looked all around for my escort, but I didn’t see him. Off in the distance stood someone leaning against a post with his arms crossed. I couldn’t tell from the distance between us if it was Seth or not. The sun was bright in my eyes and the man almost looked too tall to be Seth. He wore jeans and a t-shirt and a baseball cap.  Even if it wasn’t Seth, which by now I was sure it wasn’t, I was being pulled in that direction by some unseen force . The man seemed awkwardly familiar. 

My chest tightened and my heart began to race as I continued to walk toward him. Tears that had not fallen since the day I had received my ticket began to fall down my face and my pace quickened. Soon I was almost at a full run.  The man stood upright and two things I thought I would never see again were suddenly there, a cross with thorns wrapped around it and his golden brown eyes.  I threw myself full force into his body as I dropped my bags and let the tears fall.

“Hello Sonny.” His words were soft and he brought his hands to my face, and gently pulled it up so I was looking into his eyes.  A tear fell down his cheek, and then his warm lips met mine.

Epilogue

The dream never returned.

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