Serendipity

Chapter 4

Reggie was starting to wake as I returned to my apartment and gave a sheepish grin as she sat up and saw me watching her from the doorway. "Sorry. I didn't realise that I was so tired."

"It's a long journey. If I wasn't so nervous about tomorrow, I would have joined you. I brought you some food in case you're ready to eat."

"I'm starving, hand it over if you don't want to get hurt."

I laughed and helped her off the bed. "Your table awaits my lady." She grinned and I raised her hand to my lips. "I have someone I want you to meet in the morning."

"Oh?" I had sparked her curiosity and I could almost see the wheels in her head turning as she tried to work out who it would be.

"One of my trainees. He's rather shy around women, so you'll have to be nice. He has a slight case of hero worship for you though. I can't fault him for that though. He does have good taste when it comes to women. He only tends to get tongue-tied around beautiful women now, so you're going to render him speechless." I winked at her, knowing exactly what her reaction to that would be. She didn't disappoint.

"Flatterer." She gave me a mock punch on the shoulder, the blush on her face telling me that she had recognised the compliment I had slipped in. "So I meet him tomorrow huh? When?"

"I told him to come to the training rooms around ten. I plan to work you hard enough to downgrade you from drop-dead gorgeous to just plain beautiful. He can't say hello if he's unable to speak." My grin told her that I knew I was laying it on a bit thick.

"Alright, alright. Can it before I get sick. I am trying to eat you know. When are we going to see your friend and his mate?"

"As soon as you finish eating."

Ten minutes later, Reggie's plate was empty and her eyes roamed around my apartment. Her eyes landed on the mantle above the fire where I kept the few remaining photos of Claire that I could look at without wanting to cry. One was taken at our wedding right at the time I was about to kiss her for the first time as my wife. The love on her face made her face glow with such an ethereal light that I was unable to part with the photo even if it still reminded me of the pain I felt every day without her. Reggie reached out and picked up the frame. "No wonder you haven't healed from losing her. I can see the love between you both. She was very beautiful."

"She was." After four and a half years, I was getting better at not breaking into tears when I looked at Claire's picture, but there were times when it was still hard. My voice threatened to break and I turned towards the large picture windows that overlooked the courtyard. "That first year after she was killed it was so hard to go on. All I could think of was how much I was hurting without her. Then fate brought you back into my life and you started to bring me out of that dark place. I will never be able to thank you enough for that."

Reggie moved to stand beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist. Her voice was soft and tinged with fear as she looked out into the darkness with me. "The first six months or so after you returned to Germany, I was terrified you were going to kill yourself or me, with how reckless you were. I was worried I would never see that twinkle of mischief in your eyes or hear a genuine laugh from you ever again."

"And now?"

"Now, the shadows are still there, but I also hear the music in your laughter and your smiles reach your eyes once more. You've got a while to go, but you're on your way."

I pulled her close and kissed her gently. When the kiss ended, I rested my forehead on hers and smiled. "Because of you. You helped me find my way back and I'll always love you for that. But more than that, I love you Reggie, because you're beautiful, funny and you don't stand my shit. Even when I find my mate, I'll still love you."