A Trip to Heaven

Chapter 15

We were now standing in a beautiful backyard, tulips were blossoming in flower beds and a garden grew to the right of us. The grass was green and the sun was shinning. Children's toys were scattered across the grass and a red grill sat in the corner to our left. Behind us was a beautiful tan house with a dark Tuscan brown roof. It was extravagant and looked like my dream house, that's for sure.

"Where are we?" I asked turning to my Dad.

"Your house." my Dad answered. As soon as I was about to respond a small child came running into view. She had long brown hair and hazel eyes like my Dad. The young girl looked around 4 years old and wore a tiny pink stripped bathing suit. She was then followed by an older women smiling calling out, "Chloe, wait! I can't keep up with you!" The women looked around her 30's and that woman... That woman was me. I had soft curls and wore sunglasses and a sundress. Chloe was running away from me and finally I caught up to her tackling and tickling her to the ground. Her laugh, so innocent and playful it made me smile. All of the sudden out of the corner of the house, two male figures came into view with bathing suits on and water guns. One was maybe 6 years old and the other around his 30's as well. The older man had the most beautiful shade of brown hair and glimmering brown eyes. The small boy too had brown hair but light blue eyes.

"Go get them Zach!" the man yelled.

"AHHH! Jake you're awful!" I yelled.

Watching this scene threw me off a little bit.. But my thoughts were thrown off my my Dad saying, "That's your husband."

I didn't respond, but instead watched more letting a small smirk appear on my face as the young Zach squirted little Chloe and I with his water gun and us all giggling. It was a perfect family just having fun before lunch and it was all I'd ever wanted.. But one piece would be missing. And that was my sweet Jack. How could I ever give my heart away to someone else? It gave me such a pit in my stomach I was taken away by the perfect family playing in front of me.. "That couldn't be me," I thought, "I would never be able to do that to Jack. No. No. No," I kept telling myself.

"How would I ever be able to live without you and Jack?" I asked chocking on tears.

"I never said it was going to be easy Ashely," My Dad answered, "But I do have one promise, I will never leave your side. I'm your Dad and you will always be my daughter. You've made me proud Ashley, and I've loved you ever since I looked down at you wrapped in that pink blanket the day you were born. And I will never stop loving you." My Dad then hugged me and I embraced him digging my head deep into his shoulder. He held me there for a while and I listened to the laughter of the small children in the background. I finally let go of my Dad and ran to Jack hugging him.

"I never want to hear you say we won't be with you Sweets," Jack said, "We're always with you. Listening and standing right next to you through the ups and downs in life. You will never have to go through something alone, because we're right here," Jack pointed to my heart looking deep into my eyes, "You have a family to raise silly," he lightly smiled pointing to my future family, "C'mon do this for me, your Dad, and your Mom.." He grabbed a loose strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. I just stood there, frozen in time staring at who I thought I would be vowing to spend the rest of my life with. But if I didn't go back, all hell would break loose back home. I didn't know what to say, I just kept looking back and forth between my Dad and Jack.

"C'mon guys, times running out. Jack, we tried.." My Dad stated unsatisfied walking towards the spiritual time machine.

"Fine I'll go!" I yelled. I couldn't believe what I had just said.. I knew I was making the right choice, even if it meant leaving my Dad and the love of my life. But, I've learned sometimes the right choice isn't the easiest.

"Let's take you home baby girl." my Dad said smiling. Jack grabbed my hand and we walked up to the portal leaving my future family.