Forever

Chapter 6

Lee Evans, Grace Lensure, and now Emma Steele. Third time should be the charm. It is January 31, 1910. Emma and I have been dating for 6 years. She acts as if I will leave at any given moment. Emma moves, speaks, and kisses with a silently loud purpose. I am ageing again. I am 27 now and Emma is 29. She wants kids but I refuse because I tend to outlive my own blood. I'm getting all of spouse's names tattooed under my ribs. Those will be permanent. For some reason my journals and necklace have stayed with me. I still wonder what Grace's father meant by "I know". I think Emma is the one to break this blessed curse of mine. - Caspian James.

I close my journal and put in the desk that I built. Emma now lives with me now. I grab the wedding ring from under my journal and wrap it in a leather cloth. I am going to purpose to Emma in front of her parents. I walk out of my office and into the our bedroom. Grabbing my watch off the nightstand, I check the time as I slide it on my wrist. 4:45. Almost sunrise time. Emma is lightly snoring. I crawl up next to Emma and cuddle her. Emma opens her eyes to meet mine. "Good morning." I whisper. "Good morning." Emma whispers back.

"Get up and put some clothes on. We are going to your parent's house. It is very important." I explain with a smile. Emma gets up and stretches. I grab a white button up shirt and put it on. Once Emma is finished getting dressed, we walk out to the car her parents bought us. I start the vehicle and get on the road that will get us to the In-Laws house A.S.A.P.

I grab Emma's hand and race into the house. I burst into her parent's room. "Everybody wake the hell up!" I yell. Anne and Frank wake with a startle. Once they are both awake I ask Anna and Frank. "May I have your blessing to marry your daughter, Mr.Steele?" I ask with an excited voice and slightly shaking hands. Franks shakes my hand and kisses my forehead. "Caspian James you have my blessing to marry my daughter. Treat her well and with respect." He says.

Emma is shaking and waiting. I pull the leather wrapped ring from my pocket and get down on my right knee. "Emma Steele will you take this ring of my creation and marry me? This will make every "damn day" worth it." I ask with tears streaming down my face. "Yes! Yes!" Emma exclaims crying. I slide the ring on left ring finger. I rise from my knees and meet Emma lips with a heavy, deep kiss. Her mom and dad surround us with hugs. Emma stares into my eyes with a desire and certainy, I shiver even though I am sweating.

...

A few hours later I am at the bar. The same bar where I met Emma. I am throwing down whiskey like it's water, and I feel nothing. No buzz, nothing. I take another shot then pay bartender, I get up to leave when I stumble and fall on my knees. Look around to make sure no one saw that, I get up and brush off my pants. I see a piece of folded paper where I fell. I pick it up and open it. It is written in cursive with black ink.

"Your life resides with a pregnant woman. Under her ribs speaks 'Life isn't for everyone'. That is where your life and destiny reside, Caspian James. With a pregnant woman with ribs that speak."

My heart skips 2 beats then beats faster then a bullet. I grab my chest and stumble forward out of the bar. All of the liquor I drank tonight is coming through my mouth and nose in orangeish chunks with a firery pain. I wipe my mouth and lean against the brick wall outside the bar. I grab the note and stuff it into my pocket. I wipe my mouth again. I try to stand but I get nauseous and slam into the wall because I tried to get up with out much balance.

When I finally get up from leaning against the wall, I walk over to the car and drive to my house. The ride home is soothing. The cool wind against my face eases my stomach. I pull into the driveway and see lights on. I shut off the car and slowly walk into the house. Emma is reading her favorite book, "The Wizard of Oz". She notices me walking up to the house. Emma also notices the grief stricken look on my face. "Caspian, what's wrong? Are you all right?" Emma asks with a scared voice as she hurries to meet me at the door. I slide my arms around Emma and set my head on tops of hers.

"I am fine, boo. I was just startled. That's all." I tell Emma the half truth. Six days until we get married. "Do you want kids?" Emma asks. I am still wrapped around Emma. As much as I like that idea I don't know. That is what I wanted to say. "How about we cross that bridge after our wedding, I promise." I inform her. I decide to let go off Emma. She goes back to reading her book as I go to change.

After I change, I hide the note in my journal for "safe-keeping". I tell Emma that I am going to sleep. I get in bed and slowly drift into a deep and peaceful sleep. Just six more days.