Chapter 30
“Where are we going?” Anna asked for the third time as she sat next to me in the passenger seat, holding my hand and tapping her knee with her free hand.
I couldn't keep the smile off my face—sitting next to Anna Taylor, holding her hand, knowing she would be mine forever. We shared a secret now. We had a lifetime of happiness and adventure to look forward to.
“Patience, my love,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze.
We pulled into her driveway and I shut the car off.
“Why are we at my house?” she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest in disapproval.
I leaned over to give her a quick kiss. “Because the canoe is here. And we can't get over to our island without it.”
Her disgruntled look turned hopeful again as she hopped out of the car. “What a great idea. I thought you were going to take me minigolfing or something,” she laughed.
“Yes, because I know how much you love to play minigolf,” I teased.
We raced each other down to the dock and climbed into the waiting canoe. I tossed her the big orange life jacket. “Put it on, Anna,” I warned.
“I don’t need it, Jake. Besides, you could heal me if anything happened, right?” she tried to bargain.
“I'm not willing to take that chance. Buckle up.”
Anna sighed, “You have to wear yours too then. I'm not going to be the only one looking like a dork.”
We rowed across the lake and through the canal that took us to another vast lake with our private island. Anna looked radiant in the early evening sunset. The sun reflected off the water and through her golden hair.
It took longer than usual to get to our secluded piece of paradise. Spending time alone with Anna was going to be rare from now on because she’d have to be under constant protection with the discovery of her new gift. I knew better than to rush the time I had with her. I paddled slowly and we watched the ducks and listened to the loons while reminiscing and laughing about old times.
“Do you remember the time,” Anna began as a smile sprawled across her lips, “when we were racing down the big hill on our bikes and your back tire touched mine and I went flying over my handlebars and face first into the asphalt?”
“Why are you laughing about that?” I asked. “You were wrapped up in bandages for like three weeks. You wouldn’t even go to the dance because you were so embarrassed about the way you looked,” I reminded her.
“I just think it’s funny because it very well could’ve been you that flipped, and if it were you, you would’ve walked away with nothing more than a scraped knee.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. But if you weren’t so damn selfless, you could’ve done a miracle on yourself and saved your face from certain punishment,” I pointed out with a grin.
Anna slapped her oar in the water and splashed a burst of cold water onto my face. She was lucky I was under strict orders from the elders not to put her in any danger, or she would’ve gone overboard.
“I see you’re using your miracle skills on yourself now though,” I said.
“Why?” Anna cautioned.
“Because I can’t seem to flip this canoe over,” I said as I pretended to rock the canoe with all my strength.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Anna warned, bracing herself with the edges of the canoe.
I smiled. She was so adorable. “No, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.”
“Probably not allowed, anyway,” she stated, with just the hint of a question in her tone. And when I didn’t respond: “Right?”
“What? Probably not allowed to flip the canoe on you?” I pretended to need a little assistance, although I knew damn well what she was talking about. Anna was a very independent girl and the idea of being under supervision and protection all the time would quickly grow old with her.
“Yes, Jake. Were you told not to mess around with me?” Anna demanded as she stopped rowing and watched my face intently. I couldn’t lie. Not to her. She’d see right through it anyway.
“Anna, you’re a hot commodity now,” I started carefully, “and everyone genuinely cares about you and your safety.”
She sighed and continued rowing. “Well, I guess that’s the price I’ll have to pay for being such a hot commodity.” Then she splashed water at me again. Testing me, no doubt. I clenched my jaw and used all my strength to refrain from tipping the canoe. Like old times.
Anna sighed in defeat. She had wanted me to break loose. I knew her well enough to know that her new mission in life was going to be to irritate the hell out of me to try and make me throw her overboard, or storm away angry, or leave her stranded on the side of the road. Little did she know that even without rules and regulations, this girl was never going to be left behind again. She was stuck with me now.
Once the canoe was tied, I led Anna through the woods and to our big oak tree. When we came to the flower-covered clearing, Anna clasped her hands over her mouth and exclaimed, “A picnic!”
Everything was just how I had left it a few hours before. The red flannel blanket was spread out underneath the oak tree with the basket of sandwiches and cookies sitting in the middle. Two glasses and a bottle of wine rested up against the basket, a pillow for when we took our traditional nap, and one single daisy propped up against the bottle of wine.
Anna knelt down and carefully touched the daisy’s petals. She brought the flower to her nose and inhaled as she turned to face me. I reached over and plucked the first petal. “He loves you,” I said as I pulled her in.
“He loves me not.” She pulled another petal and pouted.
“He loves you.” I plucked another and kissed her forehead. She smiled and stepped back.
“He loves me not.” And another petal fell to the ground.
“Baby,” I said as I pulled the daisy from her hand, “I counted. There are twenty-one petals. Trust me, I win.”
I was sure her eyes moistened before she buried her head in my chest. “This whole thing is perfect, Jake. I love that you thought of this.”
“Well, I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time together alone so we can get used to the idea of this new life you were just thrown into. I'm sure you have more questions.” I pulled her down onto the blanket next to me. “I'm all yours. Ask me whatever you want.”
Anna cozied up beside me and smiled. “Well, I am wondering one thing.”
“Just one thing? I find that hard to believe,” I teased as I kissed her head softly.
“When you said you were afraid of losing me and that's why we couldn't be together, what did you really mean? It didn't have anything to do with the Wentworth incident, did it?”
“Sort of,” I explained. “You would've been a target as my girlfriend. Your life would've always been in danger. I couldn't risk that. As much as I wanted you in my life, Anna, it was the only way to protect you.” My mind wandered to Matthias and his words of wisdom. His tragic lesson learned. “It killed me to let you go,” I added with a lump in my throat.
“We don't need to revisit that. Now that I know it was a legitimate fear, and that it doesn't matter anymore, right?” She looked at me for approval.
“Well, it certainly helps that you're gifted now too. At least now we can be together. I'm sure there will always be danger lurking around the corner, but at least you will now know why I will always be so protective of you.” I wrapped my arms tighter around her, feeling a bit like a boa constrictor. I hated talking about being apart from her. “You must have more questions.”
Anna leaned over and poured us each a glass of wine. “To us,” she said as she held up her glass and clinked it with mine. “May we always find happiness with each other and may we always win.”
“Cheers to that,” I laughed. We sipped our wine and made similar disgusted faces. Our first taste of wine together, and by the look on Anna's face, it would be the last. “I didn't think iced tea would have the same ring to it,” I confessed.
“No, it probably wouldn't.” Sh
e laughed. “But it would’ve tasted better.” She set her glass down and sat cross-legged in front of me. “So, what do I do next with this miracle gift?” she asked enthusiastically, sitting cross-legged in front of me.
“You'll be assigned a trainer and you'll have to practise your gift and develop your other strengths,” I informed her. I was so excited that Anna was finally one of us. There were no more secrets; nothing to stand in our way.
“Why can't you be my trainer?” she pouted.
“Because I haven't the slightest clue how to make a miracle,” I laughed.
“But I don't want to go through this without you,” Anna said as she plucked a blade of grass and began chewing on it.
“Well then I'll make sure you don't. I'll go to your sessions with you, if you want.” I was sure Ms. Peters wouldn't object. After all, they were still trying to make it up to me how they kept Anna’s gift from me.
“I just never want to be away from you again,” Anna sighed as she laid across my lap and wrapped her arms around my waist.
So this was what true happiness felt like. I looked around at the blue sky, the trees rustling in the wind, the butterflies taking flight, and the birds chirping away in the trees. I carefully pulled Anna’s hair from her face and touched her cheek. Then I whispered with all the confidence in the world, “I love you, Anna.”
She stopped breathing. The long silence caused me to wonder what she was thinking. Then she finally spoke, “You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that.”
I squeezed her gently as my heart fluttered. “And you have no idea how long I've wanted to say that,” I admitted.
“I love you too, Jake. Always have.”
We cuddled in silence for a long time, just enjoying the moments in each other's arms. I wasn't sure how she felt, but I knew I wasn't in any rush to be anywhere else but here. The sun was setting and a chill was creeping in.
“Are you getting cold?” I asked as I pulled her in closer.
“Jake Rovert, are you just trying to get closer to me?” Anna teased.
“Always,” I confessed with a sly smile.
“Well, in that case,” Anna said as she sat up and rested her back against my chest, “let's keep each other warm.”
I wrapped the blanket around the both of us and held her close, rubbing her arms to keep her warm.
“Jake, will you promise me something?” she asked, intermingling her fingers with mine.
“Anything,” I promised. It didn't really matter what she wanted, I knew I would do anything for her. Her wish was my command.
“Promise me you'll never leave me again.” Her soft voice was delicate and broken.
My heart ached for a moment as I thought about how much I had put her through.
“Anna, I promise I will never leave you. And even if you want to leave me, you'll still be stuck with me, because I'll follow you anywhere and everywhere. I will never leave you stranded again. I promise.”
She slowly turned and sat facing me on my lap. She wrapped her smooth, warm arms around my neck and touched her nose to mine. I pressed my lips to hers and pulled her in close, sharing a kiss that was so real and intense that I would never forget it, for as long as I lived. She was my miracle. I was her healer.
We fell asleep in each other’s arms, savouring our first taste of happily ever after, until a familiar vision seeped into my pleasant dreams . . .
Something shook me, deep down in the core of my body. I woke up gasping for air and dripping with sweat, realizing the terror was my vicious recurring nightmare. My legs still felt heavy and they burned from my struggle to save the angel in the middle of the field. The darkness, like every other time, had swallowed her whole. The angel, my beloved Anna.
Here is a sneak peek at the sequel to Branded:
Stranded