Heart Ties
Love Never Dies
Novella
Linda L. Barton
Copyright@2017 by Linda L. Barton
All Rights Reserved
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Special Acknowledgements
For my loving husband, Bob.
You are the driving force
in this writing adventure.
For it’s in your creative mind
where our stories are born.
Editing, Formatting, and Cover Design
Deadly Reads Author Services
Table of Contents
Title Page, Copyright,
Special Acknowledgments,
Prologue,
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3,
Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6,
Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9,
Chapter 10
Follow the Author
Prologue
“I want you to promise me you’ll be careful over there.” Pushing a pea to the side of the plate with her fork, Rachel fought back tears. “I know how you love to take risks.”
Michael looked across the table at the woman he had loved for as long as he could remember. He knew she was frightened, but he also knew he must do his duty.
“Don’t you worry about me, I’m like a cat with nine lives,” the same playful grin that always made Rachel forget all her worries appeared on his lips. That was until the day Michael was notified his unit was shipping out to fight in the Pacific.
“Stop joking about this, Michael. I know how you are and it’s so dangerous,” tears wet her cheeks at the thought of what he would be facing.
“I know it’s dangerous, but I also know I must do this. Come on, Baby, don’t you have faith in me as a pilot?” Michael gazed deeply into her eyes hoping to ease her fears.
Realizing he was right, Rachel sighed. “Of course, I have faith in you, but I also know how willing you are to push things to a dangerous level. Promise me that you won’t take any unnecessary chances, okay?”
However, no sooner had the words left her lips, she knew they were spoken in vain.
“You know I can’t make that promise. Japan attacked us, and it’s up to men like me to stop it from happening again. You must remember how we all felt when we learned what happened at Pearl Harbor?” Anger burned on Michael’s face.
Rachel began to protest, but he continued.
“They must pay for what they did, and I plan on doing my part! So, I need to know you’ll be here waiting for me to return,” he reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
Rachel knew there was no sense in pursuing this conversation any further. When they had first met that fateful day, she had learned once he made up his mind there was no changing it. They had met on the playground when his family had moved into the house up the street from hers. She had thought what a silly, little boy but over time, she knew they would be with each other forever. He would laugh whenever she spoke of how they had loved each other since the beginning of time and how their love would continue for all eternity. In her heart, Rachael knew their souls were connected in a way she could not explain.
“You know I’ll be waiting for you. It’s just that I’ll just miss you so much.” Another tear escaped the corner of her eye. Gazing deeply into his eyes, she struggling to force the growing sense of dread from her thoughts.
Michael returned her gaze and smiled. “That’s my girl. I promise you’ll see me again. Then we’ll buy a house and start having all those kids you seem to want. As a matter of fact, why don’t we get started on that right now?” Michael stood and pulled Rachel into his arms, pressing his lips firmly to hers.
***
Before the sun had risen, Rachel was up and getting the last-minute things together for Michael to leave. He was thrilled to find his favorite breakfast of biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and a large cup of steaming hot coffee waiting for him on the table when he walked into the kitchen.
“Good morning, that looks delicious.” After sitting in his chair, Michael reached for his coffee cup. “I bet I won’t have good coffee like this while I’m gone.”
Rachel struggled to understand how he could be in such a good mood; this of all mornings. She knew he was excited to put his skills to work, but her heart was breaking.
“Would you like a glass of orange juice?” she struggled to muster a smile.
“Yes, I’d love some.” Michael reached for the salt shaker and sprinkled some on his scrambled eggs. “I must say, you do look quite lovely this morning. I hope it’s the glow of a mother-to-be after our night of passion.”
This statement causing a soft, pink glow to spread across her cheeks.
“Michael, that’s not a proper topic of conversation at the breakfast table,” she scolded, but the smile appearing on her face betrayed her true feelings.
As Rachel and Michael enjoyed their meal, they both wondered if they would ever sit together for a meal, or if this moment would become a memory of the possibilities of a life not shared.
Glancing up at the clock hanging above the sink, Michael set his napkin on the table, “Well, it’s getting late, and I need to go.”
Pushing away from the table
Rachel rushed into his waiting arms.
“Please don’t try to be a hero,” she cried, burying her face into his chest.
“Me, a hero, you’re the one who’s the hero. You’ve put up with me for all these years, and only a hero could do that,” a soft chuckle escaped his lips as he held her tightly against his chest.
“I’ll be home before you realize it. Now, give me one of those pretty smiles so I can take it with me,” gently placing two fingers under her chin, Michael lifted Rachel’s face, and gazed into her now tear-filled eyes.
“I have always loved you,” he reached up and wiped a tear now flowing down her cheek.
“And I have always loved you,” Rachel gazed into the face of the man that had always filled her heart with joy.
Hearing her words caused a feeling of tranquility to wash over Michael. He then pressed his lips against hers with such intensity, they both knew no matter what was to come their love would survive.
Chapter 1
“Mommy, I didn’t mean to do it! I didn’t want to die!” Six-year-old Shane bolted upright in his bed, tears flowing down his cheeks and soaked with sweat.
“You’re alright, baby. Mommy’s here,” Patricia sat next to Shane who was trembling with fear. “Did you have the bad dream again?”
“Yes; I was flying in the airplane, and it crashed into the water. I tried to stop it, but I couldn’t,” Shane whimpered, hugging his pillow. “Mommy, why did I have to die? I wanted to go home, but I died in the water. She was waiting for me to come home, but I couldn't do it.”
Patricia was at a loss for words. Shane seemed to have this same dream at least twice a month, and she had no idea how to stop them. Patricia clearly remembered the first time he had the dream. He was three years old and had awakened screaming, NO over and over. Once she had calmed him down, he told her of how the water was cold and dark. He told her how he had tried to escape, but the water was all around him.
“I was mad, Mommy. I died. She would be sad because I broke my promise.”
***
“You sa
id you were flying an airplane and it fell into the water. What kind of airplane was it?”
Shane closed his eyes. “I was in the war, and another airplane shot me. I saw my airplane was on fire. I knew it was bad. I did everything I could to keep flying, but the fire got bigger. My airplane shook real hard, and then I went into the water. I remember the airplane that shot me had a big red circle on it and it could fly real fast.”
“You were in a war? Why were you in a war?” Patricia felt her curiosity begin to peak.
“The bad people killed our people, and we had to stop them. Mommy, I was scared. I promised her that I would come home, but I died.” The expression on Shane’s face was one Patricia had never seen before.
“Don’t worry, it was only a dream. You didn’t die because Mommy wouldn’t let it happen. Now, you need to get some sleep because tomorrow is a school day.” Patricia took his pillow, fluffed it, and then laid it back down for him. Resting his head on the pillow, a broad smile appeared across Shane’s face.
“Mommy, I’m glad I chose you and Daddy. I knew you would love me,” turning on his side, he closed his eyes.
He was glad he had chosen us. What did that mean? Pushing the thought aside, Patricia kissed Shane on the forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“Goodnight, Mommy.” he softly murmured, then pulled his blanket tightly around himself before falling off to sleep.
***
“Was it the dream again?” Steve rolled over to watch Patricia walk into the master bathroom to get a drink of water.
“I just don’t understand where it all comes from. He keeps having that dream where he’s flying an airplane in a war, and he gets shot down. He says how the water was cold and dark, and then he died. Steve, this isn’t normal, is it?” Patricia sighed as she walked to her side of the bed.
“I don’t know, but I don’t remember having dreams like that when I was a child.” Steve searched his memories from his childhood to no avail. “Well, there’s nothing more we can do about it tonight. Let’s get some sleep because the morning will be here before we realize.”
Patricia reached for the lamp on her bedside table and turned it off before she lay down, and then she rolled over to face Steve.
“You know what’s so strange, it almost sounds like Shane was really there. It’s odd how he speaks about the dream like it was real. Do you think he could have…” but before she could continue, Steve interrupted.
“Don’t be silly. It’s just a dream, that’s all. He’s a small boy with a big imagination. I’m sure he just watched something on the television about pilots in wartime. You know how he likes all that history stuff.”
Steve wanted to end this conversation. “Come on, it’s late, and we both need to be up early.”
Patricia knew he was probably right, but for some reason, she could not shake the strange feeling churning inside of her. “Goodnight.”
Chapter 2
Eight years later
“Come on, Shane. We won’t get caught and besides you know you want to go,” Billy glanced toward his bedroom door, hoping no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. “It’ll be fun, besides Davy, Chris, and Jacob is going. You have to go.”
Shane wanted to go to Miller’s Rock, but he knew his parents would never allow it without an adult there. “You’re right; we have been planning this for a long time. Okay, I’ll go. Was Jacob able to get the rope from his brother?”
Suddenly Shane felt a sense of dread stir in the pit of his stomach.
“Yeah, his brother is out of town for a few days, so we can use his repelling gear, and no one will ever know. I can’t wait to repel down Miller’s Rock,” Jacob said enthusiastically. He had gone with his brother a couple of months earlier, so he was looking forward to going again.
“This is going to be so cool,” Billy chuckled as he jumped on his bed and pulled the blanket over himself. “Come on, we need to get some rest for the big day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait either.” Shane pushed his doubts aside then zipped his sleeping bag closed and positioned his pillow under his head. He was tired, so it did not take long to fall asleep.
***
“What are you up to?” a voice whispered in his ear with urgency. “You must not go tomorrow. It’s dangerous. If you go, you will die, my love. I need you to remember your promise to me. You promised that we would be together forever. This is our last chance. Please don’t go.”
***
“Wake up, sleepyhead!” Billy kicked the side of Shane’s sleeping bag, jarring Shane awake. “You better hurry up, or I’ll eat all the pancakes Mom made for us.”
Shane was surprised to see Billy up and dressed so early on a Saturday morning. Usually, he would stay in bed until nine or ten, but this morning he was up and dressed before eight o’clock.
“I’m not feeling good. I don’t think I should go,” Shane hoped to convince Billy he was sick. He did not understand why, but he just could not bring himself to go with them. He had wanted to go more than anything, but something changed overnight.
Unsure why, but Shane knew he needed to stay behind. “You go on without me. I’m going home.”
“You’re going home? We’ve all planned this for weeks, you can’t go home. Who’s gonna to hold the rope for me?” Billy wondered what could have changed his mind.
“Jacob can do it; besides, he knows what to do better than I do. I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling good. I must have what my sister had last week.” Shane watched as Billy’s expression changed from one of disappointment to disgust.
“Gross! Get out of here before I catch it.” Billy backed away from Shane, trying to put some distance between them.
“You’ll have fun today, and we’ll see each other at school on Monday, and you can tell me all about it.” Shane stood, and then bent down to roll up his sleeping bag.
“Man, this sucks. It won’t be the same without you there.”
“Sure, it will. Heck, you won’t even miss me. Well, I guess I’ll get out of here before I give this flu bug or whatever I have to you,” Shane lunged toward Billy and blew at him.
“Hey, keep your germs to yourself!” Billy laughed, taking a step back. “Okay, I’ll see you at school on Monday.”
Shane picked up his bag and then tossed the pillow he had used toward Billy. “You may want your Mom to wash the pillow case.”
Billy smacked the pillow aside with a disgusted scowl on his face. “Dang you, I better not get sick.”
“Hey, please be careful today, okay?” Shane could not seem to shake the feeling of doom churning deep in his gut.
“I will, but you need to get your germs out of my room,” Billy snickered as he held the door for Shane. “Go home and get well. I’ll see you Monday.”
***
The news report telling of the death of two boys while they were repelling down Miller’s Rock earlier that day caught everyone by surprise. The reporter had stated that it appeared the rope was not properly secured and two boys from the local Junior High School had fallen seventy-five feet to their deaths.
Sitting in stunned silence, Shane watched as the reporter spoke of how two of his friends had died. The reporter had stated how Christopher Malin and William Clements fell to their deaths when the rope they were using had failed.
“Mom, Dad, I was supposed to be there with them, but I changed my mind,” Shane looked at the shocked faces of his parents.
“I don’t understand how that happened to them. Billy was so excited…” Shane stared at the television with the pictures of Billy and Chris filling the screen.
Steve was dumbfounded. On the one hand, he was angry that Shane had planned to sneak off to Miller’s Rock. He knew better, but then again, Steve was thankful Shane had changed his mind and not gone.
“Son, sometimes things happen in life that just make no sense. Billy and Chris made a choice to do something very dangerous, a
nd it went horribly wrong. I want to tell you how relieved your Mother and I are that you didn’t go because it could have been you. You need to remember never to take a chance with your life because we only get one time around. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Steve saw the sad and confused expression on Shane’s face and wondered if he actually understood.
“I think so. I’m tired, I think I’ll go lay down until dinner.” Shane stood and walked toward his bedroom without saying another word. He wanted to tell his parents about the voice that had warned him in his dream, but he knew it would upset them. It had been a long time since he had one of his dreams, so to admit they had come back was something he wanted to spare his parents.
***
The hum of the fan from the desktop computer broke the silence in the room. Shane had tried to sleep, but the image of Billy and Chris on the television screen had made it impossible.
It could have been me, the thought burned in his mind as he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling.
“Close your eyes,” the voice whispered in his ear.
“What, who said that?” Shane lifted his head and looked around the room.
“Close your eyes, so we can talk.” Unsure as to why, Shane obeyed.
Suddenly, he found himself transported to a different place. Somewhere far away from his bedroom. He was now in a large room with a strange glow, filling every corner.
Shane struggled to locate the source of the light and who was speaking to him. “Where are you?”
“I’m here, my love,” the voice filled the room and gently wrapped itself around Shane. “Do you remember your promise?”
“My promise, I don’t know what you mean.” Shane frantically looked around the room, trying to find the source of the voice.
“You need to remember, my love. Please, this is our last chance to be together for all eternity,” a touch of sadness echoed in the voice.
“Who are you? I can’t see you,” Shane strained to see through the light.
“That doesn’t matter right now.”
“Are you real or am I crazy?” He felt an agonizing sorrow consume him, but he did not understand why.
“No, my love,” the voice spoke with urgency. “You need to remember your promise to make the right choices in this life, do you understand?”
Shane had no idea what the voice meant by his choices. “I don’t understand. Are you an angel like my mother says you are? Why can’t I see you?”