“But how was that possible? I was told you’d died instantly.”
He shrugs as if it’s nothing. “I stuck around for a while because I didn’t want you to be alone and scared.”
I finally understand what truly happened that day, and I rest my cheek on his shoulder. “Thank you for not leaving me.”
“I’llneverleave you,” he vows. “I’ll always be there, watching over you, looking out for you, and loving you.”
Another balmy breeze whispers through the branches of the weeping willows, and the chapel bell rings. I feel peace and love in these familiar arms and decide that if this is to be my eternity, I will accept it. I won’t look back.
If I do, this sense of peace might be lost.
Jacob cups my face in his hands. “You’re still beautiful.”
A tear rolls down my cheek, and I smile. “So are you.”
“Let’s go inside.” He takes hold of my hand. “I want to hear all about your amazing life—your success with your business, your husband and children. I’m so proud of you, Sienna. You did great. You really did it.”
Scooter nuzzles my hip. I lay my hand on his head and stroke his smooth ivory coat. Love wafts all around me, and it’s unfathomable, beyond my comprehension. This is where I belong, and the solace in my soul is perfect and true.
Hands clasped in warmth, Jacob and I cross the green lawn toward the back steps of the house. As we climb them, I take in the two white rocking chairs on the veranda, a vase of fresh wildflowers on the table between them.
Suddenly I tremble with anticipation. I hear music—the most triumphant, glorious chorus I’ve ever heard in my life. It fills me with awe, and I sense the presence of my parents beyond that door. I can feel their love, deep in my soul, and I can’t wait to see them.
Chapter Seventeen
Nate
Oh, God. She’s in the water. What have I done?
Another explosive wave crashes onto the rocks, and I feel the vibrations in my chest, already burning with a terror I’ve never known.
My eyes sweep the raging ocean in a mad search for Sienna, but she’s gone. I can’t see her. Where is she? I look left ... right ... across the edge of the rock where we were standing.
“Help!”
No one hears me over the hellish thunder of the waves.
My brain stumbles in the wake of my panic, and I don’t know what to do. Even if I spotted her, I couldn’t save her. No one could survive those temperatures or swim through the power of those waves.
I need to ask for a boat. A helicopter.
After scanning the waves desperately one last time, I turn and run toward the restaurant. I leap over a dip in the granite and run like hell to the gravel path at the lighthouse. A young couple approaches. They catch my terrorized eyes and stop.
“I need help! My wife was swept off the rocks!”
The woman cries, “Oh, my God!” and the young man pulls his cell phone out of his pocket.
“I’ll call 911.”
“They’ll take too long to get here,” I reply, hating this sense of powerlessness as I leave them and continue running toward the restaurant, where there must be safety equipment or life preservers. I pull open the door and burst into the gift shop. My eyes dart everywhere, looking for someone. There are a few tourists browsing. I turn to the cashier.
“My wife was swept off the rocks.”
She stares at me blankly, and I realize she’s just a high school student.
I run into the restaurant and find an older man behind the counter. “My wife was just swept off the rocks. Is there a boat?”
He turns to his coworker. “Call 911.” Then he hurries out from behind the counter. “Take me there.”
