[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] Haverty Bridge to get to work, he reminded himself. Still, he had to check and make sure
she was all right.
Then he saw something that hammered him with added guilt the button on the
table.
Holly, he breathed her name with angst.
Bits and pieces of his lost memory filtered into his thoughts, playing in his head like
a movie. The vintage coat, the buttons, and his part in Holly s death became clearer. He
had to get to her in time.
*
Holly didn t realize how hard the snow was falling until she drove away from her
house. She considered turning back, but as long as the roads were passable, she figured
she d continue on to the theater.
Two blocks before her turn-off, a congestion of cars stopped traffic. A temporary
detour pointed her in the opposite direction. She turned, hoping it led back to where she
was going. The car in front of her pulled off to the side, probably wondering what she
did. Would the new route lead to where she was going? The car behind her turned off
onto another street. Did they know something she didn t?
Holly continued on, alone. The moment she saw the bridge, she remembered the
vision the horrible, nightmarish revelation of her plunging into the river. She stepped on
the brake too fast. The car skidded sideways, hitting the old wood railing hard. Upon
impact, the boards splintered. She was wrong in thinking the fencing would keep her
safe.
Oh God, no. Her tire dropped over the side. She attempted to get the belt
unfastened and her cold fingers refused to work.
Each move she made, the vehicle rocked. She tried to lean and keep her weight back,
but she needed to get out. Her death awaited and she gripped the wheel to hang onto
something when the impact with the water came.
Holly looked at her door swinging open. Her gaze went to Lark s face. He didn t say
anything as he reached across and unbuckled her. The car rocked again and she fought to
push him away. She didn t want him to die with her again.
It was all true. She d lived another life with him and they died together falling from
that bridge. She continued shoving him to get out of the car.
Honey, let me help you. He jerked on the buckle.
Lark, please. Let me go. I don t want you to die with me.
There s no way in hell I d ever let you go alone. He snatched at the strap as she
strained to pop the release.
The car teetered, seesawing in slow motion. Lark slipped and fell to the ground in the
open doorway. He went over backwards, landing flat on the icy road.
Holly! He reached for her.
She barely noticed that the seatbelt had slack in it until she twisted to take his
outstretched hand. Fear prevented her from staying still, and she dove out of the car.
The vehicle flipped over the edge of the bridge, dragging her with it over the side.
I got you. Lark seized her hand and kept her from dropping.
She heard the car make a splashing crash below. The ripple of cold air shot up under
the hem of her slacks, her jacket, and her blouse.
Let go of my coat and take my hand, Lark demanded.
I can t, I ll fall.
Holly, we ll die if you don t let go before the button breaks free.
Her eyes went wide as she stared at him. The terror in his face was real. His
reasoning so clear that she saw what he described.
In the clenching claw of her fingers, she held tight to the button on his coat. Around
her, ice crackled, making little plopping sounds when the icicles fell into the water. He
wanted her to let go, take another hold, but she couldn t. If she opened her hand, she d
slip out of his clasp. She felt the band of his fingers on hers already giving way. Staring
at her other hand, she felt the tug, and heard the break of stitching. She could almost see
the threads snapping beneath her grasp. The button wasn t going to hold her weight and
she was too terrified to let go of it.
Holly, you said you trusted me. Let go. He slipped forward, releasing a strained
grunt.
The threads broke, his grip wasn t strong enough, his balance lost in trying to hang
onto her. He was coming over the side of the bridge with her, falling slower as she
dropped away first. He met her scream with a bloodcurdling yell.
Holly!
Desperate to prove her trust, and keep him safe from dying, she opened her hand and
grabbed for his wrist.
That s it, he pulled, dragging her up and over the edge of the bridge.
He fell back in the snow, panting.
Lark, she crawled forward, climbing over his legs, hugging him tight around the
neck as he sat up.
It s over. He held her face and kissed her. Honey, it s all over. Look.
She watched him reach in his pocket and pull out a button. The clues were always
there in her subconscious, warning her of the end.
You ve been sending yourself these buttons. You didn t remember any of our past
lives, but in your mind, there was this one last trace of your fate. Think back to the all the
buttons you got, the ones we found. You were there each time. You cut the buttons from
the coat.
To remind me. She turned the button over in her hand. The missing buttons are
from the vintage coat. When I bought it, I thought there was just one missing. Then
suddenly they all were and I just assumed I was mistaken.
Lark s arms folded around her and held her snug, warming her with the sweep of his
hand against her back.
If not for the buttons, I don t think I would have ever known how to save you. Such
an important detail, I don t understand how I ever missed it. I should have known the
button wasn t strong enough to support your weight.
It doesn t matter now. She stroked the back of his head, hugging him. We re
alive.
And no one is stalking you. He got up from the ground, pulling her to her feet.
It s hard to believe I did all those things without realizing. She took a deep breath.
I mailed one to the theater and one to my house. Then there was the one in the bathroom
and another in the kitchen. So many, and I don t recall any of it.
Yet it happened. What can I say? The mind is complex and not for us to understand.
But I do appreciate the way yours works.
Crazily?
Beautifully. He brushed snow from her clothing.
Oh, Lark, we re not going to die.
Not today and not any time soon. He pulled her close. We re going to get
married, have children, and grow old together. We re finally going to live a long and
happy life. I m going to cherish every minute and never look back.
How can you be so sure? We ve only known each other a few days.
Honey, we ve had lifetimes to get to know each other. I ve always loved you.
That s what extreme circumstances make people think.
Lark lifted her chin. Tell me you don t know deep in your heart you love me.
She tried to find an inkling of doubt. I can t. I fell in love with you the moment you
sat in that booth with me at Primrose Place.
Then nothing else matters. If there is one thing I learned from the past, I m destined
to love you until the end of time.
The End
About the Author:
Even though I was born on Halloween, in New Jersey, USA. I've actually lived most
my life in Alabama. Married with one son, I have a farm full of animals and a house full
of cats. Luckily, since my husband and I are in the contracting business, I reaped the
benefits of having a huge house to fit all my hobbies including taking in stray felines and
collecting books.
I've written for more years than I should say, but lets just say it started in the 1970's
and we'll not get into just how old I am. I started out a poet and have had hundreds of
poems published in magazines. I dabbled with short stories and non-fiction, yet novels
were a lingering attraction.
After the turn of the century I turned my attention to writing longer works. E-
publishing gave me leeway in what I wanted to publish and erotic romance became a big
word in my house as I reworked old stories to fit the genre.
I love writing stories and with a supportive family, I spend endless hours doing what
I love. I believe I have the perfect life& well outside of having a few billion dollars, I do.
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