A Love for all Ages (Crockett County Trilogy Book 1) (42 page)

“I believe you two are truly meant to be together.
I accept
your vow on behalf of Stephanie.”
Continuing up the stairs; Andy
smiles as he labors under the weight of the coins.

Once the container is hidden in the closet Chase glances at
Andy, “I think we need to go downstairs and have a small
celebration.”

Stephanie reviews her notes; she had checked several
websites concerning séances.
They all instructed similar formats.
Mentally checking the list of needed items; something personal
from the person, a picture of the person, family that loves the
person and the belief to make the connection to the person you
wish to contact.
Having gathered everyone in the living room
Stephanie explained the process they would use to contact Della.
Deciding Archie needed to be the one to summon Della; Stephanie
checks all items as complete.

Stephanie motions for everyone to be seated, as they take
their places on the floor in a circle, they hold the hand of the person
beside them.
Stephanie had placed Della’s diary in the center of
the circle.
The six making up the circle look at Archie as he hovers
just above the book.
Having decided at the last minute to ask CJ
and Carrie to participate today she was over joyed when they
agreed and came right over.

Archie looks up at the portrait of Della, with his voice husky
with emotions Archie begins, “Della my love, I have missed you.
My love for you has not wavered; you are still my love for eternity.”
Nervously he continues, “I need you with me, here or there, I need
you beside me.”
Looking down at Stephanie he shrugs.
Not sure
what else to say he looks for guidance as tears shines in his eyes.

Understanding Archie struggle to continue Stephanie takes
over, “Aunt Della, my name is Stephanie Tuney, and I am your Great
Niece.
I live here now and I love your home.
I wish we could
have met, I know we would have been friends.
Archie speaks of
you often; he truly loves and misses you.”
Gazing at the painting
Stephanie continues, “I am in love with Chase Peterson, do you
remember him?
He mowed your grass when he was a kid.
I am
also pregnant; we are expecting our baby next year in March.”
Turning to Chase she smiles.

Taking his cue from Stephanie Chase looks up at the
painting, “Miss Della, you are an amazing woman; the times I spent
here during the summer listening to your stories was the highlight of
my days.
I am totally in love with your niece; she is as marvelous
as you.
I pray our love will always be as strong as the love you and
Archibald share.”
Turning to look at his father, Chase gives the
reins over to him.

CJ looks at Archie before he speaks, with a nod he begins,
“Della, we have been friends for years, even when it was only
through the grapevine.
We missed both you and Archibald.
These past weeks Archibald and I have gotten our friendship back; it
is as if the years had not gotten in our way.
Speaking with him, I
have learned no matter what when you love someone time away
does not make the love less.
He loves you, you know he needs
you.”

Carrie begins when CJ stops talking, “Della, you were like a
Mother to me.
When you agreed we shouldn’t see each other
anymore due to the foster kids, it was the worst mistake we both
ever made.
I lost a Mother and you lost a daughter.
I cried
myself to sleep at night over losing you.
With you gone now,
Archibald is the one suffering.
He cannot move on and without
you here with him he doesn’t know how to proceed.
Please come
to him, give him the guidance he needs.”

Archibald floats directly in front of the portrait.
Staring up
at the woman he loves he confesses, “I have wondered why I
remained stuck here.
I think I have finally figured it out.
Yesterday as I was helping to locate the chest my guilt over the lives
lost due to my failed mission struck me in the chest.
The gold did
not make it to the Fort; the Union was unable to pay the soldiers
therefore when not paid some soldiers deserted.
The gold was
also for the purchase of weapons, unable to purchase the weapons
contributed to the Civil War lasting longer, thus causing more lives
to be lost.
I remember standing beside my body looking down at
myself.
I looked around at my fellow soldiers, all were dead.
These men had died under my command.
I was devastated as I
walked to each man, saying a prayer for their forgiveness.”

“I had pushed the guilt from my mind, my love for you
allowed me to pretend I still was an honorable man.
We were
happy, with you I found the woman I wanted to spend my eternity
with.” Not taking his eyes from her beautiful face Archibald
continues, “The loss of the gold was not my fault, I realize that now.
I did my job as a soldier; I protected it with my last dying breath.
No man could have done more.”

Blinking to focus clearly Archibald stands in wonderment as
he distinguishes the outline of Della begin to shimmer and shift.
The gasps from the others in the room don’t faze him; he continues
staring at his Della.
As Della establishes her womanly shape she
drifts away from the portrait. Archibald smiles extending his
hands, he waits for the glowing outline of the woman floating a few
feet away to come to him.
As she closes the gap between them
Archibald is mesmerized as his Della lays her hands on his.
The
transparent quality diminishes allowing her youthful appearance to
mirror the image on the portrait.

“Della, my love I have missed you.”
Breathlessly he asks,
“How is it possible you are here with me now?”
Giving Archibald her full attention Della smiles as she
explains, “I have spent a long time trying to come back or at least
help you come to me.”
Staring at his handsome face she
continues, “Each day we were apart I suffered, wanting to be here
with you.
you here.”
communicate with you.
Years ago I figured you being unable to
move on were due to your honor as a soldier and your feelings you
had failed your superiors and your men. I tried to come back to
you, I wanted to explain to you why and help you recognize you
were innocence.”
Cupping his hand on her cheek, “My love I gave up when you
passed away. I did not care anymore, without you with me, I no
longer mattered.” Smiling crookedly, “I missed you; I would go for
days and weeks staying in the attic, trying to find a way to come to
you.”
Archibald stares at her radiant beauty.
Unable to take his
I discovered your guilt about the mission was holding
Tears glitter in her eyes, “I just couldn’t find a way to
eyes off her face Archibald bends down brushing his lips gently
across Della’s lips.
“Oh Darling, I tried to come for you.”
As a tear slides down
her cheek Della takes his hand in hers.
“You accepting you did
your best; allowed me to come here.
We can be together again.”
“My Love, I will cherish you until the end of time.
You are
my one true love.”
Tenderly Archibald squeezes her hands as he
lays his forehead against Della’s.
With a twinkle in his eyes he
whispers, “When we are alone I will prove to you just how much I
have missed you.”
Not giving Della time to respond Archibald
raises his head.
Turning to face his friends Archibald grins, “My Della is back
with me.
I feel a peace inside me I never knew I could experience.”
He bows slightly then straightens, “I am forever grateful to each and
every one of you.”
CJ and Carrie step forward Carrie stops a few feet from Della;
smiling brightly, “I have missed you.”
Happy to see her friend Della moves closer, “You hold a
special place in my heart.
I’ve missed you too.”
Observing pain
in Carrie’s eyes Della exclaims, “Do not have regrets, we both
agreed.
My love for you did not stop through the years, you have
to know that.”
Tears rolls down Carrie’s cheek, “We were wrong, we wasted
a great deal of time.
Time we could have spent together.”
Twisting a little Carrie grabs Stephanie’s hand pulling in forward.
“Della, I want you to meet your Great Niece.
This is Stephanie.”
Stephanie stands perfectly still as Della studies her, “My
Dear, I am delighted to meet you.”
Grinning she asks, “Do you
know you are expecting?”
As Stephanie blushes Della laughs out
loud, a deep rumbling sound.
Archibald and CJ shifts towards the ladies as Chase joins
Stephanie beside his Mother, “Yes, Miss Della we know Stephanie is
pregnant.
We will be parents sometime in March.”
Beaming
with pride Chase bows slightly to Della.
“Do you remember me?”
Eyes’ twinkling with joy Della exclaims, “Junior, I could never
forget you?
You would listen to my stories; you gave this old lady
your time.”
Surveying Chase, Della remembers the young man
from earlier times; viewing the man he is now she recognizes his
honor is as strong as Archibald’s.
Della’s heart swell with pride
knowing Chase has grown to be a man respected by many.
Chuckling Chase denies, “You old, never.
You will always be
the woman that got away.”
Glancing at Archibald Chase winks.
“I just couldn’t steal you away from him.”
Blushing Della turns to Archibald, “Junior was always good
for my ego.”
Placing his arm around Stephanie’s waist Chase pulls her
close to his side. “This woman now has my heart, so I guess I am just
destined to fall for the Cain ladies.”
“Stephanie my Dear, looking at you I see your Father.”
Smiling sadly, “I lost touch with him when his son was just a baby, I
never knew about you.”
Archibald glides closer to Della, “Stephanie is the last of your
relatives, and she is the one who inherited your house.”
Nodding
toward Chase, “Both of them have been trying to help me and also
have solved several murders.”
Astonishment gleams in her eyes, “Murders.
What
murders?” Della stares at Archibald.
Captivated by her beauty Archibald takes her hand in his.
“My Love we have all of eternity for me to enlighten you concerning
everything that has happened over the last several years.”
Gazing
into her eyes, “I need to know how long we are able to stay here.”
Reluctantly Della gazes back at him, “I do not know.
I heard
everyone telling me you needed me and for me to come to you.
I
am not sure how I was able to find my way come back.
So I am at
a loss as to the time we can remain here.”
Tears sparkle like
diamonds as several slides down her cheek.
CJ clears his throat to get everyone’s attention.
As all eyes
focus on him he shares his thoughts, “If all of us calling to Della
permitted her to come here, maybe we need to do the opposite for
them to go back?”
Stopping he looks sheepishly around the room.
Andy has stayed in the background to give the others time to
visit with Miss Della; stepping forward he pulls Maria with him,
“Sorry to interrupt but I think CJ may be right.
We could try
sending them back within our circle.”
Grief overwhelms Stephanie as she moves to Archibald
whispering, “When are you leaving?”
Tears slip out of the corner
of her eyes, “I knew this day would come but I don’t want to lose
you.”
Glancing at Della, “You just got here; I wanted us to get to
know each other.”
Stepping back into Chase’s arms, “I never knew
my Dad, he left when I was young; I don’t know anything about our
ancestors.
I want our baby to know about the amazing people that
lived and loved throughout our history.”
As Chase pulls Stephanie tighter in his arms, he looks at
Archibald over her head.
“Do you have to leave soon?
Can’t you
two stay for a while?”
Della lays her hand on Stephanie’s cheek, “My Dear,
Archibald has been in limbo for a long, long time.
He needs to
come with me, we don’t belong here.”
Smiling fondly, “You will
build a life with Chase, together you will build memories.
Keep
reading the family diaries.
They are all in boxes in the attic, and
now you being the lady of the house it is your obligation to maintain
a diary, it’s a tradition.”
Straightening her shoulders Stephanie stares tenderly into
Della eyes, “I am sorry for being selfish.
You are right, we need to
do this; Archie has suffered enough.
Aunt Della I promise to do my
part to preserve our family traditions.”
Stephanie focuses on Archie, “You deserve to be happy.
You go with Della and you both be blessed with your eternity
together.”
Walking to the center of the room Stephanie sits in the
spot she had vacated earlier.
Motioning to the others to be
seated, Stephanie expression becomes somber, “Archie, Della you
need to get inside our circle.
Maybe saying goodbye will help you
both get back.”
Archie and Della enter the circle as the others take their
places, Archie kneels in front of Stephanie lightly he strokes her
cheek, “You are an amazing woman and I see only joyful times in
your future.
You will always remain deep within my heart, I will
miss you My Dear.”
Rising Archie joins Della and takes her hand in
his; turning to face Stephanie they wait.
Tears flow down Stephanie’s cheeks, “Goodbye Uncle Archie.
I love you.
Aunt Della I wish we could have had more time
together.” Wiping the tears from her face Stephanie takes a deep
breath and in a voice filled with sadness, “With deep regret I send
these two magnificent people back to where they belong.
I wish
for them only happiness.
They are together now and it is with a
deep yearning they remain together throughout their journey.
Their love for each other has been a love for all ages and I know in
my heart their love will remain strong.
They have conquered many
obstacles, yet their love has stayed steady and thriving.
These two
wonderful people have touched many on this earth, leaving behind
an unfillable abyss.”
Stephanie stops speaking as her voice begins
to wobble with emotions.
Chase squeezes Stephanie’s hand as Archie and Della begin
to shimmer then begin to fade.
Stephanie’s eyes fill with tears as
she watches Archie bow slightly to her and Della blows a kiss,
staring intently Stephanie sees their human forms flicker for just a
second then vanish.
Lifting Stephanie’s hand Chase kisses her palm, as he gazes
into her eyes Chase sees tears glistening, bending closer he
whispers, “Our love is as strong as Archie and Della’s love and ours
will also last through eternity.”