Love Never Dies (31 page)

“That’s exactly what Seth hoped.”

He smiled down at her. “Perhaps I’d better introduce myself. My name is Mark Sebastian and I’m Gertie Johnson’s uncle.”

The glow enveloped her completel
y as she peered up into his gentle brown eyes. “My fiancé here said that love never dies and I believe him. I still feel him around me and near me, enveloping my very being because I shared his soul. So how did you know I was here Mr. Sebastian?”

“A good friend told me,” he said
, extending a hand to help haul her to her feet. Julia brushed the grass off her beige trousers. “I would have liked to have known your fiancé. He must have been a very fortunate man.”

“I was the fortunate one,” said Julia joyfully, “and I have a feeling that little Gertie is as well.”

“Would you care to go for a walk
, madam?” he asked, presenting an arm. She hesitated only a moment before looping hers in his and they walked in the bright sunshine as the sparrows chattered and the marble on Seth’s tombstone glowed in contentment.

Epilogue

It was a simple ceremony that flower-filled June
, at the very same Congregational Church where Seth’s empty casket lay buried behind the sanctuary. Julia’s brother, sister-in-law, and parents beamed, and in Angie’s arms bounced a round-eyed cherub of a toddler who miraculously kept quiet during the entire service, content to play with his father’s often-lost car keys. Gertie was present as well, feeling proud and grown up and ecstatically delighted her teacher was now marrying her uncle.

Mark Sebastian lo
oked magnificent in his somber black tux and smiled at Gertie’s grandmother and mother, who sat with their hands clasped together, certain happy endings truly did happen. The church was not packed by any means. Connie Fernandez and her irrepressible secretary, Kerry, were present; along with a subdued Alvaro who wondered if his girlfriend just might be getting the wrong idea. A few teaching friends and new acquaintances Mark had made at the county offices also attended, but overall it was a quiet wedding.

As the bride kissed her new husband, she smiled into his
kind, brown eyes, eager to start a new life, and turned toward the applauding audience before giving a graceful curtsey, her green eyes shining with joy. The reception was a dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and everyone sat and drank and toasted, and until quite late did all those wonderful things everyone does on their wedding day. Finally, Mark rose to set off with his bride to the island paradise of Maui for a full week-long honeymoon.

Meredith sidled up to him for one last hug.

“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered. “Did you see him?”

Mark nodded and swallowed heavily.
If only he could have spoken to Lucas, but regrettably the man had remained in the foyer during the entire wedding ceremony, trying to blend into the shadows. He’d worn dark, obscuring sunglasses and a long brown trench coat even on this warm June morning, his unruly long hair falling over the collar. He’d given a brief thumb’s up to Mark before disappearing out of the arched doorway, his golden blonde hair glinting in the sunlight for a brief second before the sunny day swallowed up the refugee. Mark felt warm contentment steal over him. At least he knew that Lucas was safe and he sent out a small prayer to protect that fine man.

Meredith leaned forward and placed her arms around his neck.
“You know,” she said. “If I could have picked you for a relative I would have.” And with that lovely statement, Mandy Gaskill kissed him soundly upon the cheek. It had been easier for all of them to disappear together to form a new family unit, and now their family had grown, encompassing the entire Morris clan and the lovely serene Julia. “Take care of her Mark,” she whispered, and he promised her with a squeeze of his hand.

Their honeymoon condominium faced the ocean as unruly white waves curled and crashed against the sandy shoreline.
The newlyweds felt no hurry that morning to venture to the sea and bake in the sun. Tide pools lined a small inlet and a placid seawater lagoon beckoned the snorkeler, but they made no move to rise. All that would come later. Instead, Mark Sebastian reached for his bride and cradled her within the circle of his strong arms. He looked different this morning, the brown contact lenses for once missing and allowing his eyes to reveal their true silver-gray. His new wife’s hand strayed down toward his abdomen, touching briefly the intricate tattoo located there. They lingered over the entwined roses and Seth smiled as a tear of pure joy slipped from her eye. He kissed it away, savoring its saltiness.

“It’
s true you know; everything I said,” he whispered.

“I know,” she sighed.
“I just wish... I wish that you could be who you really are.”

“And who is that really
, except your husband? Seth, Simon, Steven, they’re all men of the past and you must let them hide in your memory; it’s safest that way. You promised me, Julia, that you would only call me Mark, and even here in this private quiet place you must refer to me by the name you dubbed me so many months ago. Your brother, parents, sister-in-law, and later on, whatever children we parent need never know.”

“And Lucas?”

“Maybe there will be a time when he can come out of the cold himself. Wouldn’t it be lovely if the day arrived when Mandy could state her real name aloud? But until that day, my love, we have to remain strong and cautious for each other and them. Our secret is safe here,” and with that Seth tapped his heart, where the banked fire of their combined souls burned and comforted, soothing any doubts she may ever have had. “Because I was right, you know.”

“Yes” she said softly, repeating the
words she knew he was thinking. “Because love never dies.”

“No,” he agreed, “it never does.”

The End