On the Way to Heaven (BWWM Romance) (13 page)

    
“Wait a minute.” Roxy got the letter off
the floor. “I’m lost as hell.”

    
“I asked Daniela to pull some strings,”
Lorraine said. “I didn’t want Neil or the kids to be hurt, but it was the only
way, Trina. Your destiny is to be with Neil, and none of us had the control in
that decision. If it wasn’t meant to be, then God wouldn’t have made it
happen.”

    
“So, folks getting special treatment in
here, now?” Roxy rolled his eyes.

    
“Roxy, they belong together,” Lorraine
said. “You get the life you’ve always wanted, Trina. Not exactly how you
might’ve pictured it, but you get it.”

    
“Neil’s here.” She clasped her hands in
front of her face. “Thank you, Lorraine!” She fell into her friend’s arms.
“Thank you so much.”

    
 
“Like I said, it was fate.” Lorraine patted
her hair. “He loves you, Trina. He couldn’t have survived much longer without
you.”

    
“Can I see them?” Trina jumped up and down.
“Please!” Lorraine left the terrace.

    
“Roxy!” Trina swung him around. “Neil and
the girls are here!” She howled. “I can’t believe it.”

    
“I told you anything can happen in the
afterlife.” Roxy pulled on Trina’s dress. “Now straighten yourself up. You
don’t want the man to see you a mess.” Trina brushed down her dress and hair.

    
“And don’t look so desperate,” Roxy said.
“When he comes in here, play a little hard to get because—”

    
“Neil!” Trina raced to him before he got
into the room.

    
“Yeah, play hard to get like that,” Roxy
muttered.

    
“Oh!” Trina planted kisses up and down
Neil’s face.

    
“Trina.” He wrapped his arms around her
tight. “I missed you so much.”

    
“I love you so much, Neil.” She kissed him.
“I’m sorry I lied to you. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

    
“I know.” He kissed her hands. “It’s okay.”

    
“You know?”

    
“I know everything, Miss Flack.” He hugged
her again. “I don’t care about any of it. I’m so grateful for all you did for
us. So grateful you came into my life.” Roxy sniffled.

    
“I’ll never leave you again.” Trina placed
her hands on his face.

    
“Well, I don’t think you’ll have much
choice.”

    
She laughed and laid her head on his chest.
“I’ve been miserable without you.”

    
“Not as miserable as I have.” He kissed her
forehead. Lorraine walked in with the girls.

    
“Trina!” They bolted toward her.

    
She got on her knees and grabbed them into
one hug. “Ooh, I missed you all so much!” She kissed each of them. “I’m so
sorry I left you.”

    
“We missed you, too.” Violet kissed Trina’s
cheek.

    
Trina touched Winter’s face. “I’m so happy
to see you again.”

    
“I’m happy to see you too, Trina.” Winter
hugged her.

    
“This is so cool.” Paige swung around. “You
were dead?” She gawked at Trina. “All that time?” Trina stood.

    
“I knew you were an angel.” Winter smiled.

    
“I’m not an angel.” Trina took Neil’s hand.
“Maybe one day I will be, but not now.” She gestured to Roxy and Lorraine.
“These are my friends, Roxy and Lorraine.” They waved with smiles.

    
“Lorraine told me everything,” Neil said.
“I would be shocked about that if I wasn’t so shocked about being dead and
being in…” He looked around. “Wherever I am.”

    
“I can’t believe this.” Trina sobbed.
“Hardly any of my dreams ever come true. I just knew I would never see you
again.”

    
“I couldn’t let myself believe that.” He
wiped her tear with his thumb. “I promised I wouldn’t let you go, and I won’t.”

    
“I’m sorry you died.”

    
He grinned. “Yeah I’m
kinda
bummed about it too, but this place definitely has its perks.” He kissed her.
“You know what the best part about being dead is?”

    
“What?”

    
“I never have to see Louis Barr again.”
Trina laughed.

    
“The best part for me, is you never age,”
Roxy said. “I had friends who would die today if you told them they’d never
have to get a wrinkle.” Trina and Neil laughed.

    
“How are you, girls?” Trina asked them.
“You okay?”

    
“It’s amazing.” Violet tried to grab a
cloud. “Like a fairytale land.”

    
“Wait until you get to Heaven.” Lorraine
winked.

    
“If we’re dead…” Winter’s eyes grew wide.
“We can see Mommy.”

    
“Mommy,” Violet whispered.

    
Paige stared into space. “Mommy?”

    
“You want to see her?” Lorraine asked.

    
“Yes!” they yelled.

    
Lorraine crossed her arms and smirked. “I
think I can arrange that.”

    
“Daddy!” Paige ran to him. “She said we can
see Mommy!”
           

    
 
“That’s great, baby.”
 

    
“When?” Winter jumped up and down.

    
“Now.” Lorraine headed off the terrace.

    
“You wanna come, Daddy?” Violet asked.

    
“You go on, honey. I’ve already seen her.”
Violet looked confused, then followed her sisters. Neil pulled Trina close.

    
“Well.” Roxy passed Trina her letter and
cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He sashayed away.

    
“Wow.” Neil stared into Trina’s eyes. “You
look absolutely beautiful in white.” She giggled.

    
“Like a bride.”

    
 
“Are
you asking me to marry you again?”

    
“Maybe.” He walked her to the love seat.
“We can get married here, can’t we?”

    
They sat down.

    
“I’m not sure.” A passing cloud tickled her
ear. “Knowing them, there are probably a ton of hoops to jump through.”

    
“Whatever it takes, we’ll do it.” He kissed
her hand. “I died to be with you. I think I’ve proven I’m worth being your
husband.”

    
She stroked his hand. “I wanted to marry
you even before you asked.”

    
He dug in his pocket and took out the
little black box. He opened it and took out the ring.

    
“You still have it?”

    
“I kept it with me every day after you
left.” He took her hand and slipped the ring on it. “I never gave up on us. Not
one second.”

    
“I’m so sorry, Neil.” She hugged him. “I’m
sorry I didn’t say goodbye, but it was so hard.”

    
“I know.” He laid his hand on her lips.
“I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.” He pointed to the letter. “What’s
that?”

    
“I almost forgot.” She finished opening the
envelope. “These are my results for my Heavenly Spirits Chart.” She unfolded
the letter and scrolled down the words. “Oh my God.” She jumped up. “I made it
to Heaven! I got a ninety-three on my chart! Neil!”

    
“That’s great!” He stood and hugged her.
“Wow.” He looked at the letter. “It’s gonna take me a while to get used to how
they do things around here.”

    
“Oh.” She sighed. “That means I’ll be
leaving here soon, and you’ll still be here, but I’m sure you’ll be able to
bring your score up and get into Heaven, too.”

    
“I’m already going to Heaven.” He passed
her the letter.

    
“Excuse me?” She stuffed the letter back in
the envelope.

    
“I already went in front of the court and I
was admitted into Heaven.”

    
“Wait. How could you get in Heaven just
like that?”

    
“I had a pretty high score on my chart.” He
bounced on his heels.

    
“Really?” She chewed her lip. “What was
it?”

    
He flicked his hand. “It doesn’t matter.”

    
“I wanna know.”

    
“Why?”

    
She faked a smile. “What did you make on
your Heavenly Spirits Chart, Neil?”

    
“A ninety-eight,” he mumbled.

    
She stuck her chin out. “I didn’t hear
you.”

    
“A ninety-eight.”

    
“A ninety-
eight
?” she yelled. “How
the heck did you have a ninety-eight and I had a freaking seventy-something?”

    
“I don’t know.” He smirked. “Guess I’m a
better person than you.”

    
“I don’t believe this.” She slapped the
letter. “I worked my butt off and still ended up with a lower grade than you?”

    
“Honey.” He pulled her close. “None of that
matters.”

    
“It does matter.” She pushed him away. “How
did you get a ninety-eight? It makes no sense.”

    
He laughed. “You’re jealous?” She huffed.
“Baby.” He kissed her. “It doesn’t matter.”

    
 
“I
know.” She settled down and put her arms around him. “I’m just glad you’re
here.” She turned away.

    
“What’s wrong?” He moved his hands to her
backside.

    
“This might sound silly, but I’m a little
worried.”

    
“About what?” He ran his finger down her
cheek.

    
“Part of me wonders if you’ll fall in love
with Charlotte again.”

    
“No.” He kissed her. “I’ve moved on from
her, and even she knows it.”

    
She tugged on his collar. “Are you sure?”

    
“I didn’t jump up to go see her just now,
did I? I love
you
, Trina. Charlotte was
a big part of my world, but my afterlife’s for
you
.”

*The
End*