Ding-Dong!
"I'll get it!" Jessica Buchanan called as she walked over and opened the door at Llanfair,
"Hey, Cristian!
"Hey, Jess, can I come in?"
"Yeah, sure how are things?" He stepped inside looking as ruggedly handsome and yet as melancholy as ever.
"Things are just fine, I didn't think you would be here, Jess, aren't you living with David now?"
"Yeah, I just stopped by for a visit. Mom has been pretty sad lately."
"Where is she? I wanted to see how Dr. Davidson was doing."
"Oh. She is on the phone talking to Natalie about-"
"Okay, I will just wait here."
"You know, you don't have to check up on us every month, Cris."
"I know, just keeping my word, that's all."
"Keeping your word to whom?"
"Nobody, it doesn't matter."
"Whatever."
Just then, Viki opened the doors to the library and walked out looking deep in thought. She looked up and noticed the presence of Cristian Vega and her daughter for the first time.
"Oh, good, you're both here, there is something I need to tell you."
"What is it, Mrs. Davidson?"
"Mom, is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine; I just got off the phone with Natalie. And-"
"Is she sick, is something wrong?" Cristian's brow immediately became knit with worry.
"No. Quite the opposite, really. Natalie is getting married."
"What!" Jessica practically screeched. "To whom, where, when, why and how! We haven't seen her in almost 10 years and she just calls us up and tells us she is getting married!"
"Settle down, darling, I know, I know. I was surprised and shocked too. Now calm down, everything will be okay. Take a deep breath."
"When exactly is this happening, Mom?"
"Next Sunday."
"What! How are we going to plan a wedding in a week?"
"Jessie, darling, it's already planned! She called us to invite us and ask you to be her maid of honor! Oh, and Cristian, she wanted me to give you this." She handed him a slip of paper,
"It's her address, phone number, and the address of the church, she said that you are welcome to come if you would like." He silently took the piece of paper from her hands.
"Mom, do we even know the guy she is getting married to?"
"No, we don't, but the only thing that matters is that Natalie loves him."
For the first time since Viki broke the news Cristian spoke,
"Is she happy?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so. She sounded happy."
"Good, she deserves to be happy. Thank you, Mrs. Davidson. Now, if you will excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be. Bye, Jess. See you later."
"Bye, Cris."
"Good-bye, Cristian."
As Cristian walked out of Llanfair, closing the door behind him, a sudden coldness washed over him, and he could feel it clear through to his bones. He couldn't believe it, he was stunned. She had moved on. She had fallen in love again. She had found somebody new. How naļve of him to think she wouldn't! She had every right to marry this guy. He had married Jen. All he wanted was for her to be happy. She deserved all the happiness in the world after all she had been through for him. But, he, after all these years, still wanted to be the one to make her happy. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't see her face or hear her voice. After all this time, thinking of her was the only thing that brought him peace. After all this time, the memories were just as sharp and clear as if they were of yesterday. He could still see her smile, hear her laugh, and see those mesmerizing blue eyes watching him. She was still a part of him, every time he looked at his son he saw her, and imagined what she would be saying if she could see him now. Every time he kissed Jen he still couldn't help but wish it was her. And that was all it was now, all it would be, wishful thinking. Because Natalie Buchanan had moved on, but he was still holding on for dear life.
Later that same day, Natalie Buchanan walked through her front door, her mind still focused on work, but then she saw hundreds of rose petals scattered on the floor, and 6 vases filled with a dozen red roses each, sitting in her living room, she gasped.
"Oh, Andrew." she murmured. She set her things down and hit the play button on her answering machine, then sat down on her bed to take her shoes off. Her ears perked up, expecting to hear Andrew's voice, but instead she froze when a voice she hadn't heard in almost 8 years spoke instead of Andrew's. It was that voice that made her go weak at the knees, the voice that made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. It was Cristian Vega.
"Hey, Natalie. I heard about your engagement. Congratulations. If you are happy then I am happy for you. There is a rose petal for every time I have thought of you over the years. I miss you, Natalie. I wish you and your fiancče the best. You are still and always will be the queen of my heart. Until we meet again, until then."
She sat there, frozen, silent. Her heart was beating fast, and she felt the tears welling up in her eyes. When she had first left Llanview, and had cried herself to sleep every night for a least 2 years, she thought her eyes couldn't cry anymore. She had never been weak, or quick to show her emotions. But, Cristian was her weak spot. She didn't need to be strong around him, he would always be strong for her. She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes, the memories came flooding over her, and she was amazed at how good it felt to think about him again. She had hidden all those memories away for so long, it felt blissfully wonderful to think about loving him again. She sighed, that tell tale sigh of someone in love. Then she sat straight up, suddenly realizing the extent of her thoughts, and told herself to snap out of it! What was she thinking! She was engaged to Andrew! Wonderful caring, loving Andrew. She couldn't wait around for Cristian Vega for the rest of her life. She wasn't even sure if she was still in love with him, was that even possible could you still be in love with someone if you haven't seen them in 9 years? It didn't matter anyway, she was engaged to be married to Andrew Carmichael. She really loved Andrew, and they were meant to be....right? She got up and walked over to her desk, if she busied herself with work maybe she wouldn't have to think about the answer to that question. As she was clearing off her desk, a small piece of faded paper fluttered to the floor and she bent down to pick it up. It looked old and worn, the handwriting was a little smudged but readable, and her breath caught in her throat when she read what was written, October 30, 2018 and one simple word... home.
She sat down on the floor where she was. It all came flooding back to her. And suddenly she realized that she was still in love with him. That after all these years, and so many desperate attempts to forget him, her heart still belonged to him. It occurred to her that what she and Andrew had wasn't love, she didn't feel the same way around him, or when she thought of him, like she did with Cristian. With Cristian it was stronger, and more real. With Cristian...she stopped herself. Cristian was married and he had a son. Cristian had moved on. What they had so long ago couldn't be. It couldn't work back then and it wouldn't work now. She folded up of the piece of paper and stood. Then she opened her closet door and took down a shoe box that was hidden on the top shelf, inside the box was his St. Christopher medal, a copy of the letter she had left him. Her plane ticket from that night, and a little party favor she had snatched from the wedding reception when no one was looking. There was a rock from the quarry, her membership card to the gym where they had first met, a couple of sample shampoos from her room at the Bayberry Inn, and the bracelet she had worn to the back to school dance, the dance that had changed everything. She placed the piece of paper in the box with the other things, and put it back on the shelf, she pushed it way back. She had to forget about Cristian Vega. She had to forget, all the good times, the tears, the laughter, the passion, and the painful good-byes. But, as she turned out the light and walked out of her bedroom and into the living room filled with roses, she realized that forgetting Cristian Vega and the love they had shared was going to be easier said than done.
"Flight 27 to Dayton, Ohio is now boarding." the cheery stewardess called over the intercom. Cristian Vega sighed, this was his flight. He asked himself for about the thousandth time today, why was he doing this to himself? Why was he doing this to her? She had obviously moved on, and he should be happy for her. If he showed up, would that only ruin her day? On the other hand, she had given him the address of the church and invited him. Maybe she wanted him there? As he boarded the plane and found his seat he wrestled with the question that had been bugging him the most, did he want to be there? Could he sit through her marrying another man? Could he watch as she gave her heart and her love to someone for the rest of her life, when that someone wasn't him? But, he was married to Jen now, and though they had had their share of problems over the years, he did have a son with her. And just like he and Natalie had agreed so long ago, the child was the only thing that mattered. All he wanted was for Natalie to be happy. But, what if he was only happy when she was in his life? What if....? She had told him so long ago that what ifs were only a waste of time. But, he just sighed and leaned back in his seat. He closed his eyes and thought about what life would have been like if she had stayed, if Jen hadn't been pregnant. She had been right what ifs were a waste of time, but right now he had all the time in the world.
Natalie Buchanan woke up at 4:30 a.m., and she couldn't for the life of her get back to sleep. Some would call it cold feet, or pre-wedding jitters, but the feeling she had inside wasn't excitement. She felt like by admitting today was her wedding day, she was betraying her heart. Like, she was giving a prized possession away, to someone who didn't deserve it. But, as she laid there she realized it was the other way around. She didn't deserve someone like Andrew, he deserved someone who returned his feelings whole-heartedly. That someone wasn't her. It occurred to her with less surprise than she expected that her heart still belonged to the boy next door. That her heart was already occupied. She had given it away so long ago, and she had never gotten it back. Her heart still belonged to Cristian. And it always would.
At about 7:30 there was a knock at her door and she pulled herself out of bed, to answer it. When she opened the door she saw two faces she had been longing to see for almost 10 years, it was her Mom and Jessica!
"Mom, Jess, you came!"
"Of course, darling, we would never pass up the chance to see you!" Viki pulled her into a big hug that lasted a good five minutes. It felt so good to see her mom and sister again, she had missed them so much, and it had been really hard not to tell them where she was.
"Jess, how are you?" She hugged her sister tight, "I missed you guys so much!"
"I am fine, Nat, how about you?" The giant smile on her face faded into an I-could-be-better-but-am-not-going-to -tell-you-what-is-wrong-so-don't-even-go-there, smile.
"Come inside you guys, it is cold out there."
"Thanks, darling." Once they were seated on the couch warming themselves with tea, and enjoying a cheery fire in the fireplace, they got down to business, talking, catching up, and laughing. And Natalie thought to herself, this is the good life. And she was right.
Meanwhile, Cristian was sitting on the plane, he had run out of what ifs, scenarios, and now he was thinking about his son and how he had affected this whole situation. Nick would never know how selfless Natalie had been, when she left town. He would never know how much they had sacrificed to give him the life he deserves. He would never know that his father had almost run out on him. He would never know. And a question Natalie had asked him long ago, suddenly popped into his head, 'What do you know for sure, Cristian?' He had never answered her, but he had an answer now. The one thing he knew for sure was that after all these years, and the world throwing every possible obstacle at his heart, he was still in love with Natalie Buchanan. That he knew for sure.
His plane landed and he pulled the slip of paper Viki gave him out of his pocket. He hailed a taxi and gave him her address. Before he knew it, he was on his way, to stop Natalie Buchanan's wedding, before he knew it, he was about to do something that would drastically change his life, and affect everyone in it. He was going to stop that wedding. No matter what.
Back at her house, Natalie was just finishing getting ready, Viki and Jessica were all set, and they had just finished fixing her hair. Her hair was pulled up into an elegant bun, with a few scarlet sun kissed ringlets framing her face. She already had her gown on. It was strapless, and ivory. It hugged every curve, and flowed beautifully. Natalie still planned on marrying Andrew even though she didn't love him, even though he deserved better. After all, Cristian had married Jen when he didn't love her, and from what her mom and sister said he was perfectly miserable. So she figured she had every right to be just as miserable...or just as happy.
They were just getting ready to head to the church when there was a knock at the door.
Cristian, prepared himself for the beauty he was about to behold, he had waited for this day for 9 long years, and now here he was standing at her door, preparing to tell her everything. Preparing to tell her that he was still in love with her. At least even if she didn't feel the same way, he would know that he did all he could, and that it just wasn't meant to be. But, as he stood there, patiently waiting he wondered, how could it not be? Everything had fit, so long ago. Everything but Jen. Back then he had loved everything about her. Her fiery spirit and determination. Her smile, and sarcasm. She was so real like a breath of fresh air, she was his best friend and he had come to know the real her over the time they spent together, he had gotten to know how sensitive and caring her heart was. And as he stood there waiting, he couldn't help but pray that that wonderful heart still had a place for him.
Natalie carefully walked over and opened the door. When she saw Cristian standing there, looking anxious, and happy, all in one, she gasped.
"Cristian." she murmured
"Hey, Nat. Long time no see."
She stood there staring at him for a minute, convinced she had to be dreaming. She had day dreamed, cried over, thought about, and prayed for, that face practically everyday for 9 years and now here he was right in front of her. She threw her arms around him, and whispered in his ear "You came!"
"What made you think I wouldn't?" he asked with that smile that made her heart melt.
"Come in, come in."
"Thanks."
"Mom, Jess, look whose here!"
"Oh. Cris, you came." Jessica said flatly
"Cristian, how nice to see you again." Viki said with forced politeness
"Thanks. Um, Natalie, I was wondering if we could talk for a few minutes before you leave for the church. Alone...if that is alright?
"Sure we can talk."
"Mom, Jessie, can you wait in the car, I will only be a few minutes."
Reluctantly, they left, both somehow sensing that they wouldn't be wearing their dresses for much longer. Natalie and Cristian sat down on the couch and he turned to face her.
"Listen Natalie, there is something you have to know."
"Ok..."
"Look, I know you haven't seen or heard from me in almost 8 years but, you need to know...you need to know ...." Why was this so hard for him to say? He meant every word so this should be easy. But it wasn't.
"What is it Cristian? You can tell me anything." There were a thousand thoughts racing around in Natalie's head, part of her wanted him to say he still loved her, but the other part knew that was impossible. Or was it ...
"Natalie, I...I...I am still in love with you. Now don't say anything, just let me finish. I know that you are getting married today, and I don't want to ruin your wedding, I love you so much, I have never stopped loving you. In fact, I think I love you more now than ever. I have missed you so much and not being able to see you these past years has almost killed me. I just want you to know that I will always love you. Always. Even if you marry this guy today even if-"
She held up her hand, to get him to stop talking. And it worked.
"Cristian."
"Yes?"
"I am still in love with you too. I feel the exact same way. I thought I had gotten over you, that I didn't love you anymore, but I was wrong. I still love you, and I have a feeling I always will. I've missed you Cris."
Silence.
"Really?"
"Really." They sat there just staring at each other.
"So what do we do now?" he whispered
"I don't know. All I know is I can't marry Andrew." she smiled. "Especially when my heart belongs to someone else!"
It was music to his ears to hear her voice again, and see her smile, he had missed those ocean blue eyes so much.
"Natalie, I have another question for you, and it's a tough one."
"Okay, what is it?"
"Will you come back to Llanview with me, Nat?"
"Wow, Cristian, wow. Um... I don't know...what about Jen, your family, Nick?"
"I know but at least we would be able to see each other everyday, that must count for something. We'll find away to work something out I promise. True love always works out in the end."
"I do miss home." she paused, thinking about it. Seeing her mom and sister, and now Cristian made her miss home more than ever. "Yes, I will come home with you."
"Great!" He hugged her, and it felt so good to hold her again. The smell of her hair and the feel of her skin, was all so familiar to him, it was like he was coming home, only to no home he had ever known. They sat there, enjoying the embrace and then got up and walked out, hand in hand, to cancel the wedding and buy two plane tickets back home to Llanview, Pennsylvania. Finally, after all these years she was going home. For good.
That night, they were sitting on a plane, side by side, hand in hand. Neither knew how their lives were about to change forever, or that the next eight years would be one of the most trying times of their lives. Neither knew that Natalie's return to Llanview would prompt friendships to be made, hearts to be broken, and destructive secrets to finally be revealed, secrets that would put their love and their faith not only in each other but in love itself to the ultimate test. The one thing they knew was that the love they shared was a love like no other, and it could withstand anything. That they knew for sure.