~*~ A Glimmer of Hope ~*~
As the plane touched down, AJ looked at his watch and knew Andi was probably asleep. He’d be home soon and have her in his arms, hopefully. He had talked to her grandfather a couple times and knew she was at least staying at the house. That meant she was at least hearing the messages.
Grabbing his overnight bag, he left the plane and made his way through the deserted airport. As he walked, he pulled out his cell phone to cut it back on and that’s when he saw that he had a message.
"Alex, go to our spot on the beach at sunrise."
His heart skipped a beat. She was ready to talk and she’d chosen the spot where he’d proposed to her. Rushing through the airport, he found a taxi and gave his address. He had to get ready.
**************
Reaching the spot at the beach just before sunrise, AJ made his way down to the spot and looked around. He spotted the letter with the orchid on a blanket, the same blanket he’d always spread for them when they came here.
Opening the letter, he sat down and began to read.
My sweet Alex,
I know you were expecting me to be here but I just can’t do it yet. If I look into your eyes now, I’ll forgive you and I still can’t get the image of you holding another woman in your arms out of my mind. The only way I know to explain what I’m feeling right now is to remind you how you felt when you saw me with Seth’s friends in that video. You were angry and hurt and so am I. I do still love you with all my heart but you’ve broken a promise to me, something I NEVER thought you’d EVER do. I just need time to deal with it.
You also need to stop drinking, Alex. You’re hurting yourself, destroying your voice. Please, take care of yourself.
I dream every night about you…your sweet voice, your gentle touch, your soft, brown eyes…all the things I love so much about you. We will be together one day, very soon.
Forever your beautiful princess,
Andrea
AJ could see the tear stains on the paper and his tears began to fall too. He held the orchid up to smell and then put the letter back in the envelope. Pulling out his cell phone, he pushed a number and put it to his ear.
On the other end, someone picked up and he began to speak, "No, she hasn’t come back to me but she left me a letter. I’ll be back tonight….Yeah, I’m okay, I guess. At least she said we would be together again soon and she signed it ‘forever your beautiful princess’. …Thanks, Howie. See you soon."
Hanging up, AJ sat to watch the sunrise as he continued to cry. He loved her so much. Why couldn’t he just go back in time and undo that one night? He’d erase it from their history forever.
With the sun safely above the horizon, AJ gathered the things and made his way back to his car, never knowing that she had watched him from behind the rocks. Her own tears had soaked her cheeks as she’d watched. She had wanted so desperately to go to him and take him in her arms, to tell him she was pregnant, to tell him she forgave him.
The next time he comes home, she thought. The next time he comes home, I’ll talk to him, tell him he’s going to be a father.
