Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 46587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“This time though, I decided to seek her out first. She fought it like hell but since she didn’t know where you were and couldn’t drag you in, she had no choice but to go along with the course I’d set.”
“As usual, her father needed my money to keep his business afloat and I made sure to make our marriage part of the bargain. I did try convincing her that I had learned my lesson and was dying of love for her, but I don’t think she bought it.”
“In the end it didn’t matter, because her father would’ve gone belly-up had I not invested in his oil refineries. This one is no better a businessman than all the others have been .”
“The only thing that I hadn’t expected and so hadn’t prepared for, was Trudy. Like I said, I still have no idea what part she will play. She followed her sister here as a companion of sorts.”
“After Judy died in childbirth, she stayed on here and Ella and mom thought it best to keep an eye on her until we know more. So that is how I tempted fate this time, in hopes that this life and all the others to follow, I may buy us more time.”
“With the threat out of the way, my heart and mind is at ease.” My hand went to her stomach where the child was little more than a fertilized egg.
“Isabelle is already older than she’s ever been so that gives me hope. My only worry now is if I’ve carried things too far by waiting so long to find you.”
“How did you find me this time?” I kissed her head and pulled her closer onto my chest. “I always knew where you were. From your seventeenth birthday I found you, I couldn’t help it.”
“Judy and I were already married by then so I didn’t think there was any danger, but I dared not come to you yet. Your accident…” My body shook with remembered horror.
“I thought I’d lost you anyway that night. I used to slip into your hospital room at night and sit with you. When you were in a coma I read to you, talked to you, about us.”
“Do you think Judy had anything to do with it?”
“How could she? She was already dead for months by then.”
“Trudy?”
“I have a theory about that. Though I don’t believe she had anything to do with your accident, I think she’s the incarnation of Judy after she lost her mind.”
“She was very clever this time, way more inventive with her wiles. But I think her essence was weakened because it was split in two. The two women were close, though I don’t think it’s possible for Judy to ever really love another human being.”
“My hope is that Trudy weakened Judy’s power this time. Once our sons are born safely I will get rid of her and we won’t have to be bothered with her again.”
“And little Priscilla is already married as well. I miss my old friend.”
“That day she came to the house she almost gave everything away. I had to keep her away from you because she couldn’t seem to help herself.”
“But I knew I had to awaken you at the right time. I wasn’t willing to test fate that far. So though it was a year late, I kept the day and month of our consummation the same.”
“Our children will have the same birthdate and best of all, this time I get to marry you.” We’ve never gotten that far before and it was something that always hurt my heart sorely.
This time she was going to have the wedding she’d been robbed of over all our lifetimes. “I have it all planned out. In a few weeks we’ll tell your parents that we fell in love and we’re getting married.”
“It’ll make the story more plausible if we wait but I’m not willing to wait any longer than that. I want my ring on your finger before my children start to show.”
“Do you really think it will work?” She couldn’t hide the fear in her voice and there wasn’t much I could do to convince her except with more words.
“It’s my greatest hope. Get some sleep love, the sun will be up soon.” It didn’t take her long to fall asleep while I stayed up longer keeping watch. The specter was a new element as well, even though the presence is always felt here we’ve never seen it before.
Maybe because my Noelle was usually gone by the time Judy herself died. I’ve felt her, even heard her as well as the children sometimes in every incarnation. But the bitch had never manifested herself before.
It doesn’t matter. There isn’t much she can do in her ghostly form. But the sister is another matter entirely.