Through a stranger’s eyes.
By Vicki © 2004

Selina Cross often wondered if she had been

given a gift when she survived that accident, but

he had been taken so young, they hadn’t even

been married very long. They had built this large

house before they had even gotten married, his

promise to her that they’d live the rest of their lives

together in it. But she never expected their life

together to be cut so short. She had set the house

up just the way he liked it and after his death

didn’t even change anything, family and friends

had offered to come and stay with her, help her

change things. She kept his office the same, as it

had been the day of the accident, his computer

still sitting on the desk. Selina sighed looking

towards the large stone fireplace and let a few

tears roll down her cheeks, as she looked up at the

picture of them together, it had been taken just

before they had been married. He was smiling and

holding her close, his big blue eyes filled with

mischief, the wide smile telling her he loved her.

His favorite shirt, the dark blue short-sleeved shirt

with the wolf in the center, his blue cap hiding his

unruly blond hair from those around him. She

wore her favorite red and white sundress, her long

strawberry blonde hair pulled into a loose

ponytail. She shook her head and sat back down

on the plush couch, pulling her knees up she

grabbed the gray and white wolf blanket and

started reading the book she had sitting on the

stand. She looked down as her two large huskies

joined her in the living room.

“ Hello boys.” She said petting their heads. Both

dogs whined telling her it was time for them to go

outside. She giggled and stood heading for the

large sliding glass door, unlocking it she slid it

aside letting the two dogs out into the large

enclosed yard.

It was a beautiful night she could feel the cool

fall breeze as she stepped out on to the large wrap

around porch. She looked towards the wooden

swing that her beloved had built for them.

“ Josh I miss you so much.” She said walking over

and sitting down. Josh had taken so much time to

make the things in the home that even the things

he had outside looked as if they had been set

there by an angel, Selina remembered the day he

had built the swing, something he had promised

her for months. The swing was a beautiful oak

swing, light in color with leaves and wolf heads

inscribed into the side. Wolves where something

Josh had found to be fascinating that was part of

the reason he had built their home where he did.

Selina smiled and whistled calling the dogs back

inside. Both dogs followed her into the house and

went and laid down next to the fireplace. Selina

locked the glass door and pulled the curtains

closed. Shutting off the light to the backyard she

looked towards the couch, she really didn’t want to

spend another night sleeping downstairs but she

still hadn’t the heart to return to her room. It had

been two years since Josh had been killed in that

accident, an accident she saw every time she

closed her eyes.

“ Come on boys time for bed.” Selina said looking

down at them. The two dogs wagged their tails

and then stood. Selina padded across the hard

wood floor and headed up the stairs that lead to

the loft bedroom that she had once shared with

Josh. The large wooden framed bed sat in the

center of the room, two matching wooden

nightstands sat on either side of the bed with

beautifully crafted lamps that had bears and

wolves on the shades. Her vanity sat in the far

corner with a small chair in front of it. Their dresser

also had been handcrafted sat against the far wall.

Sighing she reached into the walk in closet and

took out her nightdress. Walking into the master

bathroom she started running the water for a warm

bath and then walked back out into the main

room. Both of the dogs had made themselves at

home on the floor near the foot of the bed.

Walking back into the bathroom Selina checked

the water temperature before she shut off the

water and slid from her clothing. Sliding into the

large tub she sank down until her head rested on

the pillow at the back of the tub. She could hear

the soft music that was playing from the small

radio that Josh had built into the wall. Closing her

eyes she let her mind and body relax.

Selina’s eyes snapped open with a start she looked

around and noticed she still laid in the now cold

water. Sighing she stood and climbed from the tub

and drained the water, letting her wet hair hang

around her shoulders as she walked into the other

room. She looked around and picked up her

nightdress before dropping the wet towel to the

floor. She walked over to her vanity and sat down,

she looked at the picture that was stuck inside the

mirror, a picture of her and her Josh. She moved

her fingers over the picture before picking up the

hairbrush to comb her hair. She hated being

alone and sometimes felt that Josh was watching

her.


“ Well boys it’s time for bed.” Selina said looking

towards the two dogs. The dogs moved up onto

the bed as she slid under the sheets. Reaching

over she turned off the light next to the bed,

bathing the large room in darkness.


Selina woke with a start and rubbed her eyes

looking towards the clock she noticed it was three

am. Rubbing her eyes she looked around the dark

room and climbed from the bed. Stretching she

knew that she wouldn’t be sleeping anymore that

night. It happened every night, the same dream.

She would be sitting next to Josh listening to the

radio in their Blazer, she would hear the sound of

a tire blowing and then Josh losing control of the

car, sending the large vehicle tumbling over the

side of a cliff into a ravine a short distance below.

She never made it any further in the dream before

she’d wake up in a cold sweat, there had a been a

few nights where the dreams weren’t as vivid but

she did have them. She walked to the balcony

and opened the two stained glass windows before

stepping outside. It was still rather early and the

brisk fall wind was blowing, she could feel the

signs of an early winter as she sat down on the

large seat and pulled her knees up, grabbing

another one of her blankets she covered herself

and waited for the sun to rise. She felt one of her

dogs touch her arm.

“ Hello Snow, I see you’ve come out to see what I

am doing.” Selina said petting the snow-white

husky. Snow laid his head on her lap and looked

up into Selina’s eyes, it was as if the dog knew that

she was having troubling dreams. Selina touched

the dog’s head and then felt Snow nudge her,

Selina nodded and stood letting the dog lead her

back into the bedroom shutting the glass doors

behind her. Snow climbed up onto the bed and

lay down as Selina pulled up the covers and

rested her head on the pillow. Snow laid his head

on her chest and looked into her troubled eyes.

“ I know.” She said petting her faithful friend.

Selina looked towards the end of the bed to see

her other dog looking at her.

“ Come on up Angel.” She said to the female that

waited patiently to be allowed on the bed. Angel

hopped up onto the bed and curled up at the end.

Selina closed her eyes and slowly drifted of to

sleep once again.



He walked silently threw the dark house, he had to

make his way in and out before the sun came up.

He knew he only had a few hours to spare but he

had to see her. He slowly made his way to the loft

and looked at her sleeping on the large bed, the

sliver satin sheets tangled around her slender

body, a dog on either side of her. He could see

that she had been up earlier as the curtains where

open and the blanket had been moved outside.

He watched her move slightly sturing awake the

large white dog. He stepped back into the shadows

as the dog looked around its nose sniffing the air

not finding anything he lay back down, He sighed

in relief as he stepped forward a bit taking in her

slender body the curves that could be seen threw

the soft fabric of her nightdress. He loved watching

her sleep, always had, and this night was no

different. He looked out the large window and saw

the hint of an early morning sunrise over the

mountains, hurrying out of the house and down to

his car he stole one last glance at the house he

had built with his own hands before stepping into

the black car and speeding off.

Snow walked around the loft, he could sense that someone had been there; he whimpered a little and then headed back to the bed where Selina lay sleeping. Angel lifted her head and looked around and then nudged Selina awake. Selina moaned and then opened her sleepy eyes.
“ What?” She asked looking at the dog. She could smell the faint hint of the cologne that her husband used to wear. Sliding from the bed she pulled on the short silver robe and headed towards the stairs, the closer to the stairs she got the more the cologne scent got stronger. Following the scent she came to a stop near the large oak table, sitting in the center was a large crystal vase with a dozen long stem red roses, something Josh would always leave her if he was heading off for some business out of town. She could see a small white card inside the bouquet. Walking over to the table she picked up the card and looked at the name on the front, her name. Ripping open the envelope she pulled the tiny card from it.
“ My Dearest Selina,
I know that you’ve been lonely and I wish I could be there holding you tonight. I am very sorry for everything that has happened and hope that you have finally moved on.
Love always
Josh.”
Selina’s eyes filled up with tears as she looked at the writing once again, it was his hand writing but she knew he had died that day, two years it had been two years since his death. Yet suddenly flowers and other things had been showing up.


He walked into the dismal apartment and sat down. He looked at the recent snapshot of her. She had lost her radiant smile and the twinkle in her eyes was gone.
“ I hate this.” He said dropping his head into his hands.
“ I know you do, but it was the only way.”
“ But why couldn’t she have come with me? She knew how much I loved her.”
“ Josh she must think you’re dead. Everyone must think that. But with those weekly visits to the house and the flowers and gifts you’ve been sending someone is bound to find out.”
“ I shouldn’t have lied to her. Selina would have understood what was going on, why I was gone so often.” He said looking up at the tall man that stood near the door. The man walked into the light, showing his older features and his graying hair, his deep brown eyes showed his age even if his face did not.
“ We couldn’t have had you tell her what you did for a living. It was safer that she thought you where a salesman, that was safe for her.”
“ It wasn’t safe for her Henry, she still morns my death and it’s been nearly two years. Why? Why did the company have to do this?”
“ It was for the best Josh, Selina is safer without you there. People where hunting for you. And they would have gone threw Selina to get to you if they had to.”
“ But what about now? It’s been two years the family thinks I am dead. Can’t I tell her?”
“ No, I’m sorry my friend but you can’t. And these visits to her home have to stop.”
“ No, I wont stop seeing her. She’s the reason I am still sane, the reason I didn’t take my life two years ago.” Josh said, for the first time in two years tears rolled down his cheeks, real tears, telling him that it was breaking his heart to be away from her. Henry looked at his friend and sat down on the couch next to him.
“ I’ll see what we can do. But I can’t make any promises.”
“ Thanks.” Josh said. Henry looked at his friend and knew that he was lonely. It had been a long time since they had even been back into the area and now that Josh lived about four hours from his original house he was able to go and see Selina even if she didn’t know he was there. Henry had often urged Josh not to go to the house but he seemed insistent on going. Henry stood and headed for the door.
“ I’ll be back tomorrow, try not to wonder off again.”
“ I wont.” Josh said sadly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Selina walked out of the bathroom wearing a white sleeveless shirt, black jeans and her black boots. Her long strawberry blond hair pulled up away from her face. She turned and saw that the dogs where whining and growling at the glass door going out to the back yard.
“ All right you two I’ll be right there.” Selina said walking down the stairs towards the back door. She turned when she heard the doorbell ring. She pushed open the large glass door and let the two dogs out into the backyard and then turned towards the front to answer the doorbell, which had now rang nearly four times. She could clearly see two tall men standing on the other side, both dressed in dark colored business suits. Reaching for the knob she opened the door and looked at them.
“ Can I help you?” She asked. She could hear Snow and Angel barking from the backyard.
“ Yes ma’am we are looking for Selina Cross.”
“ That would be me. Is there a problem?” Selina asked looking at the two men.
“ Actually we are looking for some information on your husband ma’am.”
“ I’m sorry Josh has been dead for two years. There isn’t much I can help you with.” Selina said looking at them expecting them to turn and leave when she said that.
“ We understand that ma’am but it has come to our attention that your husband was working on a project before he died.”
“ I was never interested in my husband’s work. So if you gentlemen would excuse me I have a few things to get done.” Selina said, she started to close the door but one of the men stopped her.
“ May we look at anything you may still have of your husbands?”
“ No, and I would appreciate it if you’d leave.” Selina said looking at them.
“ But Mrs. Cross we really need to see his paper work.”
“ I don’t care get off my land NOW!” Selina said raising her voice causing the two dogs in the back to bark and growl louder. Both men nodded and turned and walked back to their car. Selina wasn’t entirely sure if that would keep them away, but she wondered what could be so important in her husbands stuff that after two years they’d suddenly want it.

Shaking her head Selina walked over to the glass

door and let the two dogs into the house.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“ Josh.”

“ Yes?” Josh said looking towards Henry. He was

surprised to see his friend returning so soon.

“ We’ve had a problem.”

“ And that would be?”

“ Someone was seen leaving Selina’s today.”

“ So, she’s got friends and they tend to come over

a lot since I’ve been gone. That’s nothing new.”

“ They were two men from the business.”

“ Damn it.” Josh said standing and looking at his

friend.

“ Josh for now she’s safe, she sent them away.”

“ How do you know?”

“ Audra was there this afternoon checking on her.”

“ Well at least her sister showed up.”

“ Well my wife was going over anyways and I asked

if she’d find out some information for me. Believe

me Josh your wife enjoyed the company.”

“ I know. Selina and Audra have always been

close and being twins normally makes that even

easier.”

“ Audra told me that Selina was a little worried

about the visit from the men but wasn’t to

concerned once she talked to her.”

“ Have you found out who they are?”

“ Not yet, there is still the problem of your visits.

We can’t have those anymore. Especially if the

business is getting into this.”

“ I know and I promised you that I wouldn’t visit

anymore. Believe me Henry I won’t put Selina at

risk.”

“ If this all blows over and they finally just leave it

alone maybe we can let Selina know that you’re

alive.” Henry said looking into Josh’s eyes. He

wanted to see some sort of response but the one

he got wasn’t what he was waiting for. The look of

sadness and anger played in Josh’s deep brown

eyes.

“ Anything else?”

“ Nothing at the moment. We’ve placed guards

outside just to be safe and Martin will be here this

evening to stay with you. If Anthony finds out your

alive this could end badly.”

“ If he finds out I’m alive he could use my wife

against me.”

“ I know, we will keep Selina safe. Audra has

offered to have Selina stay with us and visit with

the kids.”

“ And?”

“ She’s still apprehensive about leaving the

house.”

“ Why?”

“ Well you’ve gone and scared her with those

flowers and cards.”

“ Sorry.”

“ Don’t worry about it. For now just stay away from

her.”

“ I will. You staying?”

“ Yeah, I’ve already called Audra and told her I

wouldn’t be home tonight and she understands.

She was going to find out if Selina would like

some company and take the kids over there.”

“ That’s a good idea. I don’t know what I would

ever do without you these past two years. I mean it

Henry I swear if I didn’t have you around I would

have gone crazy by now. I should have told Selina

a long time ago about what you and I were doing

I think she would have understood.”

“ Josh even after all this time and I’ve told Audra

she still doesn’t understand why I do this,

especially with a family.”

“ If he had known what I did for a living this

wouldn’t have felt like I was lying.”

“ Believe me you were protecting her there is a

difference.”

“ Prove it.” Josh said looking at him. Henry knew

he couldn’t prove there was a difference and left

the conversation ended.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Selina smiled as she watched the two small

children playing with the dogs.

“ It’s good to see you.” She said turning and facing

her sister.

“ We don’t get the chance much any more. I can

never get you to leave the house.”

“ I have no reason to. I run my business from the

house the computer is better here anyways.”

“ The only reason you have a top of the line

computer is because Josh made sure that you

would always have one.” Audra said looking at

her. Selina looked at her sister and then looked

back towards the kids.

“ I’m sorry sis I didn’t mean it that way.”

“ I know its just being around here around all of

Josh’s stuff helps me make it threw the days.”

“ I know sis I know.” Audra said hugging her before

she stood to go make the two kids stop fighting.

Selina watched Audra pull the two children apart

and then walked inside and towards the guest

room. A room that no one ever used, she slowly

opened the door and walked inside. The room was

decorated in pink and blue with eeyore and pooh

drawings on the wall. Two small cribs sat along

the wall near the window, Selina unconsciously

rubbed her stomach as she walked towards the

beds.

“ Sel, I wish you’d change this room.” Audra said

standing in the doorway.

“ They would have been 2 this year. That accident

didn’t just take my husband it took my babies.

Audra I have I have been so alone and being with

out them hasn’t helped.”

“ You don’t talk about them much. If you’d actually

leave the house and talk to us sometimes maybe it

would help.” Audra said pulling her into her arms.

Audra heard the laughter of her children as they

ran down the hall, both stopping in the doorway

when they saw their mother comforting their aunt.

“ Aunty is everything all right?” The oldest girl

asked.

“ Yeah Shannon Aunty is fine.” Selina said pulling

away from Audra.

“ Are we going to have dinner?” The little boy

asked.

“ We sure are Max.” Selina said picking him up.

She loved to see the devious look in his emerald

green eyes. They always seemed to dance with

mischief. Selina carried her nephew out to the

living room and sat him down on the large couch.

“ How about you and Shannon watch some

cartoons while mommy and I make supper?”

“ That sounds great. Can we watch a DVD?”

“ Sure, have Shannon help you get one.” Selina

said kissing the top of his head. Audra stood in the

hallway for a moment before closing the bedroom

door and heading towards the kitchen where her

sister now stood.

“ Hey you ok?”

“ Yeah I am fine. I get this way once in a while.

Mom has offered to come over with Aunt Molly

and pick up the things in the room and give them

to a needy family. I am still waiting for her to

come.”

“ Why don’t you start the spaghetti and I will call

mom and see what she can do ok?”

“ Sure thanks.” Selina said checking the sauce that

had been cooking most of the day. She smiled

slightly thinking that her spaghetti was Josh’s

favorite and he would normally enter the kitchen

and grab a breadstick and taste the sauce before

she was ready to serve it.

“ Mom said that her and Aunt Molly would be by

first thing in the morning with the truck. She said

that you kept telling her no.”

“ Like I said I wasn’t sure.” Selina said checking the

now boiling water. She dropped some salt and oil

into the water just before she dropped the noodles

into the non-stick pan. Turning the heat down

slightly she checked the breadsticks and then

checked on her desert.

“ It’s going to be ok Sel, believe me when I say

this. Things are going to get better I promise.”

Audra said taking her shaking sister into her arms.

She could feel Selina’s tears soaking her shirt as

she cried.

“ Why me Aud? Why me?”

“ I don’t know honey I don’t know.” Audra said

holding her close, she really wasn’t sure why things

had happened to Selina and why Josh had to

leave so suddenly. But she had every intention on

finding out from Henry when he arrived home

tomorrow afternoon.

He watched from a distance, a safe distance

knowing that if she saw him he would be found

out. She was his link to Josh but it was her beauty

he wished to possess. Josh Cross had double-

crossed him and then made it seem as if he died

in an accident. He knew that her husband wasn’t

dead, that the accident had been faked.

“ When do you want me to bring her in?”

“ In a few days.” Came the answer over the phone.

“ She’s never done anything why her?”

“ Because having her will bring him to us.”

“ Are you sure that he’s still alive?”

“ Absolutely. He is the one leaving her gifts. Plus I

have my sources.”

“ Yes sir I know. But how long do you think it will

be before they find out that one of their own is a

traitor?”

“ Not before it’s to late. I will have Selina Cross

before Josh knows what has happened.”

“ Yes sir. Her sister and family are staying with her

tonight. But I’ve heard that they are returning to

their home tomorrow.”

“ Good. I know Selina well enough to know that

she will not be joining them. When she’s finally

alone, bring her to me.”

“ Yes Mr. Sands, was there anything else you

wanted sir?” He asked into the phone.

“ No, just be sure she’s not harmed.”

“ Yes sir.” The man said before hanging up his

cell phone. He turned his attention to the house, it

could be seen clearly as the sun began to set. He

knew that the following evening he’d be able to

take Selina from the home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Selina moaned as she felt someone crawl into her

bed. Her eyes snapped open and she looked

around, looking into the deep green eyes of her

nephew.

“ Hey Max why are you up?”

“ Sorry Aunty if I woke you. I had a nightmare.”

“ It’s ok kiddo come on and get under the covers.”

Selina said moving the sheets back. Max climbed

into the bed and lay down on the pillow closest to

Selina. Selina pulled the covers back up and felt

Max move closer.


The sun came streaming threw the window and

into her eyes, Selina rolled over and covered her

eyes.

“ Morning already.” Selina groaned rolling back

over to look at the clock.

“ Ok why did I set the alarm?” Selina asked slowly

climbing from the bed. Looking towards the bed

she saw the little head of her nephew snuggled

under the plush blanket. Shaking her head and

smiling Selina walked into her bathroom and

closed the door. Turning around she started the

water for the shower and began to strip of the

clothing she wore and slipped into the steaming

hot shower. She closed her eyes as she let the

water run over her tired body. She swore she could

feel Josh’s hands moving over her naked body, she

could feel his soft lips kissing her neck as his hands

moved slowly over her breasts. Selina’s eyes

snapped open when she heard a knock at the

bathroom door.

“ Damn it.” Selina whispered knowing she had

been daydreaming again.

“ Aunty?”

“ Yes Max?”

“ Are you ok?”

“ Sure sweetie I will be right out.”

“ Ok.” Max said, she could hear him hurrying out of

the room. Selina finished showering and hurried

to dry off and get dressed before Audra came in to

find out why she was taking so long. Finally

emerging from the bathroom with a towel wrapped

around her still wet hair Selina looked up to see

Audra standing the in the doorway.

“ Trying to scare me?” Selina asked.

“ No, Max came and told me that you had been in

the bathroom talking to yourself for nearly an hour.”

“ I was not, I had the radio on.”

“ Well still you’ve been in there for nearly an hour.

You should be all pruney by now.” Audra said

laughing.

“ Sorry I tend to find that my time in the shower is

my time to think.”

“ Don’t think so long.” Audra said turning and

heading back out of the room. Selina smiled and

finished her hair and then headed down to the

dining room to eat with her family.

“ Nice of you to join us.” Audra said looking at the

steaming plate of eggs, ham, and hashbrowns.

“ Yeah, Yeah.” Selina said sitting down.


The meal was a quiet one and one that Selina for

the most part thought would never end.

“ We have to go home today.” Audra said looking

at her sister.

“ I thought as much. Don’t be such a stranger.” She

said looking towards the kids.

“ Mom came in while you where in the shower and

with the help of two movers they removed

everything from the room.”

“ Thanks.” Selina said.

“ Anytime, you know you could have asked sooner.

We would have gotten all of that stuff out of the

room.”

“I know I just needed my time. But I’ve decided to

move on and live.”

'“ That’s a good thing sis.” Audra said hugging her sister tightly.

I want to thank those of you that have been reading this and want to say I havent forgotten about this or any of my other stories I had surgery on my right wrist last week and am unable to be online for long periods of time without a great deal of pain, please bare with me and I will update as soon as I am able Thank You