Seeing Ghosts
Chapter 4
By Dottie
Copyright 2015
Kevin sits in his hotel room and waits. He managed to get Nick settled in his room, making sure his assistant is going to keep an eye on him for the rest of the day.
Once he was sure Nick was settled, he called room service and ordered a bottle of Chianti, one of Elena's favorite wines, and a fruit and cheese platter. The platter is chilled and resting on a bed of ice, the wine is open, breathing in a carafe.
When her knock finally comes, he crosses the room in a few giant strides. He swings the door open and once again he's face to face with the woman of his dreams. He smiles brightly, reaching out to take her hand and pulling her into the room. When the door is shut, he whispers, "Cara...there's so much I want to know but..."
She steps closer to him, reaching up to touch his face. "I never should have left you Kevin. I shouldn't have testified. I should have walked away from it all and stayed with you."
He pulls her into his arms. "We talked about this a long time ago Cara. You couldn't have let Sawyer get away with murder. I would have done the same thing." When she starts to protest, he leans closer and whispers, "Elena..."
When their lips meet, she melts in his arms. He holds her gently, their kisses soft and gentle. When they part, he murmurs, "Would you like a glass of wine?"
She smiles softly. "Chianti?" When he laughs, she giggles quietly. “Maybe later Kevin. There's so much we need to talk about. So much I never got to tell you."
He pulls her into the room and offers her a seat on the sofa. When he's sitting beside her, he takes her hand."So...Chealyn. Tell me about the last two and half years. Every detail. What happened that you had to move around?"
She sighs inwardly, knowing the most important thing she has to tell him is about their children. But she can't start with that. He has to know she tried.
Staring at her hand in his, she whispers, "The first time they had to move me was because I tried to call you. Less than 24 hours later, one of Sawyer's men was spotted in Omaha. They moved me to St. Petersburg after that."
He squeezes her hand. "Elena, why did you call me? What happened?"
Raising her gaze to his, she whispers, "Kevin, there was something neither of us knew when I left. Something I knew you had to know. Something you deserved to know. Grant understood why I had to try. I thought he'd be angry, but he wasn't."
He strokes her cheek. "What was it Elena? What was so important you had to risk your life?"
She sighs. "Let me finish telling you what happened Kevin. It's important you know I tried."
He nods. "OK, tell me...tell me everything."
Giving him a half smile, she continues softly. “The second time they moved me, it was because I was caught in the background of a news report. Even though no one showed up, the marshal service thought it would be prudent to move me. I went from Florida to Montana. In winter."
He whistles, chuckling lightly. "That's quite a climate change."
She nods begrudgingly. "I hated it. I wasn't there long. Six months. They moved me to Texas because...I tried to contact you again."
His eyes widen. "Why? Baby, what made you think anything would be more important to me than your safety? I love you and I've missed you so much, but I'd have died if contact with me put your life in jeopardy."
Her lip quivers. "Kevin...Kevin I was pregnant." His jaw drops and he stares at her in shock. She murmurs, “I...gave birth January 3. I wanted you to know. I wanted...I wanted you to take them...keep them safe. But Sawyer's men closed in faster that time. They had to use a life flight to get me out of Montana. I was petrified because I finally came to realize I was putting you in grave danger. Grant told me you were safe...and after that I didn't try to contact you again. My heart was breaking but I couldn't put your life...our babies' lives in danger."
He stares into her eyes, shock and disbelief etched on his face. "Babies? Elena...oh my God."
She cups his face. "Please don't hate me Kevin. The only thought that's kept me going is knowing that you would understand why I had to do what I did."
He pulls her into his arms and squeezes her tightly to his chest. "I could never hate you, mi amore. You are the one true love of my life and I never gave up hope that one day you'd be able to come home to me. I just...babies?"
She nods, reaching for a chain around her neck and pulling a locket from her blouse. She opens it, showing him the pictures of their children inside, whispering, "A boy and a girl. DJ and Sophie."
He holds the locket carefully in his shaking fingers, memorizing every detail of the small picture he can. "Cara, they are beautiful...so beautiful. As beautiful as their mother."
She leans closer, snuggling into his arms as he wraps her tightly in a warm embrace. "They both have your smile. Sophie has your eyes."
He kisses her forehead. "Tell me about them. What are their full names?"
With her head on his shoulder, she whispers, "David James...he was born first. Sophie Michelle came thirteen minutes later. DJ weighed 5 pounds 4 ounces, Sophie was 4 pounds 2 ounces. It was around 2:00 am and I was so afraid."
With his head resting on hers, he whispers, "Is there any way...can I meet them?"
She leans back, her eyes meeting his. "My neighbor is going to drop them off here at 5:30. I was hoping...we could have dinner and...spend the night." When his eyes widen in wonder, she whispers, "Kevin, tomorrow Sawyer may get out. If he does, I'll be moved immediately." With tears falling from her eyes, she whispers, "I want you to take them with you. Keep them safe. Give them a life of happiness and stability."
He presses her against the back of the couch. "Elena, I want you...I want all of you with me. Let me protect you. You can be Chealyn...you can have a whole new identity and I can keep you out of the limelight. I'll leave the group again. For good this time. Anything to be with you...and our children. Please, mi amore."
Translation:
Cara: Darling
Chapter End Notes:
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