#heartmatch Page 9
“And up to that point, they didn’t know each other.”
“Right.” Jason ran a finger down Samantha’s arm. “I’d never seen him so emotional.”
“When did you find out about Darla?”
“Right then. I thought my dad would drive alone to Colorado. Darla had told me she would stay in California.”
“She tricked him?”
“Yep. She’d got behind the seventh seat of his SUV and stayed hidden until he stopped to rest at a motel along the way.”
“Then she showed up at his door?”
“Yep. She entered his hotel room and by then dad had no choice. He had to bring her along on the rest of the trip.”
Jason took in a deep breath.
“As dad entered Denver, someone slid out of control, hitting the passenger side of his vehicle. His car spun around heading the other direction, causing a chain reaction. So many cars were involved. The rescue workers said my dad was lucky to be alive. People and rammed vehicles were all over the highway. Some were injured, some dazed and—” he shivered, “and a few dead or dying.”
“The next part is so sad.”
“The EMT got Darla out and rushed her to the hospital. They put her on life support, but she didn’t make it. None of us in the waiting room knew that she had died, and we didn’t know she’d be a perfect match and your donor heart.”
“You liked her, didn’t you?”
“She wanted me to make up with my dad. She encouraged me to go to college and to stop smoking joints.” He thought for a moment. “She seemed sincere.”
“And she truly loved your dad.”
“I think they loved each other.”
“Fate had a different plan.” Tears welled on Samantha’s lashes.
Jason nodded. He lifted a finger to go from the top of her scar, down the front of her shirt, following the invisible line to the bottom where his finger stopped.
“You’re here today because of Darla.”
“I’m sorry for her mom and sister.”
“Dad says her mom wants to meet you one day.”
“I’d like that—one day.” Samantha swiped at tears running down her cheeks. “So, end of story?”
“Uh-uh. No way. Not for us at least.”
“We’ve all changed in our own way.” Sonic plopped down beside her. Samantha rested a hand on his back to scratch between his shoulder blades.
“I had to get a job if I wanted my own place. I’ll sling burgers to pay the rent for a while.”
“Can you take me to your apartment sometime?” Samantha seemed pensive. “Do you miss living with your mom and seeing your grandma every day?”
“Yes, and yes,” he laughed. “My dad has moved back in with mom and they’re talking things over. It’s better I’m not around. Kind of embarrassing. I mean are they fricking sleeping together or what? And besides I’m not sure their story could ever start over.”
“Maybe it could. Don’t judge them.”
“My mom stopped drinking.” He sighed. “She’s attending meetings.”
Samantha took Jason’s hand. “You’re going to college in the fall?”
“Yep. I’ll start out local and then I’ll see where I’m headed.”
“Are you still into your online games?”
“Not much anymore. I used the games to vent when my dad and I stopped talking.”
###
“I like your new look, Jason. Did you dress up for me?”
“Thrift shop goodies,” he grinned.
Samantha ran a finger down his chin. He smiled as he remembered the first thing she’d said when she woke up from surgery.
Jason, you waited for me.
Jason lifted his gaze to the sky. “No spring showers. At least for today.”
Samantha moved closer to him. Jason lowered his head and lightly kissed her. She acted surprised.
“You pulled away. Are you scared about kissing me? Afraid my healing heart will pound too fast?”
“Well, sort of.”
“Jason, you can’t hurt me.” Samantha put a hand to the back of his head and pulled him in.
Her tongue searched for and found his. She moved her mouth inches away and whispered. “Now that’s the way I like to be kissed. Just remember that for the next time.”
“And when will that be?”
Samantha removed the heart necklace from her pocket. “When I can wear this around my neck again. When I can drive. And most of all, when we’re alone together. Totally,” she glanced around, “and completely alone.”
“Idea Sam.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s take a selfie. We need to get a fresh start on a new blanket for grandma Rosie to make.” Jason pulled out his phone, moved in close to Samantha and clicked several pictures.
They kissed and Jason clicked again. They hugged. Another click.
“Thank you, Jason. You stayed with me throughout my surgery, during the days in intensive care, after that in the hospital room, and at my home. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to thank you enough. I survived because of you.”
“You’re here because of fate. You taught me that life isn’t about coincidence. Made me believe in myself and that anything could be possible.”
“I longed for life and now I have a new beginning.”
“I think we both have a new start.”
Sonic moved into the perimeter. Jason snapped another picture.
He smiled. “Now, it’s to get you home before your dad comes looking for us.” He picked Samantha up.
“I can walk,” she insisted.
“Just this once, let me hold you tight.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. Sonic ran ahead to the old jalopy Jason drove and started barking.
“What the heck,” Jason muttered.
“He’s barking at a box. Put me down. Just hold my hand and walk with me.”
As they got closer to Jason’s car, Sonic went wild, turning around and around in circles.
Jason peeked in. “It’s a scraggly black puppy.”
“Did someone purposely put him there?”
“I bet he’s been dumped. Kinda like when I found Sonic.”
“We can’t just leave him,” Samantha pleaded.
Jason grinned. “I’d never leave an animal, just like I didn’t leave you.”
“Are you sayin’ I’m an animal?”
“After that last kiss, I hope so.” He lifted the puppy out. “It’s a she.”
She laughed. “Let’s call her Lucky. Can you keep her at your place?”
“I’m allowed two animals in my apartment.”
“Then that means I can never visit?”
He frowned. “Why?”
“You just called me an animal. That would make three if you count correctly.”
Jason laughed and bent down to kiss her. The puppy squealed, so they pulled apart.
“Call your dad and tell him we’ll be back in an hour. Let’s get some puppy food and get this little gal settled in my apartment.”
“Okay and then?” Samantha smiled.
“Your necklace, remember.”
She touched her pocket. “I do.”
“When you’re finally able to wear your half, I’ll show you around my quarters. Until then, let’s keep our cool.
“You mean like crackalackin?”
Jason chuckled. “Not exactly. You’ll learn more slang as time moves along.”
“Put the box in the back seat so Lucky won’t fall out. Then I want to tell you something.”
Jason put Lucky into the back and then closed the door after Sonic jumped in.
“Sup?” Jason grinned.
Samantha leaned against the car and crooked her finger. “Come closer.”
He stood in front of her. She clutched his T-shirt and pulled him into her body, wrapped her arms around him, and then kissed him for a long time. When Jason stepped back he searched her eyes.
“Can we make it, Jason?”
“What are you askin’ me?”
“Are we short-term or long-term?”
Jason put his hands on her shoulders. “We take everything a day at a time. No plans. Just today and then when tomorrow comes, we do the same thing.”
“Until what?”
“Sam, what’s up with all these questions?”
“What if my body rejects my new heart?”
“Isn’t there something in this story about what ifs?”
“Yes. Your mom told me not to question. To go day-by-day.”
“So, what are you really worried about?”
“Timing. I’m afraid that somewhere, somehow my timing will be off and something will go wrong.”
“And that’s because all your life has been a struggle, right?”
“I never knew what could happen next. I don’t know how not to question everything.”
“So, let me teach you.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her lips softly. “Let’s begin with this.”
“What’s my lesson?”
“Not to ask questions. Accept this kiss for what it is. A moment of caring. A feeling of love. Let it go at that.”
“And tomorrow?”
“You’ll wake up in your own bed, happy to be alive. Feel glad that you have another day.”
“Because someone didn’t get that chance? Like Darla?”
“There you go questioning again. Relax. Don’t put a question mark to everything you’re thinking.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“I’ve done the questioning too, Sam. When my dad left. I blamed myself, thinking he’d really gone because I’d made him unhappy.” He inhaled and exhaled slowly. “I learned to live each day as it happens because of you.”
“What—”
“There you go with a question again. Give me a statement. Try it. You’ll catch on.”
He caught her questioning gaze and with his finger lifted her chin. “Try just once for me.”
“Ah, ah,” she stuttered.
“Think about tomorrow morning,” Jason encouraged.
“I’ll wake up being grateful.” She hesitated. “Hug my parents and—”
“Wait for me to pick you up.”
“Yep. I can do that.” She smiled. “And the day after that?”
“One day at a time.”
“Okay.” Her shoulders relaxed. Probably for the first time in years. “Let’s get Lucky some food and settle her in and then you can drive me home.”
“That’s my girl. And before I leave your house I’ll kiss you again.”
“Whoa. In front of my parents?”
“That’s a question.”
“Okay then. How about—not in front of my parents.”
Jason laughed. “You’ll get used to not making everything into a what if. That’s all we’re working on for now.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
“Tomorrow we’ll take Lucky to the vet to see if she’s chipped. If not, we’ll get her shots and take her home.”
“And after that, you’ll kiss me again.”
“Hey, you’re getting the hang of this conversation.”
“A day at a time,” she repeated.
They got into the car. Samantha put a hand on his knee.
“In about four months I’ll be driving.”
Jason turned to gaze at her before he started the car. “And then you’ll be drivin’ me around.” He laughed.
“Yep. You got that one right.”
He leaned over to kiss her before he turned the key.
“Let’s go to the drive thru and get some burgers before we head to my place. Sonic and Lucky might be hungry.”
Samantha nodded. She then placed her hand over her heart and whispered. “Thank you.”
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my editor and cover artist, Lori Corsentino, for her patience and advice along the way.
Please back a local cause, as there are many in our world today. Here are a few of the ones I support:
Learn more about The Gift of Life Donor Program at: www.donors1.org
The research for advanced melanoma.
Help for battered and abused women and children.
Taking care of our Veterans from past and present wars.
Animal shelters. Each volunteer makes an animal smile.
Also by C.K. Alber
C.K. Alber also writes Romantic Suspense. Check out The Promise Series.
Broken Promises
A Promise of Revenge
A Prisoner’s Promise
About the Author
C.K. Alber, author of “The Promise Series” and #heartmatch, was born in Indiana and raised and educated in both Indiana and Illinois. An extended move to Europe brought about the desire to write. She had gone from the maze of corn fields and town life to historical buildings, famous paintings, the city, and the seaside. As a “people watcher” her stories and characters began to develop, her imagination went wild regarding the settings and dialogues in her head, thus, Romantic Suspense, Women’s Fiction, and Young Adult became her preferred genres.
Now she lives in Colorado with her beloved, thirteen-year-old rescue dog Luna. She is a dedicated Pescatarian, loves traveling between Washington DC and Colorado to visit family, and is still a worldwide traveler when the occasion arises.
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