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The kiss he pressed to her lips was full of promise, full of hope and most of all full of love. Jennifer leaned back and looked at him, her brain fuzzy from the past few days, filtering something important through it.
‘Did you tell me last night that you loved me?’ she blurted out, and immediately wished she hadn’t. What if he hadn’t? What if she’d simply dreamt that part and Jasper wasn’t at all in love with her? Holding her breath, she waited for his reaction and almost collapsed with relief when his lips twitched into a smile.
‘I did and you promptly fell asleep.’
‘Oh. Sorry. I was tired.’
‘I know.’ He kissed her. ‘Not the most flattering response, I must say.’
Jennifer giggled. ‘Must have brought your ego down a notch or two.’
‘My ego—thank you very much—is just fine and, I’d like to point out, hardly ever elevated or puffed up.’
Jennifer only laughed again.
‘Do you mind?’ he asked softly, all traces of humour vanishing.
‘About?’
‘About me loving you.’ He said the words as though he was unsure of her reception of them.
‘Oh, Jasper.’ Jennifer laced her fingers through his hair, urging his head down so she could show him just how much she didn’t mind. The kiss was long and slow and he was sure, filled with as much love for him as he had for her…but she still didn’t say the words. Perhaps she couldn’t…not until she’d said her goodbyes to her past love.
When they pulled back, both slightly breathless, he rested his forehead against hers. ‘I have to go. Duty calls but I’ll try and get away earlier from clinic so we can go this afternoon.’
‘Go? Go where?’
‘To your park.’
Jennifer watched as he straightened his jacket and took his car keys from his pocket. He was an amazing man, patient, understanding and loving. He was helping her to move on with her life because he understood exactly what it was like. He’d been there and he’d safely traversed the pit of despair to come out the other side.
She had listened to what he’d said and known instantly that he was right but did they have to go so soon? This afternoon? To the park? She could see the determined look in Jasper’s eyes as though he knew exactly what she was thinking. If she prolonged saying goodbye to Art, who knew what she’d miss in the meantime? No. Jasper was right. It had to be this afternoon. It had to be today because she didn’t want to miss one more second of her new life with this man who loved her.
Slowly she nodded. ‘We can go in Miss Chief. The girls love that car as much as I do.’
He pressed his lips to hers again before heading to the door. ‘You’ve got yourself a date, Dr Thorngate.’
The park was the same. Exactly the same. Of course, the trees and shrubs were taller but the play equipment, the layout, the park bench—everything was the same.
‘We’ll leave you to it but call me if you need me,’ he said as the girls tugged him towards the swings.
Jennifer nodded and watched them go. Slowly, she looked at her surroundings, memories flashing before her eyes as she made her way over to the bench. When she looked down at the grass she could imagine Arturo lying there, talking as he pointed to the clouds. A smile touched her lips at the vibrant way he’d always been able to make her feel. Her breathing became deeper as one emotion after another started to swamp her. The smile disappeared and a regretful sadness settled over her heart.
They would have had a great life together. She knew that without a doubt but it had been a life that wasn’t meant to be. A life that didn’t belong to her. Not any more.
She looked over at the play equipment, watching the children having so much fun, her eyes eagerly searching out a tall, dark and handsome man with two blonde cherubs beside him. When she found Jasper and the girls, Jennifer’s breathing began to return to normal and to her surprise and delight, when she looked at him, she became filled with that same sense of vibrance she used to get from Arturo.
Her past was her past.
Jasper and the girls were her future.
He looked over at her then and she smiled and waved. Jasper settled the girls in the sandpit before striding towards her.
‘OK?’
‘Yes.’ The word was soft but full of determination.
He didn’t say anything else but came and sat beside her, lacing his fingers through hers. They sat there for a while in silence, watching the girls playing happily together. Finally, it was Jennifer who broke the silence.
‘I love your girls, Jasper.’
He smiled. ‘They’re pretty special. They have a way, through their innocence, to help us to breathe, to have fun, to laugh and enjoy life.’ He shifted and placed his arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer. ‘This world isn’t done with you, Jennifer Thorngate. There’s still so much you need to accomplish and whatever your goals are, whatever it is that you feel you need to do, I’ll be right there beside you, supporting you every step of the way. And the girls will be there, too. My parents adore you, the girls can’t stop talking about you, and I can’t stop thinking about you, loving you.’ He kissed her.
