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There’s that brutal honesty. It pulls a wide grin from Number Two. “I suppose we are somewhat similar.”
Merry’s face turns thoughtful, and she changes the subject to a random topic in the way kids do. “Did you know my great aunt Cathy survived cancer?”
Number Two shakes his head. “I did not.”
“Well, she did.” She gets animated, gesturing in a circle. “And then she got a disco ball.”
He barks out a laugh. “Really?”
Merry nods emphatically. “She hung it right in her living room.”
“Well, there’s probably…” His voice trails off as his eyelids flutter, and I can tell he’s struggling to stay conscious. “Probably a lesson in that, right, little one? Do the hobbies you enjoy. Wear the clothes you like. Take the trip to the place you’ve always wanted to see. Buy the books you want to read. Fill your life with whatever makes you happy.”
Swallowing hard, Hannah looks away as tears fill her eyes.
I’d be lying if I said mine weren’t stinging, too. Apparently, watching a dying man give advice to the daughter he never got to know is a direct hit to my soft spot.
“Can you promise me you’ll do that?” Number Two asks Merry solemnly.
She shrugs, the seriousness of the conversation flying right over her head. “Or I’ll just get a disco ball.”
We all snicker a little, and Ellister Number Two agrees, “Definitely get the disco ball.”
“Merry!” Maysa shouts from behind the gathering, which is currently heading out of the orchard. “Where are you? You’re going to miss the bouquet toss!”
Gasping at the threat of being left out, Merry turns on her heel and sprints away without a goodbye, but Ellister Number Two doesn’t seem to mind the flippant exit.
He actually looks at peace.
“They’re beautiful,” he says wistfully. “Beyond anything I could’ve ever hoped for. Thank you for this. I came here thinking I would spend my last minutes alone and full of regret, but you’ve given me the gift of knowing I’ll live on after I’m gone. I can honestly say I’ll be able to die a happy man.”
“Want to know something?” Hannah takes his hand in both of hers and squeezes it. “I don’t think it’s the end for you. Ellister and I discovered the soul connection is more powerful than anything else in all the universes. The Hannah who belongs to you… I think you’ll find her soon.”
Number Two’s hopeful eyes go to me for confirmation, and I back up my wife. “It’s true. If there’s one thing we learned by completing our bond, it’s that the love between fated mates conquers all.”
“Then I must go,” he says in a rush, releasing Hannah’s hand and scooting back.
He grunts from the effort it takes. Once he’s far enough away, he lies down, and the ground immediately starts swirling beneath him.
All Hannah and I hear before he’s swallowed up is, “Farewell, my friends.”
And then he’s gone.
Letting out a sob, Hannah reaches for more tissues she managed to stuff into her bra, and she blots at the big tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Hey,” I say softly, pulling her onto my lap. “We’ve always known he was out there somewhere, but our questions are finally answered.”
“It’s just so sad. It’s hard for me to see you like that.”
“He’s not me.”
“You know what I mean.”
I do, so I let my mate have a good cry. I hold her while she mourns another version of me and another version of herself. The star-crossed pair that never had a chance.
After Hannah’s all cried out, we walk hand-in-hand back to the orchard. We stroll under the broken apple tree, walking over the exact spot where we stood for a proper nuptial ceremony the spring after we arrived at the farm.
Hannah got the wedding she dreamed of.
