Read Online Ever, Sarah by C.E. Hansen - Free Book Online Page B

again.”
    “Sounds so weird to me.”
    “Not to me. I have the upper hand.”
    “How so?”
    “I did it once before. You are still Sarah…I’ve got the moves down. It’s a cakewalk.” He laughed.
    “Mister cakewalk, how ‘bout you get me down those stairs for some Shepherd’s Pie?” It didn’t show, at least I hope it didn’t, but the relief I felt when he said what he just said was enormous. I grabbed the sweatpants and underwear and slid them both over my feet, pulling them up. Then I yanked the t-shirt that I discarded at the end of the bed over my head.
    “As you wish.”
    Flash.
    I remembered something about that… as you wish…as you wish . I shook my head and crawled to the edge of the large bed. I stood up and limped over to the closet where I opened a door, reached in and grabbed a sweater. As I walked back to where Bradley was standing I pulled it over my shoulders.
    “I’m ready.” I announced.
    “Did you…never mind, come here.” He held his arms out and I walked over to him and stopped just short of his reach. I turned and looked back at the closet, then back at Bradley.
    “I did…I did. I remembered where this sweater was.” I must have had an odd look on my face, “It is my sweater isn’t it?”
    “It is.”
    I walked closer and he encircled his arm around my waist.
    “Shall we?”
    I nodded vigorously, “I’m hungry.”
    We walked down the long hall and turned around the bend. I saw the great room below us. It was my first real look since I came home . I stopped at the railing and noticed the huge full-sized portrait hanging above the large stone fireplace.
    It was a portrait of two people staring into each other’s eyes, obviously very much in love. The look on the woman’s face, as she looked into his eyes, took me by surprise and a flash went off in my head, way in the back, near my neck. He was looking directly back at her smiling the smile I’m finding I like more and more.
    “Is that me…us…?”
    “Yes.” He was standing directly behind me, and I could feel his heart beating inside his chest as he held me against his body. “You insisted on having our portrait done…you were so happy the way it turned out.” The depth of sadness in his voice was overwhelming and my eyes filled with warm tears.
    “They…we…look beautiful. Is that what I really looked like?” I said my voice cracking.
    “You look just as beautiful to me right now, as you looked that day, Sarah.” He squeezed my waist. “We just have to put some meat on these bones.” He laughed breaking the tension.
    “Then let’s get to it.” I tried to break the spell that the portrait cast on me…us.
    As we descended the long curving staircase, I felt my body tense. I held onto the railing as if my life depended on it. Bradley’s arm around me was somewhat comforting, but the overwhelming feeling of unease was almost debilitating. Like there was a monster hiding behind the next corner.
    I couldn’t shake that feeling.
     
     

     
     
    Veronica came to visit that evening, I tell you, if this is my mother, I’m a lucky girl. As I said earlier, she’s funny, caring, beautiful and so full of life. In fact, she is larger than life.
    The bell rang and Bradley left his seat next to me to answer it.
    “Where’s my girl?” Her tone a bit demanding, but I could hear the humor in it.
    “Veronica, it’s nice to see you.” He bent over to kiss her proffered cheek.
    “Of course it is.” She laughed.
    She walked into the room like she was floating. She stopped a few feet from me and I could see the unshed tears threatening to run out of her eyes and down her perfectly made-up face.
    “Sarah, I can’t tell you how seeing you sitting there makes my heart fly.” She put her hand over her breast, “when I think about almost losing you…” The little droplets began to fall, like little rivers down her cheeks. She swiped at them and came to stand right next to me. “I am not worried that you