Love Beyond The Rite

Chapter 14

EMBER

My brain still reeling from that whole car ride with Elijah I try to shake my feelings from him offering to be my friend despite him being married. From his fresh little beard it had to have been recently too. Are they just not living together yet? This is all just so confusing.

I entered my mom's room, concerned by the faint sound of her struggling to breathe. She was trying to sit up, her eyes sunken and weak.

"Mom! Be careful, I've got you," I said, gently helping her settle back onto the pillow.

Her gaze locked onto mine, and she cleared her throat, struggling to speak.

"Ember, I don't have much time left," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized the gravity of her words.

"What is it, Mom?" I asked, my voice trembling.

She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and urgency.

"I need to tell you something," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper.

My mom's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a sense of urgency.

"Please, listen to me," she whispered. "I've been wanting to tell you something for a long time, but I didn't know how."

I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation.

"What is it, Mom?" I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mom took a deep breath, her chest struggling to rise and fall.

"Ember, I want to leave everything to you," she said, her voice barely audible. "You're the only one who cares."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I realized what she was saying.

"Why, Mom?" I asked, trying to understand.

My mom's eyes filled with tears.

"Your brother and sister, they don't even bother to call me," she said, her voice cracking. "But you, Ember, you've always been there for me. You've always cared."

I felt a wave of emotions wash over me as I realized the depth of my mom's pain.

"I'll take care of you, Mom," I said, trying to sound strong. "I'll make sure you're okay."

My mom's eyes filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Ember," she whispered. "I know I can count on you."

“Oh one more thing. I want you to find happiness. True love. That’s my last wish for you.” She said labored.

Me too mom, me too.

“Okay mom, get some sleep. I’m sure Agnes will be up making you a delicious breakfast in the morning. “ I said hopefully.

I retreated to my bedroom, collapsing onto the edge of my bed. Sighing, I took out my phone and dialed Chris's number. After three rings, he picked up, his voice muffled by loud music.

"Chris, it's Ember," I said, my voice firm.

"Oh, hey sis! Give me a second," he replied, the music fading into the background as he moved to a quieter spot.

"What's going on, Em?" he asked, his tone casual.

"Do you know Mom is dying?" I asked, getting straight to the point.

"I know she has cancer, but last I heard she was doing okay," he replied.

"Have you thought to call her recently?" I snapped, my frustration boiling over.

"No... I've been busy. I'll call her sometime this week," he said, his voice laced with guilt.

"Too little, too late, bro," I said, my voice cold. "Mom doesn't have much time left. I'm home with her and her hospice nurse. If I were you, I'd be catching the first train home."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

"Okay, I'll be there soon," Chris said finally.

"Keep me updated on your travel plans. Talk to you soon," I said, hanging up the phone.

Chris is living it up in New York City. He was five hours away, but his lack of concern or effort to come home or even call mom was staggering.

While I’m checking in on siblings I decide to send Abigail a text asking for updates on her getting here as well.

While I wait for a response I see a notification pop up.

“Marcus is eyeing you. Send him a message”

I open the new dating app on my phone.

I swiped right on this blonde-haired guy with tattoos, intrigued by his rugged yet charming smile. His profile name was "TattooedTitan," and his bio read: "Music lover, beer connoisseur, and always up for an adventure."

As I waited for a match, I couldn't help but think about my mom's situation and Chris's lack of concern. It was frustrating to see how disconnected my family had become.

Just then, my phone buzzed. "TattooedTitan" had matched with you.

I opened the chat with "TattooedTitan" and sent a casual greeting.

"Hey, what's up?" I typed.

The response came quickly.

"Not much, just got back from a concert. How about you?"

I smiled, enjoying the easy banter.

"Just chillin' at home. What kind of concert?"

"Foo Fighters," he replied. "They're my favorite band."

We chatted for a bit longer, exchanging music recommendations and laughter.

It felt nice to have a simple conversation.

Suddenly Something caught my eye out the window. A light trailing from the house to the barn.

Elijah.

A tug-of-war raged within me. Part of me yearned to meet Elijah, to reconnect and recapture the spark that once burned between us. But another part, fueled by past heartache, hesitated. Could I ever truly fit into his world?

Glancing at the clock, I saw 9:27. The darkness outside seemed to whisper, "Go." I threw on my winter coat and stepped out into the night, my feet carrying me toward the barn with a sense of purpose.

Using my phone's flashlight, I navigated the snowy path, the beam casting eerie shadows on the ground. The barn door loomed ahead, Elijah's office nestled within. My heart pounded as I approached, wondering what lay beyond the threshold.

I hesitated then gave the rough wood a little knock.

Elijah

I stood in my office, surrounded by the familiar scent of wood and leather. The lantern on my desk cast a warm glow, illuminating the papers and blueprints spread out before me. But my mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of Ember.

Seeing her today stirred a lot of emotions inside me. Recalling her smile and the way she laughed earlier, it seemed like she hadn't laughed in a while. I sure hadn't. The memory of her joy was a bittersweet reminder of the happiness I'd been missing.

Just as I was about to give into my thoughts and attempt another release I heard footsteps outside the door.

Wondering who it could be I heard 3 soft knocks on the window.

I opened the door and my eyes widened slightly as I took in the sight of Ember standing before me. Her face was illuminated by the faint moonlight filtering through the windows, casting a soft glow on her features. I had expected to see her again, but not so soon.

"Ember," I said, my voice low and husky. "I didn't expect to see you again today."

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. "I couldn't sleep," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I had to come to you."

My heart skipped a beat as I took a step closer to her. "What is it?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

Ember's eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through me. "I just needed to see you," she said, her voice filled with emotion.

Pulling her into the barn I wrapped my arms around her, the warmth of her tiny body seeped into mine, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. This was forbidden, I knew. Ember was forbidden, a temptation I had tried to resist for so long. But in this moment, I didn't care. I needed her, and she needed me.

Her head rested against my chest, and I could feel her heartbeat slow, her breathing calm. I held her close, my arms tightening around her, as if I could keep her safe from the world.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, my lips brushing against her hair. "I should have been there for you."

Ember's arms slipped around my waist, holding me close. "You were," she whispered back. "You always were. Even though it wasn’t physically"

In that moment, the world outside receded, and all that mattered was the two of us, lost in this forbidden love. Even if all I could offer her was friendship, I vowed to myself in this moment that I would be there.

I pulled back, my hands cradling Ember's face. Her flinch at my touch sent a pang through my chest. The bruises on her cheek made my blood boil.

"Ember, tell me what happened," I demanded, my voice firm but gentle. "Do not leave anything out."

She sighed, her eyes dropping to the floor. I followed her gaze, my eyes settling on the worn wooden bench. Ember sat down, her shoulders sagging.

I sat beside her, my arm brushing against hers. "Tell me," I repeated, my voice softer now.

Ember's eyes met mine, and I saw the pain and fear reflected back. "It was my boyfriend Paul," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I found out he was cheating on me and then… he lost control."

My grip on her hand tightened. "What did he do?" I asked, my voice low and menacing.

Ember's eyes filled with tears. "He hit me," she whispered. "He hit me and choked me on multiple occasions."

I pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as she sobbed.

“Ember I will never let that man touch you again. You have my wold.” I whispered in her ear.

"I don't need to worry too much now because I have an order of protection and he was arrested," Ember explained, her voice steady. "I doubt he'll come after me now that the law is involved. I just hate that I'm going to have a scar now."

"Scar?" I asked, confused. I only saw bruises.

Ember hesitated, her eyes welling up with tears. She slowly pulled off her coat and shirt, revealing her vulnerability. Her shoulder trembled as she pointed to a jagged mark.

I brought the lantern closer, my heart racing with anger. Teeth marks, deep and vicious, marred her skin. My fists clenched, and I felt a growl rising in my throat.

"He did this to you?" I demanded, my voice low and menacing.

Ember's eyes locked onto mine, fear flickering in their depths. "I’m ruined," she whispered.

My anger boiled over. I wanted to kill him, to make him pay for what he'd done to her. But I knew I had to stay calm, for Ember's sake.

"Ember, you are not ruined," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "You are still the most gorgeous girl I have ever laid eyes on."