Living Within The Unknown

Chapter 8 Chance Meeting At The Cemetery

Camille is decorating Corey"s jar as she had every other day since his death. She places one dozen red roses on his grave. She begins to talk to him.

"Corey I love you with all that I am. Heart and soul. How could you leave me so young in life. We had plans do you remember? We settled down in your home town so that we could have our children here and raise them here. We bought that big mansion so that we could fill it with our love and make memories. Except for the one night we shared there making love. Now all that lives here is your spirit and your memory. I could never leave now. I feel the closest to you there. I don't feel it here, but I come four times a week to honor you. I talk to you everywhere here and there. The Cemetery, the house, and yes the hotel. People that don't know our story will never understand it they just think I'm crazy. Then these words that would come out of your mouth would be, "Who cares what people think." This was only one of the things we could agree on. The employees know our story so it's nothing to see me wandering different halls and look like I'm talking to myself. However I try to keep it under wraps around the clients."

All of a sudden She hears the iron gate close which just about makes her jump out of her skin.

Camille usually came in the evening when everyone had done their visiting for the day and she would stay way past the sun setting.

She looked toward the gate and in the pale moonlight she could see him as clear as day. Oh God she thought, it is him, My Corey has come home to me. No that's not possible her brain was arguing with her eyes and her heart. Her hearts kept skipping beats and got faster the longer she observed him.

If that wasn't strange enough, that he looked just like him, he walked straight up to Corey's mom and dad's graves. Which was where she was headed next she always said goodbye to them on her way out because Corey couldn't visit them anymore.

He placed his flowers on their graves to decorate them. She could hear him as he spoke ever so quietly.

"Sorry mom and dad I know it's been a while since I've visited. it's just I've finally bought the property and am putting in that Bookstore that I've always dreamed about. With all it's little perks.

It's mine finally .mine. I am only in town a few weeks wrapping up the deal. it really is a hell of a deal and going house hunting then I have to go home just long enough to pack up all my things for the move.

I had my heart set on Cypress Hill Mansion, but a young couple bought it. Word has it that her husband was murdered there and rumor has it that she will never sell. So I'll just have to find a place to call my own."

Tears streamed down her face. Despite the air being cold her checks were flushed and hot. She coughed so that he knew she was there. She pulled a Kleenex out of her pocket. She always brought a handful because something at the Cemetery would always make her cry.

Whether it was a child there visiting their mom or dad's graves with the other parent or maybe a child grave with a picture that died so young that his or her life had barely begun.

Tonight it was about Corey's rebirth. Corey and Camille's dream was to buy that same property and turn it into that exact same bookstore. They own that same mansion he was wanting to buy. She was that widow and the rumor was correct she would never sell Cypress Hill as long as she were alive. Upon her dead she would leave it to someone worth leaving it to.

"Sorry," he said walking her way,"I didn't know anyone else was here. Hi my name is Corey."

Her heart began racing, her mind closing into second place and her heart leaped ahead of both of them. IT was such a close race but you know the heart always comes in first no matter what obstacles it might face. She broke back in to do a reality check.

"Sorry my name is Camille. You just remind me of someone I used to know." She reached her hand out and as soon as their hands touched they could see the past, their past.

It scared him and he turned loose. As she stepped sideways. In the moonlight, she could see the look on his face (GHOST white) when he saw the grave.

His lips were slightly trembling as he read the name aloud. Corey Thompson, but that is impossible he said I am alive and well and standing right here in front of you.

She could tell how shaken up he was about the whole episode so the next words that came out of her mouth were,"I am sure there are a lot of Corey Thompson's out there." Trying to save what was left of his sanity maybe even some of what was left of hers.

Her heart was telling her something else especially after the touch. His eyes, his hair, his voice, and even his walk and mind thoughts were the same. How could he possibly be anyone else's Corey besides hers.

She broke out of her trance again.

"Where are you staying while you are here in our lovely town?"

"Mystic Falls Hotel."

"I own that hotel among others in different states."

"Have we met before?" he asked. "It's just I feel a strong connection between us."

She lied again, "Not unless it was at the hotel. I see a lot of clients a day. It's hard to pinpoint the ones I've talked to and the ones I haven't.

"No I am pretty sure it wasn't there. See I just checked in today. Besides that if I would have seen a beautiful woman as you I would have definitely remembered it."He replied.

"No you are right. If I would've seen a good looking guy, such as yourself, I would have definitely remembered it too." she replied back batting her eyes at him.

That was it. He fell in love with her in a Cemetery and he knew he had to have her. Someone to call his own. He needed her like the fliers needed the rain. The sun needed to shine. He knew that it sounded cliche but he didn't care this is what his heart was feeling. Meanwhile his mind was telling him, "She is the widow of Corey Thomson's and you will never measure up to the love of her life. His heart wouldn't accept that it s**t it down his brain and allowed him to get wrapped up in his feeling he was feeling about her right now in the moonlight. She was spectacular.

Putting an end to the silence and finally said, "Would you like to go have a cup of coffee?"

"Now?" she asked.

"Yeah," he returned.

"Okay," She was infatuated with the thought of him, "I know this great hotel in town. We can set in a cave listening to the waterfalls, romantic music, and watching the water cascade into awesome colors. How does that sound to you?"

"Perfect! he replied. "Your car or mine?"

"Yours," She said automatically and what would you know. "A black jag."

Her heart dropped all the way to her feet and she knew he was brought back to her for a reason. She didn't know why and she just didn't care. He was there with her now and that's all that mattered. She still loved him with everything she was. Heart and soul. That was that! She fell right off a cliff with him. Plummeting trying to reach the ground but there was no middle ground where they were concerned and there was no bottom so they were just free falling into the night sky."

It was a shock to Leah, Nikki, and Cassie when they seen Camille and Corey walk through the door. They were all in the foyer relaxing after a long shift when the two of them walked in. Oh my God how could they have met in the streets. The hotel I get but the streets.

"This was way out of our spectrum. We couldn't have avoided it even if we tried," Cassie said aloud.

"Nope no one could have foreseen this future." Leah added.

The closer Camille and Corey got to them just made Nikki's eyes grow that much wider. She was at Camille's when he checked in so she had still yet to see him.

Her mind was reeling he was Corey through and through even down to the way he walked. "What the HELL she was thinking to herself. He couldn't have just got out of the grave, came in, waves at everyone and said, "I'm back!"It just couldn't have happened except here he is staring her face to face. How can she deny that either.

She has always looked out for Camille and had her back and even though she was the same age as Camille when they met. Camille gave Nikki her first job. She had been employee and friend to both Camille and Corey. Following Camille and Corey from hotel to hotel, state to state, and would help them to start one of their new hotels. She felt as though it was a privilege to know them. Now Camille is one of her very best friends and this new kid in town, Corey just swoops in to sweep her off her feet. Well she will have to just feel him out and make sure her friends heart does not get cracked wide open cause she could not watch her go through that all over again. After all Nikki thought we seen Corey Thompson in the morgue (for identification), in the casket at the viewing and funeral. Then at the Cemetery they watched them shovel dirt into his grave. There is no way this could be him standing before her now.

One last thought crossed her mind looking at him sure made a person wander if there is any truth to that age old question is there LIFE AFTER DEATH? She sure wants to see how this unfolds as long as it doesn't hurt her friend. Maybe it will even lift her spirits. Now that was not the word I was looking for. Nikki was still thinking so evidentially that wasn't her last thought after all. Once her mind takes off she has a really hard time to get it reeled back in.

Camille's voice broke her concentration and also made her realize that she had been staring.

"I am sorry I was just lost in my own train of thought. My name is Nikki." She grabbed two menus, not that Camille would need one, seeing as how she designed them herself all the way down to taste testing every item before allowing it to be put on the menu. Also every one of her servers had to taste test everything on the menu. So every evening when it slowed down you were served anew entree, appetizer, dessert and a wine or a drink from the bar. Camille felt as if you are going to serve it to the clients you need to know what it tastes like in case they ask. She didn't mind though the good from the hotel's restaurant and banquets were delicious, but their coffees were to die for. Oh God Nikki pull it together you're spaced again. She walked back up to the table and Camille ordered for them two Kahlua Coffees with whipped cream.

As Nikki walked off she looked back over her shoulder and they were looking into each other's eyes and then Camille three her head back and laughed.

All Nikki could think was YOU GO GIRL!