Page 20 of Alive (Shadows of a Forgotten Past #2)

CHAPTER 20

~ FOREVERMORE ~

I lay in bed, my heart beating quietly, steadily. I touched my face and looked at my hands, now marred by wrinkles—the imprints of a lifetime of joy and sadness. And now, at the end of it all, the hour had come to move on to my final home. I could hardly wait another minute to be with Alex and those I loved. I closed my eyes, and welcomed the memories that washed over me, carrying me back through some of the moments that had defined me.

The Second World War lasted six long, dreadful years. The United States, urged by the United Kingdom and forced into action by Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, sealed the Allied victory. The mission Alex and Will took part in, became known as the Tizard Mission and proved critical in ending the Nazis’ reign of terror.

Alex and I spent the rest of our lives at Forti Radici, often traveling to our haven at Keyhaven. We maintained the Victory Garden throughout the war, sharing its harvest with those in need. Four years into the conflict, we converted the manor into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers. Backed by his military experience, Alex’s support was invaluable to the patients who arrived almost daily. I did my best to keep pace with him, but, as always, he remained one step ahead.

At times, it felt like the nightmare would never end, but it did. And the very first thing we did was travel to America to visit Granny and Oak’s Place. Granny lived a long, blessed life before following the course of humankind. Often, I wondered if she and her beloved priest would have a chance together in the hereafter. I had a strong feeling they would.

Mr. Snider and, later, his heirs, took excellent care of Oak’s Place. He married a woman from Geneva, and together they built a hardworking family. After Granny’s passing, Alex gifted the mansion to them.

A year after the war, Alex and I made our first trip to India together. India—oh, what fond memories I had of that place. It was there we conceived our second child. Since our firstborn had miraculously carried Alex’s father’s given name, William, we chose Marcus for our second, honoring my father. Not long later, we welcomed a baby girl, Margaret, named after Alex’s mother. And, of course, we had our beloved Eldad. We taught him about his people’s faith, courage, and resilience—things he must always honor. He grew up to become one of the most successful businessmen in England and a passionate advocate for human rights.

Over the years, day in and day out, the halls of Forti Radici echoed with the happy sounds of children’s laughter and the pitter-patter of little feet. But the laugh I cherished most was Alex’s. He gave me a life filled with joy. He gave me a family.

It had now been ten years since Mr. Sterling left me—ten long years that felt like a century. To his credit, he never failed to check on me. Each night, I felt his presence, his unwavering concern for my well-being. I heard his whisper in my ear, “Good night, my lady. I love you.” I felt the brush of his lips against my forehead—until last night. For the first time in a decade, he hadn’t come. I knew then he must be busy preparing for my arrival.

“Mother, we are here,” Eldad announced, pulling me from my reverie.

I opened my eyes and beheld my children. “Eldad, Marcus, Margaret, there are no words to describe how proud I am of you. You have brought me such incredible joy.”

“I will miss you, Mother,” Margaret choked out, tears welling in her eyes.

“I won’t be far.”

“Say hello to Papa for us,” Eldad said. Papa . Little Eldad had adored Alex. Alex had been a wonderful father to him. I smiled, recalling how, from the very beginning, Eldad would wander into our bedroom and refuse to leave. Alex would patiently coax him back to his bed, often staying to read until both fell asleep. Then, it was my turn to coax Alex back to our room.

“I will,” I promised.

“Tell Father there will always be a Sterling in the army to make him proud,” Marcus added. His features justified his name. He was the spitting image of his grandfather, General Marcus Contini. And like his father and grandfather, Marcus carried a deep-seated passion for serving his country.

“Consider it done.”

“Don’t worry about Forti Radici. There will always be a Sterling to care for it,” Margaret said. “And as long as there is one of us here, your gladioli and roses will continue to bloom.”

“Thank you, darling. Thank you.”

“Father will be so happy to see you again,” she added.

“I’m afraid to find out what he’s been up to all this time without me or the army,” I teased.

They laughed, the sound sweet and poignant. One by one, they kissed me and receded to the back of the bedroom, speaking in hushed voices. Margaret whispered something about her heart hurting too much, and Eldad comforted her in his arms.

I closed my eyes and drew a long breath. My life, one I had loved and despised, had come and gone. My journey in the mortal world—a place of joy and grief in equal measure—was now complete. Grief had been an unwelcome friend but a friend all the same—one that taught me to love deeper, hope more, and push beyond my comfort zone. I now realized that nothing mattered except for the things I would take with me into the next life, the knowledge that shaped my character and the bonds of love I forged and protected throughout my life. Those bonds would reunite me with my dear ones, keeping our family unit intact.

Life, I realized, was an intricately woven tapestry, each of us working together to produce a beautiful masterpiece of love, mercy, and justice. Here, at the end of my path, one eternal truth was engraved in my soul—love was worth fighting for.

“You have done well, Florence,” I told myself.

My spirit separated from its mortal host and stood beside the bed. Young again and full of vitality, I rejoiced in my newfound freedom from the burdens of age. With the wrinkles and frailties left behind, I was blessed with surreal energy. I could think, move, and feel as never before, not even during my out-of-body experiences. I was no longer subject to the elements; instead, I commanded them. It was an incredible, empowering gift.

I gazed at my children, their faces filled with emotion yet oblivious to the new dimension I had entered.

“Hello again!” Lucca greeted, suddenly appearing beside me, his eyes sparkling with life.

“I have missed you,” I said, falling into his embrace.

“I wasn’t far.”

“I owe so much to you.” Gratitude and love overwhelmed me for my dear brother.

“You have eternity to make it up to me.” He smiled sweetly. “Are you ready?”

I was moving on. Nostalgia for the only world I had ever known swept over me. I would miss it—just a little. “May I?” I asked.

“I’ll be right here keeping an eye on these three.” Lucca winked. “Don’t take too long.”

I arrived at the monastery, now run by priests. Invisible, I wandered its halls, admiring the soaring arches and vibrant stained-glass windows—their depictions of the past alive with color. In the dormitories, memories of Higher Grounds flooded back. Gratitude swelled within me for those I loved—the girls, Sister Callahan, Father Thompson, and my dear Granny. I would see her soon.

I moved on to Oak’s Place, and images of my miraculous arrival here hit me at once: Mrs. White’s shock at my initial appearance, her hands shaking as she read my résumé; Mr. Vines’s cold, calculating demeanor; me, walking down the hall to Mr. Sterling’s office; his tall figure staring out the window as I stepped into his life once again; his eyes brimming with emotion as he turned and beheld me; our ride through the forest, the storm, and sleeping in his arms. Saying goodbye to this place proved more painful than I had imagined.

Next, I found myself in Keyhaven, strolling along the familiar shore. Hurst Castle Fortress stood resolutely against the blue sky, and the vast, endless ocean stretched before me. Both had brought me comfort and sorrow. I now bid them farewell. I merged with the trees, inhaling the fresh, salty air. Before long, I saw the cabin, our heaven on earth.

After escaping the German attack, Alex and I spent our first night as a married couple here. Seeing the contusions on his body from Krause’s vicious attack, I’d said, “ I’m sorry about this .”

“ My lady, for a single moment like this ,” he had responded, his cool lips tracing my cheek, “ I would take the beating all over again .” The memories were so tender, so raw, that I couldn’t linger long. I hastened back to the manor.

I crossed green fields. In this lush, calm expanse, Alex and I met for the first time. Father’s comrade turned out to be a handsome soldier who swept me off my feet. Finally, I entered the manor. Its grand halls filled with echoes of the life we had built together.

“ It’s not just a room, and you can’t stay in it! ” I’d told Alex outside Lucca’s room.

“ Would you rather I stay in yours ?” he’d responded.

Our first breakfast together.

“ Good morning, Miss Contini .”

“ There is nothing good about it .”

“ Well, it’s good to see me, isn’t it? ”

“ Are you off your trolley, or is it a side effect of the war ?”

Outside my bedroom.

“ Can you sew it on for me? ” he’d asked, referring to a button.

“ Why don’t you sew it on yourself? Surely, you are capable of that much ,” I’d fired back.

“ You don’t know how to sew ,” he’d mocked.

“ Of course I do, but it doesn’t mean I’ll mend your clothes .”

“ Nah. If you knew how to sew, you would be happy to help me out. ”

“ Definitely off the trolley. ”

The night out in the garden.

“ I’m in love with you, and I don’t know how to express it any other way than— ” Before I could process his words, his lips met mine.

Drawing my thoughts back to the present, I took a longing breath. I needed to see him, to be with him again. Ten years had been far too long.

I entered my bedroom.

“Ready now?” Lucca asked.

“Ready indeed.” I cast one last glance at my children. “Goodbye, my darlings. I love you.”

Lucca took my hand, and light engulfed us, carrying us into a sea of white. Gradually, it faded, revealing a path paved with jewels, leading to a city of crystalline beauty. Like a diamond cradling the sun, it gleamed against a sapphire sky. Within moments, we crossed its borders.

A gathering stood beneath the most vibrant trees I’d ever seen. Freed from the burdens of mortality, the people appeared younger than I remembered, yet remarkable as always. They knew and loved me for who I was. They had always cared for me more than they did for themselves. And oh, how I loved them! My parents were the first to step away from the group and rush to me.

“My dear daughter, welcome!” General Marcus Contini embraced me with the same tender strength I had always known.

“Oh, my darling Florence! How I’ve longed to hold you again!” My mother’s voice broke as she moved toward me with effortless grace. Her dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, her fair skin luminous in the light. She was more beautiful than any of her portraits could ever capture.

I fell into her arms as though I had known her my entire life, as though we had never been apart. Perhaps, like Lucca, she’d always been near.

“Florence, I shouldn’t say this, but you are a few minutes late,” Mrs. Allerton teased, stepping forward with a broad smile. “But of course, I should have expected it—punctuality was never your strength.”

“Mrs. Aller—” My voice broke with emotion.

“ Bienvenue dans notre demeure céleste, mademoiselle ,” Mr. Leroy said as he followed behind her, kissing both my cheeks.

They made a stunning pair—youthful, radiant, freed from worldly cares. It felt as if I had just seen them yesterday, though decades had passed since the German attack that claimed their lives. Since then, I had learned there were many ways to be apart, but separation by time was the cruelest. Time . What was time now? Nothing but a memory.

“Have you forgotten about me?” Granny clasped me in her arms. Gone were her black habit and spectacles, replaced by a dazzling green dress. Her curly brown hair fell freely, unbound by a veil. She looked simply dazzling. “My dear, dear child.”

“Granny! I have missed you terribly.” I clung to her, my gaze drifting to a man nearby. His strikingly symmetrical features and poised stance radiated strength. He watched our reunion in silence, a smile touching his lips. “Is he . . .?” I whispered, more to myself than to her.

“Yes, dear,” Granny replied, her voice tinged with pride. “That’s him.”

I had been right all along; she had been reunited with the priest she loved, bound together in immortality.

Once the greetings were over, laughter and joyful chatter filled the air. I was quickly brought up to date on their wonderful lives here, the knowledge passing from person to person with incredible velocity and understanding.

Suddenly, a pull stirred deep in my heart. Taking a breath, I turned—and there he was. Tall, handsome, and smiling just as I remembered him. My Will.

“Will!”

“Welcome home, Mum! We are together at last.”

“My dear son!” I fell into his arms, and in that moment, my long-ago living dream became a reality. I now fully understood.

The church’s bells had symbolized my inner connection to a higher power, the constant force guiding me to goodness and love. My journey through the forest mirrored the weariness, disappointments, and suffering I had endured in mortality. And now, the culmination of the dream—standing in the church and holding my son in my arms—was fulfilled. I had reached my eternal destination, where I was physically and spiritually whole. My two lives had finally, peacefully merged into one.

As if summoned by the warmth of the moment, a gorgeous young woman, the picture of refinement itself, joined us.

“Mum, this is Adeline. I’ve been eager for you to meet her,” Will introduced.

I took her hands into mine. “Indeed, you are just as beautiful as Will said.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Sterling,” she replied shyly. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” I assured, and my attention shifted beyond them. My heart burned as if set aflame, for there he stood—a silhouette illuminated by the brightest light yet.

Alexander Sterling.

The man who had helped me endure everything, who had given me more than I ever dared dreamed possible, watched and waited with undying patience. He looked as young as the day I first met him in the fields of Forti Radici—broad shoulders, dark hair, blue eyes, and that mesmerizing smile.

I raced to him, stopping within arm’s reach. Our gazes locked, and in his silence, I saw his struggle to control his emotions.

“You didn’t come to see me last night, Mr. Sterling,” I said playfully.

“I was too busy preparing for your arrival, my lady.”

“Wasn’t ten years long enough?”

“Not for the arrival of a queen.”

“Well . . . I’m here.”

“At last.”

“What now, Mr. Sterling?”

“Now, Miss Contini, we spend eternity together.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

He pulled me into the security of his embrace and kissed me with a fervency I hadn’t imagined possible, a passion that blended our souls into one. Eternity stretched before us. It would be good. Really, really good.

* * *

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And don’t miss more from Marcia Armandi with THE GHOSTS OF LEWIS MANOR available now. Turn the page for the Author’s Note, and then a sneak peek!