Blushing, she looked away. Leaning forward, I whispered, “Cast your eyes upon mine, Colett.” Peeking up at me, she looked into my eyes. The sadness was slowly disappearing. A small part of my heart had opened itself to Colett. I cared about her deeply and didn’t want to see her hurt in any way.
“My desire for you to kiss my lips is both a blessing and a curse, Daniel. For I know your heart belongs to another, and I am very fond of our friendship. Yet, that desire has opened up hope for me to find love again someday. I feel as though I should be forthcoming with my feelings with you always. I want nor do I desire anything but friendship, it’s just—”
Leaning over, I lightly brushed my lips across Colett’s lips. “I understand your feelings, Colett. I truly do.”
Pulling away, she smiled as she stood. Returning to her seat she resumed her reading as I turned and gazed out the window.
Sophia. My heart needs you.
“Daniel, you will pull my arm from my body if you drag me along any faster.”
Laughing, I peeked over my shoulder. “We are so close, Colett. I cannot wait for you to meet my Sophia.”
Grinning, she replied, “I am excited to meet her as well. That does not lessen the ache in my arm though.”
Stopping in front of my parents’ house, I dragged in a deep breath. Colett stood next to me. “Well, what in the world are you waiting for?”
Smiling like a fool, I attempted to calm my heart. “Finally,” I whispered. Racing up the stairs, I gently opened the door. I quickly began looking around as I turned and motioned for Colett to hurry. Lifting her skirts, she ran up the steps, leaving our entire luggage at the bottom of the stairs.
Giving me a smile, she prompted me to move on. I closed my eyes and dreamed I would walk into the parlor and see Sophia holding our child. Taking a step, I rounded the corner.
I smiled as I saw my mother sitting on the sofa and my father behind his desk.
“Mother, Father, I’m finally home.”
They both snapped their heads up and stared at me. Slowly my father stood as my mother placed her hands over her mouth. She instantly started crying.
“This cannot be. This is a dream. This truly must be a dream, Chester,” my mother said between her sobs.
Walking up to me, my father touched the side of my face and broke down crying. “You were dead. They said you were dead.”
My heart had never beat so hard in my chest. If my parents thought I was dead, Sophia thought the same.
Placing my hand on my father’s shoulders, I said, “No, Father, the boat sank and I was badly injured. I ended up in France and—” Turning to Colett, I pointed—“Colett’s family nursed me back to health. I wrote numerous letters home and to Sophia’s parents, did you not receive them?”
Standing, my mother shook her head. “No. Not a one! Oh, my baby boy!” Running to me, my mother threw herself into my arms. “We thought you were dead. Sophia, she was devastated.”
Pulling back from my mother, I looked around. “Where is she? Where is my child?”
Staring at me with tears streaming down her face, she frantically began shaking her head. “Chester! Oh god, Chester!” My father took my mother into his arms. He held her tightly as she fell apart. “She thought you were dead!” my mother called out as Father took her to the sofa. Colett quickly walked over and sat next to my mother and tried to comfort her.
“Father?”
Turning to me, he smiled. “Daniel, please give me a moment or two, for I thought my youngest son to be dead. Now you appear before me, almost a year later, and my eyes do not believe what they see.”
Smiling, I nodded my head. “I’m very much alive and want nothing more than to see my wife and child.”
His smile faded and grief moved across his face. Feeling sick, I asked, “What has become of Sophia and my child?”
“Daniel, please, sit down, son.”
Feeling my heart rate raise, my breathing became shallow. Dear God, no. Please no.
“Father, just tell me what has happened to my wife and child!”
My mother attempted to control her sobs as my father slowly took in a deep breath and let it out as his hand pushed through his hair.
“We received a telegram from your uncle. It stated your ship had never arrived in England. There was a terrible storm and all who were aboard were feared … lost.”