Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

We kissed each other's cheek. Her eyes glistened with tears. It saddened me to see it, but I fought back crying, too. She straightened up again and stuffed her handkerchief back into her bag.

"I'm jist goin' ta go down ta that fancy cafeteria fer a cup a coffee. Promised Luke I'd let ya two have some time alone, though why there's gotta be secrets kept from me, Ah don't know." She cast a suspicious eye on Luke.

Luke blushed.

"It's not secrets, Ma. I told you."

"All right, all right. I'll be back in ten minutes."

She got up, squeezed my hand, and left. As soon as she went out the door, Luke moved closer to my bed. I reached up and took his hand into mine.

"How have you really been, Annie?"

"It's been hard, Luke; especially when I'm awake and I can think and remember. All I do is cry," I whimpered, and I began to cry again, to really sob as Luke sat on the side of the bed and comforted me with his strong arms. We remained like that for a long time, until my heart got stronger and my tears receded.

"I wish there was something more I could do for you." He looked down and then looked up quickly. "I dreamt I had gone to college and become a doctor and I was able to treat you and make you well again very quickly."

"You would be a wonderful doctor, Luke," I said as my sobs subsided.

"I wish I was one now." He fixed his eyes on me.

"Everyone's been wonderful," I insisted. "Drake comes every day, and Tony is really doing a lot for us." He nodded. "Anyway, I'm finally going to Farthy. I just wish it were for different reasons."

"I'll come see you, Annie. If they'll let me." "Of course they'll let you," I assured him.

"As soon as I get my first opportunity. And if you're still in a wheelchair, wheel you all about and we'll see all those places we dreamt about. We'll even go to the maze and--"

"Perhaps you'll take rue to their grave site, Luke. If I don't get there before you come," I said solemnly.

"Oh, I'd like that, Annie. I mean--"

"Maybe soon be able to wheel myself, so we can separate and try to find each other like we dreamt we would," I said quickly. It seemed to wrong to turn Farthy into a sad place, especially after we had built it up to be so fantastic in our minds.

"Yes, and we'll go down to the big pool and the tennis courts--"

"And you'll still be my prince?" I teased.

"Oh, more than ever now." He stood up and took a princely pose. "My lady," he said with a wide sweep of his arms. "Might I wheel you through all the gardens this morning? We'll go to the gazebo, where we'll sit until the sun goes down, talking softly and drinking mint juleps."

"Afterward, do you promise to sit with me in the concert hall so we can listen to music by the grand piano, Prince Luke?"

"Your wish is my command, my lady," he said, kneeling beside the bed and taking my hand to his lips. He kissed my fingers and stood up. His eyes dazzled as another fantasy returned.

"Or we can be Southern aristocracy again," he offered.

"And get all dressed up for elegant dinner parties?" I asked smiling.

"Of course. wear a tuxedo and you'll come

floating down the long stairway, looking like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind with your dress trailing behind you. And you'll say--"

"I'll say, 'Why, Luke Casteel, it's so nice to see you.'"

"Annie, you're looking more beautiful than ever," he recited, imitating Clark Gable in the movie. "But I must keep my wits about me. I know the way you manipulate men with your dazzling beauty."

"Oh, not you, Luke. I would never manipulate you."

"Oh, but Annie, there is no one I would rather have manipulating me," he said with such sincerity in his eyes, I was speechless for a moment.