Just Between Friends (25 page)

     “I knew I had heard your voice, but I thought it was possible it had only been a dream.  But what about the first time, shortly after you had been reported killed?”  She shivered at the mention of that word.  “I heard your voice vividly, telling me not to give up on you.”

     It was Stevens turn to look shocked.  “How long Miranda?  How long after I was reported killed did you hear that?”

     Puzzled, she replied, “I don’t know, a month or so, why?”

     “Because, once while lying in bed, my determination had grown stronger, and I spoke aloud.  I had said, Miranda, please don’t give up on me.  I’m coming home soon.”

     Miranda felt the chills start up her spine.

     “That’s the only thing I ever spoke aloud to you during my time in the hospital.”

     She stared lovingly into his eyes, feeling closer to him at this moment then she had ever felt in her life.  It was amazing to realize how strong the connection was between them, for her to actually hear his voice from so far away.  Suddenly she burst into tears.

     “Miranda,” Steven soothed, “What is it?  Did I say something wrong?”

     “Oh Steven no, if you could only know how happy I feel inside right now, you would be crying too.  I’m almost afraid to turn away, for fear you’ll disappear and I’ll find this is all just a dream.  I have waited so long for you.  This just doesn’t seem real.”

     Reaching out, he pulled her into his arms and said, “Well, baby, I can hardly believe it myself, being able to hold you in my arms again.  I’ve dreamed of this moment since the day I left.  I love you so much.”  He leaned and kissed her once more.  When he drew away, he declared, “Miranda, it’s getting too cold out here for you.  We must be going. I don’t know what I’m going to say to everyone, but I know now it’s time to go home.  I will admit though, I am a bit nervous.”

     “Don’t be Steven. Everyone knows you’re alive. We’ve been searching for you, and since we couldn’t find you, your family assumed you moved on.  It’ll make them so happy to see that you haven’t.”

     Shaking his head, he remarked, “That little scamp.  Sarah, I mean.  I asked her not to tell anyone about me, but I guess she is just a child.  I should have known she would say something.”  Taking her hand in his, he admitted, “I think maybe deep down, I was hoping she would.  It was becoming impossible to stay away from you any longer.”

     Miranda laid her head against his shoulder, and he slipped his arm around her.  “Let’s not say anymore right now, Steven.  Let’s just go home.  I want to see you in the light.  It’s been so long.  Besides, I can’t wait to tell mama and papa.  We can go there first, and you can freshen up, then if you want, I’ll go with you to your parent’s house, alright?”

     “Sounds perfect,” he agreed, “but first, look at me, baby.”  She did as he asked, and he lowered his lips to hers.  When he pulled away, he slipped his arm around her once more as she took the reins in her hands and drove toward home.

     Frank and Mary had been waiting up on Miranda. By the time it had turned ten o’clock, and she still hadn’t returned, they were beginning to worry. Cassie and Ben had shown up shortly after Miranda had left, and had decided to stay until she returned.  Arising from his chair, Frank went to the window and peered out. Turning, he announced, “If she’s not back by eleven I’m going to go look for her.  I don’t care if she gets angry or not.  She shouldn’t be taking so long.”

     Mary was also worried. This was so unlike Miranda, she thought.  She was usually more sensible than this.  It had been so foggy, she feared she had driven off the road and been hurt.  “Frank,” she began, “why don’t you go now?  She could be lying out there somewhere, injured, or even worse.”

     Shaking his head, he replied, “No, dear, I understand you’re worried, and so am I, but we have to allow her at least that much time.”

     “Don’t worry, Mama,” Cassie cut in, “Miranda’s alright.  She’s always known how to take care of herself.”

     Just then they heard her returning.  Frank was still looking out the window, but he couldn’t make out anything in this fog.  So, they waited.

     A couple of minutes passed, before the front door finally opened and Miranda walked in.  They were expecting to see her return as she had earlier this morning, feeling depressed and hopeless, but were surprised to see her mood had changed completely.

     They soon saw the reason for that change, for a second figure had entered the house, taking them all by surprise.  They were speechless.  This was such a shock.  Cassie was the first to respond.  “Steven!”  She screamed, as she ran to him.  Throwing her arms around his neck, she exclaimed, “You are alive!  I’m so happy!”

     Wrapping his arms around her, he couldn’t believe his eyes, “Cassandra?”  Drawing back, he shook his head.  “Look at you.  You’re all grown up.  When I left, you were only thirteen or fourteen.  You’ve turned into such a beauty.”

     Ben jumped in.  “Hey, watch it!”  He teased.  “You happen to be talking about my wife.”

     But Steven knew he was only joking, and laughed. “You needn’t worry,” he assured him.  “I only have eyes for her sister.”  He glanced lovingly at Miranda and smiled.

     Ben then replied as he shook his hand.  “It’s so good to see you, Steven.  It’s about time you came back.  We didn’t know what we were going to do with Miranda.”  He looked at her and winked, then added, “She kept insisting you was alive, and she wouldn’t have stopped looking until she found you.  I guess now, she can finally rest.”

     “I know,” he agreed, sounding guilty.  “It was wrong of me to have put her through all I did, but it’s a long story.  I’ll explain everything when I can.”

     By now Frank and Mary had joined them, and Mary went to him and hugged him.  She had been silently praying all evening that Miranda would find him.  She felt so thankful.

     Frank shook his hand, and embraced him also.  Steven had always seemed like a son to him. He was so relieved to see him alive.

     “Please Steven, come in and sit down,” Mary urged. “You must be exhausted.”  She looked at Miranda and added, “You too, honey.  You’ve hardly had any rest.  Sit for a while and talk with your father and Ben, while Cassie and I go in and make you both some dinner.  You must be starved.”

     Miranda agreed, she was hungry, but she was far too excited to eat.  She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Steven.  It seemed impossible that he would be standing here in her house after all these years.  As she watched him, she could see what toll the war had had on him.  He was only twenty-four years old, but he looked much older.  Although they weren’t too noticeable, she could see several small scars on one side of his face.  When he had left six years ago, his hair was so soft and shiny.  Now it was long and scraggly, and he was so thin.  But now that he was back, all that would change.  She would see to that.  She knew his mother would also.

     She had been so intent on Steven just now she’d barely heard her mother.  “Miranda, honey, did you hear me?  I asked if you were ready to eat?”

     “I’m sorry, Mama.  I didn’t hear you.  Yes, I have to admit, I am ravished, but I’m still so excited, I don’t know if I can eat or not, but I’ll give it a try.”  She looked at Steven again and arched a brow, “I’m sure you’re hungry too, aren’t you?”

     He nodded, “It has been a very long time since I’ve had a home cooked meal.”

     “Well, say no more,” Mary stated, “I’ll fix you up in a hurry.”  She turned to Cassandra then, and asked, “You don’t mind helping me, do you, honey?  I’m so excited I would probably be dropping everything.”

     “You know I don’t mind,” she smiled at her mother.  “But, I can do it if you want, and you can stay here and talk with them.”

     Mary knew she could never sit still when she felt like this.  “No Cassie, I’m much too restless to sit.  I need to calm down a little first.  I’m just so happy.”  She looked at Miranda, then Steven and said, “We’ll be back shortly” She then hurried to the kitchen, with Cassandra following.

     By the time they had both eaten and freshened up, it was well after midnight.  Steven had thought it best to wait until morning to see his family. He didn’t want to keep them up all night.  Besides, he needed the time to prepare for all this.  So Ben and Cassandra had invited him to stay the night at their house.  It was planned when morning came, Miranda was to pick him up and take him home.

     Miranda hated for him to leave.  She never wanted him to leave her again.  They had already lost too much precious time.  All these wasted years. 
But no more
, she thought, as she dressed and crawled into her bed. 
No more
.  He had returned to her, and soon they would be together forever.  She didn’t want to wait to get married.  If she could, she would marry him tomorrow. 
Soon
, she thought, as she buried herself deeper under her covers,
soon
.

     She tried to fall asleep, but she couldn’t.  The excitement was too much.  She still felt this was all a dream. 
What if when morning came, she woke up and found none of this had happened?
 
She wouldn’t be able to bear it, that’s all
.  She pinched herself.  “Ouch!”  She exclaimed. 
I must not be dreaming she convinced herself, or I would have woken myself up.
  The whole evening kept playing over and over in her mind, when she had first heard Steven, when she had turned and saw him walking toward her, and then his first touch.  She tossed and turned half the night, until sleep finally overtook her.

***

     She had only slept a few hours when she awoke to see it was already daylight.  When she had first awakened, she was confused.  Then realizing all that had taken place, she jumped up, dressed and hurried downstairs.

     “Good morning Miranda,” her mother greeted, as she entered the kitchen.  “Did you sleep well?”

     Going to the table and pulling out a chair, she answered, “I guess I did once I managed to fall asleep.  I tossed and turned half the night, replaying everything in my mind. I still can’t believe it, can you Mama?”  She sat then and Mary brought her a plate containing sausage, eggs and a biscuit.  It looked delicious.  She hadn’t eaten much the last few days, and her appetite was returning.

     “No, honey,” her mother agreed, “after all this time, it is hard to believe.  I would like to be there when you take him home.  Won’t that be some reunion?”

     Miranda could almost envision how it would be. 
Such an emotional time,
she thought.  She could imagine Amelia’s face already and how happy she would be to see her son alive.  She could hardly wait.  “Oh Mama, they’re all going to be so happy.  If only Michael had lived, their family could be complete once more.”

     “I know,” Mary nodded, “but they’ve accepted Michaels death I think.”

     “Oh I don’t know.  Sam still misses him, I can tell.  She loved him so much.”

     Mary agreed, “Yes, this is true, I know, but personally I think she has feelings for Alec now.  I never wanted to say anything before, but now that Steven’s back, I don’t mind.”

     “I know, Mama, and I also believe he has feelings for her.  They would be good for one another, even if she is older than he. I know he loves Sarah as much as he would his own.  But enough about all this, I want to finish my breakfast, and be on my way.  I’m so anxious to see Steven.”

     She finished, then stood and took her dishes to the sink, washed and dried them, then put them away. Turning to her mother who had just returned to the kitchen carrying Tommy, she said, “Mama, if you don’t need me for anything, I think I’ll leave.”

     Mary shook her head and smiled.  “No, I’m fine.  You go ahead.”

     Miranda walked over and ran her fingers through Tommy’s hair, then kissed him on the top of his head.  She then kissed her mother on the cheek.  “I might be awhile.  I don’t know what all will be going on today.  I want to be with Steven all I can.”

     “Don’t worry about me, Miranda.  You just go and enjoy yourself.  We know where you are.  We won’t have to worry today.”