Past & Present Collide (5 page)

Chapter 9

She automatically flipped to the last page and began to read:

March 1942,

I sit here heartbroken. I am staring at my things packed and ready to go. I am leaving this evening for a big city. I won’t be taking this journal with me because it is filled with a lot of heartache for me.

I love David I do love him so much, but I know now I am making the best choice for me at this moment in my life. I hope we can meet in the future, but I know once I leave this is goodbye.

I have to leave before he comes back
home. Knowing I won’t be able to once he is here.

Goodbye,

Kaylie

Kylie sat on the bed tears filling her eyes up again. She was up against the same this young woman had been years ago and Kaylie chose to leave. Kylie wanted to believe she could figure everything out before it came to goodbye for her, but as the days passed her by she was becoming more fearful that her fate would end the same way young Kaylie’s had. Therefore her decision would make Derek’s fate the same as David’s own heartbroken fate many years ago.

As she slid further down into the bed she suddenly didn’t care if she had dreamed David up she wanted him to return to her. Knowing he was the only person that could help her muddle through the mess of emotions and thoughts. Wiping her eyes as the tears trickled down her face she settled herself into a not so dreamless sleep.

Derek arrived early for their first official date. Ringing the doorbell and patiently waiting for Kylie to answer. She smiled from the other side of the door watching him fidget with his jacket and with the flowers he had brought for her.

Finally she could no longer stand it. She wanted to; she needed to be near him. Since their coffee shop meeting that fateful day she had only spoken to him a handful of
times as they set things up for their date. She was anxious to see him again and now here he was. She opened the door for him and his eyes met hers.

“Uh….hi,” he spoke with extreme nerves coursing through him.

Kylie chuckled as he cleared his throat. “Good evening, you look lovely.” He said as his composure regained.

Kylie stifled another laugh and bl
ushed a bit at his compliment, “Good evening.”

He handed her the flowers and leaned in to kiss her cheek. She smiled as his breath tickled her sensitive skin.

“Come in Derek,” she paused stepping aside so he could enter her tiny apartment, “Let me just find something to put these lovely flowers in. Thank you very much, they’re beautiful.”

“You’re welcome,” he was nervous and this made Kylie let out a little laugh as she watched while she retreated to her kitchen to get a vase.

He was good looking. Brown eyes that wore every emotion he was feeling, and not to mention a smile that made her absolutely melt. As she placed the flowers in the vase with some water she just stared at him. He stared back at her and there was chemistry unlike any she had ever felt.

Coming around her kitchen counter she walked over to him. Extending her hand in an open gesture hoping he would take it. He smiled down at her hand and laced his fingers in between hers.

Locking his eyes onto to hers once more he spoke the nerves slowly fading, and excitement taking over. “Are you ready to go?”

She only smiled and nodded and with that that was led out of her apartment. She never let go of his a she locked up the door. She didn’t want to let go of his hand or him ever. They headed down the stairs and towards his car for their date.

Kylie shot up in bed her eyes wet, her heart beating so fast she thought it was going to pop right out of her chest. She shook her head trying to clear her mind. She took some deep breaths searching for some sort of calm. Calm didn’t though, and with the sun coming up now she thought of only one place she wanted to be,
‘THE SWING’
.

Chapter 10

She grabbed her phone as she headed out to the porch. She curled up on the swing watching as the sun was still rising in the sky. She sighed a deep sigh.

“Too much perfection is my problem.” She whispered to nobody but herself or so she thought.

“Too much perfection, is there such a thing?” A now familiar voice spoke from behind her.

She turned and found David exiting the house. Going over to a porch railing directly across from her and the swing and leaning against.

Kylie shrugged, “I don’t know it certainly seems to be the only thing I can grasp onto as to the possible problem.”

David nodded, “Still considering breaking his heart by leaving, I see.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement one laced with anger and heartache. It was a statement she couldn’t disagree with either.

“I don’t want to break his heart.” Kylie fired back, “but if October comes around and I am still just as confused as I am now I won’t have a choice.” She spoke firmly, but her voice breaking at the same time.

“There is always a choice Kylie, always.” He lowered his head and walked towards the old oak tree vanishing once more before her eyes.

She leaned her head against the swing, and sighed. She knew David was right. There was a choice she just needed to be sure it was the right choice. She wanted to make sure whether or not she stayed or left that is was the right thing to do for her. The choice wasn’t about Derek; she finally realized the choice was about what she felt was going to end up being right for her life.

Chapter 11

She closed her eyes trying to relax from her latest encounter with David, from the dreams, from everything she had been feeling, but relaxation was interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing. She sighed looking at the number debating whether or not to answer the call.

It was her older brother John. Her b
rother had always been fond of Derek. She always took this as a good sign since he hated every guy she ever dated from the time she was sixteen. That was until Derek came into her life. He had always like Derek.

They had been on their own since she was sixteen and he was twenty-one. He had convinced child services to let him have custody of her when their parents died in a horrible car accident, and he had won the fight. He had been her rock for a long time and they were the best of friends. She was independent now and John respected that. John’s job often kept him busy and sometimes as of late they didn’t get a chance to talk for a few months. Smiling at the phone, she knew she wanted to and needed to talk to her brother.

After the fourth ring he picked up, “Hey John.” She said.

“Hey yourself little sis, I went by your apartment and you weren’t there I got worried since it is a S
aturday and Derek’s not home.” John always got straight to the point.

“Yes, Derek bought a house before leaving. He sent me the key a couple months ago. I sort of moved in per his request.” She said explaining, feeling embarrassed she hadn’t had least called.

“You moved into a house a few months ago and didn’t call me?” He was pretty upset, and she didn’t blame him she just had to explain.

“Sorry John, I have had a lot on my mind, so I just forgot.” Flushing red now beyond embarrassed she had forgotten to call him about something so important.

“Having doubts still aren’t you?” John anger subsiding as he put his big brother concerned hat on.

Kylie just nodded she knew he couldn’t hear the nod of her head, but it was all she could manage at the time.

“I can’t hear you nodding Kylie.” John chuckled, and tears started rolling from Kylie’s eyes.

“I know John I just can’t explain it.
” Her voice was breaking, stopping the small chuckle from John in his tracks.

John sighed, “Oh baby sister, you’ll figure it out. Just remember what is most important your love for each other. Love you Kylie.” His older brother compassion and wisdom
was shining through.

“I know John.” She said nodding again and with that the phone call with her older brother ended. He knew she needed time and he wasn’t going to push. He would support any choice she made.

She went back to her thoughts swinging herself on the only place she calm, the porch swing.