Chapter Thirty-One
Andrew set the gallons of paint next to his supplies on the back porch. Dressed in a color-stained t-shirt and loose-fitting khaki shorts, he straightened and turned to face the beach. He breathed in the fresh salty air instead of the paint fumes. The cool breeze caressed his heated skin. Calm waves rolled onto the shore and the little birds with tall legs ran. The serenity of the ocean relaxed him. Since he’d been working nonstop for the last several hours painting in the house upstairs, he decided to take a break before continuing.
He strolled down the steps and took a seat at the bottom. Staring at the sea, his thoughts turned to Emily and the time they’d shared at the beach house in Maryland. He’d enjoyed making love to her near the ocean. Several times he’d simply held her in his arms while they gazed at the rippling water and chatted. They were happy together. Everything had felt right. He hoped when she made it to heaven one day they could share their love and happiness again.
Day after day he wondered how she was faring. He believed Matt would help her deal with Andrew’s loss. He prayed for her to heal and be strong for their child.
Sadness returned as he thought about his unborn baby. It would arrive in a few weeks. She’d probably lost hope he would return. Since he’d moved into the house, he’d appealed the council’s decision weekly so he could see his wife and child. So far, he hadn’t received any response. He’d started to think his requests weren’t going to be honored, but he still mailed a letter to God every Wednesday.
“Afternoon, neighbor,” said the man approaching from his left.
Although he stood as tall as Andrew, he had a leaner build. He’d dressed in a red polo shirt and beige pants. His short dark hair had quite a bit of gray mixed in. The crow’s feet near his eyes led Andrew to believe the guy was at least in his late forties, maybe fifties. Andrew had seen him a few times sitting in a rocking chair at the house next door. He’d waved and the man had returned the greeting.
“Afternoon,” Andrew said as he rose.
“My name is David Crossman.” He offered his hand and Andrew accepted it. “Call me Dave. I saw you move in a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t drop by to introduce myself since I thought you might need a little time to adjust. I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“Andrew Webster, and no, I’m taking a break. Would you like to have a seat with me?”
“Sure.” Dave sat at the other end of the wide staircase. “I noticed you’ve been working day and night since you moved in.”
“The house needs a lot of work. I gutted the kitchen and replaced just about everything. The last couple of days I’ve been painting inside. Today I finished. As you can see, I have the windows open to air the rooms out. I still need to replace a few things, put carpet upstairs, and get some furniture. The balcony and porch needs painted too. I decided to take a break before I start.”
“I kept wondering when I’d get a neighbor. The house has been vacant since I moved here. I’d peeked into the windows a few times and had noticed it needed some TLC.”
“My counselor offered me three homes to choose from. I really liked this one, but he’d told me it needed fixed up. I’m not a craftsman at all. My background is in nursing. But he’d said he would get me any supplies I needed.”
“The counselors are nice. Mine checks in with me once a year now.”
“How long have you been here?”
“This will make my seventh summer. I died of a heart attack. I’m waiting for my wife to join me. She’ll be seventy-two in September. She’s thirteen years older than me.”
“Wow, you’ve been waiting seven years?”
Dave nodded. “The first several months were the most difficult. I remember how depressed I was. I didn’t want to do anything but stare at the ocean. I miss her still, but I’m not sad anymore. I know this sounds strange, but I don’t feel much of anything except the love I have for her.”
“That’s normal. I hadn’t realized the differences between heaven and Earth until they’d sent me back.”
“You were sent back?” he asked with his brows scrunched together.
“I originally died in 1989. I spent twenty-seven years here in heaven having fun and sewing my wild oats, if you know what I mean. Someone complained to the council a few times. They’d punished me twice before they decided to return me to Earth. I had to destroy six demons and an extra year would be added to my stay for each woman I had sex with. Well, I met this incredible woman. She wasn’t like any other I’d ever met.”
“Let me guess, you fell in love?”
Andrew nodded. “She changed me and made me a better man. I’d do anything for her. It took her a while to realize we were destined for each other. On Earth, I went through a lot of emotions while she worked with me—frustration, anger, jealousy, love, regret, sadness… Everything felt ten times stronger than I remembered from my previous stay in heaven. And now that I’m back, I feel the emotions dissipating except for the love I have for her. I think of her all the time. The heartache and misery I had felt isn’t crippling me like it had when I’d first arrived.”
“That is an incredible story. And I had no idea emotions could … dissolve. I noticed other things like hair doesn’t grow and we don’t age.”
“The food and drinks don’t taste the same here either.”
“Really?” He shook his head. “I guess I hadn’t noticed.”
“Unless you are sentenced to Earth, you wouldn’t know the difference. My body was alive again. I could taste food and beer. My hair grew, so I had to shave. I had put on a few pounds too since I got out of my workout routine.”
Dave chuckled. “I guess there are some advantages in heaven. I don’t miss shaving and I’m glad I can eat whatever I want.”
“There’s always some trade-offs.”
Dave grinned. “I had no idea heaven could return people.”
“As far as I know, it’s used as a means of punishment.”
“That’s interesting.” He twisted and looked at the house. “Are you fixing up the house for your wife?”
“Yes. Before I left she said she wanted a home on a beach. I don’t know when I’ll see her again, but I want to be ready. I keep hoping my appeal will come through so I can see my baby, but I haven’t received any kind of response.”
“Wait, did you say baby?”
“My wife is due in a few weeks. I was supposed to be with her through late October, but the demon I was trying to destroy set off a bomb. That’s how I ended up here again. I pleaded for the council to return me, but they decided I should stay. I’ve mailed appeals weekly, but I don’t think anyone cares. I’ll never get to see my one and only child.”
“That’s horrible. I can’t believe they won’t send you back to see your baby.”
“It doesn’t seem right, but there’s nothing else I can do. I even asked my counselor to check into the matter. He said his calls aren’t being returned. If the big boss won’t let me go, then I’m stuck here.”
“Andrew, I’m so sorry.” Dave shook his head. “That’s so sad.”
Andrew shifted his gaze to the beach. “There’s nothing more I can do other than prepare for my wife someday.”
“I understand,” Dave said in low tone.
“How long were you married, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Twenty-five years.”
Andrew’s eyes widened. “That’s a long time.”
“We met at a restaurant while I was in the air force. I was on leave in North Carolina and went into town. She was a waitress. I was smitten when I saw her. We flirted and talked. I spent the entire day in the restaurant drinking tea. When she got off work, she sat and she stayed to chat with me. We exchanged numbers and addresses before we went our separate ways. I got back to the base and tossed my clothes in my hamper, forgetting her information was in my pocket. A buddy was washing laundry the next morning. He grabbed mine to add to his. When my pants came back, the writing on the note had disappeared.”
“You’re kidding?” Andrew asked.
“I wish. I didn’t run into her until four years later. I’d served in the first Gulf War for a year. When I came home I decided it was time to get a job and settle down. I moved to the east coast and found her working in a restaurant as a waitress. She hadn’t contacted me all those years because she’d set the note with my credentials on a table with her tips before she went to bed. Her roommate came home late and had stolen everything. Casey never found my note.”
Andrew stared with awe. “Now that is an incredible story of fate.”
“We had three kids and one grandchild. I think about them all the time, but mostly I think about my wife. She had a great smile. She loved the ocean. Sometimes I’ll spend hours gazing at it and remembering the times we shared together. Thinking about her always brings me joy. One day I know she’ll join me and we can be happy together again.”
Andrew smiled. “Twenty-five years, three kids, and one grandchild. That’s amazing. Good for you.”
If Andrew had been married that long to Emily he would’ve produced more kids and made her the happiest wife ever.
“We had our share of struggles. All married couples do, but if you truly love each other then you listen and work together. I can’t imagine what my life would’ve been like without her.”
Andrew lowered his gaze as his thoughts turned to Emily. He wished he could’ve had more time with her. They hadn’t even shared a year together.
“I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for you to be here instead of with your pregnant wife,” Dave said. “Reflecting on the time I shared with mine helped me overcome my grief. I’m grateful I had a loving woman for twenty-five years. I thank the Lord every day for bringing us together.”
Andrew considered Dave’s words and thought about what the council had told him. They’d confirmed they had intended for Emily to find Andrew the night of his return to Earth. The council had to receive their instructions from someone higher up in the chain of command. There had been no guarantee Andrew would fall in love with Emily, but he had. His life had meaning with her. She gave him purpose and filled him with so much love he wanted to please her forever. If he hadn’t met her, he doubted he would’ve ever changed his ways or found true happiness. Yes, he was very thankful God had returned him to Earth and had planned for him and Emily to meet. And if he had to wait five or fifty years, he would. His heart would always belong to her.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your work,” Dave said before he stood. “I’m not much of a handyman, but if you need help, I’m willing to try.”
“Can you lift a paint brush or roller?”
Dave grinned. “That I know how to do very well. I must have painted rooms in my old house at least four times.”
Andrew rose. “If you don’t mind, I could use extra hands.”
“I’m glad to help out.”
Andrew climbed the steps up to the porch. He believed more than ever God brought people together. What were the odds of two men living alone in beach houses, waiting for their wives? At least Andrew and Dave now had each other to comfort until their loved ones arrived.