Chapter Eighteen
The warm night enveloped Melissa – providing refuge to her fearful thoughts – as she found shelter in the peace and quiet of her roof. Accompanied by the moonlight, the thousands of stars that graced the dark sky, and the town lights of her birthplace, she would – once again – attempt to find meaning in “words”, told or untold, and actions she anticipated but had yet to witness.
Despite Julia’s attempt to convince her that he was indeed in a very difficult position, she was still mad at him. If his will to free himself of the demon’s hold was strong enough, he wouldn’t have been torn by indecision. Even so, she still missed him: his lips; his deep voice that gave her goose bumps; his penetrating eyes; and that glorious smile that could melt away her fears. Just imagining what they would do under the moonlight intensified the sense of loneliness that had engulfed her, ever since she had left him. Yes, he had failed her, but his power over her had not waned whatsoever.
“That’s what love is all about.”
The little voice inside her acted like a wakeup call. No, love was not just about pain and anger. It went far deeper than those two emotions. More than anything, it was a matter of faith, a strong belief that wouldn’t wither in the face of adversity; the same belief that didn’t allow her to abandon Joe in this dark hour. It remained the exact hope that kept her eyes wide open that night, thinking about him, wondering if her initial assessment was right or not.
The sight of a pair of headlights, up on the road into her birthplace, did not come as a surprise. It was almost midnight. Many of her kind liked to frequent Shandaken and the other towns close to Paxton. Human bars were irresistible to shifters. The same set of headlights later squeezed through the bushes, as the tall vehicle approached the town limit. But, it never entered the little town. Instead, it turned right, and into the Bradford property. She recognized the roar of the powerful engine at once. It was Joe’s Escalade, skidding across their driveway. Melissa found herself at a loss. What was he doing here, just four hours after they had last seen each other?
He stepped out of the car, and, right away, she noticed that he had a surprise for her. His natural finished, acoustic guitar was in his right hand.
“Up here,” Melissa waved at him. Joe threw a glance up at her, wearing a tiny smile, but did not stop. Instead, he continued to stroll towards her cabin.
“What will you do now, Joe?” She thought to herself. “Will you play ‘Dust in the wind’, hoping to calm me down? Will it be a ‘goodbye’ song I’ve never heard of before?”
Melissa’s heart was pounding like a drum as the sound of his heavy footfalls on the staircase grew louder by the second. She drew in one deep breath after another, in a vain attempt to ease her jangling nerves. Fear rose and washed over her like a massive wave, drenching her in a cold sweat, as he emerged from the darkness of her stairway. Still holding his guitar, his smile broadened, as he continued to close in on her. Unable to voice her anxiety, Melissa preferred to remain silent. Finally, Joe halted before her, and then bent his knees slightly to ease his guitar against the wall behind her.
“My decision was a little easier than I thought,” he started speaking, his voice a notch above a whisper, as he gazed down deeply into her eyes. “You were right. I had to choose between life and death, but I also had to choose between my life in New York and a relationship with you. I’m going to be honest with you. My life in New York: I love it, I really do. It’s demanding, it drains my time and my money, but it’s very rewarding, too. However…” he faltered, “…you are the first woman that has moved me since Laura died. You made the first move. You offered to help me out, even though I treated you like crap. You gave me a chance. You…” he whispered, reaching out with both hands to put them on her wrists, “…You breathed life into me once more. And I love you for that, Melissa Bradford. I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever it takes to be free again.”
Her lips parted on a gasp of profound shock, her eyes flickering wide as a flood of light and joy swept through her soul. This was no poem. This was real proof of love. Joe’s statement was not necessary. The warmth in his eyes, his quivering voice, as well as his commitment, were enough to convince her that he meant every word coming out of his mouth.
“I love you, too,” Melissa breathed, biting her lower lip, as tears blurred her vision. Joe closed his eyes, tilting his head down, as his hands slowly traveled up her arms. A sea of his scent rushed out of him, as their lips joined in a long, gentle kiss. Sweetness engulfed her senses, carrying her away to a world of blissful delight, as she wound her own arms around his waist. Cradling her face, Joe traced the tip of his tongue along the seam of her mouth, as Melissa felt his hot breath on her skin. The emotions she had managed to suppress could not be contained any longer. Two tears spilled from her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks, as Joe released her left cheek. He put his hand behind her head, as his other arm went around her neck. Holding her close, he planted a kiss on her forehead, moisture dampening his skin, as she rested her face against the nape of his neck.
“I love you so much,” she whispered, holding Joe tight in her embrace, as he knitted his fingers through her hair. “Joe, there’s something else you need to know about my kind,” Melissa continued, easing back. “When we lose our significant other, our heart breaks. It literally starts to weaken, until we die, sometime later. Most of us last less than four years.”
“Hmm,” he hummed in thought, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. “You mean shifters die of a…”
“Broken heart,” Melissa finished his sentence, her voice coming out hesitantly.
“It sure sounds weird, but…” Joe paused, slowly nodding at the same time; “…a lot of things are weird about you. It doesn’t really surprise me.”
“Really?” she croaked, relieved that he had not shown any signs of distrust in her. “It doesn’t?”
“Not at all. Now…” he said on an exhale, laying one more kiss on the side of her head, “…I want to play something for you. Do you have any requests?”
“Uh…Yeah,” Melissa snorted, “About that, I…”
“What is it?” Joe interrupted with an undeniable touch of tension in his baritone.
“Actually, it’s a little complicated,” she claimed, as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Shifters are naturally sensitive to lingering sounds, like the one produced by guitar strings. It tortures us.”
“Then how were you able to listen to me, the night you came over by my sister’s place?” He wondered, curiosity written all over his face.
“I was fifty yards away,” Melissa smiled, her voice sounding sweeter. “I could handle it from that distance. And I’m glad I could; it took more than my breath away.”
Casting a quick glance down at the wall to his left, Joe spoke quickly, “I have an idea. Go sit over there,” he urged Melissa.
“I don’t think it’s going to work,” She shook her head sideways, pressing her lips together.
“Just do as I say. I’ll play finger style instead of strumming; it’s a lot softer. If it bothers you, I’ll stop,” He vowed and winked at her, reaching down to pick up his guitar. Intrigued, but still doubting whether she would be able to tolerate it, she decided to indulge him, as he made his way to the other wall. Still, even if she couldn’t, Melissa was so happy about it, she wouldn’t mind. His commitment was much more important than enjoying his guitar skills.
“I’m dedicating this song to you.” Joe said, his voice steady, pressing the instrument closely to his chest, as she hopped onto the wall. She shut her eyes, waiting for the moment that she would have to cover her eyes. Yet, such a moment never came. In fact, as soon as his fingers touched the strings, her ears were filled with a slow, gentle melody that did not bother her at all. On the contrary, as seconds went by, she caught herself savoring it more and more, feeling chills running through her body. It was Bon Jovi’s “Thank You for Loving Me,” an old ballad that Melissa had heard Kate play on the piano. Of course, Joe’s tone was not as nasal or as high-pitched as Jon Bon Jovi’s, but she could care less about that. His voice was bass-deep, overflowing with emotion, his fingers dancing all over the fret board, as he stole glances at her.
It's hard for me to say the things
I want to say sometimes
There's no one here but you and me
And that broken old street light
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me
I never knew I had a dream
Until that dream was you
When I look into your eyes
The sky's a different blue
Cross my heart
I wear no disguise
If I tried, you'd make believe
That you believed my lies
Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
You pick me up when I fall down
You ring the bell before they count me out
If I was drowning you would part the sea
And risk your own life to rescue me
Lock the doors
We'll leave the world outside
All I've got to give to you
Are these five words tonight
Melissa didn’t even wait for him to complete his performance. Completely Ecstatic, she hopped off the wall, her gaze fixed only on Joe’s face. The emotional ballad had made her heart melt. Not even her sensitivity was capable of deterring her. The sound did grow in volume, as she strode towards him. He ceased playing altogether, quieting the strings with his right hand and averting his gaze from the instrument to look down at her, as she stopped in front of him. She didn’t give him a chance to speak. Melissa extended her hands up to his face, and pulled him down towards her, angling her lips. Claiming his mouth, she pressed herself into him. Sadly for her however, she could not feel his body against hers; only the wood of the guitar. The awkward sensation might have ruined the moment, but it also amused her. Letting go of his cheeks, she held back a snort, as she bent her head down.
“Control your enthusiasm,” Joe teased with a grin, as he pulled his guitar out from between them, along with its strap from over his head.
“Well, it was wonderful,” Melissa chuckled, raising her eyes to meet his. “It’s a great way to start a celebration.”
“I’m sorry to have to break it to you, but there won’t be a celebration tonight,” he announced, his smile falling from his lips, as he eased his guitar down next to him. “I have a ton of things to do in New York tomorrow. I really must get going.”
“Oh, no!” she whined, tilting her head to the side. “Why don’t you leave in the morning?”
“Because I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, and an early-morning drive would exhaust me more,” Joe replied, speaking softly, as he set his guitar down beside him. “Now that I think about it, I probably won’t be done in a day. I doubt even two days will suffice, either.”
“What will take you so long?” Melissa asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“First, I have to go to three banks, and close all of my accounts there.” Joe assumed a businesslike tone. “That alone would take me at least four to five hours. You can’t imagine the paperwork. Then, I have to decide where to donate that money. I’m thinking an orphanage, but I’m still debating. Right after that, I have to separate the stuff I bought this past year, and give it all away, too. That won’t be as hard, but I need to find a moving company, and arrange transportation. On top of that, I have to go turn in my resignation. Last, but not least, I have to go change my name.”
“Ok, I get it,” she gave a sad nod, at the same time realizing the enormity of his task. “Go. Call me tomorrow, ok?”
“Alright, I will,” he whispered, flashing a bright-eyed look at her, before holding her close yet again. Melissa let her eyelids fall closed against how good it felt to be in his arms. Joe could take as much time as necessary. He had accepted her. He was her own, honest man; the love for whom she would gladly sacrifice her life. She had no need for a ceremony. In her heart, Joe Stanton was already her mate.