CHAPTER ELEVEN

                Two years later

                “That’s your mommy.” Christian whispered to his sons as he pointed to the television as soon as Aubrey appeared on screen. His heart beat went a little faster as she smiled into the camera and waved. “Wasn’t she beautiful?” He asked the little boys as they watched with curiosity.

                River smiled up at his father and nodded. “Mama pretty.” Was all he could muster up.

                On the TV Aubrey called out to her two little boys. “Hi River! Hi Trace! I’m your mommy!” She beamed with happiness. “You’re probably big boys right now and wondering why I’m on the TV talking to you. Well, I decided, along with your daddy of course, to make a video diary since I won’t be with you forever. Right now, you’re still in my stomach. See?” Aubrey stood up and revealed her swollen belly.

                Trace and River both giggled and pointed at the screen. “There?” River asked, pointing at the image of Aubrey’s stomach. Christian nodded.

                Aubrey sat back down and smiled again. “I just got back from the doctor this morning and guess what he said? You’re both boys! I’m sure your father is so excited about that right now.” There was a pause as Christian told her how happy he was from behind the camera and Aubrey laughed before blowing a raspberry.

                The twins burst into giggles again at seeing their own mother act like them. “Mommy funny!” Trace was able to say in-between his fits of laughter.

                “Shhh!” Christian told them with a smile as he heard himself return the favor to his wife on the video tape. “Your mommy’s not done yet. There’s more so sit tight and listen, okay boys?” He told them as he pulled them in closer.

                The boys quieted down and watched their mother on the screen once more.

                “Your daddy and I already picked out your names. We thought for boys we would name you River Benjamin Winter and Trace Nathaniel Winter. Good names, huh boys? If you guys had turned out to be girls, you would have been Delia Charisma Winter and Chloe Gillian Winter. You’re both going to be healthy and giving us so much trouble. I just know it. But if you’re watching this and I’m not there, make sure you take real good of daddy for me, all right?” Aubrey’s smile seemed to lose its brightness for a moment before she turned to cheerier topics.

                “I saw your godparents today! They’re getting married right after you’re due to be born! They’re hoping you’ll be at their wedding. Your Aunt Trinity is so pretty these days. I know she’s going to love seeing you guys around. She loves kids you know. And your Uncle Wilson, he’s a big baby. I’m sure he’s going to spoil you two worse than your daddy will. But he’s great and you’ll love them. And hopefully, they’ll have kids for you two to play with soon.”

                The doorbell rang and the two kids didn’t bother to take their eyes away from their mother as she spoke to them via the tape. “Stay here, okay boys?” Christian’s demand fell to deaf ears as they were too busy gazing at their mother as she talked about their grandfather’s visit the day before the taping.

                Christian opened the door to find the two people Aubrey had mentioned earlier on her tape. “Speak of the devil.” The father said as he opened the door for his guests to enter. “Aubrey was just talking about you two.”

                The couple exchanged a concerned glance with each other which caused Christian to break out into a quick, soft laughter as he took their jackets from them. “Aubrey?” Trinity asked carefully as she looked questioningly at her friend. “Christian, she’s been—“

                “I know Trinity. But I was just playing the videos she recorded for the boys. The day she found out what sex they were actually. She mentioned you two and so…” His sentence drifted and he didn’t bother to finish it. Laying their jackets on the back of the couch, he led them to the den where his one year olds were sitting on the couch, still watching the image of their mother as she played the piano for them.

                “Wow, I almost forgot how wonderful she was at playing the piano.” Trinity whispered as she watched her friend stroke the ivory with grace. “God, I miss her!” She whispered in tears, looking away from the screen.

                Wilson pulled her into a hug, his own eyes glittering with sadness. “It’s okay Trin. She’s at a better place now.”

                Christian took in a deep breath. “Do you two think you can watch the boys while I go out for a couple hours?” He asked. When his friend nodded he went to his boys, kneeling in front of them. “Okay, I’m going out for awhile so your aunt and uncle are going to watch you two, all right?”

                “Okay, dude!” Trace responded, thumbs up.

                Christian laughed at that. “No more Full House for you, dude!” He rustled his son’s hair before turning to the other. “River, what about you?” The boy nodded. Satisfied, Christian kissed each boy goodbye and left, grabbing a jacket from the hall closet on the way.

                He made it to his destination in a short drive, but getting to the point he wanted to be was more difficult than he had expected. Walking up the hill, he took the time to think back to his childhood, about how much he loved Aubrey, still did, how much her return changed his life and how she had given him three of the best years of his life. He reached her and sat down.

                Slowly, his fingers traced the name etched on the stone. He smiled when he finally reached Winter. It seemed like only yesterday when he stood at the altar, watching as she walked up the sandy beach in her little white gown, hair blowing in the breeze with a crown of flowers on her head, a small bouquet in her hand. The smile she wore was nothing like he’d ever seen before. She glowed, with the beauty of a woman with-child. He sighed as he sat back, remembering the day vividly.

                “Hey Aubrey,” he finally spoke, “how are the other angels treating you up in heaven?” He asked, smiling sadly at the headstone. “The boys haven’t yet fathomed where you are. They’re watching you on TV right now, probably thinking you went into the screen and that’s where you’ve been for the last two weeks. I couldn’t muster up the courage to tell them that you’re gone from them… from me… forever. They miss you. I miss you.” Christian’s voiced cracked as he finally released the tears and sobbed.

                “I keep waking up reaching out for you. I keep setting the table for four and I keep hearing your voice. I smell your shampoo everywhere. I still can’t bring myself to take your things out of the bathroom or give your clothes away like your dad said I should. I just can’t seem to, not yet anyway. It’s so hard. I knew this was going to happen, I just didn’t expect it so soon.

                “Jaclyn’s pregnant. Your dad’s so happy about that. He’s been taking your death a bit too hard. So when Jaclyn told him about it, he was in smiles again. Your dad feels guilty though, that it seems as though he has a new life and you’re not a part of it. They say they know it’s a girl so they’re going to name her Aubrey in honor of you. But you know Jac, she’s so excited. She said she never expected to be pregnant at age forty. It’s a small wonder that your death could bring new life. She said she dreamed about you the night before the baby was supposedly conceived. She told me that in her dream you asked if you could go and live with her. She thinks you’ve gone and reincarnated yourself within her.

                “Your mom moved to Florida. She’s been a wreck since you’ve been gone. She stayed for your service but left soon afterwards. She called me to tell me where she went and that she’s fine. Zelda loved you even though she didn’t show it. She really loved you, sugar. Trinity and Wilson are moving in next door. I think they want to make sure I don’t do something stupid one day. I promised you I wouldn’t even though I’m so desperate to be with you.

                Two weeks, Aubrey and I don’t know how I’ve managed so far. I’m scared, without you I’m freaked out of my mind. I need you, I want you. I’m only twenty four and I’m already a widow with two sons. I don’t know if I can manage sixty to eighty years like this. My heart is gone, it’s with you. I can’t and I won’t love anyone else, just our boys. I miss you. I miss everything about you. I just hope one day we’ll meet again. We have to make use of our promise. Thank you, for giving me a chance, for loving me, for hanging on long enough to give me our boys. I love you, Aubrey.”

                Christian kissed his fingers and placed them above her name. His eyes no longer filtered the salty tears as he stood, wiping them away as best as he could.

                “Isn’t it strange?” A voice asked.

                Christian spun around and came face to face with Aimee. She stood a distance away, holding a bouquet of red roses. “What are you doing here?” He asked her, stepping slightly away from his wife’s headstone.

                Aimee smiled sadly, something Christian hadn’t seen her do since the day he saw her on the beach after he married Aubrey. “I came to say goodbye to my sister. It’s pathetic really that I don’t realize things soon enough. I reconciled with my dad too late to go to his wedding. I realize too late what I’ve done to my mother since now she’s the one not speaking to me. My friends turn out to be vultures and now my little sister is dead before I even get to hug her. Sad isn’t it? I still don’t love her, how could I? She took everything that should have been mine. She took dad, the travels, the education, the friends, you and your twins. They do love each other, don’t they? You wouldn’t want them like me and Aubrey. But anyway, I came to tell her I was leaving town. Get away from all these people and places.

                I should go. Leave you to talk to your dead wife. To think, all these years people had expected that I would be the one to die and it turned out that Aubrey, the healthy one was the sick one all along. If you had chosen me, I would still be alive and by your side. That’s what you get though, for falling in love with her.” Placing the roses on the ground in front of Aubrey’s name, Aimee smiled. “You know sis, you had a good life, now it’s my turn. Wherever you are, hope you’re happy. I’m off to Las Vegas. Adios!” With a simple wave, Aimee left.

                Christian turned back to his wife’s grave and stared at her name. “I love you, Aubrey. I always will. I’ll be back again, maybe next time I’ll bring the boys with me. Bye my love.”

Author’s notes:

                I want to thank all those of you who have read this story and all those of you who took the time out to review it! It means a great deal to me! As an author I love hearing feedback. I know this story wasn’t perfect, heck it had more mistakes in it than I wanted but I’ll go back and correct the ones I see when I do have the time. So thank you everyone!

                This story has finally come to and end. It’s my first story that I’ve ever finished, other than a short story. Hehe.. it’s a great feat considering I’m the author. There’s no sequel so no worries about having to put up with any of the characters again. I might, however, have a few of the character appear in one of my other stories. I’m like that, I like doing crossovers with my stories, though I haven’t decided.

                To all of my reviewers! I would really like to thank each and every one of you personally, but I’m a lazy bum. I’ve been sitting here typing out three chapters so forgive me if I don’t do the individual thanks. So thanks y’all! Y’all were great!

                Thanks for all those who pointed out my mistakes, I’ll go back and fix what I can!

                Here’s a little legal thing I hate doing, but seems as though I have to do. This story was fictional; all characters are mine since they’re from my wee little imagination, but if their name coincides with anyone’s, that’s a coincidence. And all that blah blah blah stuff that’s too boring to hear and probably heard a thousand and one times.

                Take care y’all! Bye to all my characters, Aubrey, Trinity, Christian, Wilson, Kyle, Mr. and Mrs. Winsiri, Zelda, Aimee, Trace and River and everyone else. I’m gonna really miss these characters a lot.

Signing off on this story for one last time… Ellie