this, remembering and sharing your memories with someone new, sometimes the most simple act of kindness—a gentle touch on the hand, a reassuring hug—was enough to break the hard-to-maintain control Jennifer was now exhibiting.
‘He died. Two days before the wedding. We had people coming in to town from overseas as well as interstate but, instead of attending a wedding, they ended up going to a funeral.’
No wonder she was so emotionally scarred. ‘Jennifer.’ He came to sit beside her again, his tone filled with empathy. He knew what she felt. He knew the pain. He knew the hurt.
She finally raised her eyes to his, one single solitary tear sliding down her cheek. He wanted to brush it away, to gather her close, to let her know he completely understood her desolation, but he didn’t. ‘Which makes Miss Chief all the more important,’ he murmured. ‘It maintains your link with Arturo and that’s a good thing, Jen.’ Jasper also realised his own good fortune in that moment because his link to Elisha, his daily reminder of his previous life, was in the form of two beautiful girls whom he adored.
She nodded at his words, pleased he hadn’t tried to touch her. Part of her had wanted him to, had wanted him to hold her close, but she knew she would have broken down in tears and that was the last thing she needed. He would have offered comfort and right now she was too vulnerable not to take it. Instead, she had to remain focused on taking steps to move forward with her life, instead of living in the past and what might have been. Opening up to Jasper was one of those steps. He understood her so easily.
‘How long had you been together?’
‘We’d been together since our first week of medical school.’ A small smile touched her lips. ‘We met on theMonday and he asked me out on the Friday. He was persistent, especially as I was determined not to get involved with anyone due to the six long years of study that lay ahead of me. Art wouldn’t take no for an answer. Halfway through first term he dropped out of medical school and studied education instead. Much more suited to his personality.’ Her smile was bright, her eyes were shining with happiness, and Jasper’s breath caught in his throat at the sight. She’d been a woman in love and all she had left were her memories. ‘Art had a complete love of life. It was infectious and wherever we went everyone around him would end up having a fantastic time whether they wanted to or not.’ She laughed softly. ‘He pulled me out of my comfort zone, wanting me to try new things like abseiling and surfing and swimming with sharks.’
‘Sharks?’
Jennifer nodded. ‘Sharks. I was terrified but when it was over I felt so alive. And that was before you could go to some theme park and pay to swim with sharks in a tank. I’m talking about the ocean. Art never once begrudged the hard work it took to get me through medical school. He’d quiz me on anatomy, help me study before exams, even though he didn’t have a clue what he was quizzing me on half the time.’
Jennifer looked up at Jasper and the light started to dim a little from her face. ‘He was amazing. Just a normal high-school science teacher, not saving the world but making a huge difference in the lives of those he met. He introduced Matt and Sara.’
‘Really?’
‘Knew they were perfect for each other so he got them together. That was my Arturo.’
‘He sounds like quite a man.’ There wasn’t a hint of jealousy in his tone and she appreciated that. Arturo had been a part of her life, just as Elisha had been a part of his. Shewas pleased he knew there was no need to be jealous of a ghost.
‘He was.’ The light slowly vanished and sadness seemed to engulf her. ‘And then he left me. My world crumbled and fell apart because he left me.’
‘And you threw yourself into work.’
‘I did. I had to find some way to gain control over my life again.’ She raised her eyes to meet his. ‘Work
‘He died. Two days before the wedding. We had people coming in to town from overseas as well as interstate but, instead of attending a wedding, they ended up going to a funeral.’
No wonder she was so emotionally scarred. ‘Jennifer.’ He came to sit beside her again, his tone filled with empathy. He knew what she felt. He knew the pain. He knew the hurt.
She finally raised her eyes to his, one single solitary tear sliding down her cheek. He wanted to brush it away, to gather her close, to let her know he completely understood her desolation, but he didn’t. ‘Which makes Miss Chief all the more important,’ he murmured. ‘It maintains your link with Arturo and that’s a good thing, Jen.’ Jasper also realised his own good fortune in that moment because his link to Elisha, his daily reminder of his previous life, was in the form of two beautiful girls whom he adored.
She nodded at his words, pleased he hadn’t tried to touch her. Part of her had wanted him to, had wanted him to hold her close, but she knew she would have broken down in tears and that was the last thing she needed. He would have offered comfort and right now she was too vulnerable not to take it. Instead, she had to remain focused on taking steps to move forward with her life, instead of living in the past and what might have been. Opening up to Jasper was one of those steps. He understood her so easily.
‘How long had you been together?’
‘We’d been together since our first week of medical school.’ A small smile touched her lips. ‘We met on theMonday and he asked me out on the Friday. He was persistent, especially as I was determined not to get involved with anyone due to the six long years of study that lay ahead of me. Art wouldn’t take no for an answer. Halfway through first term he dropped out of medical school and studied education instead. Much more suited to his personality.’ Her smile was bright, her eyes were shining with happiness, and Jasper’s breath caught in his throat at the sight. She’d been a woman in love and all she had left were her memories. ‘Art had a complete love of life. It was infectious and wherever we went everyone around him would end up having a fantastic time whether they wanted to or not.’ She laughed softly. ‘He pulled me out of my comfort zone, wanting me to try new things like abseiling and surfing and swimming with sharks.’
‘Sharks?’
Jennifer nodded. ‘Sharks. I was terrified but when it was over I felt so alive. And that was before you could go to some theme park and pay to swim with sharks in a tank. I’m talking about the ocean. Art never once begrudged the hard work it took to get me through medical school. He’d quiz me on anatomy, help me study before exams, even though he didn’t have a clue what he was quizzing me on half the time.’
Jennifer looked up at Jasper and the light started to dim a little from her face. ‘He was amazing. Just a normal high-school science teacher, not saving the world but making a huge difference in the lives of those he met. He introduced Matt and Sara.’
‘Really?’
‘Knew they were perfect for each other so he got them together. That was my Arturo.’
‘He sounds like quite a man.’ There wasn’t a hint of jealousy in his tone and she appreciated that. Arturo had been a part of her life, just as Elisha had been a part of his. Shewas pleased he knew there was no need to be jealous of a ghost.
‘He was.’ The light slowly vanished and sadness seemed to engulf her. ‘And then he left me. My world crumbled and fell apart because he left me.’
‘And you threw yourself into work.’
‘I did. I had to find some way to gain control over my life again.’ She raised her eyes to meet his. ‘Work
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