Wishing on the Water (Water Series Book 1) by Elizabeth York Page B

through my tears.
    “ Sweetheart, Chase has been gone for months.”
    “ Jax is gone. He hates me, and I deserve it!” I cried into Mark and even started the dry heaving again.
    Mark led me into the living room and away from the bedroom. He sat me on the couch as a loud banging told us someone was at the door. Mark went to answer the door and I could hear Andrew, but his voice was muffled. When Mark came back, he was alone and I was grateful.
    “ Tell me what happened,” Mark stated, as I calmed myself.
    “ I went to him, with an open heart and open arms. He had the blond, Vanessa, with him, but he sent her home when he saw me. I thought that was a good thing, until he said it was over. He said goodbye. I thought I had broken what we had and ran because of it, but the truth is I hadn’t broken us, not until I ran. Now, he loves her and I love him.” I started crying again and Mark got me a glass of water.
    “ I’m sorry sweetheart. I didn’t know you felt that way for him.” Mark muttered, as he pulled me into his arms on the couch. He rubbed my back and just let me cry. It was the nicest thing a stranger had done in a long time.
    “ This is worse than when Chase died. I know Chase is in a better place and is happy in the sky. He is probably running practical jokes with the other angels. I think Chase wanted me to be with Jax. It was in his letter, but I was too scared that I would lose him, too. Chase left me and I was devastated. I couldn’t let Jax leave me, too. Now he is gone, but I will always wonder if he is happy, where as I know Chase is.”
    Mark curled me into his chest and clutched me with one arm as he messed with his phone with another. Duty called; it always did, but Mark made no move to leave.
    “ Candice, maybe he is not the one for you,” Mark answered, as he stroked my back.
 
     
    “ No, he is my other half. He was always the one for me. When we were together, we were the three legs of a tripod; we fit together to make a whole Now, there are two of us left and we could form an arch, or something, but we are broken and the pieces no longer fit together.”
    I cried into Mark for the next hour or so. I have to give him credit; other than messing with his phone every now and then, I had his undivided attention and relished the feel of being comforted.
    I made lots of wishes on the water as I aged, but I never really prayed. I prayed and asked Chase to let go of my heart and allow me to move on. I don’t know why I felt like he had my heart, but I wasn’t whole; and, until I was, I couldn’t put him or Jax behind me.
    Mark pulled me tighter into him and pulled the blanket down that was on top of the couch. He covered me up and rubbed my back until I fell fast asleep.

 
     
     
    I woke up to the smell of coffee in the air. I sat up and realized that I was late for the conference. I was going to get fired on this trip. I rubbed my eyes and looked around but didn’t see anyone. I shrugged off the blanket and went into the bedroom where I ran into Mark.
    “ I smell coffee,” I whispered, not really knowing what to say.
    “ I had some sent up. I sent Andrew with whatever papers he found to the conference. You and I are going to take a day off.” Mark stated with a smile.
    “ Alright, but I am supposed to meet my dad,” I whispered. It was my birthday after all, even if I didn’t feel much like celebrating. Mark nodded his head and I walked past him to the bathroom and climbed in the shower.
    An hour later, I had showered, straightened my brown and blond hair, and put on makeup. I was dressed in a white long sleeve shirt with a black leather vest over it. I had my skinny jeans on and my knee high leather biker boots. They said we might get more snow if the temp continued to drop, so I was prepared for anything. I grabbed my black north face jacket and headed into the living room.
    “ You look like a million bucks,” Mark stated, and I gave him a shrug.
    “ I feel like scum.”
    “