Chapter 235

Joseph’s POV

The sun was warm in the place where I lay. I hadn’t been able to bask in the sun like this since before I became a vampire. The sounds of the trickling water, from the stream, brought a sense of tranquility to my mind, and I closed my eyes, relishing the warm air.

I couldn’t help the smile on my lips as the grass underneath me tickled my body. I was shirtless, but I wore a pair of jeans. The same jeans I wore when I was shot in Tessa’s living room. The memory slammed into my mind with such force that I gasped and sat up.

I looked around, half expecting Tessa to be sitting beside me, but she wasn’t. She never was.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been here; there was no such thing as time in this realm. I wasn’t sure how I knew that, but I knew.

It was strange because I knew I should have been panicking and worried; in hindsight, I was incredibly worried about Tessa. But I couldn’t bring my body and soul to react in that way. I only felt peace and I didn’t want that feeling to go away.

Flowers were blooming around the field I lay in; the same flowers my late wife had loved so much. I picked one of the flowers and twirled the stem around my fingers thoughtfully.

Sighing, I plucked one of the white petals off the stem and placed it into the river, watching as it lowered down the stream and disappeared across the horizon. I kept doing that until I held only the green stem and then that disappeared down the stream as well.

I felt a presence behind me and when I turned, my gaze lifted, and my breath hitched.

A woman stood behind me, watching me curiously with her big ocean-blue eyes.

Her blonde hair fell loosely around her shoulders and down her back.

She looked much different than I remembered her. She no longer had her hair in a proper bun at the nape of her neck and she wasn’t wearing any makeup. She was barefoot and wore a loose dress that flowed evenly in the warm breeze.

I couldn’t help but look at her, feeling a sense of comfort knowing that she was here and that she was okay. It was almost like a sense of closure.

She stepped toward me, and her lips turned upward in a smile. But then her eyes grew sad and she cocked her head to the side in a way that a mother would right before she scolds their child.

“Oh, Chris. You seemed to have gotten yourself in a situation,” she said, her voice velvety.

“It’s really good to see you again, Claira,” I said in return, ignoring her statement entirely.

I truly meant it.

It was really good to see my late wife, the only woman Christopher Moore ever loved.

Her smile grew.

“I didn’t think you’d recognize me,” she said, a bit of humor in her voice.

“How could I not?” I asked.

“Because it’s clear you have moved on since our marriage,” she said lightly.

She didn’t sound hurt or even upset; she sounded at peace like she was happy that I had moved on from her.

“Joseph Evergreen moved on,” I corrected. “Christopher Moore will forever love you.”

She laughed and when she laughed, it lit up her face. She sat beside me and dipped her bare toes in the riverbank.

“You were always so good to me, even when life wasn’t,” she whispered, her laughter subsiding. “I’m sorry I was taken from you so soon. I’m sorry your heart was broken because of me. I’m sorry I made you fear love for so long.”

I shook my head; not wanting to blame herself. I might have feared love because I lost the love of my life as Christopher Moore, but in this lifetime as Joseph Evergreen, Tessa reminded me how to love. She taught me how to be fearless and to trust.

“I was given a second chance at life,” I told her. “My only regret was not being able to save you and give you a second chance too. I’m sorry for that, Claira.”

She laughed again.

“Does it look like I am suffering?” She asked, peering over at the horizon. “I too have been given a second chance at life. Maybe not the life we were used to, but a life that has no pain and illness. A life that granted me freedom. I am in more than one place at one. My soul has been granted numerous different chances and is living its life to the fullest as we speak.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, furrowing my brows together. “Is this not where you have been since you’ve died?”

She smiled and then she sighed heavenly.

“It’s one of the places,” she admitted. “I love this place. It’s peaceful here and I knew we’d be able to talk best here. But it’s only one of the many places that I love.”

“I always felt guilty about being saved,” I told her, staring down at the rushing river. “I’ve wondered every day why me and not you…”

“I am happy,” she said, reaching over and touching my arm gently. “And our children are happy.”

“Our children?” I breathed, staring over at her in shock.

She smiled.

“Yes,” she whispered. “They are here too.”

“Daddy!!!” I heard from a distance and when I turned, I saw a little blonde girl and a blonde shaggy-haired boy running toward us.

I quickly stood, my heart swelling with so much love that I thought it was going to explode. I wasn’t easily shocked, but at this moment, I was stunned speechless.

Claira’s laugh echoed around the valley as the children threw themselves into my arms. I held them tightly, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. They looked the same as they did before they fell ill. They even smelled the same.

I held them tightly, not wanting to let them go. My heart gushing with the joy of having them in my arms again.

“We’ve missed you!” The boy said, hugging me tightly.

I kissed their heads.

“I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered in return.

I released them and tousled their heads as they chuckled and pulled me back down to sit with them and their mother.

Claira watched us, smiling, as the kids rambled about all the incredible adventures, they’d been on throughout the years. In this realm, age was never a factor.

As the sun set and we cascaded in the dark of the night, Claira told them it was time for them to go. They were sad, as was I. But we all knew she was right; we couldn’t stay like this forever. They had to go, and I needed to talk to Claira some more. They hugged me like it was the last time they would ever see me again.

I watched as they walked away, disappearing into the horizon.

Only Claira remained and she looked after them with a fond smile on her face as well.

“You did well raising them,” I whispered, admiring her efforts.

She chuckled.

“You helped,” she said in return. “They are good kids. They always were.”

I nodded in return.

We both fell silent for a long while and then I looked at her. She was staring up at the moon and the rays were washing over her features. She closed her eyes, basking in the warmth of the moonlight.

“It’s nice here,” I admitted. “I almost don’t want to leave…”

I knew I wasn’t actually dead and that I most likely wouldn’t be staying in this realm. The thought of having no worries was nice though and the thought of being able to see my kids every day was a nice thought too.

But I knew it wasn’t realistic. Tessa needed me; I knew she was in trouble. If I had any doubts, the man who broke into her apartment and shot me was confirmation.

“I know my Chris would be so happy here,” Claira said, reaching over and grasping my hand gently. “I know we could be a family and return to the life we shared before the cruel world ended us so soon. I know Christopher Moore will always love me and our family and we will always love him. That will never change.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’?” I asked, a small smile on my lips as I looked across the horizon, avoiding her gaze.

“You always were good at reading me,” she chuckled.

“So, what is it?” I then asked, urging her to continue.

“Joseph Evergreen could never be happy here,” she replied simply. “His heart doesn’t belong to Claira and that’s okay because a part of my soul isn’t here.”

I furrowed my brows at her, confused.

It made her laugh.

“Don’t you see, Joseph? I never truly left you. I was simply reborn just as you were. I told you, my soul is in many different places at once. It was even reborn into this lifetime.”

She didn’t have to continue for me to know what she meant; a smile formed on my lips as I stared up at the moon.

“Tessa…” I whispered.

She nodded.

“She loves you deeply,” she replied. “And I know you love her.”

I nodded without hesitation.

“I need to get back to her…”

Claira nodded but then her eyes grew cloudy.

“She’s been taken by her mother’s coven,” Claira told me. “They aren’t a good coven. You once knew this and so did her mother.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“Esmeralda will be able to help you,” Claira told me. “She’s the witch that owns the witchery shop in the small town near your village. Go to her. She can help. Trust her.”

“What?” I asked, even more confused.

“You should get back now,” she said quickly, standing to her feet. “Speak to Esmeralda and tell her everything that happened. She can help you.”

“And if she doesn’t?” I asked.

Claira smiled and leaned toward me.

“She will,” she whispered.

And on that note, she kissed my cheek.

I closed my eyes and felt a warmth spread throughout my entire body. But the warmth was quickly replaced with a cold sensation that wrapped around my body like a slithering snake and suddenly, a sharp pain invaded my chest, making me wince and moan in agony.

I was no longer sitting in the field; instead, I was lying down on an unknown surface.

“Oh, my goddess,” I heard a familiar voice breathe. “He’s waking up.”

I groaned and moved my head, feeling a slight headache as I slowly opened my eyes.

“Joseph, can you hear me?” I now recognized the voice to be Anna’s.

“Give him some space,” Bernard ordered her.

She stepped back and I saw both their concerned eyes staring down at me. I moved my eyes, unable to move my entire head and I instantly recognized that I was in the infirmary of the mountain village.

“Get Carter. Tell him he’s awake,” Bernard instructed.

Anna nodded and hurried from the room.

“Hey,” Bernard said, his voice softening. “Take your time. You’ve been out for a while. You’ve had everyone worried.”

My heart picked up speed as realization slammed into me.

“H…how long…” I tried to speak but my voice came out raspy and I winced from my sour throat.

Bernard quickly grabbed a glass of water from the bedside and brought it to my lips. The cold water hit my throat and I sighed in satisfaction as it soothed the pain.

“How long have you been out?” Bernard finished the question for me. I nodded as I continued to sip the water. “You’ve been asleep for 2 weeks, Joseph.”