My Guardian Angel
Summary: Loosely Based off of the Nicholas Sparks Book "The Guardian". It's been four years since Peyton Jagielski's husband, Jake, died. Widowed at only 22 years old, Peyton felt she would never find love again. But shortly after Jake's death, he left a note with a friend of his, asking it along with a big present be delivered to Peyton on Christmas Eve. Four years later, finally ready to test the dating pool, Peyton has two choices, Jake's best friend, Lucas Scott. A man that even after Jake's death, she had grown close to, or Ian Banks, a successful young lawyer. Choosing one can bring Peyton all the happiness she is seeking, but even in the sleepy North Carolina Town of Tree Hill, a murderous greed can lead Peyton and all the people she cares for into a ride of their lives.
Chapter One: Prologue
Months, that's all it's been since Jake had died. Peyton had been only 20 years old when they met. She had been in some trouble after leaving her abusive father behind in Charlotte. She had headed south, taking up solace in a sleepy little town called Tree Hill. She had only been in town for a week when she stumbled into a cafe on the main street through town. That day she met, not only the man of her dreams,the man that soon enough would become her husband, but she also met his best friend Lucas Scott. Those two men had changed her life, and they had done everything in their power to make her fell wanted.
Karen, Lucas's mother, had been kind enough to give her a job waitressing at her cafe, and Jake helped to move her into his apartment building. No more than a year later, the two married in a small private ceremony. Peyton felt on top of the world, like nothing or no one could take away her happiness.
Well she had been wrong, it was only six months after their wedding Jake became ill. He started having headaches that wouldn't go away, and his vision would become blurred suddenly. Worried it would be something serious, Peyton begged Jake to get checked out by a doctor. A short two months later, Jake was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. They couldn't operate, and explained that within six months, possibly more or less, Jake would die.
Peyton had cried herself to sleep that night. Her fairytale life was coming to a screeching halt and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Three months later, Jake suffered a stroke, and ended up on life support. Three days later, Peyton had to make the difficult decision to end his life support. He died two days after that.
That had been nearly three months ago, and Peyton still refused to leave her house unless she was dragged forcefully. Which she had been on occasion. It was late in the night, and it was Christmas Eve. Did she have a tree up? No she didn't, she couldn't find it in her to be joyous for a holiday that had meant so much to her. She couldn't even find the strength to drag herself out of her house to visit with her friends. No, instead she was sitting on their couch...her couch, staring at a picture of Jake. Tears rolling slowly down her face.
She was 22 years old, and she was widowed. She never thought that she'd ever hear her say something so heartbreaking, but here she was, crying over her husband. She wasn't sure which was sadder, how he died, or how old he was when he died. Jake had only been a year older than Peyton, he was so young. He had so much more life to live, but he was so cruelly taken from her, and it hurt.
Peyton wiped her tears from her eyes at the sound of the doorbell. She figured it was Lucas, or maybe Haley. She just hoped that they wouldn't drag her out, she wasn't in any mood to go anywhere.
She walked slowly toward the door, and twisted the knob until the door opened.
"Mrs. Jagelski?" a young man asked.
He looked to be at least two years younger than Peyton.
"Yes, can I help you?" Peyton asked, noticing he was holding a very large sized box.
"My father told me that I had to deliver this to you tonight," he said, before sitting the box down, and leaving her alone.
"Wait, I didn't order this... I don't want this!" Peyton said.
She shook her head, and pulled the box inside her house. She saw a note taped to the top of the box and pulled it off. She opened it carefully, and gasped as a new batch of tears found their way to the edge of her eyes.
Peyton,
If your reading this then I haven't made it past Christmas. It breaks my heart knowing your spending Christmas alone, but if I know you like I think I do, you'd much rather be alone. I know that it was in the cards for me to part, and leave this earth, but I would have liked to spend more time with you. To show you just how much I loved you, and how much I will always love you.
Now, there should be a rather large box that accompanied this box. In it is something that will help you get over your grief. It will help you move on. I just need you to know, that I promise I will always be there. No matter what, I'll be watching over you.
Love Always,
Jake
Peyton carefully folded up the small letter, wiping at the newly formed tears. She sat the card aside, and opened up the large box. She could hear a small whimper from inside the box. Her curiosity getting the best of her, she opened the last flap of the box to see a very large, very ugly looking puppy sitting in the corner of the box.
"A dog? You sent me a dog?" she said to no one in particular.
She grabbed a hold of the puppy, and pulled it out of the box. It whimpered a little more loudly, it's body shaking.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Peyton said to the dog, before shaking her head at herself. "It's a dog Peyton, it doesn't understand you."
She sat the dog down on the floor, and it started to wail and howl loudly.
"No...no, I'm sorry, please stop that," Peyton cried.
The dog stopped for a moment, before starting back up, only slightly lower this time.
"What are you, singing to me?" Peyton giggled slightly. "Singer...that's what I'll name you."
