The bell on the door of Annabel's jingled signaling Beth that someone had entered the store. She knew it wasn't Danny because she had fifteen minutes left in her shift and he always came at exactly two minutes prior to when she got out of work. And lately he had been working on their house (Danny's old farm house) so he occasionally showed up late never early. So knowing it wouldn't be her loving husband she continued to count out the money in her draw. That was until she heard the startling click of the gun. Beth lifted her head only to be staring down the barrel of a .45. Her blue eyes shimmered with fear as she asked the stranger what he wanted.
"All the money in the register, the two pocket watches in that case and any jewelry or cash you have on you." He barked in a harsh demanding tone.
With shaking hands Beth began to fill the bag with money. Praying Danny wouldn't show up early. Surely he'd try to protect her and would get himself hurt instead. She gave the robber the key to the jewelry case so he could fetch the watches while she emptied her purse. While the man's back was turned she stuffed both her wedding band and Rosie's necklace in her pocket. When he came back she handed him her earrings, bracelet and cash.
"Where's the ring girl?" He snapped, Beth pretended to be lost
"What ring?"
"The platinum band you just hand on. Don't play stupid with me!" The man reached over and grabbed Beth around the neck.
Her hand plunged into her pocket once more as she grasped the ring so tightly it was cutting into her snowy white flesh.
The thief brought the gun up again.
"The ring now!" with the other hand he grabbed her wrist his hand like a vice.
"No!" Beth cried "take anything you want, I'll give you my car, my savings account, my home, just please don't take my ring." That's when the gun went off.
Danny could see the squad cars and ambulance from down the road, but at first he couldn't see where they were parked. As he pulled up at his usually time he came to the bone chilling realization, they were at Beth's store. The panic swept over him as he sprinted past Rosie's uncle who was trying to control the swiftly growing crowd.
He skidded to a stop finding his treasured wife lying on the floor. The paramedic next to her looked up at him and shook his head in a grim way of telling the young husband his wife would not survive. Beth's eyes were closed as Danny kneeled and took her head in his lap.
"Beth baby, open you eyes."
Her eyes fluttered open as she looked upon the face on the man that she had promised to her heart to forever just a month ago.
"I didn't give him my ring Danny he wanted it but I didn't give it to him." The shiny band was still clenched in her fist and she dropped it into Danny's quivering hand
"Danny do one last thing for me, please."
Danny blinked the tears from his eyes
"Anything."
"Help them." With then gave him Rosie's locket "they need each other."
"I promise." Danny's face was now flooded with tears.
"I love you Daniel Walker." With that Beth staggering breath became nonexistent as she gave into death.
"I love you always Elizabeth Walker."
The next two days were an absolute blur for Danny. All he could do, and all he wanted to do was just sit there and stare into space, waiting to wake up from this horrible dream. Waiting to wake up next to Beth and see her smiling face. But every time he did wake up, she wasn't there, even though he could still smell her and see her nightgown from the night before draped on the back of a chair.
"That's going to have to wait till later, I'm late." Beth smiled and crawled up on the bed where Danny was, and gave him a quick kiss, "I'll see you tonight right?"
"Of course." Danny smiled and kissed her forehead, "I love you."
Beth looked back and grinned, "I love you too." And she walked out the door. It was the last time he saw her smile.
"Danny?" Rosie peaked her head in, "Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure, as long as you don't have a casserole or a jello mold." Danny sighed,
"People think I'm just starving to death over here."
"You should see Mayor Sullivan's house, I've never seen so many flowers in one place, ever." Rosie sat on the edge of the bed, "I know you aren't ok, so I'm not going to ask."
"Why her?" Danny asked out of no where, "She wasn't a poor farm girl, she was privileged, but why her?"
"I can't tell you Danny." Rosie felt tears welling up in her eyes, "Listen, Mayor Sullivan wants you to come to his house to go over some arrangements, if you're up to it."
"Danny, how are you doing son?" Mayor Sullivan looked about the same as Danny, absolutely shocked and his eyes looked red and puffy from crying, "Why would I even ask a ridiculous question like that."
Out of the corner of Danny's eye he saw a picture of Beth, and as much as he missed her, he couldn't bear to look at her, and diverted his attention to Mayor Sullivan, and inhaled deeply, "What can I do for you Mayor?"
"I have a feeling Elizabeth didn't tell you about her trust fund." Mayor Sullivan fiddled with some papers.
"I don't think we should discuss this now." Danny stood up, but Mayor Sullivan stopped him.
"Danny, I'm resigning, and leaving Shelby after the funeral, I cant bare to stay here anymore, and it's only been two days." Mayor Sullivan sighed, "I just want to get all this out of the way, its quick and to the point, I just need your signature."
"I don't understand this." Danny didn't really want to be there.
"When Elizabeth was born, her grandparents on her mothers side set up a trust fund with an obscene amount of money in it. Every year they added a little more, and when she turned eighteen, she received this money. I guess Beth had some sort of premonition, because after you two got married she signed everything she owned over to you, in case of a tragedy, which we all know occurred." Mayor Sullivan explained.
"I don't want her money, I didn't marry Beth because of her money, I married her because I loved her." Danny whispered, "I still do love her."
"I know Danny." Mayor Sullivan nodded, "I know, but its yours. I can't change a thing, you're a very wealthy young man, and you can do with the money what you wish."
For the second time that month, Danny wore the suit that Beth had bought for their wedding, except now he was wearing it to his wife's funeral, something he didn't plan on doing for at least another sixty years. To the left, was Beth's father, who was having problems keeping his composure naturally, and next to her father, was her mother who had gotten a day pass and just sat there like she was made of stone.
To the right of Danny, there was Rafe who was keeping it together, but Danny could tell he was just as shocked that Beth was gone. Rosie sat a few rows back with her father. It seemed like the whole town had turned out for the Mayor's daughter's funeral.
Danny hadn't really been paying attention to what was going on, he was just having trouble comprehending the fact that in that coffin laid his wife, and he was never going to see her again, he was never going to kiss her again, he was never going to hold her again and worst of all, he had never taken her flying. Beth would never know the feeling of gliding in the air, but it was ok with him oddly, because she was in Heaven now.
The time in the service came for Beth's eulogy, Rafe and Rosie had offered to give it, but Danny thought it was only fitting for him to. He stood up and just spoke from the heart. He talked about how he had met Beth in kindergarten and fell in love with her instantly, even though he was five and had no idea what love was, and in the seventh grade he asked her out on a whim and she said yes, and they hadn't been apart in five years. He talked about how she seemed like she had this hard snobby exterior, but inside she was the nicest person imaginable. He talked about how much he loved her and still did. He hadn't choked once, until he looked down and saw her face.
After the service Danny and Mayor Sullivan stood on the church steps as people hugged them and told them how sorry they were. Danny wasn't really paying attention to the passing faces; he was looking for two people in particular. He had made a promise to his wife, he'd never broken a promise to her before and he wasn't going to start now.
Rafe had walked by him a few minutes prior and was standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Danny so they could drive over to the cemetery and Rosie was next in the consolation line.
"Hey Rafe come over here." Danny called down the steps
"What is it?" His best friend came back up avoiding looking at Rosie
"You two come here." Danny guided the two too a secluded corner of the church.
"Look Beth loved you guys like you were the brother and sister she never had. They last thing she asked me to do was to help you see how much you love each other. Now I lost the love of my life, I'm never gonna see her again and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you two throw your chance away."
"I don't think there is a chance for us." Rafe declared as Rosie shifted her gaze to the floor
"Rafe I know you better then anyone else in this world and I know you still love this girl. So why don't you tell me why you've decided there's no chance for you."
"She screwed Johnny Danny!!" Rafe's harsh voice echoed throughout the church.
Danny pressed his eyes tightly together and Rosie whimpered and flinched as if she'd been punched in the face. Danny looked at Rosie his eyes asking permission to tell Rafe the truth. She nodded and looked back to the floor
"Rafe, Johnny tried to rape her."
"He did what?" Rafe looked shocked and appalled
"Johnny attacked me Rafe. I didn't sleep with him. You're the only one I've ever been with, you're the only one I wanna be with. I love you Rafe. I've loved you since you saved me from Georgie in kindergarten." Rosie's voice was scarcely above a whisper, but it held so much. Rafe's arms came tightly around her as he buried his face in her hair.
"God Ro, why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how to say it."
They were interrupted then by the mayor saying it was time to head to the burial but as they headed out the door Danny dropped Rosie's locket in her hand. The completed his mission, he knew Beth would be smiling now.
"All the money in the register, the two pocket watches in that case and any jewelry or cash you have on you." He barked in a harsh demanding tone.
With shaking hands Beth began to fill the bag with money. Praying Danny wouldn't show up early. Surely he'd try to protect her and would get himself hurt instead. She gave the robber the key to the jewelry case so he could fetch the watches while she emptied her purse. While the man's back was turned she stuffed both her wedding band and Rosie's necklace in her pocket. When he came back she handed him her earrings, bracelet and cash.
"Where's the ring girl?" He snapped, Beth pretended to be lost
"What ring?"
"The platinum band you just hand on. Don't play stupid with me!" The man reached over and grabbed Beth around the neck.
Her hand plunged into her pocket once more as she grasped the ring so tightly it was cutting into her snowy white flesh.
The thief brought the gun up again.
"The ring now!" with the other hand he grabbed her wrist his hand like a vice.
"No!" Beth cried "take anything you want, I'll give you my car, my savings account, my home, just please don't take my ring." That's when the gun went off.
Danny could see the squad cars and ambulance from down the road, but at first he couldn't see where they were parked. As he pulled up at his usually time he came to the bone chilling realization, they were at Beth's store. The panic swept over him as he sprinted past Rosie's uncle who was trying to control the swiftly growing crowd.
He skidded to a stop finding his treasured wife lying on the floor. The paramedic next to her looked up at him and shook his head in a grim way of telling the young husband his wife would not survive. Beth's eyes were closed as Danny kneeled and took her head in his lap.
"Beth baby, open you eyes."
Her eyes fluttered open as she looked upon the face on the man that she had promised to her heart to forever just a month ago.
"I didn't give him my ring Danny he wanted it but I didn't give it to him." The shiny band was still clenched in her fist and she dropped it into Danny's quivering hand
"Danny do one last thing for me, please."
Danny blinked the tears from his eyes
"Anything."
"Help them." With then gave him Rosie's locket "they need each other."
"I promise." Danny's face was now flooded with tears.
"I love you Daniel Walker." With that Beth staggering breath became nonexistent as she gave into death.
"I love you always Elizabeth Walker."
The next two days were an absolute blur for Danny. All he could do, and all he wanted to do was just sit there and stare into space, waiting to wake up from this horrible dream. Waiting to wake up next to Beth and see her smiling face. But every time he did wake up, she wasn't there, even though he could still smell her and see her nightgown from the night before draped on the back of a chair.
"That's going to have to wait till later, I'm late." Beth smiled and crawled up on the bed where Danny was, and gave him a quick kiss, "I'll see you tonight right?"
"Of course." Danny smiled and kissed her forehead, "I love you."
Beth looked back and grinned, "I love you too." And she walked out the door. It was the last time he saw her smile.
"Danny?" Rosie peaked her head in, "Can I come in?"
"Yeah sure, as long as you don't have a casserole or a jello mold." Danny sighed,
"People think I'm just starving to death over here."
"You should see Mayor Sullivan's house, I've never seen so many flowers in one place, ever." Rosie sat on the edge of the bed, "I know you aren't ok, so I'm not going to ask."
"Why her?" Danny asked out of no where, "She wasn't a poor farm girl, she was privileged, but why her?"
"I can't tell you Danny." Rosie felt tears welling up in her eyes, "Listen, Mayor Sullivan wants you to come to his house to go over some arrangements, if you're up to it."
"Danny, how are you doing son?" Mayor Sullivan looked about the same as Danny, absolutely shocked and his eyes looked red and puffy from crying, "Why would I even ask a ridiculous question like that."
Out of the corner of Danny's eye he saw a picture of Beth, and as much as he missed her, he couldn't bear to look at her, and diverted his attention to Mayor Sullivan, and inhaled deeply, "What can I do for you Mayor?"
"I have a feeling Elizabeth didn't tell you about her trust fund." Mayor Sullivan fiddled with some papers.
"I don't think we should discuss this now." Danny stood up, but Mayor Sullivan stopped him.
"Danny, I'm resigning, and leaving Shelby after the funeral, I cant bare to stay here anymore, and it's only been two days." Mayor Sullivan sighed, "I just want to get all this out of the way, its quick and to the point, I just need your signature."
"I don't understand this." Danny didn't really want to be there.
"When Elizabeth was born, her grandparents on her mothers side set up a trust fund with an obscene amount of money in it. Every year they added a little more, and when she turned eighteen, she received this money. I guess Beth had some sort of premonition, because after you two got married she signed everything she owned over to you, in case of a tragedy, which we all know occurred." Mayor Sullivan explained.
"I don't want her money, I didn't marry Beth because of her money, I married her because I loved her." Danny whispered, "I still do love her."
"I know Danny." Mayor Sullivan nodded, "I know, but its yours. I can't change a thing, you're a very wealthy young man, and you can do with the money what you wish."
For the second time that month, Danny wore the suit that Beth had bought for their wedding, except now he was wearing it to his wife's funeral, something he didn't plan on doing for at least another sixty years. To the left, was Beth's father, who was having problems keeping his composure naturally, and next to her father, was her mother who had gotten a day pass and just sat there like she was made of stone.
To the right of Danny, there was Rafe who was keeping it together, but Danny could tell he was just as shocked that Beth was gone. Rosie sat a few rows back with her father. It seemed like the whole town had turned out for the Mayor's daughter's funeral.
Danny hadn't really been paying attention to what was going on, he was just having trouble comprehending the fact that in that coffin laid his wife, and he was never going to see her again, he was never going to kiss her again, he was never going to hold her again and worst of all, he had never taken her flying. Beth would never know the feeling of gliding in the air, but it was ok with him oddly, because she was in Heaven now.
The time in the service came for Beth's eulogy, Rafe and Rosie had offered to give it, but Danny thought it was only fitting for him to. He stood up and just spoke from the heart. He talked about how he had met Beth in kindergarten and fell in love with her instantly, even though he was five and had no idea what love was, and in the seventh grade he asked her out on a whim and she said yes, and they hadn't been apart in five years. He talked about how she seemed like she had this hard snobby exterior, but inside she was the nicest person imaginable. He talked about how much he loved her and still did. He hadn't choked once, until he looked down and saw her face.
After the service Danny and Mayor Sullivan stood on the church steps as people hugged them and told them how sorry they were. Danny wasn't really paying attention to the passing faces; he was looking for two people in particular. He had made a promise to his wife, he'd never broken a promise to her before and he wasn't going to start now.
Rafe had walked by him a few minutes prior and was standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Danny so they could drive over to the cemetery and Rosie was next in the consolation line.
"Hey Rafe come over here." Danny called down the steps
"What is it?" His best friend came back up avoiding looking at Rosie
"You two come here." Danny guided the two too a secluded corner of the church.
"Look Beth loved you guys like you were the brother and sister she never had. They last thing she asked me to do was to help you see how much you love each other. Now I lost the love of my life, I'm never gonna see her again and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you two throw your chance away."
"I don't think there is a chance for us." Rafe declared as Rosie shifted her gaze to the floor
"Rafe I know you better then anyone else in this world and I know you still love this girl. So why don't you tell me why you've decided there's no chance for you."
"She screwed Johnny Danny!!" Rafe's harsh voice echoed throughout the church.
Danny pressed his eyes tightly together and Rosie whimpered and flinched as if she'd been punched in the face. Danny looked at Rosie his eyes asking permission to tell Rafe the truth. She nodded and looked back to the floor
"Rafe, Johnny tried to rape her."
"He did what?" Rafe looked shocked and appalled
"Johnny attacked me Rafe. I didn't sleep with him. You're the only one I've ever been with, you're the only one I wanna be with. I love you Rafe. I've loved you since you saved me from Georgie in kindergarten." Rosie's voice was scarcely above a whisper, but it held so much. Rafe's arms came tightly around her as he buried his face in her hair.
"God Ro, why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how to say it."
They were interrupted then by the mayor saying it was time to head to the burial but as they headed out the door Danny dropped Rosie's locket in her hand. The completed his mission, he knew Beth would be smiling now.