CHAPTER TWO
As soon as Jamie's eyes landed on their baby, they filled with adoration and love. "She's so beautiful," she said quietly, tears forming in her eyes. Landon pulled a chair up next to the bed and sat down, kissing Jamie again. "She is," he agreed. "Just like you."

The two of them had then begun thinking up names-since this baby had come early, they hadn't had much time to before. They considered Elizabeth, Cynthia, Alicia, and even Carolina, after the place where she was born. Then, out of the blue, Jamie had begun humming "Only Hope," looking at Landon lovingly as she thought. It hit them both suddenly and they knew it was the one. Their baby became Hope Elizabeth Carter, and they both agreed it was the most perfect name they could have come up with. (Landon had wanted Hope Jamie-but Jamie had insisted it didn't sound right. Elizabeth was the only other thing they could think of as a way to somehow bring Jamie's name into their daughter's name.)

Five days later, Jamie was released from the hospital-actually, it was more like they both were released, since Landon had been spending about 22 out of 24 hours each day there with her and Hope. Even though Jamie was tired, she thought it would be great to have all of their friends and relatives over for a little baby shower or "Welcome Baby" party, so they did. Everyone brought gifts, and they ate cake and caught up with each other. It was great. And life was great, for the next five months, until Jamie's condition worsened. Landon knew her time was running short, and he couldn't bear the thought. He was angry with God, especially since He'd just sent them this perfect little baby and now He was taking Jamie away, so she couldn't be there with her daughter anymore. He knew, from what Jamie always talked about, that it was just part of His plan, but he simply couldn't see any good in it.

Landon spent every single moment of Jamie's last day with her. They played with the baby, cuddled together, lovingly reminisced about their short past; Landon would not leave her side. At about seven o'clock that evening, as they lay together in the bed, Jamie, mustering up all the strength she could, hugged him, and began to cry. "Landon, I'm sorry," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Sorry? Sorry for what, baby?" Landon asked, looking down at her. He lifted her chin so her teary eyes looked into his.

Her face crumpled again, and she grabbed his shirt, crying into it. "I don't want to leave you, Landon," she choked. "I don't want to leave you and Hope."

Landon began to choke up himself; his wife, whom had been so strong about this before, was breaking down. How could he possibly survive this if even she was acting this way?

"Oh, I'm so sorry," she sniffed, wiping her eyes. "I shouldn't be acting this way.I should be strong."

"No, no, baby," Landon said, almost in a whisper so she wouldn't hear his voice shaking. "Don't worry about it. Just cry if you need to."

They embraced, Jamie crying into his shirt, and he realized that he couldn't hold back. He let the tears flow, and after a little while, Jamie stopped crying, wiped her tears away, and gently wiped his away too.

She looked up at him, her red, puffy eyes sincere. "Landon," she said weakly, "I need you to be strong. You have to take care of Hope and go on with life. I don't want you to be a wreck when I'm gone. Okay?"

When I'm gone. Landon still didn't want to believe those words. "Okay," he said, sincerely as possible, fighting not to cry.

"Please, Landon," Jamie said, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "You have to let the Lord be in control. Even though this may seem unfair, He does everything for a reason. It's all in His plan. Please understand, Landon.even if I'm not here physically, I swear to you that I'll always and forever be with you, and Hope, mentally, in your hearts, watching over you."

Landon couldn't stand it. His vision became blurry with unshed tears, but he quickly wiped them away, not wanting to miss a second of seeing Jamie.

"Landon Rollins Carter.I love you."

Landon looked down at her. She looked so peaceful. He bit his lip, and responded, "Jamie Elizabeth Carter, I love you too.more than you'll ever know."

He held her tight, and they stayed that way for a long time, all the while Landon wishing that he could just freeze time right then and there and stay in that moment forever. But he knew it wouldn't last forever as Jamie's breathing became slower and shallower.

But with those last breaths, she mustered up enough energy to softly, just above a whisper, begin to sing: "There's a song that's inside of my soul.it's the one that I've tried.to write over and over again."

Landon listened as she sang on, amazed that she made it to the end of the song. Her voice was now just on the very edge of a whisper, and raspy and shallow. He held her tight, kissed her head, and said, "I love you, Jamie." Obviously too tired to say another word, she lightly squeezed his hand.
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Snapping back to reality, he realized that his eyes had grown misty with tears, which he quickly wiped away. The last time he ever held Jamie in his arms was on that tragic day...he wanted to remember her, but hated to remember that. Looking at the wedding portrait, he kissed his finger, then touched it gently to Jamie's angelic, smiling face.