Landon kept his promise. He waited for Jamie. Maybe he wasn't always patient and forgiving, and at his worst he could not even muster up understanding. Those feelings were always overridden by something stronger though, the most important thing he had learned from Jamie, faith. He knew as long as he kept faith she would come back to him.
As summer turned to autumn and autumn eventually to winter Landon continued his vigil. There were days when it felt as if his time with Jamie had been a dream, just a figment of his imagination. At other times it felt all too real because to him Jamie was everywhere. Every time he closed his eyes it was her face he saw, the sun bouncing off his wedding band reminded of the promises he had made to her and most importantly the changes in himself, he accredited directly to Jamie. How could he ever forget or move on?
In September he had gone away to college just as Jamie had asked. It was only an hour away from Beaufort but his father insisted that if he was going to be serious about his studies he would need an apartment on campus. Driving back and forth everyday took up valuable studying time.
He had also changed from general studies to pre-med. He knew that at the time he was accepted his marks were not good enough for pre-med. and that was why he chose general studies but both Principal Kelly and his father had gone to bat for him pulling strings with the college's admission department to let him in. He had no intention of letting anyone down.
At first Landon had thought throwing himself into his studies would make him miss Jamie a little less, some how lessen the ache. Instead it made it more obvious. While all the other freshmen were off joining sororities and partying every night, reveling in their first taste of freedom Landon sat in his tiny apartment pining for his wife.
There were many times he picked up the phone to beg Reverend Sullivan or even his own father, who he knew, knew where Jamie was. But he couldn't make himself do it. He couldn't ask anyone else to betray Jamie's trust even if it were to him. She would come to him when she was ready. That much he understood.
When he came home for Christmas break he was not in the holiday spirit. He had never faced a more dismal Christmas in his life. His mother tried to keep his spirits up by decorating the house and making all of his favourite meals. After a few days though she admitted defeat and left him alone with his books in his room to mope.
It was late on the afternoon of Christmas Eve when there was a knock on his bed room door. He had been slouched over his laptop at his desk reading an email from Belinda and Clay who were spending Christmas in Madrid. Stretching he turned around to see his mother leaning against the door observing him.
"It's kind of early for dinner, isn't it?" He asked standing up.
"I'm going out tonight." She told placing some folded laundry on top of his dresser. "Belinda's mother called this afternoon and asked if I would like to go caroling with her and some other people from the church at the hospital. So," she paused giving him an appraising look. Landon looked down at his tee shirt and boxers he had not bothered to change out of when he got up this morning. "You're on your own tonight. I left a sandwich in the fridge."
He nodded and turned to go back to his computer. "There's one more thing. It's a small favour but I really don't have time to do it or I would have myself."
"Yeah, what is it?" he asked sitting back down preparing to write a falsely cheerful email back to Belinda and Clay.
"Well," she started hesitantly. "I have a fruit cake here for Reverend Sullivan. I mean, he is family and he's all alone for the holidays. I would have done it sooner but...well you know how crazy things get this time of year." She hurried on before Landon could object. "I think he'd like to see you anyway. He always asks after you after church on Sunday. He says Jamie is doing real well."
Landon was just opening his mouth to object when he looked up and his mother was already gone. He heard her call good bye from the door and a second later heard her car pull out of the driveway.
Turning off his computer he got up and headed for the bathroom. He had to shower if he was going out.
Half an hour later Landon was sitting in front of the Sullivan's front yard staring up at the house. Their front porch alone held so many memories for him, he could not imagine Jamie not being there, not tucked away somewhere just beyond those doors.
Then a thought hit him, a tiny glimmer of hope. Maybe Jamie was there. Maybe she had been allowed to come home for Christmas. With this thought in mind he walked up the steps, hopeful and scared. Ringing the doorbell he shifted from foot to foot nervously.
Reverend Sullivan answered, throwing the door open wide. He had his jacket on and all the lights in the house were off. It looked as if Landon had just caught him on his way out.
"Landon!" he exclaimed, "it's good to see you, son."
Trying to hide his disappointment he held out the fruitcake. "This is for you, from my mom and I. Merry Christmas."
Shoving his hands deep in his pockets he stretched up onto his toes. "Anyway, it looks like you're going out so I won't keep you."
He was turning to walk away but he couldn't without saying something. "Reverend? When you see Jamie next tell her I said..." Said what? He asked himself desperately, that I love her? That I think of her every second of every day? "Just tell her I said Merry Christmas."
Nodding Reverend Sullivan looked at Landon for a second before speaking. "I'll do that. I was just on my way over to the hospital for the caroling but I just got a call that one of my older parishioners is doing poorly and the family would really like me to come to the home to see her. I won't be getting to the hospital as early as I had hoped now though"
Standing still Landon waited for the reason Jamie's father had just told him all of this. He didn't have to wait long.
"I was going to go a bit out of my way on the way to the hospital to drop this choir book off at friend's of mines house. I won't be able to now and I know she had really wanted it for tomorrow, it being Christmas and all." He paused and handed the worn old book to Landon, "I don't suppose you would mind doing it for me, would you?"
Not being able to say no Landon took the book wordlessly and waited for Reverend Sullivan to write down directions. Taking the slip of paper he was about to go back to his car when the Reverends voice stopped him.
"She misses you Landon. She just needed this time."
Blinking back tears Landon nodded, holding up the book in a silent salute he turned and walked back to his car. Starting the ignition he could still see Reverend Sullivan standing on the porch watching him.
The address was almost a twenty-minute drive out of Beaufort. It gave Landon time to think. She missed him. He had known that, deep down without being told but it helped, hearing it all the same. He remembered what his father had told him, the night that Jamie had left. Sometimes after people have been through an experience like Jamie had they needed time to themselves, time to figure things out, readjust to the second chance at life they had been given.
He had resigned himself to giving her the time that she needed but on nights like this he really wished she could be there with him. Even if it was only for one night.
Finding the street he was looking for he drove slowly along scanning the houses for number 15 beyond all the Christmas lights and decorations. Finally finding it he pulled into the drive behind a silver Volks wagon and turned off the ignition. Picking the book up off the seat he hoped it was not anyone he knew. He could not bear having to sit and talk when all he wanted was to go home to his room and think about Jamie.
Ringing the doorbell he couldn't help but smile as 'Jingle bells' chimed throughout the house. He heard a dog bark and what he thought might have been a bird squawk before he heard a voice he though sounded familiar call, "Could you get that? My hands are covered with cookie dough."
Considering just leaving the book on the door step Landon already had it held out ready to shove it into who ever opened the doors hands when the door came swinging open.
He stopped cold. He thought his heart might stop and he had to remember to breath. "Jamie?" He whispered hoarsely barely believing his eyes.
She stood there before him in a flowing nightgown even though it was only 7 o-clock at night. She didn't say a word just stared back at him. In the background he vaguely noted Hope closing the front door behind them, a huge smile on her face.
Before he even knew what he was doing he was pulling Jamie into his arms, holding her close to him, scared to let her go. It was relief and joy he felt when he felt her arms snake up to hold him.
Breathing in her familiar scent he felt tears running down his face and Jamie's running into his neck. He had never been so happy in his entire life.
He was about to pull back to take a good look at her when something caught his attention. He felt something move against him, reaching down cautiously, not sure if he believed it or not his hand rested on Jamie's stomach. Staring down at Jamie's extended belly he felt so many emotions flooding his system. Jamie was expecting his baby.