Heartbeat || Short Story (Part Three)

"I just received a message from your older brother, Jasmine. He is coming home on the next train tomorrow with your cousins Max and Rowan and apparently he has a surprise for you, as you have not been feeling yourself latley. None of them would tell me what it was." her mother said, pouring herself a cup of tea, "I won't be able to pick them up, so do you think you could make time tomorrow to get them."

Jasmine agreed. She hadn't seen her older brother, Jordan, in about a year as her father and him had had a big argument last Christmas and both of them had waited for the other to apologize but as soon as he had news about Edward and Jasmine's wedding he knew he had to make a visit and Max and Rowan both wanted to join him. The rest of the family were going to make the journey as Jasmine's big day got closer. 

Jasmine prepared the horse and buggy to go down to the station the next day. She wondered what the surprise was, as she rode the buggy down to pick them up.

When she arrived the train was just coming to a stop. She saw her cousins and brother come down from the train, carrying their cases. Two young train porters carried a large heavy looking trunk like case down, behind them, from the train.

The four cousins walked over to the buggy, and got in, while the two porters carried the trunk over and placed it at the back of the buggy, making sure to leave the trunk lid slightly open, tying the buckles back to keep it from banging shut, before saying goodbye to the young men and women. 

"Where's my surprise?"  Jasmine asked, excitedly. 

"What surprise, asking Max." a wide grin crossing his face. 

"Mother said..."

"He's teasing." Jordan said, "Here you go."

Jordan handed Jasmine an envelope. 
Confused she took it, and slowly opened it. 

She recognized the writing at once. It was from Edward. But how? 

She unfolded the piece of paper, and read the letter silently to herself. 

Dearest Jasmine,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. 

If you are reading this then it is to let you know I am safe, and will be home to see you before you know it. 

I miss you so so much, my love.

See you soon.

Forever yours,

Edward 

Jasmine read the letter over and over. 

Did this mean he was alive? If he was why hadn't he contacted before now? And more importantly, how did her brother get the letter?

"Let me take the reins." her brother said, with a twinkle in his eyes, "I want to make a quick stop before home anyway."

When Jasmine finally looked up, and started to take in her surroundings she realized they were pulling up to the Wyld Family House. It was then that everything seemed to click into place.

Edward was alive and somehow had got home and he was the surprise!

Realising this, Jasmine jumped down from the buggy and ran towards the house.

"Edward?" she creamed, "Edward's home. I know you are here, Edward."

The commotion brought Wyld family come running from all directions of the Wyld land.

Charlotte was the first one by Jasmine's side. 

"Jas, what in heaves name is going on? Are you drunk?" 

It was then there was a shout from the buggy, and then Jordan appeared from behind the buggy, and behind him was a young man who walked with a limp. 

Charlotte saw him first. She froze, tears streaming down her face.

Jasmine, seeing her friend's face swirled around, when she saw Edward she collapsed onto her knees. Her hands covered her mouth as the tears started to stream. She had wanted this moment to happen for so long and even though she was so sure he was there she half doubted it until then. 

Mr and Mrs Wyld were half way to the buggy when they stopped surprised to see the familiar face. Charlotte and Edward's two younger siblings ran across the grass to jump into their brother's arms. 

"Mother said you had gone on a long holiday, but you are back. Mother said you wouldn't be coming back because you had gone far far away but she lied because you are here now." Edward's youngest sibling shouted, as Edward picked him up.

Jasmine still was on the ground, too stunned to move, and Charlotte just stood there watching her mouth wide open. But Edward's mother and father quickly unfroze and ran towards their eldest child. 

"Oh, Lord, it really is you." his mother said, her hands reached out to touch her son's face, tears streaming down her face as she pulled him into a hug. She sobbed, as she clung on to him. She never thought she would be able to hold him in her arms again and now he was here she was afraid that if she let go he would disappear again. 

His father stood behind his mother, he touched his son's shoulder, and pulled him in closer, forming a group hug with his wife, who was still refusing to let go.

Finally, Edward let go of his mother leaving her with a quick kiss on the forehead, before limping over to his fiancé who still was kneeling on the grass. 

"Jasmine," he whispered, getting down on his knees in front of her, "I missed you so so much." He pulled her towards him and they hugged each other, both not wanting to ever let go of the other. Tears streamed down Edward's face now.

"We thought you were dead. We were told that you were killed in action." Jasmine mumbled, "I thought I would never see you again."

"Hey, I promised you I would come back home, didn't I. I never break my promises, you know that."

Edward looked up at Charlotte, "Come over her, sis. Come join the reunion." 

Charlotte came over and Edward pulled on her arm, encouraging her to get onto her knees, and the three of them hugged each other, each of them had tears streaming down their faces. 

"Let's go inside and talk about everything that has happened, I just took a batch of cookies out the oven." Mrs. Wyld said, still shocked at seeing her "dead" son walking around in front of their house.

"Yes, Let's go inside." said Charlotte, reluctantly getting up from the grass.

Everyone headed back towards the house, Jasmine's hand was in Edward's a feeling she thought she would never experience again. 

"After we've talked here for a bit, you really need to see my father, there's a lot of things that need to be discussed." Jasmine said, suddenly remembering she was meant to be getting married in a week.

"Oh, yeah, we are going to have to cancel your wedding." Charlotte blurted out.

Edward looked from Charlotte to Jasmine shocked, his hand slipped out of Jasmine's, "What wedding?"

"Just to some guy. It was not my idea. All father's. He said as you were gone, I better settle down and get married before I get too old." Jasmine said, rolling her eyes, grabbing Edward's hand back.

"You old?" Edward laughed, "You don't look any older than the day I first layed eyes on you."

Jasmine slapped his arm playfully, and then she stood on her tiptoes to kiss Edward on the lips.

"You won't believe how long I've wanted to do that." she said, tears glistening in her eyes again. 

Edward wiped the tears, that had escaped her eyes, gently with his finger, "I have wanted to do that for way longer." he said, kissing her again.

When Jasmine walked into her house, a couple hours later, with Edward beside her, her parents could hardly believe their eyes. 

They all sat down in the living room, with another round of tea and slices of homemade cherry cake. 

The next day it was a very, it was a very hurt Chris that left Jasmine's house, knowing he would never be able to marry the women he had been promised. 

And, as all the wedding plans were already in place Edward and Jasmine were going to take the opportunity and get married themselves, which meant they would be husband and wife by the end of the week.

"I'm not going to let you leave me again." Jasmine said, with a little laugh, as they walked down to their favourite place by the old barn.

Edward pulled Jasmine in for a hug, "I'm never leaving you again. That's a promise. And, I never break my promise. Do I?" 

THE END 

There you go. 

That's part three of my short story done, and that means its the end of this story.

I hope you liked it.

Let me know down below what you thought....