“You know me so well.”
“The way to your heart Elliott Gray is through your stomach,” she laughed.
“Speaking of surprises, sweetheart,” I said, taking the plate she made for me. “I got you something.”
“Got me something?”
“Well, I had something made for you.”
I pulled a blue velvet bag from my coat pocket and handed it to her.
“I can tell by your facial expression that I’ve caught you off guard. That’s twice in one night missus, you’re losing your touch.”
Jules stuck her hand in the bag and pulled out a white gold three dimensional clasp bangle.
“I had the jewelry maker place raised ranunculus around the top of the cuff. Do you like it?”
Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.
“They’re my favorite flower,” she said.
“I know.”
“This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen Elliott. It’s just so....so....”
“You?”
“Yes,” she giggled, through watery eyes. “Very me. Thank you my love.”
She reached for me and hugged my neck tightly.
“Thank you,” she said in a gasp of air, trying to control her emotions.
“But there’s more,” I whispered into her hair. “Yes. Here, let me put it on you.”
I grabbed her small wrist and clasped the bangle together and a sharp intake of breath passed through her lips.
“I discovered something while you were in Mauch Chunk Jules. I was researching surveillance cameras online and needed a pen to write down the models. Anyway, I reached for a pen, the same pen you used to finish your homework a few day before you left, and felt you. A miniature blast of Julia shot up my arm and thrummed through my heart.
“Apparently we can store our current. That pen was a gift from my grandfather to my father and was pure gold. We never noticed it before because I think it can only be stored within gold. So I experimented. I had this made for you and slept with it in my hands for several days. The current can only survive for a few days but it can be recharged.”
“That’s amazing,” she said. “Can we get you one?”
“Ranunculus aren’t a good look for me.”
“Shut up,” she laughed. “You know what I mean.”
“Already done.”
I raised my arm and showed her a leather cuff wrapped around my right wrist. I removed the cuff and showed her that I had a small plate of gold sewed on the inside of the cuff right over the pulse point. Also, I never showed her this, but I had the initials JG, for Julia Gray, etched underneath that plate out of sight on the cuff side. It was a few months premature but I didn’t care. I handed her the cuff and she instinctively tucked it into the hem of her jeans, the gold against the skin of her hip so it could ‘charge’.
I grabbed her face in my hands and kissed her puckered lips.
“I love you Julia Jacobs.”
“And I love you Elliott Gray.”
“I need to tell you something Jules.”
“What’s that sweets?”
“You know that I love you but I don’t think I’ve ever really told you how I love you.”
“Go on.”
I kept her face in my palms, so she could feel my words.
“Did you know that my heart beats from my chest every single time I am close to you? Every time I am in the same vicinity? That each time I witness your chest rise and fall with breath I am grateful beyond belief? That you are everything a person, a woman, should be and that your heart and soul are as pristine as the clean bright glow of your eyes? And that I have never wanted to protect someone so much in my entire life?
“You’ve struck me in ways I didn’t know possible Jules.” I grinned from ear to ear. “I’m happy that you are blind to my faults and even happier that you love me as much as I love you. I can say with absolute certainty that you are the only person in this world that deserves the moon, the ocean and the stars. You are the only exception. You deserve them and if it takes me our entire lives to give them to you I won’t settle until they are yours.”
Then I kissed her softly.
Tears welled in her eyes and she spoke softly into my ear, “When we were small, I remember playing on this very rock bridge. It seems funny now, looking back, I can see just how steeped we were in our destiny even then, unaware of the dormant gift that lay beneath our own skin.
“The first few months we were re-discovering who we were to one another and I often wondered what God had been waiting for when I could have known you as this Elliott all those years, saddened by all the missed love, but as I’d gotten to know you all over again, I uncovered why.
“Time. Time was what He needed to design us as individuals, to sketch us to compliment the other Elliott, as a perfect combination of souls and only time will tell what we are fated to do with it. We are destined for greatness Elliott Gray.
“I can feel it.”
My watch unexpectedly chimed midnight.
There was a single, rapturous kiss.
And a pair of eyes watching us from the cold shadows.
Thank You’s and Apologies:
Dear City of Bramwell,
I made it appear in my book that you were all a bunch of ninnies who had no mind of your own and are obsessed with your children’s lives. I KNOW THIS TO BE UNTRUE............but I desperately needed you to be, fictitiously, for the sake of the novel.
Please forgive me. I know just how wonderful all of you truly are and I promise you that my readers will know it as well.
Yours forever,
Fisher Amelie
Dear readers,
I made it appear in my book that the city of Bramwell were a bunch of ninnies, who have no minds of their own and are obsessed with their children’s lives. THIS IS UNTRUE. (Though, they do love their children dearly.) In fact, Bramwellians are incredible, hard working, smart and funny individuals who make up one of the best damn towns in the United States of America.
Yours forever,
Fisher Amelie
Hidden (and some not so hidden) Song Titles
Elliott’s & Jules’ current fav song- Starring by Freelance Whales
Chapter One- Battle by Beats Antique
Chapter One- Thick as Thieves by Dashboard Confessional
Chapter One- Southern Weather by The Almost
Chapter One- Caterpillar by Beats Antique
Chapter One- The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose by Circa Survive
Chapter One- Koan by The Guggenheim Grotto
Chapter One- Lover’s March by The Future Cast
Chapter One- Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Chapter Two- Birds by Deas Vail
Chapter Two- High by Feeder
Chapter Two- Daylight by Matt & Kim
Chapter Two- Eyes by Rogue Wave
Chapter Two-Glory Box by Portishead
Chapter Two- Without You by Silverchair
Chapter Two- Part 1, Those Thieving Birds by Silverchair
Chapter Two- Ready To Go by Republica
Chapter Two- Destiny by Zero 7
Chapter Two-Sleep Well Tonight by The Dissociatives
Chapter Three- Aha! by Imogen Heap
Chapter Three- Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys
Chapter Five- Winter by Antonio Vivaldi
Chapter Six- Somewhere only we know by Keane
Chapter Eight- Mustard Gas by The Dear Hunter
Chapter Nine- Ice Dance by Danny Elfman
Chapter Nine- Back against the Wall by Cage the Elephant
Chapter Ten- The Only Exception by Paramore
Chapter Ten- Fear by OneRepublic
Ha! Good luck with this link: http://www.fisheramelie.com/kickacemusic
Join me at facebook.com/fisheramelie
I’d love to incessantly bombard you with my thoughts and feelings. E.g,
Fisher Amelie
Is picking lint
from her toes and stuffing
it in the secret box hidden beneath
her bed marked ‘lint’.
18 minutes ago · 1 · Like· Comment Share
Thank you also to roobix, llc at www.goroobix.com. Just look at my websites if you’re curious to know why I’m eternally grateful to them! (Shameless plug. Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.)
www.theleavingseries.com has some wild and crazy stuff on it, including some recipes from Memaw Joan E. So, check ‘er out! Elliott and Jules told me they’ve put some great junk up there as well. I might just scope it out with you.
www.fisheramelie.com tells you only a little about Fisher but lots about the things that surround her.
For You:
The Imposed Upon Heart
For if I had but one more day
‘Fore Peter led me on my way
I’d write our destiny with pen
Preserving what had always been
And what would always be, you see
For you’re the only one for me.
-Fisher
And last, but for a reason. I always save the best for last:
To Christ,
Oh, without You.
My life would be devoid of happiness.
Thank You.
P.S. Thanks for the kickin’ sense of humor.
Fisher Amelie Interview with Julia Jacobs and Elliott Gray:
Fisher: I’m sitting here with the main characters of my newest book, The Understorey. Elliott and Jules? Welcome.
Elliott: Thank you.
Jules: No prob, Bob.
Fisher: Now, I know you guys don’t have much time so I’ll try to make this quick. This first one’s for Jules. Was it embarrassing to see what a goof you were in the beginning about handling the gift that you and Elliott share?
Jules: Well, kind of. I mean, when Elliott told me you were writing our story, for a split second, just a split, I thought about nudging you with my elbow, winking, and encouraging you to use some of that creative license of yours, but Elliott convinced me that you wouldn’t make me appear too foolish so I bit my tongue and trusted him that you would represent me well.
Fisher: And were you happy with the results?
Jules: Yeah, I have to admit, I was. I mean, granted, I looked like a spoiled brat in the beginning but you pulled it off nicely and by the end of the novel I felt vindicated. Plus, you told our story with such honesty, I couldn’t get that upset right?
(Laughing)
Fisher: Is this the bracelet?
Jules: Yes, it is. Beautiful isn’t it?
Fisher: Quite. Elliott?
Elliott: Yes ma’am?
Fisher: Your cuff?
Elliott: This is it.
Fisher: Fascinating. They both feel like any normal cuff or bracelet to me.
Elliott: Any normal cuff or bracelet that can store power. Let me ask you a question.
Fisher: Okay.
Elliott: Does this cuff make me look like a pansy?
Jules: (Laughs) Oh Elliott! I’ve told you! It’s a very manly cuff.
Elliott: I know, I know! But it’d be nice to get Fisher’s opinion.
Fisher: It’s a cuff even the Dos Equis guy would wear.
Elliott: Good enough for me. He is the most interesting man in the world.
Jules: That he is and manly as all get out!
(Laughs)
Fisher: Okay. So, next question. Elliott’s turn.
Elliott: Uh, oh.
Fisher: I’ll go easy. What’s it like to be such a heart throb?
Elliott: (Clears throat) Well, ha ha, I don’t really know. I, uh, I don’t know.
Jules: I’ll come to your rescue babe. Elliott’s one of those heart throbs that isn’t aware they’re actually heart throbs. You’ve just let the cat out of the bag.
(Laughs)
Fisher: Moving on then.
(Laughs)
Fisher: Elliott, your relationship with your mom is so adorable. It’s so obvious how much you love and respect her. What advice can you give my readers about possibly duplicating that same relationship with their own parent?
Elliott: Well, the trick is to get them good and schnockered.
Jules: Elliott!
(Laughs)
Elliott: Kidding, kidding. Truthfully? When you’re kind to them, reliable, loving, and honest they’ll treat you the way you want to be treated. Isn’t that right Jules?
Jules: Of course babe. Parents are difficult, that’s a given, but if you’re mature enough to realize that when you give to them they also want to give back to you, and usually tenfold your effort, you can create a nice little situation for yourself.
Fisher: Good advice. So, Jules, I’m going to get into a hard question here.
Jules: Shoot.
Fisher: The scene where Jesse takes you from your car. How difficult was that to read?
Jules: Extremely. I kept stopping to gain composure, picking the book back up, and then stopping again. It was harder than I thought it would be, harder than the cave and cabin scenes.
Fisher: Really?
Jules: Yeah, because….You alright Elliott?
Elliott: Mmm, hmm. (Clears throat)
Jules: Because the cave scenes, at the time I was living them, I was prepared for death. I know that sounds awful but I had mentally prepped myself so I wasn’t as blown away by it all. I had steeled myself by that point. The initial abduction seemingly came out of the blue. I was just floored and really had no idea what I was doing. I desperately clung to anything that could get me away from him and when I failed myself, I felt like I had failed Elliott. It was heartbreaking. Towards the end, I’d lost hope and I never thought that would happen to me.
Fisher: And Elliott? What was it like for you to read those scenes?
Elliott: It was the first time I had heard that part of Jules’ torture.
Fisher: Seriously?
Elliott: Yes.
Fisher: Why?
Elliott: Because Jules wasn’t ready to tell me before that and I refused to press her. She had decided that the book was a perfect way of filling me in on what happened because it would almost feel as if she didn’t have to tell me. Early on, she revealed that it would be too heartbreaking to speak of it to me. She was with me when I eventually read them. Once I was done, I just held her for like four hours. Four hours, right?
Jules: Four hours, yeah.
Elliott: We talked for several more hours after that. I asked her questions I never would have asked before, in fear I’d bring some horrible memory to the surface and she’d shut down on me. So, the book helped the both of us with cleansing ‘Jesse’ from our palate so to speak. We were vulnerable and revealed. It felt horrible and invigorating all at the same time. Strange.
Fisher: And the scar?
Jules: Healing.
Fisher: I’m glad to hear it.
Jules: Thank you.
Fisher: So, what’s next for the two of you?
Elliott: You’ll just have to wait and find out.
Fisher: Oh, come on! Not even a hint?
Elliott: What are you talking about Fisher! It’s your story!
Fisher: Oh, yeah.
Elliott: You’ve been, uh, hitting the schnapps early have you?
(Laughs)
Fisher: Yes, peach.
Elliott: Ho, ho! Nice.
Fisher: Kidding. Only kidding.
Jules: Sure, sure miss Amelie.
Elliott: You know what Fisher?
Fisher: What?
Elliott: Every party has a pooper that’s why you invited me.
Fisher: Aww, man!
Elliott: Yup, we’ve gotta’ jet Fisher. Gotta’ study.
Jules: He doesn’t have to study. It’s in the bag for him. What he means is he needs to help me study.
Elliott: Not true!
Jules: Okay, okay.
Fisher: Well, thank you both for sitting with me. It’s been fun.
Elliott: Thank you!
Jules: And thank you!
r />
(Jules and Elliott stand to leave.)
Jules: You want to help me with Chem first?
Elliott: As you wish, Jules. As you wish.
Fisher Amelie resides in the South with her kick ace husband/soulmate. She earned her first 'mama' patch in 2009. She also lives with her Weim, 'Jonah', and her Beta, 'Whale'. All these living creatures keep the belly of her life full, sometimes to the point of gluttony, but she doesn't mind all that much because life isn't worth living if it isn't entertaining, right?
Read more about Fisher at www.fisheramelie.com
Fisher Amelie, The Understorey, Book One of The Leaving Series
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