Lash watched the white and pink petals dancing in the air as he sat beneath one of the cherry trees. Any other day, he would’ve found the scene enchanting—not today. All he could think about was Naomi. It had been only minutes since she left with Jeremy, but each second that passed felt like an eternity. He was being melodramatic, and he knew it. But he couldn’t help himself. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the hurt on her face. And then, when she left, she couldn’t even look at him long enough to say good-bye.
“Lash,” a soft voice woke him from his thoughts.
He blinked until his eyes focused on Rachel, who stood in front of him with sad eyes. “Oh, hey, Rachel.”
“Mind if I join you?”
He shook his head. “I’m not really in the mood for talking.”
“Sometimes talking helps,” she said, sitting beside him, tucking her legs beneath her. “Raphael told me what happened...about you telling Naomi.”
“Who else knows?” The last thing he needed was other angels talking about him. He didn’t like the thought of his life being a soap opera for them.
“No, just me...and Michael”—she looked down, fiddling with a blade of grass—“and Gabrielle.”
“That’s just great. Now everyone knows!”
“Not everyone.”
Brown eyes glanced up at him, and he narrowed his eyes. He knew her too well. “And...”
She swallowed. “Well, I may have told Uri.”
He groaned. “So all the archangels know I was dumped.”
“You were not dumped. Naomi just needs time to think this through.”
He let out a loud breath in frustration. He wished he could be patient. It was so hard, especially with her gone?and with Jeremy!
He groaned as he tilted his head back, leaning it against the tree. White blossoms fluttered on a breeze going through the gardens. Some tore off from the branches and sailed to the ground, so delicate, so beautiful, just like Naomi.
“She couldn’t even look at me, Rachel. She went on assignment with Jeremy for who knows how long, and she didn’t say a word. It’s like she gave up on me.”
“Don’t think like that! She loves you so much. Anyone can see that.”
Lash watched a cloud between the branches as it drifted across the sky, covering the sun for a moment and leaving them in a shadow. That’s how he felt at that moment—a shadow of himself, empty without Naomi’s love.
“I don’t know. Maybe there was a reason why we were prevented from being together the first time around. Maybe she’s meant to be with someone else.” Naomi placing her hand in Jeremy’s right before she left was seared in his mind.
“Lash, stop it!” She shook his shoulders, hard. “Snap out of it, and stop talking nonsense.”
She moved directly in front of him and reached over, curling her hand behind his neck. “Look at me.”
He slowly tilted his head down and looked into determined brown eyes. “I know you don’t remember the first time you were with Naomi, and someday I hope you will. But I was there. I know. The love between the two of you was so pure, so beautiful, it broke my heart to see you two being torn apart.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“Argh! I am not. How can I make you believe me?”
“It’s okay, Rachel. You’ve always been a good friend.” He took her hand, kissed it, and stood. “If anyone is looking for me, I’ll be in the Room of Judgment.” It was nice and dark there. At least there, he’d be left alone.
She let out a growl of frustration and jumped to her feet. Before he knew what was happening, her petite hands jerked his head down and she placed a palm on his temple.
“Hizaher,” she whispered the Hebrew command to remember in his ear.
A memory flashed through Lash’s mind. He found himself on a familiar hill next to Naomi. She turned to him, her eyes filled with tears as she reached out to cup his face. “I care not if my father has promised me in marriage to Jeremiel. My love for you will never die.”
“My sweet Naomi. Your love gives me strength.” Lash placed his hands over hers, turned his head, and kissed her palms. “I will plead with my father to allow me to have your hand in marriage. I care not what he does with me so long as I can be with you.”
“And if he says no?”
“Then we shall leave this place. Will you go with me? Can you leave your sisters, your family, and join me?”
“Yes. I cannot bear to be without you.”
“Then I shall fight for you. I’ll never stop fighting for you.”
“Nor I you.”
Lash gasped as Rachel pulled her hands away. He blinked down at her. “Was that a memory?”
She glanced around the garden with a worried look. “Please don’t tell anyone I did that.”
Of all the memories he’d been shown of his past, this one was the most vivid. He could feel it to the core of his soul as he if were actually there. He could feel the strength of Naomi’s love. She was willing to sacrifice everything to be with him. Not Jeremy. Him!
He scooped Rachel into his arms, lifting her off her feet, and swung her around. “Thank you, Rachel! That was the best gift anyone has ever given me.” He set her on the ground and held her tightly against his chest in a bear hug.
“Yohwocom.”
“What?” He laughed at the muffled sound she was making and let go of her.
She brushed back her hair and let out a breath. “I said ‘you’re welcome.’ Sometimes, you don’t know your own strength. You’re pretty strong for a seraph, you know.”
“Sorry.” He grinned.
“Feeling better now?”
“A little. I mean, it helps to know how much she loved me.”
“Loves. Present tense, Lash.”
“Okay,
“She’ll be back. In the meantime, you just need to keep yourself distracted while she’s gone.”
She furrowed her brow in thought and then her face lit up. “I know! I’m going to send Uri to you.” She slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Get ready for a poker night—Uri style.”
A pair of clear blue eyes gazed intently at Lash. “I don’t think you have it,” Uri said with a thick Russian accent.
“Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t.” Lash reached for the bottle of vodka, a smuggled gift from Uri, and poured himself a drink. Keeping his eyes on him, he downed it and placed the glass down on the table. “Care to make this interesting?”
Uri’s clean-shaven face lit up. “Now you’re talking, my friend. What’s your price?”
“Cuban cigars.” Lash poured himself another drink and brought the glass up to his lips.
“Don’t you already have a stash?”
“Raphael found them when he was helping us move,” he grumbled.
Uri chuckled.
Lash threw him a glare.
“Say no more.” Uri stared down at his cards, his lip twitching.
He shook his head, taking another sip. “What’s your price?”
Uri looked up and thought for a moment. “Umm. Okay, Mr. Mister.”
Lash choked on his drink and coughed, laughing. “Why are you calling me mister?”
“I’m not calling you mister. I said I want Mr. Mister.”
“Uh, okay, so you want a mister?” He furrowed his brow. “What about Rachel?”
Uri looked at him wide-eyed. “It’s
“For Rachel?” Maybe he didn’t know Rachel as well as he thought he did.
