“No. You don't understand, I want to watch him die, Alex,” Summer states fiercely, “I want to be at his side when he takes his last breath, and I want to be the one to ensure he goes to hell. No one will take that from me.” Angrily, she wipes her tears before riding back to the house. Anger pushes her while she packs a bag and readies to travel.
Alex watches her go and is stunned by the raw rage in her voice, but part of him understands it. Does he wish for any less for himself? “God help us both, Summer girl,” he whispers.
Late that night Summer tiptoes into Jonah’s room and watches him sleep. When she leans down to kiss his cheek, he wraps his arms around her neck and smiles. “Gotcha!” Summer laughs and drops to her knees.
“I’m sorry, Jonah, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispers inhaling the scent she has come to love.
“It’s okay. Sometimes I can’t sleep cause I don’t feel good,” he replies. She climbs into his bed and pulls him against her to cuddle.
“Oh? Tell me what hurts, and I shall kiss it better for you.” Jonah giggles and then rolls over to look at her.
“You can't kiss it better, Summer, cause it's my heart. It's got a hole in it.” His fist covers his little chest, and he looks at her in all seriousness.
“What do you mean, Jonah?” Her heart begins to pound rapidly at the thought of him in pain.
“I never had a mommy before, and sometimes when I think of her my heart hurts, but then you came, and it didn't hurt so much anymore.” Summer grasps his hand and pulls him close.
“When you leave, you’re gonna take a bigger piece of my heart, but Daddy says that broken hearts heal better together.” He sniffs and tears roll down her cheeks.
“I'm sorry Jonah, I never meant to hurt you. It is alright if I stay with you, for a little while.” He shrugs, and they cry together. Soon his hiccups slow and he falls back to sleep, and she leaves him praying for the strength to let them go.
Long before the sun rises, Summer is up and dressed. The coach will be ready to take them to the train station. Her bag is next to the front door when Alex and Seth join her. Summer doesn’t speak, she climbs into the carriage and waits to leave. As they pull away, she looks out the window lost in thought. Her heart begins to pound as they near the street.
“Wait!” She screams out. Seth smiles and Alex raps the roof of the carriage. When they stop, she turns to her brother and whispers, “Alex, am I selfish if I stay?”
“Of course not, Summer. You've earned the right to be happy. Seize your future, Summer girl. It's right in front of you,” he pleads.
“The true question, Summer, is are you brave enough to stay?” Seth asks quietly. Leaning back, she looks at them and feels a weight lift off her heart. A dark look enters her eyes as she reaches in her pocket and pulls out something. Summer holds up a small glass tube.
“I've been waiting for a chance to use this on the Doctor. I spent weeks researching and, well, you don’t want to know how I got this.” Sean had been happy to help her and was as good as his word. “It is a powerful neurotoxin venom from the black mamba snake. Highly toxic. You must inject it into a muscle. At first, he will have a headache, then a metallic taste in the mouth, followed by profuse perspiration and drooling. Numbness will set in towards the end, which leads to full paralysis. This venom has a one hundred percent mortality rate, Alex.” She smiles a grim smile and leans forward, “He will suffer, and he will feel everything, but not be able to move. You will have roughly seven hours before it kills him.” Both men stare at her in stunned silence.
“Marry me, beautiful. We could have tons of mad children!” Seth says with a wicked grin. Summer laughs and turns back to her brother.
Alex takes the vial, and she hands him a small case which holds syringes. “I promise, he will suffer, and you will be free from him.” Summer leans back and smiles.
“I love you, Alex. Be back in time for Christmas. Watch his back, Seth.” Summer climbs from the carriage as they unload her bag and then watches as the carriage drives out of sight. She strolls back to the house, dropping her suitcase with a laugh, she picks up her skirt and runs home.
Victor hears her before he sees her, she is laughing and running towards the house. He opens the door and waits for her to come to him. When she reaches the steps, she stops and looks up at him with her chest heaving and hope in her heart.
“Have you come home, then?” He asks softly.
“Yes,” she takes a step, “Victor, you asked me once to tell you when I was ready to imagine a future with you and Jonah. If it isn't too late…” Victor closes the distance between them and jerks her into his arms while raining kisses all over her face before taking her mouth soft and slow. Summer sags against him.
“I love you,” she whispers clinging to him, and he lifts her up into his arms laughing.
“Finally, she talks sense! We are getting married, today!” Summer laughs as Jonah comes running outside and skids to a stop.
His little face is pale when he looks at her, and she pushes on Victor to let her down. He releases her and stands back. Summer walks over and kneels down to his eye level.
“Jonah, I know I can't fill the hole
