Free Love Never Dies by Loren Lockner Page B

take a shower. I have to drop off those clothes at the homeless shelter. It completely slipped my mind.”
    “No wonder,” j oked Seth, sitting up and stretching his long arms. He gazed into the final glowing embers of the dying fire. “Come join me in the shower, love.” His eyes were tender as they rose and he draped the king-sized blanket around them before both moved as a unit to the distant bathroom.
    It was no different on the surface. They joked in the shower as he asked her how she got the scar on her elbow and they shared childhood bicycle crash stories and tales about family traditions.
    “So tonight, you will be subject ed to the most ingrained tradition of the Morris household,” Julia teased.
    “I like traditions,” said Seth . “I miss them and would be happy to adopt yours.”
    “Well then, just a word of warning. I’m sure Paul warned you about Grandma’s clam chowder and fresh baked sourdough bread, but we also exchange one Christmas Eve gift tonight and you have to guess what’s inside. My father guesses a tie every single time.” Seth grinned, truly looking forward to supper at the Morris’.
    It was no different as they gathered their clothes and Julia blow-dried her hair. It was no different as he kissed her tenderly goodbye and agreed to meet her at her parent’s house in a couple hours. But the moment she stepped out of the condominium door, it became acutely different.
    Warmth tugged at her heart, increasing with every step as she moved away from the flat. Julia’s heart jolted as she saw Seth wave to her from the white-frosted window she and Angie had sprayed only that week. He was with her and in her, and the love-filled warmth reassured and promised. I walk with you forever it pledged and she hugged herself in her Taurus, knowing suddenly that Seth was always going to be there; no matter what.
     
     
    He watched her from the window as she st rolled across the street and lowered herself into the midnight blue Taurus. She raised a hand to him and Seth lifted a hand in reply as she slowly drove off. It was then he noticed the dark gray sedan sitting under a droopy mulberry tree across the street. Someone appeared to be watching the condo and Seth felt his heart quicken. It couldn’t be! Seth backed away, fingers discreetly pushing the curtains aside as he observed the sallow face framed in the car window. It was a face he did not recognize, yet instinctively dreaded, and he backed away cautiously from the window. Seth observed the man over the next fifteen minutes, memorizing every feature of the stalker’s thin face. He shouldn’t have been surprised when the phone rang, abruptly startling him from his focused scrutiny.
    “The Morris residence,” he answered tersely.
    “Seth, are you alright?” Julia’s voice held a high note of fear.
    “What do you mean?” he asked, already knowin g she had tuned in to his nervous anxiety.
    “I had this strange feeling or premonition that something’s not right; that you’re worried or frightened about something.” She waited and a long pause ensued as he pondered the significance of her words.
    “My father was right then, it is true. We exchanged our souls and now you pick up on my moods. You’re not to worry, love; it’s nothing. Just anxiety about the day, that’s all.” Seth wasn’t sure she believed him, but managed to pacify her. “I’ll be there promptly at five. I love you sweet lady,” he said, and rang off.
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    The phone call was desperate and abrupt. “There’s a dark silver sedan, California license plate HGJ672 parked in front of my condo. It’s a Lexus, recent model, with a sun roof. The man in the driver’s seat is sallow-faced and brown haired, wearing a blue sweater. I can’t see much more than that. I think my cover may be compromised.” He listened a while to the reassuring words, not believing any of them, and interrupted. “I want it checked out and I want it checked out now. There’s a