Dreaming of Forever Read Free Page B

I have come by to talk to you. I was just wondering how you and your family were doing.”
     
    “We are actually doing pretty well. I’m a history teacher now. I love it,” he told her as she took out a notebook and pen and began taking notes. She also left her tape recorder on the coffee table.
     
    “I’m so glad that you’re moving on with your life,” Ashley said.
     
    Zach nodded. “I'm a part time coach for the football team too. I figure since I can't play football I can at least make a difference with these kids. In the beginning they were shocked that I was helping coach their team,” he laughed.
     
    “That’s great!”
     
    “I would like to become head coach but maybe later on down the road. Laura just turned two a few weeks ago and I want to make sure that I’m around as much as I can be. They grow up so fast.” He looked over at Laura and gave her a smile as she was playing with her doll on the floor.
     
    “Are these the photos I asked you about?” Ashley asked him, pointing to the shoe box on the coffee table.
     
    “Yes they are. That’s all the pictures I could find.”
     
    “Here let me get this tray out of your way.” Emily told them, taking the tray and bringing it back to the kitchen.
     
    “Great. I knew that you wouldn't forget. I just wanted to make sure that's what it was,” Ashley said, lifting the lid on the box.
     
    “Have a look through them and if you have any questions at all I’ll answer them for you,” he told her as Emily came back and sat on the arm of the chair so that she could sit next to Zach.
     
    Ashley thumbed through the photos. She stopped at a Christmas photo of Zach when he was a boy. She saw that there were two little girls sitting with him. She smiled at the photo.
     
    “Those are my two sisters. They’re a few years younger than I am. I love that picture.”
     
    Ashley set the photo aside instead of putting it back in with the pictures. Looking at a few more she also set aside a picture from his high school years. He was in his football uniform and his proud parents stood behind him.
     
    “Can I take these pictures back to Chicago with me?” Ashley asked.
     
    “You can take them. I have the negatives.”
     
    “Thank you,” she answered, looking through another stack of photos.
     
    Ashley’s heart started beating a little faster when she saw a picture of Zach in a hospital bed. The woman standing beside him looked very familiar only she had short brown hair. Ashley knew that she had to be his doctor from the white coat and the stethoscope around her neck. But that wasn't what made her heart skip a beat. She could feel her cheeks warming up and her face growing red.
     
    “Are you alright Ashley? Is something wrong?” Zach asked seeing her face flush and her jaw line flexing.
     
    “Is this Sara D'Angelo?” she asked him as calmly as she could.
     
    “Yes, that's her. The picture was taken almost ten years ago now. It was after the first surgery when we thought everything was going to be fine,” he answered slowly, still concentrating on her face and trying to figure out what was wrong.
     
    “I have to go. I’m sorry for leaving so abruptly.” She stood up, giving him the best smile she could muster and took the few photos off the coffee table and put them into her notebook that she brought along. She shut off her tape recorder and pocketed it.
     
    “Are you okay?” he asked, standing up looking confused.
     
    “Yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry that I couldn't stay longer.” She apologized to Zach and Emily both who were giving her a strange look.
     
    “Okay, if you need to set up some more time just give me a call,” Zach told her, walking her to the front door.
     
    “Thank you for your time.” She smiled at him as he opened the door for her and she went outside. Going down the street she opened her cell-phone to call a taxi to bring her back to the hotel she was at.
     
    How could she stand there and lie right to her face.