Legacy

Chapter 7

"Amy, what are you doing here?"

Amy awkwardly looked at Ty, and immediately felt the pain that was so vivid across her troubled husband's face.

"Ty, I'm sorry, but I couldn't stay away. I…I had to come," a cautious Amy replied. Please don't push me away Ty; please!

"Is it ok? Is it…is it alright me being here?"

Ty stared intently at Amy without a hint of revelation to Amy's question for what seemed like an eternity while Amy held her breath. He took in all of her; her stunning natural beauty; the contour of her face he had come to know so well. But what captured him completely and pulled at his heart, was the unmistakable concern etched in her eyes matched only by the love written across her face. A love he knew was reserved for him…only him.

His initial resistance to Amy's unplanned appearance retreated instantly to the joy brought on by the elation of seeing her.

"Yes, it's more than ok. I so glad you're he…" but before he could complete his words Amy leaped into Ty's arms in relief. Equally overcome, Ty held Amy so hard to the point she was short of breath.

I don't care Amy thought; hold me as long and tight as you want. I'm going to hold you back all night long.

"Amy, I'm so sorry, Ty cried …I'm so sorry for pushing you away."

"I need you."

Hearing those long awaited three simple words brought an indescribable feeling of release to Amy's pent up anxiety that had permeated her mind since the news of Lilly and Ty's subsequent withdrawal.

Relaxing his arms around his wife, Ty leaned in to kiss her. Tasting the salt on his lips, Amy quickly raised her gaze and noticed the tear tracks on his face that had begun to dry.

Reaching up to gently caress his face, Amy asked, "Ty, what is it?" "Did something else happen?"

Nodding his head in acknowledgment, Ty took her hand and led her to the couch. "Lilly left this for me," said Ty holding up his mother's letter.

Seeking his permission, Amy asked, "Can I read it?"

"Yes, I want you to."

Cautiously unfolding the letter as if it might crumble in her hands, Amy began to read. Ty discerned her surfacing emotions as Amy's bottom lip began to quiver and fresh tears formed in her eyes as she reached the part of Lilly's plea for Ty to not hate her.

"Oh Ty, it's so sad."

Reaching for him again, Amy tenderly inquired, "How do you feel about it?"

Averting his eyes in embarrassment and shame, Ty hesitantly replied, "I…I don't fault her …I don't hate her. In her own way, I believe she thought she was doing the right thing." But…but that's not the problem," Ty stammered. "It's..it's…"

Amy instinctively knew the time was here; Ty was finally ready to express all he'd been feeling.

He's ready; I can feel it.

"Ty, I love you; I love you more than anything." "You can tell me now. All you've been holding inside, you can let it go."

As Ty slowly raised his head to look at her; Amy could see the strain; the pain in his face. Leaning toward him but never releasing his eyes from hers, Amy tenderly caught Ty's face and softly kissed him.

"…It's ok"

"…I'm here."

"…As long as it takes."

"…As long as you need me."

"…I'm here to listen."

"…I will never leave you."

Ty timidly began to speak, "Amy, at the service and funeral today, it hit me." "And it brought into focus what I've think I've known for years." Lilly had no family outside of me."

"No one."

"I have no family left."

"She left me nothing."

"And I…I have nothing to…to…leave you," Ty choked.

"I have nothing to leave our future children."

"Nothing," a completely defeated Ty said.

Amy knew at this moment that Ty; her husband; her lover; the father of their children yet born; needed her more than all the days they had shared before. As strong as he was…and she had seen his strength time and time again; she knew that in this instant, he was more fragile; more vulnerable than at any time of their relationship.

I know what I need to do…what he needs. All the hurt; all the scars he's absorbed from his family up to and after Lilly's suicide, and now his admittance, has broken him. It's up to me to build him back up; to restore him. No one else can. I guess this is what commitment is all about.

Unexplainably, her thoughts momentarily drifted back to the time not so long ago when she made a promise; a promise to him; a promise for life…

Ty, you are my best friend.

And I promise to love you and cherish you.

I promise to grow along with you.

And be willing to face change, when we both change.

When you need someone to encourage you, you will always have me.

My arms will be your shelter.

My heart will be your home.

For I carry your heart.

I carry it in my heart.

Always and forever.

I remember those words…what I promised him the day we were married. Now is the time their meaning comes to life; becomes real; becomes more than just words two people say when they're dressed up and caught up in the moment.

Amy began to speak to Ty from a place deep inside her. A place reserved only for him.

"Ty, you have so much to offer; more than you realize.

"You have given me everything."

"You have given me you."

"You will give our children you."

"The best of your mother; your father; resides in you."

"In here," as Amy placed her hand over Ty's heart.

"The goodness in you is their legacy."

"The strength and courage in you is their legacy."

"The love in you is their legacy."

"And Ty…you are your legacy!"

"You are our legacy."

"I know you'll be too modest to tell them, but our children will know this; about you…about their father."

"I will tell them."

"I will tell them of their father's kindness; his heart…and they will see it."

"I will tell them of his character…and they will see it."

"I will tell them of how hard he works…and they will see it."

"I will tell them of his goodness and loyalty to others…and they will see it."

"I will tell them of his love for me…and they will see it."

"I will tell them of his love for them…and they will seeit."

"And Ty…they will KNOW it."

"And they will live it."

"They will know of the legacy of their father; for they will see it…live it; every day; even after we are gone."

Realization of what Amy was saying slowly came over Ty as he took in her words.

And Amy saw in his face his understanding; he believed her.

"You see," Amy continued as tears began to slide down her face, you aren't just your parent's legacy; you're also my mom's; you're her legacy."

Ty inquisitively looked into the eyes of his never more beautiful wife.

"When my mom died, she left you behind," Amy continued. "She left you for me." "She left you for us." "I know it in my heart,"

And Ty did too.

"The doubt; the shame you've carried inside all these years…you can let it go now," Amy said.

Slowly nodding his head in agreement, Ty confessed, "I think it's been building up in me for a long time." "…when my dad talked me into leaving that first time and conned me out of my money;" "When he returned later with the injured horses and stole Lou's money;" "When Lilly came to Heartland for the first time and the drama that ensued;" "When my dad died;" "And this time, with my mom's…"

"I know Ty. I could see it eating away at you each time."

Pausing to carefully choose her next words; not wanting to hurt him, Amy continued, "and Ty, it ate away at us; it hurt us."

"I know," Ty agonized. "And I'm so sorry Amy for what I did…for what I did to you."

"It's alright," said Amy as she caressed his face. "We're past that now."

"We are? Yes, you're right, we are," Ty agreed as a smile slowly cascaded across his face.

"Amy…Amy, thank you," Ty breathed. "You brought me back; made me whole. I love you so much," Ty said while reaching for her.

Melting in Ty's arms, Amy kissed him as though for the first time; and felt the same urgency from him. Overcome with her love for him, Amy pulled Ty up from the couch and led him to the bed.

"Ty…," Amy exclaimed. "I need you."

"I need you too."

Within seconds, their clothes were strewn on the floor and their naked bodies melted into one another matching each other's passion. The need and desire they both felt was overpowering while they explored each other's bodies. "Ty, now," Amy cried desperately. Ty responded instantly by positioning himself above Amy and slowly entered her. "Ahhhh," she exclaimed as Ty began to move inside of her. Soon, the mounting craving for what only they shared reached its climax and they both collapsed; completely spent.

"Ty, I love you."

"And I love you."