“That is true.”
“And you did most of the work this morning,” Reginald added, making Paul smile. He coughed as his cheeks turned pink.
“Have you given any thought to my offer? I don’t suppose you’re in as much danger now that Lord Winterstone and O’Leary have been taken in but you’ve made a mess of things here, Reginald.” He turned to Reginald and took his hands. “Come back to America and start over with me.”
Reginald nodded quickly and had to sniff as his vision began to blur but he knew it wasn’t because he was crying. The coach was beginning to fade around them.
“Of course,” he said, his voice catching. “I’ll come back to you. I’ll always come back.” He pressed a kiss to Paul’s lips and held on as the sounds of the hooves on the pavement and the bustle of city streets stopped and the coach became quiet.
“What are you talking about?” Paul asked and he became alarmed as he searched Reginald’s face. “Where are you going?” He couldn’t see the cabin getting brighter around them.
“I think I’m going back now, Paul,” Reginald said, his voice a watery rasp.
“Stop it!” Paul begged. “It’s over and I’m going to take you home and look after you.”
“I know! And I wish I could make you understand!”
“No!” He shook his head and Paul was crying as he gathered Reginald in his arms and kissed him as hard as he could. “Don’t you understand why I can’t accept that this isn’t real? That I’m not real?”
“But you are!” Reginald laughed through his tears. “You are the only real thing here and this proves that you and I will always be together. No matter what time or reality I may find myself in, I will always belong to you and you will always find me.”
“I will and I’ll always love you,” Paul whispered, his voice as faint as a breath as everything became too bright and Reginald had to shut his eyes.