Terra ~ One Last Wish
Page 35
Chapter Twenty-Five
Katie was prepared to be reunited with James, but there was something holding her back. Yet she did not know what it was. She couldn’t move forward until it felt right in her heart. And it did not feel right just yet.
The longer Katie stayed, the longer she got the privilege to watch Cate and Ben’s relationship develop. She was pretty sure that it was love at first sight with both of them, but she also saw their connection was bonded by love, devotion, passion and gifts that Ben possessed, consciously or not, that no other man in this world could have.
Katie not only approved of their relationship but encouraged it, for she knew that no other man would love Cate as Ben would.
In the Autumn of the following year, Katie’s mama, Emily, passed away. She had grown very old gracefully, and was happy, alert and intelligent until the day she departed the Earth.
On her mama’s passing, Katie knew that this was what she had been waiting for, so she could leave this world and to enter the portal to return to be with her one and only love again. She couldn’t have possibly have disappeared before her mama’s passing like she had when she was eleven years old. Her mama would have died of a broken heart like Pa, and she didn’t want that.
As the time neared for Katie to be reunited with James, she had mixed emotions about leaving her own family she loved so much. She had been so happy with her family here, watching the grandchildren grow. But she needed to be with James—she was felt incomplete without him.
And so, when she was satisfied that everyone had finished grieving for her mama and had healed in mind, Katie took to the task of writing her last letter to Amy. It couldn’t sound like her absolute last letter ever to them. It had to sound like everyday routine stuff, and happy, so they didn’t become suspicious and think that she had taken her own life.
Katie had decided that, because she had to take her body with her, she would simply disappear as James had. She would leave her will in a drawer in her bedroom so that once her “death” was confirmed, her affairs could be dealt with quickly, and no extra heartache would be experienced by those that she loved so dearly.
Although this part of the journey was going to be emotionally and excruciatingly painful for all, it had to be done. James was waiting for her, and she would return to him.
It happened to be two years since Ben had walked into Cate’s life. And it was time for Katie’s departure. It would be Katie’s own daughter, Amy, who would find the letter. She left it on the kitchen table where they had shared so many stories, love and laughter.
My Dearest Amy,
I have ducked out to take a refreshing walk in the beautiful afternoon sunshine. The magical sunset is too stunning to stay indoors. I am leaving at 5pm, and I’ll be back at about 6pm.
See you soon,
All my love x x x x x x x
Katie then went to the drawing room, grabbed one of two large keys and slid the floor rug with the coffee table on it slightly to the side. She found the hidden floor door and unlocked it.
Opening the floor up, she comfortably lowered herself down into the mine shaft, and reached back out to slide the floor rug and the coffee table back as best as she could…
Katie’s memories went dark. It was almost black inside the “old mine shaft”. The last sound was of the key relocking the floor door.
Gran’s memories stopped then, and I wondered whether I was supposed to disconnect yet. My instinct told me to stay connected, even though panic had invaded my bloodstream like poison and my lavender rose heart was gasping.
I was right. Gran’s holographic image appeared.
‘Cate, my dear, I have empowered you with everything you need to fulfill my wish. You know what you must do now. I am with your Poppy ... I know that you are aware of my worry about you losing Ben, because he is the Messenger who must return to Une Autre Terre with the vials. This must be done, because his biological family made a difficult sacrifice by sending him to the Earth for Poppy and me. They need to see him again. But I give you my word, my darling, that I will do everything in my power so that you and Ben can be together. Your bond cannot, and must not, be broken.
Have faith, dear Cate. The people of this world are peaceful, kind and loving. They will take your needs into consideration—for love is everything. I know it will be a good and happy outcome for you both.
And I thank-you so much, Cate, from the very bottom depths of my heart, full of love for you. You are a gift, and I will treasure you for always.
Until we meet again one day, and we will. I love you.’
Gran’s image faded away. Her face had been glowing with a beauty and radiance that I had never seen before. And I knew in my heart it was because Gran was to be reunited with my Poppy.
The secret…
My thoughts turned to Ben, and a shudder of panic rippled through me. I may never spend my life with him … I know that Gran had complete faith that Ben and I would remain together. But I couldn’t feel it. I clenched my teeth together to stop the convulsive sob from leaving me. It spread through my body like a sharp knife and tore into my gasping cracked lavender rose heart.
I inhaled deeply, more deeply than I ever had. With hesitation I disconnected from the rock and returned to my own world, uncertain of what my future would hold.
Time decelerated then. It moved in a torturous slow motion.