The Touch (Healer Series)

by Allison Rios

  “What do you want me to say?” It was Max’s patented phrase.

  “Nothing,” AJ laughed, looking back at the ground to find another rock. “I know. Free will.”

  “Free will,” Max replied, smiling. “You will when the time is right. There’s nothing wrong with taking some time for you.”

  “I know. It’s just hard not to feel guilty about it.”

  “I know.” And Max did. He’d felt the same any time he went a few days without helping someone. “Is that all that’s on your mind?”

  “Rose had me tell her a story.” AJ was still unsure whether to be scared or moved by that night.

  “Sounds like she likes you. It’s okay for people to like you, you know.”

  “She’s a kid. I don’t know how to act around kids.”

  “Just act like AJ. She’s probably looking for a man she can have in her life – like a father, but not a father – who can teach her something, help her when she needs it. Trust.”

  “Trust sounds about right.”

  “You’ll figure it out. Just a day at a time like everything else.” After pausing a minute, Max had to ask. “What story did you read her?”

  “Read to her, no. I had to make one up.”

  “Seriously? Oh, you have to tell me about this one.”

  “I used us. What we do. Figured it sounded make-believe enough, right?”

  Max laughed, shaking his head. That’s why Healers were allowed to exist as peacefully as they were – their story seemed far too make-believe for anyone to think it could actually be true.

  “You’re right. How’d she like it?”

  “She liked being the girl who saved everyone from the bad guy.”

  “Everyone likes that feeling, that’s for sure.”

  They walked in silence, taking in the beauty while the scent of willow trees floated in the breeze. The feeling of normalcy took hold, no fear or anxiousness tugging at their stomachs because a Grim was close.

  They arrived in town at Bob’s garage, AJ untying the arms of his tattered, blue overalls from around his waist and slipping his arms in, zipping it up. As he did so, Bob appeared at the door.

  “You mind watching things, kid?” his gruff voice asked, his eyes surveying Max from head to toe and wondering what trouble another new outsider would bring to town. They hadn’t had a stranger pass through in years and now three in a couple weeks time? It didn’t sit well with Bob. He was big into conspiracy theories and Area 51, all that secretive stuff. He was sure that somehow these strangers had a secret. He didn’t know he was actually right.

  “Sure,” AJ said, raising his hand over his eyes to shade them from the morning sun as he looked in the direction of his boss. “Everything okay?”

  “Nah, not today. Wife and I are gonna head over and see Isabelle. They say it’s just weeks. Can’t believe she just went downhill so fast. Breaks my heart.” He paused, looking at AJ with squinty eyes. “Yes, I have a heart.”

  AJ smiled at him. “I never said you didn’t. I’ll keep an eye on things. Tell the family I’ll keep them in my prayers.”

  “Will do.” And with a toss of a spare set of keys right to AJ, Bob was out the door.

  “You wanna go, too?” Max asked, knowing the size of his friend’s heart and the impact this little girl had already had on him.

  “I really don’t,” AJ responded truthfully. “It’s too hard with the kids. I can’t help her. I know she’s suffering, ‘cause I’ve seen it before. I want to remember her smile the way it was.”

  “Understood.”

  “Addie made me think last night. She said she can’t help but think about, what if it had been Rose? I think the same thing – I don’t know them well. I can’t imagine how hard it would be if it were Rose who was sick. I just want to keep away from it right now.”

  “You don’t have to explain to me, AJ. I’m just gonna kick around town a bit, meet some folks, listen to their stories.”

  Max enjoyed speaking with people, especially the men and women who had seen quite a few years pass by. Their stories were like watching old movies; so descriptive and lively. They always seem to be living each moment again in their minds, from the color of their high school girl’s lipstick to the birth of their grandbaby. It was one of the more pleasant things Max found he enjoyed doing in life.

  “I’m heading back home at five,” AJ said, his friend signaling okay with his hands as he headed down the road.

  AJ headed into the shop to do who knew what, considering he had fixed every broken vehicle in town his first couple days employed. He looked around the mess to see if there was anything to tinker with before settling on maybe cleaning up and organizing the place a bit.

  Helen again brought him lunch and she laughed as he told her she needed to quit doing that – she didn’t need to cater to him. She shushed him, saying she needed to head to the store anyway. He thanked her profusely, appreciating the gesture. She was such a good woman. He wondered what her story was, although he’d never be rude enough to ask.

  The day went by at a snail’s pace with Max still off somewhere making new friends. He wasn’t hard to talk to and people loosened up instantly with him. They spoke to him as if they’d been friends their whole life – and quite frankly, AJ wouldn’t be surprised if Max had known some of these guys in their younger years. He’d have to ask about that sometime and made a mental note to bring it up to Max on the walk home.

  As he locked up for the night he saw Max in the distance. Addie pulled up next to AJ in her truck, breaking his gaze.

  “Hey stranger,” she winked, her elbow smudged with mud and hanging out the door. She’d obviously been working and for the life of him, AJ realized he didn’t even know what she did for a living. He’d never asked.

  “Hey Addie,” he replied, unzipping the overalls and pulling each arm from the sleeve. She noticed his muscles before forcing her eyes in the opposite direction. Friends, she reminded herself, just friends.

  “What are you doing in town tonight?”

  “Bringing a meal over for Isabelle’s family,” she said, pointing to the passenger side. “Then I have to pick up Rose at Gram’s. I feel so bad for them. They think it could just be a couple weeks.”

  “You’ve got some mud on your arm,” he said, his finger aimed at her elbow in an attempt to avoid the subject of Isabelle.

  “That’s what happens when you work. Look at your arms, all pristine clean. Looks like you don’t even know what work is,” she teased him. She was trying to lighten the mood so that she wouldn’t go over stark and sullen to Isabelle’s.

  “I have this nice little thing to cover me up. Keeps me looking fresh and shiny - you know, like a trophy.”

  “Think much of yourself?” she laughed.

  “What is it you actually do for work? I don’t think I’ve ever asked.”

  “Farm. I rent a field from Helen and Matthew. Grow some crops, sell them to local stores in surrounding towns. And sometimes I help other farmers with their crops for a little extra money.”

  AJ nodded. It was good work. Tough work, but Addie was not afraid to dive in and get her hands dirty.

  “You probably won’t be seeing much of me for awhile,” she said, wiping her forehead. The heat was so thick it felt like a blanket on her skin. She could break a sweat just thinking too fast.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Gonna be spending a lot of time in the fields the next month or two getting things all shored up and making sure the watering systems work and updating them. You’re gonna miss my pretty face being around all the time.”

  By now, Max had caught up to them.

  “Hi,” he said, tipping his new cowboy hat to Addie.

  “Nice cap,” she replied in earnest. It was quite a nice hat. “Name’s Addie.” She reached out her hand to shake Max’s.

  “Why thank you,” he responded, placing his hand around hers. “Some nice gentleman at the diner gave it to me. He said I needed a new look. Said he has plent
y back at home.”

  “Well, it does look nice Max,” Addie said with assurance. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve only seen you from a distance before. Can I ask you boys a favor?”

  “Sure,” they responded in unison.

  “It’s gonna be long hours for me. Rose is gonna be at Gram’s house during the week for the most part and she gets lonely out there. Would you mind stopping by once in awhile to say hi? She talks about you non-stop AJ. It would make her day and make me feel better about her being alone so much.”

  “Sure thing,” he replied. This meant more bedtime stories, he was sure. The fear of those fairy-tale moments seemed to have lifted. He liked being needed.

  “I owe you.”

  “Just promise you won’t cook us anything,” he laughed, taking a step away from the truck.

  “Night boys,” she said sarcastically. “You want a ride back?”

  “Nah,” AJ said, looking over at Max and answering before Max could. He wanted to walk.

  “Have it your way. Rose is home tonight before heading to Gram’s for the week. If you want, come on by. She’s gonna drive me nuts asking about you.”

  “Will do.” His trademark smile filled her rearview mirror as the truck pulled away.

  “Why are you making me walk again?” Max asked, smacking his friend on the back.

  “It will do you good. You’re gonna need it, eating all the food Helen cooks.”

  Max smiled at the simple truth.

  “How can you touch people all the time?” AJ asked when they were a safe distance from prying ears. If there was one thing AJ did know about small towns, it was the intensity and frequency of gossip. “Don’t you get tired of the visions? The feelings?”

  “You forget I’ve been doing this a long time. You’ll be the same someday. You’ll learn to control it like I can.”

  “You can actually shut it down?”

  “Yeah. Took a long time to learn how to do it. Makes it easier to live among people without suspicion.”

  “Can every Healer learn it?” AJ asked, somewhat looking forward for the first time in years to being a Healer long down the road.

  “And every Grim, too,” Max nodded.

  “Well shit, that figures,” AJ laughed. “How about the one that passed through town?”

  “Probably. His presence felt really strong. He almost certainly has a few years on him. Close to me, I’d imagine. And brazen, if he acts the way he did around you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he descended from the clan of Grims that caused the first war. They usually have a more…fierce manner.”

  AJ was glad the Grim had departed Lee. He hadn’t felt anything except for peace now that the stomach-churning had ended.

  **************************************************

  They reached the B&B and saw Rose sitting on the steps across the yard on her porch, decked out in her pajamas.

  “AJ!” she yelled, jumping up and bounding across the grass. “Who’s your friend?”

  “This is Max,” he said, as Max kneeled down to be on her level.

  “I’m Max and you must be Rose,” he said softly.

  “Yep!”

  “Well, AJ has told me lots about you. Says he told you a story the other night.”

  “Yep! AJ, can you tell me another one tonight?”

  AJ glanced at Max, knowing he’d have to give in. He didn’t want to disappoint her, even though he just wanted to go on inside and shower.

  Max cut him off before he could speak. “Can I tell you a story tonight?”

  Rose thought about it a second, her pointer finger raised to her lips and her eyes squinting as if she were really thinking about whether or not to let him.

  “Sure!” she squealed, grabbing Max’s hand and leading him to the big swing on the front porch. Rose liked having people at her beck and call. Max smiled back at AJ, who had walked back up onto the porch at the B&B and plopped into a chair.

  Addie smiled from the kitchen window. Her daughter sure inherited her charms. She could get just about anyone to do anything – cute now, and definitely terrifying as Rose became a teenager, she thought.

  Rose settled in next to Max as if she’d known him forever. She had never taken this easily to strangers. Max seemed so different that she didn’t fear him at all, and that fact that he was AJ’s best friend made him okay in the little girl’s eyes.

  “I heard AJ told you a story about special people,” Max said, glancing down at this little sweetheart next to him.

  “Yep. About a girl named Rose who could fix people,” she said. “Do you think there’s really special people out there?”

  “I do,” Max replied.

  “Do you think I could be one of them?”

  “I think on earth, anything is possible,” he replied, looking out at the sun as it began to set.

  10 ONE DANCE

  Addie hadn’t been kidding when she said she’d be out of touch. It had been three weeks and AJ hadn’t seen even a peek of her. He’d look out his window in the evening and see her lights on. There was never even a glimpse of her shadow and he found himself missing her.

  Max on the other hand had been keeping himself busy chatting up all the folks in town, including Helen and Matthew. He’d also been helping out on the farm, fixing things up for them while AJ was at work. Neither Healer had felt a thing more from a Grim and it looked as though they might be able to settle into a normal routine in Lee. Max even considered staying awhile, enjoying the reconnection he felt with people after years of missing out on human interaction.

  Whereas AJ hadn’t touched anyone in weeks, Max had already healed two people from town – one from a minor stroke and another who had a hairline fracture. Neither knew why they had a sudden turnaround, never attributing it to the fact that they had merely shaken hands with Max. That was a blessing of their gift – being able to change lives with a single touch, one so simple that no one thought of it as anything other than a handshake.

  The crops were growing, creating a patchwork of color throughout town. It was beautiful alone; combined with the sunrise or sunset – which AJ was seeing much more of on his runs – they were more picturesque than a watercolor painting.

  AJ also began to see how different he and Max were. While he used to be so outgoing, he became more withdrawn again. He lived to see Addie, to take in just the sight of her. It was enough for him in that moment to just know she was okay and happy. He thought about the future, and how in 10 or so years he’d have to move on to another place. How would he let go of seeing her? She wouldn’t understand why he still looked so young. It broke his heart all over again to envision a day without the view of her face.

  He or Max went every few nights to visit Rose and add onto their stories. AJ found it wasn’t hard to tell stories when he could use his life story as the premise. It was evident she missed her mother, and they assured her that in no time at all everything would be back to normal and she’d be back across town at her house, playing with the town dogs that were always milling in her yard because they knew they’d be offered something good to eat.

  It was a Friday night, the sun fading in the distance, when he heard the soft knock at the door. He’d heard it only a few times but knew it by heart. Helen’s knock was louder, more forceful, probably because she was always so excited about whatever she was coming to talk to him about. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Helen, talking to her and Matthew over dinner. It felt like a family and while he still missed his mother, he found a level of comfort in having someone take care of him again.

  He walked towards the door and gathered himself. Just her perfume through the door was enough to make his heart race. The longer he went without seeing her, the more he knew how much he cared for her. With one hand on the door knob and the other resting on the door, he leaned forward, his forehead touching the cool wood.

  Taking a deep breath he pulled it open, looking around the edge.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi,” she ans
wered, her hair curled. He’d never seen it like that. In fact, he’d never seen it anything except long and straight or pulled into a messy ponytail.

  They stood there for a moment until he moved backwards, opening the door a little.

  “Come in,” he said, allowing her room to walk through.

  She looked around. It definitely wasn’t the room of a typical man. It was clean, everything in place.

  “It’s really organized in here,” she commented, almost sarcastically.

  Her skin was tanner, undoubtedly from long hours spent in the sun, working to make a living. Her muscles were apparent as well. She wasn’t taking part in easy work and knowing her demeanor, she most likely wanted to do everything exactly as the boys would with no help and no pity. Her body reflected it.

  “It’s the least I can do, considering I’m living in someone else’s home,” he replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

  Helen didn’t have air conditioning in the B&B and having the windows didn’t help when it was so humid and hot outside. He was shirtless, his skin still gleaming in the light of the room from a thin layer of sweat.

  “What are you doing tonight?” she asked. “Max around?”

  “He’s out doing something with a guy he met at the diner. Some gathering at the barn or something in town.”

  He noticed the leather strand around her neck, a shiny rock hanging from the center right above the neckline of her shirt. The turquoise was bright against her bronzed skin.

  “It’s a dance. I actually came to see if you wanted to go. Rose is at Gram’s tonight. I needed a night out.”

  “I don’t know,” AJ said, turning to look at her with a smirk. “The last party you brought me to was moderately depressing. You’re pretty much zero for one in the fun department.”

  She smiled coyly back, looking down at her knees as she sat down on the bed next to him. All he could smell was her perfume. Lilac, his favorite scent, reminded him of the dawning of spring when the lilacs bloom and the air is filled with the scent of hope for something new, something better. Just like her.