“Well, I, for one, am happy with how everything turned out,” Elmer announced after a rather lengthy silent moment. He turned to Rand. “And how do you feel about all this, my boy? It seems to have affected you two even more than it did these two,” he observed.
“To tell the truth, Elmer, I couldn’t have imagined a better turn of events in my wildest dreams. That Roxanne has taken Toby under her wing alleviates all kinds of stress off of me. I’m good with it, sir.”
“This needs to be said, so please don’t take it in a negative way. This young woman here has been accepted into a very important position of responsibility in the paranormal world. I’ll leave it up to her how much of that she wants to share, but more than that, she’s respectfully fulfilled certain needs of my family that I was unable to. I owe much to her. My family owes much to her. In matters concerning Roxanne Bonacci, you will do well to remember that. Fair enough?”
“Yes, sir. Fair enough.”
“Then, I guess it’s time—” Elmer started, his voice choking with emotion. He stood up slowly and went over to where Jake lay in front of the sliding glass door. “Looks like everything has fallen right into place Jake. What do you think, old friend? Would it be all right with you if I went to check on Mama now that you have more friends to keep you company?” His voice cracking again. “Miss Roxanne promises to try to bring me back from time to time so we can visit. I miss your mama terribly Jake. Please forgive Daddy for what he's about to do.”
Jake sat up and woofed softly. Elmer got down beside him on the floor and hugged him tightly, whispering something in his ear. Jake leaned away and woofed again softly, keeping his eyes locked with Elmer’s, as tears flowed freely down Elmer’s cheeks.
“Jake remembers his mama too, don’t you boy?” Elmer said to—I guess all of us. Then he turned to me. “Well, I’ve been thinking about it nonstop since you mentioned it, Roxanne. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course I don’t. I owe my life to you two, and I would consider it quite an honor to spend my days in the company of such a handsome gentleman as Jake is. I have a question though. When he disappears on me, how will I know where he is, if I can’t see him?” I’d already started sniffling.
“Oh, he’ll still be right here. He won’t run off anywhere. You’ll show yourself when Miss Roxanne calls you, won’t you boy?”
Jake woofed softly again, leaning his weight into Elmer and whining once. Elmer stood, bent, and kissed Jake gently on top of his head. He scruffed his ears once saying, “I love you Jake. I promise I’ll never forget you. Come with me if you can, but if you can’t, you be a good boy for Miss Roxanne. Look! There it is Jake! The light! Come on boy!”
Elmer glanced at me. “Look straight at me. Focus on me. Can you just see it out of the left corner of your eye?”
“I can!” I exclaimed, my own tears instantly flooding down my face.
With a little wave of his hand at me he repeated to Jake, “Come on boy,” quietly. When it was evident Jake couldn’t see what Elmer could, he slowly turned away. He looked back at the big dog, his faithful companion for so long, one more time before his attention was pulled back again. He called out softly, “Birdie? Here I come Birdie, my love!”
With a couple of large strides, Elmer disappeared. The room fell silent. Jake whined soulfully. I bawled, unable to stop. “Goodbye Elmer!” I called.
Jake cried and lay back down on the floor beside Toby. I went and sat next to him, wishing I could pet him or comfort him somehow. For the longest time, Jake stared at where he’d last seen Elmer. I wondered for the first time of many, if I had done the right thing or not. How would I ever know?
Rand got up quietly and came over to me, putting his arm around my shoulders—hugging me. “Don’t be sad. Be happy for him. You resolved all his issues and gave him what he wanted more than anything in the world. You even gave him the promise of trying to bring him back to see Jake from time-to-time.”
“But, now my bringing Toby home with me has resolved your main ‘issue’, hasn’t it? Does that mean you’re going to leave me, too?” My eyes started to tear up. I couldn’t help it.
Rand stepped in front of me, gently lifting my chin so my eyes met his. “I have a better reason than ever to stay here now,” he said, kissing me gently, so I could feel it.
Forty may have been a wild ride, but age is just a number, right? And, who knows, maybe forty-one will be a truly fresh start. Pfft. Even I know better than that!
www.amazon.com/author/leighraventhorne
www.facebook.com/Leigh.Raventhorne
Turn one more page to see what’s up next!
—Coming soon—
SEEING DEAD THINGS: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel (Roxie’s Midlife Adventures Book 1) Page 18