by Wilson, Maer
“Yes, Jenna, I did that. I was wrong, though and I am very sorry I hurt you.”
She looked at him steadily, but didn't respond.
“Do you think you can forgive me? Is there anything I can do for you?”
She thought about that and looked around at Parker, me and Thulu.
“Mommy says be graceful when people say sorry and forgive them. So I be graceful and forgive you.” She looked at him seriously, before she gave him that sunny smile of hers. The look on his face was one that would stay with me a long time. Jones smiled at her being “graceful,” but he also seemed touched by her statement, genuinely, humanly touched.
“Thank you, Jenna. You are indeed a very graceful lady. Your mother would be proud of you. Was there anything you want, Jenna?” he asked gently.
She nodded. “I want to see Mommy and Daddy.” She looked up at me. “Can we go?”
Jones stood, then reached out and patted her head, something that surprised me on a couple of levels. Not only that he would be that kind, but that he could physically interact with the dead. I filed that away for future reference.
She waved at him. “Bye. Nice to meet you.” I wasn't sure whether it was being dead, a child or both that let her get past it all so quickly. Perhaps she didn't understand. She turned to me, clearly done and ready to see her parents. Jones stood by the car, lost in thought.
The Masons were both dressed when we got to their room. Matt was looking much stronger, and it looked like they were getting ready to be discharged. I wondered if Jones planned to take them back to their apartment.
Thulu re-introduced us and closed the door behind us, so we wouldn't be disturbed. He asked them several questions to see how up to date they were on the magical beings that had returned to Earth. They knew Sloane was an elf, so we plunged into who and what we were. Neither seemed shocked, but Carolyn's maternal antennae had to be up and working. She suddenly became very pale and sat down when we got to the part about me seeing and communicating with the dead.
“You've seen my daughter.” It wasn't a question.
“She's here and wants to talk to you both. Are you up for that?” I asked softly.
She nodded, looking around, trying to pinpoint Jenna's location. Matt was a bit more suspicious, which I found odd since I'd been inside his mind. He asked me to describe her, and I did – complete with her Disney Princess T-shirt and little blue monkey. The tears trickled down his face when I added that detail.
We spent the next twenty minutes translating between daughter and parents. That's one of the toughest parts of dealing with the kids for me. Even with a natural death it's tough, and murdered children were the worst. I was careful to maintain the illusion of the accident.
There were a lot of tears as all three of them came to terms with their loss and made their goodbyes. Jenna's naturally sunny disposition wasn't kept down for long, though. She told her parents that she had a brother who taught her to play checkers and a puppy. Jenna insisted I tell them about the tricks she and Parker taught the puppy. I was able to give them some closure, I thought, if not any peace.
“You make her sound almost happy.” Carolyn sounded hopeful.
“She's a child. Adults usually accept their deaths fairly quickly and children even faster. She loves you both very much, but it's easier for the dead to move on than it is for the living to let them go.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you for your help.” She turned to where I told her Jenna floated in mid-air. “I love you, my Jenna. I'll think of you every day and love you every day. I want you to be happy and at peace.”
Jenna nodded solemnly.
“Jenna understands, Mrs. Mason,” I said. “Will you be all right? Is there anything we can do for either of you?”
“No, thank you. We will manage somehow. Mr. Jones has been very gracious and very generous. I appreciate the offer, though.”
There wasn't much to say after that. Matt added his own thanks, and Thulu and I left, the kids trailing after us.
In the parking lot, we said goodbye to Jones and waved to Stuart.
In our SUV, Thulu and I both turned around as I asked Jenna what she wanted to do next and if she wanted to leave for the Light. She shook her head emphatically and reached for Parker's hand. “I stay with you and Papa Thulu and Parker and Sophie.”
Thulu looked questioningly at me, raising an eyebrow at what she'd called him. I shrugged and said, “She stays with us.” He looked at me for a long moment before he nodded.
I was glad Carolyn and Matt hadn't asked about the next step for the dead. I was sure they'd think of it later, though, and hoped they assumed Jenna had moved on.
We drove back into the city and headed back to Thulu's parents' house once again. We spent what little remained of the morning with our family, occasionally translating between the living and dead.
Brent and Ally had arrived with Carter, and he was quite happy to see Jenna. His usual hugs for me and Thulu were even stronger than usual.
“How's my boy?” I asked, returning his hug.
With the suddenness of a child, he broke into sobs. I picked him up and carried him to a nearby chair, rocking him slightly and kissing his soft brown hair. He clung to me with a fierceness that brought tears to my own eyes.
I knew what it was like to lose a parent as a child, and my heart went out to him. We sat there for a long while. Ally, Brent and Thulu had followed and sat nearby. Finally his tears started to slow, and Thulu brought me a damp cloth and a box of tissues. I gently patted Carter's face and offered him tissues. He took several and promptly wadded them up and held them to his nose. I took one and held it to his nose, telling him to blow.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
He nodded, sniffling a bit. “Mommy is bad.”
I took a deep breath. I hadn't quite expected that. Loss yes, blame, no.
“Sweetie, your mommy was confused is all. She was sad.”
He shook his little head sadly and looked at me with such wise eyes for a three year old.
“No, she doesn't like you. She was bad to you and Uncle Thulu. She was bad to fambly. Not good. Not good at all.” He shook his head as he looked up at me. “But I like you. I love you.” He hugged me again. “I can be your boy now. I can live with you. I'll be good. You always say I'm your boy, right?” His big brown eyes still leaked slow tears.
I looked at Thulu, startled, then back at Carter. “Well, of course you're my boy. Always have been, always will be. But your Mommy wanted you to live with Aunt Ally and Uncle Brent.”
Carter gave a huge sigh. “That means back to babysitters again.”
I'd never understood why Lynda-Jean didn't allow one of the stay-at-home moms in our family to watch Carter. I looked helplessly at Ally, since I had no idea what they had planned. I doubted keeping him at the clinic would be ideal, and I didn't see Ally or Brent staying home.
Ally looked back at me thoughtfully. I tried and failed to read her mind. Part of me was leaping for joy, saying, yes, please yes, I want him. And part of me was saying, no way I can have him. Lynda-Jean had left explicit instructions, I was sure, and I wouldn't be surprised if she had specifically said to keep him away from evil me.
I heard an inhuman shriek and knew Lynda-Jean was back. I wished I knew Jones's banishing trick.
“Nooooo –” she wailed. “You cannot have him!”
She materialized next to me and reached for Carter. Of course, she passed right through him. He sat up and frowned at her.
“No, Mommy. Go away.” He pointed somewhere vaguely. “You be dead now and you go away to the Light.” He clung to me again.
She glared at me malevolently. “I hate you, you bitch.”
I sighed, feigning boredom. “Yes, yes, Lynda-Jean, you've made that abundantly clear.” I looked at her steadily and smiled a nasty smile. “But I do promise I'll get you banished for good if you don't stop haunting me and my family.”
She stopped a moment, looking shocked. “I'm not haunting yo
u,” she said in protest.
“You're dead. You're not wanted here, yet here you are. This dark spirit hovering over us. What the hell else do you call it?”
Her mouth opened and shut several times. I honestly don't think she'd thought of it in those terms.
“I just want to make sure my son is all right,” she said defensively. She knelt down to be on a level with Carter. “You know Mommy just wants to be sure you are fine.”
Carter met her eyes unflinchingly. He nodded, slowly.
“And you know I love you, right, Carter? You know that.”
He gave another of his sighs, “Yeah.” She once again reached for him, but drew her hand back. I wanted to feel sorry for her, but her part in the death of the others just didn't let me go there. Maybe I'm a bad person, but I couldn't scrape together much sympathy for her.
Carter made a sudden pushing motion at her again, accusation in his childish voice. “But you never believe me. Maybe you just 'maginary, Mommy. Maybe I make you up, too.”
Lynda-Jean gasped. “No, no, honey, I'm real. I do believe you.”
Carter rolled his eyes in exasperation and put one small hand on his hip as he looked at his mother with a look far beyond his years. “Oh, sure, now you believe me.” He buried his head against my chest as I stifled the urge to laugh. I wondered which television show he had borrowed that line from.
He lifted his head and gave her the punch line, “Too late.”
Lynda-Jean's mouth formed a perfect “O” as she sat back on her heels. Reap what you sow, I thought.
“You go now, Mommy.” Carter stared steadily at his mother.
The hurt on Lynda-Jean's face was real, and I scraped together a few grains of pity for her.
“I want you to be happy, Carter. I want to watch you grow and be happy.”
“No, you don't watch. Ghosts go to the Light. You go now.” I could feel Carter tensing up.
“Honey, ghosts don't always have to go to the Light. They can stay here and watch over those they love.”
Carter shook his head in denial, upset once more, his voice became insistent. “Bad ghosts go to the Light to be good again. You go be good again.” I wondered where he had gotten that from. Perhaps one of the dead.
Mama Deb glided over. The other dead had come in at the same time as Lynda-Jean. Thulu had followed a lot of this, and Ally and Brent had heard Carter's side.
Mama Deb spoke to Lynda-Jean gently, “LJ, you have been a part of this family for many years, but you betrayed us. Staying here only prolongs your own pain and makes everyone else uncomfortable. Listen to your son and go. He'll be well cared for and loved more than you can imagine. He has so much to offer this new world of ours. Leave the child in peace.”
Lynda-Jean looked at her with silvery tears in her eyes. “But he wants to live with her.” Her fear and hatred of me was unabated. Carter looked up and hugged me. He looked at his mother.
“I think that's actually a wonderful idea. La Fi and Thulu are perfectly suited to raising a gifted child. Ally and Brent also love and cherish Carter, but they do work long hours, and Carter would often be with the rest of the family. Of course, it's your choice and your wishes will be honored.”
I looked at Thulu. He had followed enough to know what his mother had said. I saw my own hope reflected in his eyes. We gave each other a slight nod. Carter's head swiveled around as he tried to follow everything.
Thulu took a deep breath and spoke to Lynda-Jean, Ally and Brent. “I know you already made arrangements, but no one thought Lynda-Jean would die so young. Also, Carter's gift hadn't manifested itself yet. You know La Fi and I can't have our own kids. We love Carter, and we'd be happy to take him.”
I didn't dare speak. I knew Lynda-Jean hated me, but I hoped she loved Carter enough to see that we would be the best choice for him.
Ally spoke up, “It's your choice, LJ. We adore Carter, but he does seem to want to go to Thulu and La Fi. You know the entire family will be here for him and them.”
Lynda-Jean looked around at the rest, uncertainty in every line of her body. She looked at Carter.
“Honey, do you understand what we're talking about?”
He nodded, paused, then shook his head no.
“I wanted you to live with Aunt Ally and Uncle Brent, but Uncle Thulu and Aunt Fi,” she stumbled over my name a bit, “they want you to live with them, too.” She steadied herself and took a deep breath. “You are one lucky boy to have so many people love and want you, Carter.”
“I know,” he said in typical child confidence.
“So if you got to pick, who would you want to live with?” I knew how much those words cost her and gave her a quick look of acknowledgment
Carter looked at her. “I get to pick?”
There was a long pause while we all waited. Lynda-Jean didn't answer him for a long time. She just looked longingly at the child she loved so much. Finally she nodded. Apparently she loved him more than she hated me.
Carter looked around seriously before looking back at his mother again. “You go and become good again?”
Silvery tears coursed down her face, “Yes, honey, I'll go when I know you are settled.”
“Okay, I settled then. I pick Aunt Fi and Uncle Thulu, but I go see Aunt Ally and Uncle Brent, too.” My heart soared. Thulu grabbed me and pulled me up, Carter and all.
Ally came over and hugged me and Carter. Parker and Jenna hooted and swooped around the room.
Jenna shrieked, “O-M-G, O-M-G, I have another brother.”
Carter laughed, and the rest of the family came in to see what all the noise was about. We were sure there wouldn't be any legal issues, since we were keeping Carter in the family.
Finally everyone settled down a bit, but Carter spoke clearly, “Now, Mommy, before you forget.”
I surprised myself and spoke up, “Carter, do you understand that if your Mommy goes into the Light, you will never see her again?”
He looked at me from Thulu's arms and said, “I know. They told me.” I didn't need to ask who “they” were. I caught Parker and Evan exchange a glance. When they saw me they suddenly looked very innocent. I suspected that they had been having chats with Carter.
Everyone had stopped and looked at me and Carter. “But she needs to be good again. She'll feel better, too.” I hoped he was right about that part.
Lynda-Jean looked around the room. She seemed defeated, and I added another couple of grains of pity for her.
The pulsing Light of the portal started small and quickly grew larger. I knew that only the dead, Thulu, Carter and I could see it, though.
Lynda-Jean looked around at the family that had taken her in and spoke to the few who could understand her. “I'm sorry I caused your deaths. I'm sorry for everything.”
She turned to her son. “I'll always love you, Carter.” She looked around at the portal and let it gently pull her forward. It reminded me a bit of what had happened to the Light Ones the night before. I could feel the force of the pull on Lynda-Jean, but she went to it peacefully and as she got closer, I saw a look of wonder light up her face. She stepped through and was gone. The portal winked out immediately after.
I looked over at my three dead family members and Parker and Jenna. They looked back at me and smiled.
“Tempted to follow?” I asked.
They looked at each other and shook their heads, smiling.
“With everything going on here? All the magic? I'm not leaving,” said Parker in disbelief that I'd even ask.
“And magical people,” added Nana Fae.
“I'm needed for financial issues more than ever.” That from Evan.
Mama Deb said, “You are going to be so busy with raising a child, you definitely need help with the agency now.”
I looked around at my beloved family as Thulu's arm tightened around me. He held Carter in his other arm.
There was still a lot to do. We'd have to hold a memorial service, but it would celebrate the lives of those who h
ad died. With the help of the elves and other off-worlders, Earth would settle down soon, and there was a lot we could do in the area of portal relations.
I wasn't sure how we could keep our gifts a secret, but I was ready to face whatever came next. I let the love and warmth of my family – living and dead – wash over me as I disappeared into their midst.
THE END
Acknowledgments
For me, creating a novel requires encouragement, support and a very healthy dose of honesty. I greatly appreciate those who gave me that, as well as their time and efforts to help make my dream a reality.
To the wonderful people at Crescent Moon Press, especially the fabulous Steph Murray and Marlene Castricato, for giving me this opportunity, and my brilliant editor, Sheldon Reid, for making me look good.
To Purgatory and the wonderful writers who have taught me so much, especially Lisa Brackman, Alice Loweecey, Rick Campbell, Kim Taylor, R. M. Clark, Jan O'Hara, Danielle DeVor, LynDee Walker, Kell Andrews, Jennifer Nelson, Jennifer Walkup and Shelagh Hodson.
A special thank you to my patient beta readers, Cheryl Rodgers and Joey Arone.
And my gratitude to my friends and beta readers Dr. Kim Farrell and Sharda Garrett for reading the early drafts, believing in my story and for keeping me grounded and almost sane.
To Leslie Cholowsky, for her sharp eye, knowledge and advice.
And to all the OTGers, especially Wounds and the 7-10 Split gang, who were there for me and listened patiently while I rambled. The best raid group ever. Even when we die.
To Carla Clifton for her friendship, unwavering support and a platform to stretch my writing wings.
My deepest gratitude to Tim Powers, who was the first to encourage me in my writing endeavors and whose advice and wisdom have been so helpful and meant so much over the years.
And to my family and extended family who have cheered me on: my brother, Shawn Wilson, Shawn Woodrich, Todd Meyers and Andrew Dolle. Love you all.
Maer Wilson
After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she's a writer. She's always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci-fi. She was born in the year of the dragon and adores anything to do with them. She even has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she's not writing, Maer plays online video games (MMOs), teaches college and reads. She lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her two dogs, a chihuahua and a poodle. Relics is her first novel. Feel free to stop by and leave a comment on her website at www.maerwilson.com.