by J. D. Robb
“Here, babe.” Ted, too, showed no sign of the trauma he’d just endured, his voice low and deep and filled with gratitude that his wife was able to call to him.
“Oh, thank heaven. For a minute I thought . . . ” Vanessa glanced down at the scene of twisted wreckage, then caught sight of the mangled, bloody body lying on the passenger side, still held firmly in place by her seat belt.
The front and side airbags had inflated before having been shredded by tree limbs, looking like giant balloons with the air gone out of them, swaying gently in the breeze that blew through the shattered windows.
Vanessa pointed. “That woman looks like me.”
“And that guy looks an awful lot like me.” Ted indicated the lump of bloody flesh trapped behind the twisted steering wheel. The driver’s section of the car gave a sickening lurch before sliding farther downhill until it came to rest several hundred yards beyond the rest of the wreckage.
“Oh, darling. I don’t understand. What’s going on here?” Vanessa reached for her husband’s hand, needing the comfort of his touch to assure that she wasn’t hallucinating.
He drew her close, wrapping his arms around her, before glancing over her head to where the two bodies still lay. Against her temple he whispered, “I can’t be certain, but I believe we’re dead.”
“Don’t be silly. We can’t be.” She pushed a little away to look up into his familiar, beloved face. “If we were dead, would we be able to speak and think and feel? I can feel your arms, Ted.” She tightened her grasp. “Can you feel mine?”
“I can.” He gave her one of his rogue smiles. “And you feel really good, babe.”
“So do you.” She couldn’t hold back the little sigh. “So. What do you make of this?”
“There’s no denying that our bodies are there in that wreckage.”
“If that’s so, why aren’t we . . . gone?”
“I don’t know. I guess it means we’re still us, only . . . different.” He took in a deep breath, struggling with dozens of conflicting emotions. But the one that seemed stronger than all the others was an overwhelming sense of peace. Of knowledge. Of acceptance that everything was as it should be. “It means, I think, that we’re now in the spirit world.”
“And this is it? This is all there is to dying? Just . . . stepping outside ourselves?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I thought there’d be rays of white light. And angels. Or guides of some sort, to show us what was expected and how to behave in this new place.”
“You rang?” The woman’s voice came from directly beside them, though it took them a moment to see her.
When they did, Ted gave an excited shout. “Gram!”
“Hello, Teddy. My, haven’t you grown up to be a fine, handsome fellow. I was allowed to see you occasionally, so I’m not at all surprised. You see, I was one of your angels during your lifetime.”
He kissed her cheek, marveling that she hadn’t aged since he’d last seen her more than forty years earlier. In fact, she was as lovely as the portrait of her as a young debutante that hung in his office. “I thought I saw you once, when I was dreaming.”
“You were troubled. It was during that time when the doctors were running all those tests on little Tyler, and I wanted to comfort you.”
“I remember waking up and feeling at peace with everything. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She dropped an arm around his shoulder. “I was gone before you and Vanessa married, so we’ve never been formally introduced.”
“Gram, this is my wife, Vanessa. Darling, this is my father’s mother, Sarah Graham Crenshaw.”
“How nice to finally meet you.” After hugging her, Vanessa held out her left hand. “I’ve been wearing your ring on my finger since the day I married Ted. I feel as if I’ve known you all my life, Gram.” Vanessa smiled. “I hope you don’t mind if I call you that? It’s what Ted always called you when he spoke of you. And always, I might add, with great affection.”
“The feeling is mutual.” Sarah Crenshaw dropped a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. “I was always so pleased that you wanted to wear my ring. My Thaddeus gave me that ring the day we wed, and it never left my finger until the day I passed into this other world.” Her tone warmed as she turned to her grandson. “Welcome to the other side. I’ve come to escort you and your lovely wife to your eternal reward.”
“Wait.” Vanessa looked back at the twisted wreckage; the bloodied, mangled bodies. “Ted, darling, think of the pain this will cause Christina. This should be the happiest time of her life. Instead, she’ll be grief-stricken over her loss, as well as overwhelmed by all the details. And then there’s the care of little Tyler.” She turned to Ted’s grandmother. “Is there any way we can stay around and ease our daughter through this horrible time?”
Sarah smiled. “As a matter of fact, yours is not an unfamiliar request, Vanessa. Often, when someone dies unexpectedly, there’s a great deal of worry about the well-being of the loved ones who are left behind. If requested, a grace period can be granted between the former life and the hereafter. Otherwise, there would be many souls who wouldn’t be able to properly enjoy their eternal reward. And, as you’ll soon see, it’s meant to be enjoyed.”
Vanessa exchanged a look with her husband before turning to Sarah. “We can wait? Here on earth?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, thank you, Gram.” One wet tear rolled down Vanessa’s cheek. “I’m sure we won’t need more than a couple of days. Just enough time to get Christina and Tyler through the funeral. Thank heaven that little Tyler has his big sister to get him through this.”
“And thank heaven,” Ted added softly, “they both have a strong, loving man like Mark to lean on.”
“Yes. Mark.” The older woman’s words became clipped. “I must warn you. There are certain rules by which you must now abide. Though you can see and hear, you can no longer be seen or heard by those on the other side. Furthermore, you cannot physically intervene with the free will of those still living.”
Vanessa’s brows lifted. “Intervene? Why in the world would we want to do that?”
“You are apt to see things that may displease you or annoy you or upset you.”
Ted winked at his wife before turning to Sarah. “That might be true in some families, Gram, but not in ours. You’ve had a chance to see Christina. You know what an amazing young woman she’s become. And little Tyler. There’s an innocence in him that can’t be denied.”
Sarah sighed. “Be that as it may, I must warn you that however much you may try to persuade earthly creatures to get involved in solving the problems that you see from this side, you may use only peaceful means. No matter what you see or hear, no matter what you learn about those still living, you cannot resort to violence.”
“Violence?” Ted grinned. “Gram, why would we even consider such a thing?”
“Just so you understand the rules.” His grandmother touched a hand to his arm. “You may want to ask for more than a few days before you join me.”
“I’m sure a levelheaded girl like Christina will be able to pull it together in a matter of days.” Ted looked over, but his grandmother’s image had begun to fade to a pale, shimmering light until even that gradually disappeared, and she was gone as quickly as she had appeared.
Drawing his wife into his arms, Ted brushed a kiss to her cheek. “Silly rules, if you ask me. We can watch but can’t touch. We can interfere but can’t intrude on free will. I’m not sure I like being . . . one of them.”
“Not that it matters what we like, Ted.” Vanessa sighed. “At least we can take comfort in the fact that our family will be taken care of now that we’re gone.”
“You bet.” Ted lifted his head. “I hear sirens. Brace yourself, babe. I think someone has spotted the wreckage. Once they learn the identities of the victims, Christina is in for a shock. It’s not going to be easy to stand by and watch her grieve.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mellon.” Chri
stina accepted a cup of strong, hot tea from the housekeeper, whose eyes were as red-rimmed as her own.
“You should get some rest, Miss Christina.”
“I will. Soon.” Christina, drained by grief, glanced at her little brother, who was standing by the big windows, watching as the last of the mourners’ cars headed down the long, curving driveway.
The old woman turned to Mark, who hadn’t left his fiancée’s side since they had first heard about the fatal accident. “She’s had a long day, Mr. Deering. If she won’t sleep, at least coax her to get off her feet for a little while.”
“Right.” Mark steered Christina to an overstuffed chair and settled himself on the ottoman before lifting her feet to his lap. Without a word he removed her shoes and began massaging her feet.
Setting her cup of tea on a table beside her chair, Chris let her head fall back, forcing herself to relax. With her eyes closed, she said, “It was a beautiful service, wasn’t it? Reverend Henderson gave such a lovely eulogy. Did you know that he presided at my parents’ wedding?”
“He told me.”
“And the articles in the Dispatch, in the Times, and even in our local Gazette. All of them said such kind, loving things about my parents.”
“And why not? They gave generously of their time and money to so many charities.”
Christina made a mental note to send additional checks to the food bank and the women’s shelter that had become her mother’s favorite causes. She would embrace them as hers now.
Mrs. Mellon bustled into the room and set a tray of tea sandwiches on the coffee table. “I noticed that you were too busy with the guests to think about food, Miss Christina, but now that you’re alone, you really should try to eat something.”
Chris caught the older woman’s hand as she straightened. “And who’s going to see that you eat or rest, Mrs. Mellon?”
The housekeeper wiped at a sudden tear. “You’re so like her, you know. Your mother was always looking out for everybody but herself.”
Without warning, this stoic woman, who had directed a staff of servers through the long day of the viewing in the formal parlor and the luncheon that had followed the funeral, now burst into tears. Horrified, she tried to turn away, but Christina was on her feet at once and drawing the older woman into her arms.
“I can’t believe they’re gone.” Mrs. Mellon’s words were muffled against Christina’s shoulder.
“I know.” Chris smoothed the woman’s hair, absorbing a quick shaft of pain. “It doesn’t seem possible.”
“I didn’t want to cry. Especially in front of you. You’ve been so strong.”
“Me? I’ve shed buckets of tears. It’s all right to cry, Mrs. Mellon. You miss them. We all do.”
“How will we go on without them?”
“I don’t know.” Chris reached into her pocket and withdrew a lace-edged handkerchief. “You’ve been such a comfort to me, Mrs. Mellon. And to Tyler. We couldn’t have gotten through this without you.”
“I did what I could.” The woman blew her nose and stepped away. “I need to stay busy.”
“I know. I feel the same way. I don’t want to stop and let myself think about what I’ve lost.” Christina glanced over at her little brother, still standing silently by the window. “What we’ve all lost.”
The housekeeper sniffed, dabbed at her eyes, and turned away. “The catering people have probably finished up in the kitchen by now. They’ll be wanting a check.”
Christina nodded. “I left it on the desk in the library.”
“Don’t bother yourself. I’ll see to it.”
When the older woman was gone, Mark dropped an arm around Christina’s shoulders. “I agree with Mrs. Mellon. The best way to deal with grief is to stay busy. If you don’t mind a suggestion, darling, I think you should get back to your routine as soon as possible.”
“I suppose.” Distracted, Chris picked up her tea. Sipped.
“That’s my girl.” Mark crossed to the fireplace and rested an arm on the mantel. “The sooner you return to your apartment in the city and tend to your father’s business, the better you’ll feel. And when you feel like crying, I’ll be there with a strong shoulder. I promise.”
“Thanks, Mark.” Chris gave a long, deep sigh. “You’re right, of course. Routine would be good for me. For all of us.”
“Good.” He started across the room. “Since you agree, I’ll get the car.”
When he was gone, Christina set aside her tea and studied her little brother. He hadn’t moved from the window. What was he looking at? she wondered.
“What do you see, Tyler?” She crossed to him and dropped to her knees, so that they were eye to eye.
His tutor, Bonnie, stepped into the room and crossed to them but remained silent, watching and listening.
Outside, Christina could see Mark’s vintage Corvette just rounding a corner, coming into view. For the funeral, he’d left it in the family garage, choosing to ride with her in the limousine. Now, with the top down and his pale hair tousled by the breeze, cell phone to his ear, he looked younger, more at ease than he had in days.
Thank heaven for Mark. He’d been her rock. Her pillar of strength.
Tyler, she realized, wasn’t watching Mark. He was looking beyond him, as though waiting for something. Or someone.
Of course.
When the truth dawned, Chris felt as though she’d taken a knife to her heart.
She turned to Bonnie Waverly, who looked as sad and forlorn as the little boy.
Tears filled Christina’s eyes as she gathered her little brother close and buried her face in his hair. “Oh, Tyler. They’re not coming back.”
Though he stiffened slightly, he made no sound.
His silence made her tears flow all the harder. “I know who you’re watching for, baby. But you won’t see them.” She wondered that her poor heart didn’t simply break from the pain that washed over her in waves as she forced herself to speak the horrifying words aloud. “Mom and Dad are gone for good, Tyler. And we’re never going to see them again.”
Mark strode into the room to find Christina still holding her little brother in her arms, sobbing gently against his hair.
She lifted her tear-stained face. “I’m sorry, Mark. I won’t be going back to the city with you tonight.”
He stepped closer, barely keeping his impatience in check. “Look, I’ve already been here more days than I’d expected. I really need to get back.”
“I know. I understand. You have a business to run. But you’ll have to go without me. Tyler needs me here.”
“He has Bonnie and Mrs. Mellon.”
“Yes, he does. And he has me.”
“You’re forgetting. I’m not the only one with a business to run. You’re now in charge of your father’s company. How long do you think it can flourish without a strong, steady hand at the helm?”
“We have good executives, Mark. They’re loyal to me, just as they were to my father. They’ll cover for me until I’m ready to return.”
“And how long do you intend to hide out here?”
Was that what she was doing? Hiding from the truth? Hiding from the horrible loss of the two most important people in her life?
Though the words stung, she chose to ignore them. “I don’t know. I only know that I need to be here with Tyler as much as he needs me here.”
She looked up as the housekeeper paused in the doorway, holding an overnight bag. “I won’t be needing that after all, Mrs. Mellon. I’ve decided I’m not ready to leave yet.”
For the first time in days, the housekeeper’s eyes lit with a smile. “I’m glad you’re staying. Tyler needs you. And so do I.”
The older woman glanced at Bonnie, who nodded her agreement. “She’s right. We need you here a while longer.”
“It’s settled then.”
Christina kept her little brother’s hand firmly in hers as she got to her feet and started across the room. “Good-bye, Mark.” She brushed a kiss over h
is cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow, when I’ve had time to think.”
“You know I don’t like being apart for even one night.” He closed his hands over her upper arms and gave her a long, slow kiss. Then he stepped back and managed a smile for Tyler, and another for the two women who were watching, before turning away.
As he started out of the room he called, “But I suppose another night won’t make much difference.”
Christina watched as he strode away. When the door closed behind him, she thought about his words. He was right, she supposed. What difference could one night possibly make? Wouldn’t she be just as sad and just as lost tomorrow as she was tonight? Still, one look at her little brother’s haunted eyes and she knew she’d made the right decision. For now, for this night, she would do what she could to bring him comfort.
She’d deal with tomorrow’s pain tomorrow.
Two
“We’d like to stay here a few more days, Gram.” Ted Crenshaw kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “Vanessa and I aren’t ready for eternal happiness yet. I guess we weren’t prepared for so much chaos in our children’s lives.”
“Grief-stricken, are they?” The old woman looked from her grandson to his wife.
“Deeply.” Ted drew an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “It doesn’t help that Tyler has no way to communicate his feelings. But Christina is doing all she can to reach him. What worries us is the way she’s dithering. One day ready to pick up the pieces of her life, the next wanting to do nothing more than walk the gardens with her little brother. It isn’t like her to be so indecisive.”
“She’s suffered a life-altering blow, Ted. It takes time for mortals to sort things out.”
“If she waits too long, we’re both afraid she’s going to drive Mark away.” Vanessa caught the older woman’s hand. “Would it be possible for us to take a few more days here? Just until Christina gets her bearings?”
Sarah Graham Crenshaw smiled gently. “I’ve been authorized to tell you to take as long as you wish.”