by Celeste King
“Oh dear,” said Joseph, “I was concerned this might happen. What do you have in mind?”
“Well, emotions are running very high and both Joan and Beth need a familiar person to help them through it, I believe.” Joseph could see the determination in Cassandra’s eyes. She was fiercely protective of the people she was watching over.
“I assume you’re speaking of David,” Joseph said.
“Yes, yes I am. I know he has only just crossed over, but I feel it is important to this case. Not only are there physical dangers, but their relationship is hanging in the balance. And if Joan doesn’t maintain a level head it may get worse,” Cassandra explained.
“Honestly, I have been considering David as an addition to our team,” Joseph admitted. “His ability to bring others to the love of God was uncanny on Earth. He was so convicted in his beliefs.” Joseph turned to look at the Springtime mountains. “Yes, I think this would be a perfect way to proceed. Let’s go talk to David together and get his input on what would best help his wife and daughter. You can fill me in with the details on the way.”
“Wonderful, thank you, Joseph,” said Cassandra gratefully.
~ Chapter 13 ~
The drive to the hiking site seemed so far away. Joan tried to stay calm behind the wheel of her car still trying to shake the feeling that something had just gone horribly wrong. The pang of urgency in her gut just wouldn’t go away. She had felt wary of Eric before, but this was different. It was almost her motherly sixth sense that something had actually happened to Beth and Eric had something to do with it.
Joan was actually amazed at how levelheaded she had been able to remain since breakfast. After Beth had run out the door and into Eric’s car the feelings of dread began. She was so sure of the danger, but yet she had been able to keep her wits about her. As she thought about it, it was a feeling she often got in tense situations when David was at her side. She would still feel the panic and urgency, but one of his hands on her shoulder and she could figure it out. She could still think of what to do next and what would be best.
Joan wanted so desperately to have David with her now so she could tell him about the situation and hear what he would have to say. Maybe he can hear me, she thought. David always said the angels were listening and that’s what he was now. Joan looked down at her fingers on the steering wheel. Her wedding band glinted in the sunlight. There were many times in the last few weeks she had wondered how long it would take her to stop wearing it.
One of Joan’s cousins who had attended the funeral felt it necessary to ask Joan when she felt she would start dating again. Joan, always a gracious hostess, even at a funeral for her own husband, smiled and said she hadn’t even considered it yet. She really wanted to throw the cousin out and tell her how rude of a question it was, but Joan was not one to tell others what to say or do. She had learned from David it was the loving approach that was always best. She needed to talk to David now.
“David, sweetie,” Joan began, “It’s our little girl. I think she is in trouble. The worst part is…” she felt her throat catch and tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped them away so she could see the road. She went on with her now shaky voice, “The worst part is, I think it’s my fault. I don’t think I’ve handled everything very well with her the last few months. I thought maybe she just needed time to herself to process things, but maybe I pushed her away. Maybe I pushed her into the arms of Eric. Maybe if I had shown her the love she needed she wouldn’t have gone looking for it from someone who doesn’t even deserve her attention.”
Joan began to sob, trying to keep the wheel steady. She knew she couldn’t waste any time pulling over to cry. “Please help me, David,” she said in desperation. Sobs wracked her body and she almost couldn’t bear the worry she had for Beth. It was almost paralyzing.
Just like the voice she heard in the living room just before she found the map, another voice, clear as day spoke to her. It was hard to explain. It wasn’t out loud like someone sitting next to her. Again, it was almost in her mind, like the voice in the living room, but she knew whose voice it was. It was the voice that always comforted her in times of need.
“It’s ok, honey,” David’s voice resonated between her ears. “You couldn’t possibly have known how our Beth was going to react. Unfortunately, she found solace with someone available who wasn’t the right choice.” Joan had stopped sobbing and listened, feeling that sense of control coming back to her. David’s voice continued, “You are not a bad mother. A bad mother wouldn’t be in this car or be so in tune with the promptings that something was wrong. You love our Beth and you would do anything for her. Sometimes bad things happen and you’re always going to be there for her. Now be strong, my dear.”
Just as quickly as the voice had come, it was gone; but the feeling of control had completely returned to Joan. The last of her tears dried on her cheeks as she gripped the steering wheel and pressed forward. She could almost feel David’s hand on her shoulder now.
~ Chapter 14 ~
Joan finally reached the trailhead and looked around for any sign of Eric’s Jeep. She saw no cars nearby and checked the map again to make sure she was in the right place. Joan had never been to this part of the mountains before. She was exactly where the map had lead her, but why wasn’t the Jeep here? Before she could even think of leaving to look elsewhere she noticed tire tracks on the ground outside the driver’s side window. They were deeper than they should have been if a car had simply backed out of the space. It was as if someone had spun the wheels in a hurry to get away. She knew she had to start up the trail. Joan got out of the car and began hiking, her eyes constantly surveying her surroundings for any sign of Beth.
It seemed like she had been walking for an eternity, but kept feeling an insistence that she keep going. Occasionally she would see a broken branch or a footstep in softer parts of the dirt that had obviously been made recently. Joan didn’t know how far Beth and Eric typically hiked. What if they had gone hours up the trail? She kept going and walked at a quick pace while looking through the trees for any sign of them.
Several minutes later she noticed a bright color in a clearing ahead. It was the blue blanket from the hall closet Beth often used when she went on picnics with friends. David had used this blanket when he and Joan had date nights watching movies in the park. Joan quickened her pace and felt her heart sink when she saw the scene in front of her. The blanket had been thrown in a heap and the remnants of a picnic had been scattered across the clearing. To Joan it looked as though there had been some kind of scuffle. Sandwich pieces and chips had been smashed on the ground. Then she saw Beth’s backpack. Why would her backpack be here, without Beth?
“Beth!” Joan yelled. “Beth, honey!” She heard only the chirp of birds in response. She picked up Beth’s backpack and opened it as if to find another map directly to her. Beth’s phone, wallet and small makeup bag that she took everywhere were still stuffed inside. Joan put the backpack on and began to walk over the clearing, continuing to call Beth’s name. She looked for any clue in the mess that might tell her where they had gone. She didn’t see any sign of Eric, no backpack or wallet. It was like he just disappeared. Joan thought back to the tire marks in the dirt. Were they from Eric’s Jeep? Had something happened and he was running away?
Suddenly she noticed some branches on one side of the clearing that looked as though they had been disturbed. Some leaves and flowers below had been trampled and torn. Again evidence that someone had been running away and it was likely Beth. If Beth ran this way, but left her backpack, it only made sense to Joan that she would have been trying to escape something. Since Eric was nowhere to be found and his Jeep was gone, he was probably the one Beth was trying to escape. Joan decided the only thing she could do was make an attempt to follow the trail even though it worried her what she might find.
~ Chapter 15 ~
At the bottom of the ravine Beth slipped in and out of consciousness. It was difficult to think or keep track
of time. The darkness would close in and she would feel nothing, then a time later she would come to, feeling unbearable pain shooting through her leg. Her head throbbed and felt heavy. She assumed her leg had to be broken. Have I been here for hours? Beth thought. In the brief Moments she was able to open her eyes and think, she tried to formulate some kind of plan to get help, but she couldn’t focus for long. It was as if she had taken several sleeping pills and couldn’t even lift her head.
Besides her current situation Beth was also plagued with the fact that Eric had been dangerous all along. She had been spending so much time and learning to trust someone that was willing to hurt her. She had fleeting flashbacks of sitting with her Mom at breakfast that morning and what she had said. Beth thought of the way she had pulled away from her Mom during the last several months. The further away she got from her Mom and the more time she spent with Eric, the more depressed she felt. She hadn’t made the connection before. She had allowed Eric’s good looks to win her over. He had also been charming, especially in the beginning. He knew exactly how to compliment her, but it only seemed to come when she was feeling a little mistreated by him. Then he would say something nice and she would forgive him everything prior.
Beth’s thoughts were not continuous. She was going from awake to unconscious so frequently, every time she opened her eyes the thought would pick up where it left off until she couldn’t hold on anymore. Once when her eyes were open she could see the sun directly through the leaves far above her. Even if it had been hours since she fell, at least it hadn’t been days. The forest around her went black again.
Beth’s eyes flung open once more and she fought to keep her consciousness. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she realized absolutely no one knew where she was. She had told no friends, of course her Mom didn’t know. Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to be with Eric? Why did he have to do this? So many thoughts ran through Beth’s mind. Then as the tears really started to roll down her face onto the dirt and rocks, she asked the question that she really hadn’t allowed herself to properly ask.
“Why did Dad have to die?” she whispered. “Dad why did you have to die and leave me here?” Sobs wracked her body and the pain she felt in her heart was almost worse than the pain in her leg. Every time she went with Eric it was like entering a different world where he called the shots. She didn’t have to think about her father lying in a hospital bed and then lying in a casket. Beth made sure she was with him so frequently she didn’t have time to feel the effects of this tragic event. Here, completely alone, with her life quite literally in jeopardy, the weight of what had happened fell upon her. She tried to hold on as her vision started to tunnel again, but she couldn’t fight it. Everything went dark and she was worried she wouldn’t gain consciousness again. Suddenly everything was quiet, even the birds and the rustling of the trees.
“Beth, sweetheart.” Beth heard the deep, comforting voice and her heart skipped a beat. “Honey, open your eyes.” Beth’s eyes slowly opened and she blinked several times. The sun was still shining through the trees and she could feel someone sitting next to her. She turned her head and struggled to believe who the figure was that was sitting next to her on the ground. She couldn’t quite make out his features as her eyes adjusted to the light, but she could recognize that strong silhouette anywhere.
“Dad?” Beth whispered with desperation, “Is it really you? Are you alive?” Maybe it had been a dream. Maybe in the time she had been in the ravine she had made up this entire story of her Dad dying.
“No sweetheart,” David said softly, “Oh honey, I am more alive than I have ever been, but you and I are simply going about our lives in different places--but, believe me, this separation is only temporary! But, for now, I’m just here to visit you for a Moment.” Even though Beth was still lying at the bottom of the ravine, the pain all over her body had ceased for now. Even her head had stopped throbbing and she was able to focus.
“Why did you leave us, Dad? Why did you have to leave us? Beth implored with every fiber of her being.
“I didn’t want to leave you and your Mom, Beth. Sometimes things like this just have to happen. Our life lessons are sometimes painful—but they are for our greater good in learning…but I was needed in the heavenly realm to accomplish many other things that I couldn’t do here.” David reached out and pushed some hair away from Beth’s face and wiped smudges of dirt from her cheeks. Beth felt like she was a little girl again, completely helpless and in need of her Daddy to make things all better.
“I just miss you so much. I have felt so lost since we found out you were dying. I wanted to run away.” Beth stopped and realized she had run away from it all. “And Eric was right there to take me away. I let him, too. I’m so embarrassed, Dad. He’s the reason I’m laying here. I was so stupid to not see through it.”
David consoled her, “Don’t be embarrassed. We were all suffering in our own way. Sometimes we don’t realize that the path we’re taking isn’t the best until it really shows us. I’m sorry yours had to get so bad, but remember, we can always come back.”
“I wish you had been here to warn me, Dad,” said Beth. “I feel like you would have known Eric was dangerous. I would have never been with him.”
“You’re forgetting something, sweetheart,” David smiled softly. “You were warned. What did Mom tell you at breakfast?” Beth felt a sudden pang of shame. She had been unwilling to listen to the warning signs even from her own mother. She had drifted so far, she had forgotten all her Mom wanted to do was protect her. In return she had insulted her.
“I’m so sorry, Dad.” Beth said.
“No, don’t be sorry. We all have to learn. But I do think maybe you owe Mom an apology and a big hug.” David said.
“How am I going to do that? She doesn’t know I’m here. No one does,” Beth said, desperately wishing she could tell her Mom how sorry she was right now.
“Don’t you worry about that,” David said calmly. “Just close your eyes for a little bit longer and I promise, it’s going to work out. Just promise me, you’ll remember Mom is on your side. She wants the best for you. You are her daughter. Even if it feels like she is keeping you from having fun, it’s her job to protect you. And also, remember that uneasiness you felt when you started on the hike? Kind of like you were in the wrong place? Listen to that feeling the next time, will you?”
“I promise,” Beth said sincerely. “Will I get to see you again?”
“Probably not for a while,” David said with a comforting smile, “But I will visit and watch over both of you. There were a few things I needed to say when I was still around, but didn’t get to. Plus, I didn’t want you to be scared all by yourself down here, you big baby.” They quietly giggled and David put his hand on the side of Beth’s face. “Just know, even though you won’t see me, I’ll be there for all of the important things. I’ll be there when you graduate, I’ll be there on your first day of college and when you get your diploma. I’ll be there when you get married and when you have brand new babies.” Beth felt a deep calm like she had never felt, at least not in a very long time.
“Close your eyes now, sweetheart” said David. “Mom is on her way.” Beth closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The pain started to creep back into her leg and head, but soon she felt herself slipping away. Everything got dark again and she could no longer feel the pain.
~ Chapter 16 ~
Joan tried to follow the subtle clues of a trail through the trees. There were small signs of trampled leaves, broken branches, and pushed dirt. She wanted to go faster, but didn’t want to lose the trail. Her motherly instincts told her things were urgent, but she kept calm. David would have stayed calm. She would be of no help to Beth if she were hysterical. Joan was not nearly as outdoorsy as both David and Beth, so she wasn’t as agile attempting to maneuver through the trees. She fell multiple times in her haste, but her small scratches could not take away from her mission.
Just then, through the t
rees, something caught her eye. It was a man walking in the direction away from Joan. She could only see the back of him split through the overlapping trees, but she knew he was familiar. Joan pushed past a few branches in the direction of the walking man and got close enough to see him fully.
“David,” she gasped. Joan pushed forward hurriedly, struggling to believe what she was really seeing. “David!” she yelled. He didn’t stop, but kept walking in the same direction, away from her. She couldn’t quite catch up. She felt like she was making progress and then she would look up and he was just as far away as before.
Joan almost wasn’t watching where she was going, now wondering if she had lost her mind because her anxiety was so intense. She didn’t want to take her eyes off of David in case she might lose him, but looked down just in time to see a steep drop off only a couple of feet in front of her. She stopped short, her heart pounding, realizing she had almost fallen. She looked up and couldn’t see David anywhere. Confused and saddened, she stood looking all around her, realizing she hadn’t been paying attention to the path that may have been Beth’s. Who knew how far away she was from it now. She whipped herself in circles, positive it had not been a hallucination and wanted a reason for why she had completely disregarded the path that she felt lead to Beth.
Suddenly a small moan hit Joan’s ears. She stopped looking around and stayed still. She heard it again, a soft moan of someone in pain. It was Beth. Joan knew that sound from the night her and David had to rush Beth to the hospital with appendicitis. She knew it from when Beth was waking up from getting her tonsils removed and her throat was sore.