Seventh Heaven (Heaven Sent Book 7)

by Mary Abshire

  Andrew thrust his hands to his head. He was ready to drop to his knees. The image seemed so real, so crystal clear. He had to get closer. He had to see his baby.

  He took one slow step after another toward the mirror. He felt incredibly light. When he stopped, he thought he was standing at Matt’s side.

  Matt hummed as he rocked back and forth. He held a small bottle to the babe. Tiny fingers, five on each hand were curled. The infant had sparse, light-brown hair. A girl. Emily had delivered a girl. Somehow he’d always known she would.

  The baby’s eyes opened. They had a bluish-gray tint similar to his. The nose reminded him of Emily’s. She was beyond beautiful and so small. He wanted to touch her, but knew he couldn’t.

  Matt smiled at the infant. “Sara Emily Cooper, you’re are the cutest thing I have ever seen. Yes, you are. Your mother and father would be so proud.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. She’s so adorable,” Andrew said before he realized it.

  Matt stopped rocking. He lifted his head and gazed around the room as if he were searching for something or someone.

  “Andrew?” Matt asked.

  “Tell her I love her. Tell—”

  The door flew open and the room changed in a flash. Matt was gone. Andrew’s baby was gone. The reflection showed the nurse approaching him with distressed look on his face.

  “I told you not to speak,” he said as he put his hands on his hips.

  Andrew spun around. “I’m sorry. It just slipped out. Can you send me back for just a few minutes longer?”

  The nurse shook his head. “Sorry, it’s against the rules. I told you the visit would end if you spoke or tried to touch.”

  “It was an accident.”

  “Rules are rules. You have to go. One of the cabs waiting outside can take you back.”

  “Please, just a few minutes more.”

  The nurse pointed. “If you don’t go, I’ll have to call security.”

  Defeat settled within him and left a bad taste in his mouth. He didn’t want to cause any trouble, so he headed for the door. On his way out, he wondered if he could see his baby again if he sent another appeal to God. It was worth trying for.

  By the time he reached the ground floor, he was smiling. He almost couldn’t believe what he’d seen and heard. His daughter had been named Sara Emily Cooper. Sara belonged to Matt’s sister who had been killed in a car accident. Emily had thought of Matt like a brother. She must have decided to honor him by using the name of his sister. But what Andrew couldn’t figure out was why she’d used her name and Matt’s surname, too. Regardless, Andrew held the upmost confidence Matt would make a great father figure.

  Andrew strode outside and found several taxis parked off the side past the entrance. He proceeded to the nearest one.

  “Excuse me,” Andrew said through the open window and the older driver with dark skin turned to him. “Can I get a ride to my house?”

  “Hop in,” the driver said in an accent unfamiliar to Andrew.

  All Andrew could think about on the ride home was his baby. She looked healthy and cute. The room Matt had been sitting in resembled a feeding room for new mothers. But Emily hadn’t been anywhere. He wished he knew what had happened to her. She hadn’t been due to deliver for another week.

  The taxi stopped in front of his house. Andrew thanked the driver before he left. On his way to his door, Andrew spotted Dave swinging on the bench from his front porch.

  Dave stood and waved to Andrew. “Someone came by while you were gone,” his neighbor said loudly.

  Andrew paused. “Someone was at my house?”

  “A man about your age. Maybe younger. Dressed in white like the girl you left with. He didn’t stay long.”

  “Thanks,” Andrew said before he continued toward his house.

  The person had to have been another messenger. But why would another one show up?

  He walked in through the front and found and envelope lying on the hardwood floor. He picked it up. The front had his name on it with no return address. Andrew tore the side and discovered a piece of paper. He plucked it out and unfolded it. The typed note read the arrival time and location for a Mrs. Emily Webster. Instructions said to meet her promptly at the train station at the designated time.

  Confused and filled with trepidation, Andrew dashed to the kitchen. The clock on the microwave showed he had twenty minutes to make it to the station. Without a car available, he had no idea how he could make it on time to meet her.

  Mind racing, he paced in the kitchen. If he had no vehicle, he couldn’t get to her. Why was she even here? Had she died? She had to have. But how? What had happened on Earth? He didn’t understand anything, but he had a note of her arrival. Since he didn’t have a ride, he had to think of another way to meet her. Walking would take far too long since the station was several miles away. He needed to get there soon. When he heard a knock on his front door, the answer came to him.

  Andrew left the note on the counter before he answered the door. Dave stood on his porch with two beers, one in each hand.

  “Do you have a bike?” Andrew asked before Dave could get a word out.

  “Yeah, I have a couple.”

  “Can I borrow one please? My wife is due to arrive at the station in less than twenty minutes.”

  “Of course! It’s in my garage. The door isn’t locked. Just lift it and you’ll see them.”

  Andrew put his hand on Dave’s shoulder. “Thank you so much. I’m sorry, but I have to run.”

  “Go. Go get her.” Dave smiled.

  Andrew dashed past him and then cut across his lawn, jogging. The day had started out like any other. He’d worked in the house, rolling out carpet in the master bedroom. He’d never thought he’d get a chance to visit his child. He’d certainly had never thought his wife would arrive in heaven so soon. If he’d learned anything from his time in heaven it was none of the staff told lies. The note had to be real, which meant he would get to hold his wife in his arms again.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The thick haze clouding Emily’s mind began to dissipate. It was as if she were waking up from a deep sleep. She found herself standing in a large terminal, the widest and biggest she’d ever seen. A woman on the intercom announced the next train departure and platform number. The station had bright lights, a high ceiling, and tall arches in the back, probably leading to the platforms, she guessed. Young men and women dressed in dark blue uniforms held iPads or some sort of tablet. They looked like valet attendants talking to individuals. Emily blinked repeatedly to ensure she was in fact seeing everything clearly and she wasn’t in a dream.

  Andrew had told her what it had been like when he’d entered heaven. Now that she was standing in the middle of the terminal, she couldn’t believe it. She marveled at the grandeur. Andrew hadn’t been telling her stories, not that she’d thought he’d had, but the fantastical world he described seemed just that—a fantasy land. But she’d made it. He’d come through on his promise to bring her to heaven. Elation blossomed within her until she realized she must have died on Earth.

  “Welcome, can I get your name, please?” asked a young gal with long, wavy, black hair and tanned skin. She stood several inches shorter than Emily and had dark-brown eyes.

  “My name?” Emily asked as if she hadn’t understood the question.

  “Do you remember it?”

  “Uh, yeah, it’s Penny Reynolds.”

  While the lady tapped on her pad, Emily gazed around the room. After people spoke to the uniformed staff, they walked toward the tall archways.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not finding anyone by that name,” the gal said.

  Still a bit disoriented, Emily rubbed her temple. She’d used her alias on Earth all the time. The surname had come from Andrew’s alias after they’d married. Maybe he’d informed the powers that be of her real first name.

  “Can you try Emily Reynolds?” Emily asked.

  The gal tapped at her screen. Her brows cl
osed in together. “Sorry, but that’s not coming up either. Were you married?”

  “Yes.”

  “What is your husband’s name?”

  Since she’d given Andrew’s alias, she decided to try the name given to him at birth. “His name is Andrew Webster.”

  “And your first name is…”

  “Emily.”

  The brown-eyed girl’s fingers moved quickly on the screen. She paused and smiled. “Found you.”

  Emily inhaled a relieving breath as the gal turned slightly and pointed.

  “You’ll want to proceed to the trains. Stay to your far left and continue. Your platform is number seventeen. Your train leaves in ten minutes,” she said.

  “Will my husband be picking me up?”

  “I’m sorry, but we don’t have any of that type of information.”

  “He is here though, right?”

  “I’m sorry, but we can’t check.”

  Emily pressed her lips together, frustrated with the lack of information the gal had. Andrew had complained before how people in heaven seemed less than forthcoming with details. “Thank you.”

  The young woman smiled. “Good luck, Mrs. Webster.”

  Emily passed her and headed for the open archways. She thought it unusual heaven had her listed under Andrew’s real surname, but they were married. Maybe the people in charge liked to keep accurate records.

  Reaching the platform, she turned to the left and kept walking. Since she’d started out at the first one, she guessed she had sixteen to go. She wondered what would happen if she missed her train. Curious to see where she was going and eager to find Andrew, she strode at a steady pace.

  People of all ages were either standing around or sitting on benches. The scene reminded her of the subway in Chicago, except this station had far less the amount of individuals waiting for their ride. Chicago’s stops seldom had less than five people waiting.

  Although her mind still felt a bit foggy, her memories started to sharpen. She recalled being in a car crash and seeing Steven. She remembered her hand being stuck. Pausing, she lifted her hands. She had both. She looked lower and saw her baby bump had disappeared. She’d been certain Matt had cut her right hand to free her from the car wreckage. Stranger yet, she wore black tights and her favorite red floral dress that reached her kneecaps. Who decided what clothes she should wear?

  “Are you okay, Miss?” a uniformed thin lady asked with a British accent. She had long, blonde hair and blue eyes.

  “Yeah, I think so. I have two hands.”

  She grinned. “The policy states anyone who lost a limb or even a toe, finger, or eye, would have it returned.”

  “I like that policy.”

  “Of course. Do you know where you’re heading?”

  “Yes, number seventeen.” Emily pointed ahead.

  “Good luck, Miss,” the gal said with a curt nod.

  “Thank you.”

  Emily continued along the platform stupefied. Not only had she’d made it to heaven, she had both her hands. Heaven’s policy seemed all right. She managed to recall some of the details Andrew had shared with her. Most didn’t seem too bad now that she thought about them, but having to survive without television for eternity might be a struggle for a while. At least they had libraries, concerts, and theatres.

  She reached her destination and stepped onto the idle train. The majority of seats were vacant with less than ten sitting. She sat on a bench near the middle.

  Staring out the window, her thoughts returned to her last memories. They were sketchy, but she remembered lying on her back and Matt holding her hand. The doctor had pressed him to find out if Matt were related to her. She’d squeezed his hand, hoping he’d lie so he could stay with her. After he’d told the doctor he was the father of her child, the doc cut her open. She’d seen Matt cry and had thought her baby had died until she heard the cry. It was the sweetest and most innocent sound she’d heard. She knew in an instant she’d had a girl. Matt had confirmed her belief when he’d showed her the beautiful little babe she and Andrew had created.

  The train jerked, stealing her form her memory. It began to move and a young boy standing on the platform waved. The older couple sitting in the back responded in kind.

  Clear of the station, the train accelerated. For a few miles she saw vast grassy land. But not far ahead she eyed a thick, white fog. The engine hummed softly as they entered the cloud. She recalled Andrew had said he couldn’t see anything beyond the mist while he traveled on the train.

  Emily’s anxiety rose in line and she gripped the edges of the seat. So much had happened so fast. The crash. The birth. And now she was in heaven and would soon see the wonderful man she loved with all her heart. Yes, she missed her baby. She wished she could’ve held it. She wished she could’ve watched her grow up and help teach her. But at least her daughter had survived and Matt would protect her. Emily had no doubt he would make a great father.

  Emily couldn’t help but wonder if the people in charge had planned for her to die and Matt take over as caregiver since he couldn’t have children of his own. He’d told her he believed people were brought together for a reason. She understood his words more now than ever before.

  She shook her head in disbelief as she stared at the fog. She’d never thought she’d make it to heaven. She’d never thought she’d see Andrew again. She’d prayed for his return for the longest time, and when he’d never shown up, she’d almost given up on hope and faith. Her anger had led her astray. She’d blamed the people in charge and God. How foolish of her. What a huge mistake. Her entrance to heaven had to have come from her husband’s efforts. If only she’d known what was in store for her and her baby…

  She had to let all her guilt and regrets go. She couldn’t change the past. The future of her child rested with Matt. She knew he would take good care of her baby. He’d bring her to church, protect her like the soldier he was, and teach her to do good. Her baby was in good hands. She hoped she could find a way to visit her one day.

  As for her future, she couldn’t wait to see her husband. She had so many questions. But the first thing she wanted to do was embrace and kiss him. She missed him so much her eyes filled with tears thinking about him. She’d made it. To him. Forever.

  The hum of the train lessened. In a flash, the white cloud disappeared. They were traveling toward a town. Not too far away on the right side she saw a sandy beach. She rose and peered closer. The ocean looked less than a mile away. Her eyes widened and her lips stretched. She suspected Andrew kept his word about finding a beach home for her.

  Miles later, the whistle blew and metal squealed as the train slowed. Spotting a station, Emily crossed the aisle to the bench on the other side. The building with a deep-red roof looked old and run down with faded bricks and mildew-covered gutters. One hung low on the side. Only a handful of people stood on the platform. They all had grins on their faces. She searched the area for Andrew, but she couldn’t see him.

  The train jerked when it came to a stop. She watched everyone on board rise from their seats and then head to the exits. Although she hadn’t known for certain if she’d reached her destination, she decided to get off the train too. The gal at the station hadn’t told her where she was heading. Confused, Emily hoped to find Andrew waiting inside.

  Emily passed the men and women hugging and greeting each other and headed to the single door on the building. Fear crept within her. If Andrew was there, she suspected he would’ve met her on the platform.

  She stepped inside the station. Immediately, she was taken back by the emptiness and smell of mildew. Maps on the wall behind glass reminded her of visitor posts off the highway. Brochures stuck up from a shelf. The restrooms and water fountain were easy to spot. To her left, she spotted a door with a sign and headed toward it. The sign read Office. A white piece of paper had been posted to the door. The note read the office was closed permanently.

  “Great,” she said to herself.

  She strode to
the maps on the wall. One of them showed the entire state of North Carolina. She crossed her arms as she studied it. A star near the eastern seaboard led her to believe she’d arrived in a town called Southport, not too far south from Wilmington.

  The door opened and the people from the platform, along with the ones from the train, entered the building. They chatted as they headed to the main exit. Movement from the window caught her attention. The train was leaving.

  Emily’s eyes widened. After the last person stepped into the room, she left out the door to the platform. The tail end of the train had already cleared the building.

  Emily tossed her arms up. She had no idea if she should’ve gotten off the train or not. Nobody had told her where she needed to be or where to meet Andrew. Where was he, anyway? Wouldn’t somebody have told him about her arrival? Who ran a train station without telling people their destination?

  Frustrated, she returned inside the building. Again, it was empty. She exited through the front and saw a cab parked on the lot. A man from the train was preparing to sit in the backseat. Two other taxis were heading for the main road. She stopped on the concrete porch and watched the last cab drive away.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said.

  She lifted a hand above her eyes to shield them from the bright rays. The scene reminded her of an apocalyptic movie. She couldn’t see any houses or cars near the road. There was nothing in sight for miles except for electrical poles and the ocean further back on the other side of the street. She was completely alone.

  Sighing, she stepped down from the porch and into the warm sun. Her concern grew fast. She had no means of transportation or communication. How was she going to find Andrew?

  She reached the road and ran a hand through her long hair as she glanced in each direction. She tried to decide if she should go left or right. Anger on the rise, she gazed up at the sky. “Okay, I’m sorry for the things I said on Earth. It was wrong, and I take it all back. You obviously had a plan, and I should’ve had faith everything would work out.” She paused, sighing. “Now that I’m here, couldn’t you have sent Andrew to get me? Is this your way of getting back at me for what I said? Or is this a joke? If it is, it’s not funny.”