by Eli Constant
The rest of the day, we did absolutely nothing. Kyle, Liam, and me. Just the three of us, cozying up in my living room, the TV on, but none of us really watching.
Monday came and went.
Tuesday came and went.
Then Wednesday came and a call from Allen Barrington. He couldn’t stop crying on the phone, beating himself up, because he’d been the one taking Timothy to see his stepfather. I try to console him, tell him he had no way of knowing what Doctor Sherwin was.
Nothing’s going to be enough though, to calm the father who’s lost his son and just found out that the killer was someone they both trusted.
There is one golden thread through all of Allen’s darkness. Doug has told him that Timothy’s body is ready for burial. So we can plan the funeral and finally put him to rest beside his Rosemary.
I make the preparations over the next days, planning the funeral for Saturday and giving Allen time to tell everyone who might want to attend.
WHEN SATURDAY COMES, I think I am ready. I think I can emotionally handle Timothy’s funeral, just like I’d handled so many before. This was different for me though.
Timothy had lived his life not being accepted by so many people. One of which was his mother, the person who should love you no matter what in this shitty world. Yet, he’d found love with Darnell. He’d persevered. He’d held onto his identity.
Even Terrance comes to the funeral, escorting someone we did not expect to see.
Tess.
She can hardly stand and her entire body shakes as she approaches her son’s casket and sees his beautiful face—dark cropped hair and wide rim glasses and singular heart earring in place. As I watch, she leans over her son and kisses him on the forehead. And then Terrance hands her something.
Even at a distance, I recognize it.
The second heart earring, the one I’d found in the fish.
And she threads it gently through her son’s ear, sliding the backing on so it won’t fall out, and she begins to cry. Great, heaving sobs. Sincere, awful. Heartbreaking.
Allen and Darnell join her then, wrapping their arms around her in a collective embrace.
I’ve never seen something so broken become so whole. Even if it is only for a fleeting moment of grief, it is still beautiful to witness.
I hate placing the chains onto Timothy’s body. I hate watching the concrete truck fill his grave and cover his casket. But that’s the world we live in. Blanketed in the ever-present fear of the dead. I wonder if it will ever change.
If we will stop pouring concrete. If we will stop judging and fearing.
IT’S MONDAY NOW. SUNDAY was just a blur. I spent most of the day in a haze. Kyle has gone to take a liquor delivery at the bar and Liam... I’ve no idea where he is actually.
The world is a little brighter though, and not just because there is a small break in the snow-filled clouds above that is letting loose a little sun across our dreary Bonneau. I’ve just showered after a long run around the lake. Leslie had waved to me from her porch on my way back past her house and I’d waved back. Everything is settling back into normalcy. I’ve even already booked a job for Friday.
Death never takes a holiday.
Frowning at that, I press the start button on the coffee pot and stare out the window. The mail truck will be coming by shortly. Just as the little ‘ding’ goes off to say brewing’s complete, I see the white postal vehicle make its fast stop at the mailbox outside.
Slipping into my boots, I trudge out into the slightly melty snow, which will refreeze tonight when the temperatures drop again. I’m amazed the lake is managing to stay so solid. There’d been people skating on its outer edges earlier.
The driveway feels longer than usual, but that’s only because my legs are aching from the run. My phone pings from my pocket about halfway down the drive. I pull it out, smiling when I see the text message. Though, it also brings me sadness because I think of Maggie and how she was robbed of her motherhood and life.
‘Found Jacob Smythe. Thought you’d want to know. Grew up in the system, no other family. He’s a mechanic. Four kids. He always thought she abandoned him.’
Before I can reply, another message pings.
‘He looks like his mom.’
I don’t write Terrance back. There’s no need to. He’ll already know how glad I am that Jacob knows the truth now. And I feel Maggie, in the ether or beyond, will find peace.
I tuck my cell away again, finishing my walk to the end of the property.
There’s not much mail today. A flyer for the car dealership in town—I really have to get on with finding a new vehicle, dammit—a magazine for a clothing brand I’ve never heard of, and a card which is addressed in impeccable script. There’s no return address, which I find odd.
I wait to open the letter until I’m back inside, boots off and my feet curled up under me on the couch to warm.
My heart stops when I read the words written on the thick, glistening cardstock inside.
Dear big sister, Liam was banished before he could make the Light Prince aware of your location. Please, do not fret. I have enlightened him on the matter. Love, your baby brother.
The letter is simply signed ‘B’.
I’m not sure what it’ll mean, that the light court knows where I live now, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be good. Liam didn’t tell them for a reason. And Braeden... well, he definitely told them for a reason. If I disliked brother dearest before, I really hated him now.
But that’s family for you. You can’t live with ‘em and you can’t...
Fuck, I could totally live without ‘em.
My name’s Victoria Cage. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but what I do know is that my best friend is safe. I know my powers are coming back stronger than ever. I know that I’m in love with a bear-man. And I also know that I’ve got a crazy mad crush on a fairy. But you know what they say? Life—it’s best taken one cup of coffee, and one crisis, at a time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eli Constant also writes as: Eli Grace & Eliza Grace.
Author of speculative, mind-bending fiction. The Dead Trees Series, The Shadow Forest Series, and more. Co-author of The Z Children Series. Adores all things quirky, eats ice cream with a fork, and likes warm Dr. Pepper (on a cool day). Once thought she'd marry Martin Short... until she discovered Alan Rickman. #Always (Might also have Dustin Hoffman on her 'I get a pass' list)
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THE VICTORIA CAGE NECROMANCER SERIES