Reapers, Inc. - Brigit's Cross

by B. L. Newport

  Brigit had watched her every night since the accident. She had stood over her lover watching her sleep, noting when she dreamed, noting when she grieved. In her sleep, Maggie had cried and then, at other times, she had smiled. Brigit felt herself mirroring her lover’s emotions, wishing she could reach out and wipe away the tears or caress the smile that had spread across her lips. She refrained, however, knowing that if she reached out, she would not feel anything but Maggie’s warm energy under her fingertips. That thought was some consolation; but it was not the same as being able to touch Maggie and really feel her.

  “Where are Brigit’s papers?”

  It was Liana’s voice that snapped Brigit from her thoughts. She had wondered how long it would be before her mother would begin snooping through her life with Maggie. A sly smile came to Brigit’s face as she watched Maggie square her shoulders and look Liana Evans in the eye.

  “They’re in the office. Why?” Maggie asked. Mama Dee had come from the kitchen and was standing at the entrance to the hall in silent witness to the exchange going on. Her presence blocked the path to the office where Maggie and Brigit hid the business side of their life together.

  “I want to see them. Surely, my daughter meant for her family to handle her affairs in the event of her death. Now that-that has happened, her family will do so,” Liana stated matter-of-factly.

  Maggie and Mama Dee exchanged a brief glance. Carefully, Maggie set her wine glass on the small table next to her and returned her gaze to the woman attempting to trump her with the ties of blood. Brigit watched intently as her partner took a deep breath. Maggie had been drinking all afternoon and Brigit knew better than anyone that Maggie was a force to be reckoned with when her temper was ignited while intoxicated. Liana Evans was in for the storm of her life if she didn’t listen carefully and heed the warning that Maggie would give her before firing all canons.

  “Brigit did mean for her family to handle her affairs,” Maggie began. Her voice was calm and level. Brigit knew her temper was standing ready at the door to be loosed on the woman that had abandoned her daughter for being a lesbian. “Her family has done just as she wished with the exception of being buried. As for her papers,” Maggie paused. Brigit and Maggie had set everything legally in order when they had bought the apartment together. Right of Survivorship was a wonderful thing at this moment. “They have nothing to do with you.”

  “That’s impossible. I don’t believe you. I’m her mother,” Liana spat vehemently.

  “Who disowned her when she decided to follow her heart,” Maggie pointed out. The intonation of her voice had risen. Brigit saw the fire spark in her partner’s dark brown eyes.

  “Brigit made her family of all the people you saw here today. You did her a favor by shunning her. She was free to choose wonderful, loving people to call her family. You shut the door on the blood lines, Liana. Brigit made sure that the people who truly loved her would be taken care of. So if there’s anything you’re looking to take away from me, you can go to hell because Brigit made sure she would always take care of me. The house is mine, the accounts are mine, her memory is mine,” Maggie explained. “I think you need to leave now.”

  Brigit watched her mother square her shoulders in offense that she would be asked to leave anywhere. Brigit could tell that Liana was considering pushing the issue further. The idea would do no good and Brigit saw that fact register on her mother’s face as she stared into the dark eyes of Maggie Devon. Mama Dee made a slight movement towards Maggie, as if to reinforce the fact that it was time for Liana Evans to leave. Finally, Liana picked up her purse and started for the door.

  “My lawyer will be calling you,” she warned as she opened the door. Maggie made no reply as the door was slammed shut. Instead, she picked up her wine glass and drained the contents in one quick swallow.

  “Hard to believe that Brigit came from that,” Mama Dee sighed as she reached out and took Maggie’s empty wine glass and disappeared back to the kitchen.

  Brigit watched as Maggie walked over to the sofa and sank down on it. It had been a rough day for her even though she had kept a brave face and, on occasion, forced a smile to show everyone that she was doing all right. Brigit had left her side only once to confront John Blackwick at the cemetery. Even though she was dead, she was not about to let Maggie go through all this by herself.

  Maggie ran a tired hand through her hair and sighed heavily. Her anger was keeping her from breaking down again. Brigit watched as her partner’s eyes roved around the room. Everything that had been theirs as a couple was now solely Maggie’s. She had told the truth to Liana. Brigit had made sure that Maggie would always be taken care of. It was a decision she had been made the day they had first met, when their souls had recognized one another and realized they were immediately whole.

  It had been a warm day despite the fact that fall had already made its announcement of arrival. Brigit had accepted an invitation from her friend, Parker James, to hit the beach for the last party of the season. Usually, Brigit avoided the beach parties. She preferred to spend her weekends hiking or cycling through the mountains surrounding the small college she had spent the last four years at. They were more accessible to her than the beach, which was a two hour train ride away.

  Parker had been adamant, however. They were best friends and Brigit had used up all the declining passes to a beach party. Soon, Parker had pointed out, they would be going their separate ways and though their friendship would always remain, time spent together would become a rarity. Hoping to avoid any more of the guilt trip, Brigit gave in and packed her beach towel and flip-flops for a day by the ocean.

  Maggie Devon had been a regular at the beach parties. She had seen her share of bonfires and hook-ups between the campus lesbians that were exploring their sexualities now that they were free from the confines of their upbringings and the watchful eyes of strict parents. She had managed to refrain from becoming involved. None of the group moved her to the idea that they might be ‘the one’. Instead, she had become the group counselor, the group mediator when a fight broke out and the occasional matchmaker. She had never thought she would find her soul mate on the beach.

  Yet, there they were. Brigit had followed Parker across the sand, wondering if it had been such a good idea to come after all. Parker was filling her brain with all the drama that had been going on lately, warning her who to avoid and giving her tips on who it was okay to talk to with no strings attached. Brigit was getting lost in all the names.

  Then, she saw her.

  She was walking toward them with a slight bounce to her step. The ocean breeze was blowing the ends of her sarong away from her tanned legs. Her close cropped sandy brown hair gave her face a pixie’s appearance as she smiled at the two women who here approaching her. Brigit was stunned into silence as she something deep inside her began wanting to rush to the beautiful woman.

  “Hey you guys!” Maggie had called to them with a wave of her arm. “They’re setting up around the cliff. There’s supposed to be bigger winds when the sun goes down,” she said. Her smile seemed to freeze as she stopped walking and looked into Brigit’s dark brown eyes.

  “Maggie Devon, this is my friend Brigit Malone,” Parker introduced when the silence became too much. “Bree, this is Maggie.”

  “Hello,” Brigit managed to say, hoping there was some confidence in her voice as she extended her hand. Maggie gently slipped her own hand into Brigit’s and they both acknowledged the energy that began to run between their palms by locking gazes again.

  “Where are you headed?” Parker asked, hoping to break the mushiness of the moment she was witnessing. Maggie glanced briefly at Parker before returning her gaze to the dark woman who was still holding her hand softly. She suddenly wondered how she and Brigit had managed to never cross paths before this moment in time.

  “Oh, I, uh, I left a few things in the car. I was just headed back to get them,” Maggie answered.

  “Do you need a hand?” Brigit asked, sudde
nly not wanting to leave the smaller woman’s side ever.

  “Uh, I, no, I think I can manage it. It won’t take long,” Maggie promised. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Okay, then,” Parker said quickly. She was getting bored with the moment. “Bree, give Maggie her hand back,” she instructed, punching her best friend in the shoulder. Brigit looked at her in surprise before realizing what she had been told to do. Reluctantly, she released Maggie’s hand.

  “I’ll be back in a minute,” Maggie promised. She hadn’t wanted the dark woman to let her hand go; but she was on an errand and she was suddenly sure it was somewhat awkward for Parker to be in the middle of a meeting of souls.

  “We’ll see you then,” Parker interjected before Brigit could say anything. She pulled on Brigit’s arm, but Brigit remained where she stood. Instead, Brigit turned to watch Maggie Devon continue on her way, a devilish smile coming to her face.

  “What’s so funny?” Parker asked when she finally noticed Brigit’s smile.

  “That’s the woman I’m going to grow old with,” Brigit announced.

  Parker looked down the beach at the retreating form of Maggie Devon. She had hung out with Maggie on many occasions and she had seen nothing special about her; but then, Parker had a certain taste in women and Maggie Devon had never fit that criteria.

  “What ever you say, pal,” Parker said. She clapped Brigit on the shoulder and pulled her toward the party that was waiting to begin on the other side of the cliff.

  They had never been apart since that day. Maggie had returned as quickly as she had promised and found her place beside Brigit. Before the night was done, they had kissed and known for sure where their hearts belonged. Before the week was out, their passions had been ignited and their love unleashed. Before the month was over, they were living together happily knowing they would outlast any of the relationships that had been formed that year. They had been right in their thinking for ten years minus one day.

  Brigit had made a promise to always take care of Maggie. She had kept that promise.

  As she sat watching Maggie, Brigit’s thoughts turned to her brief conversation with John Blackwick. What had he said? He had a job offer. What kind of job could a ghost do? And, what was an opportunity to remain? Brigit couldn’t imagine leaving Maggie’s side. She was a ghost now. She could stay with Maggie every minute of every day if she wanted to – and she did. What other option could there be?

  “Everything is all cleaned up.”

  Maggie and Brigit looked to the hall and saw Mama Dee emerging. There was a weary look on her aged face. Brigit thought she had never seen the woman suddenly looking her age of sixty-three. Mama Dee had been with Maggie almost every minute for the last week. Her grief over the loss had etched itself into her black eyes and the dark circles underneath looked purple on her black skin. She had lost one of her babies, one of the children she was proud to claim.

  “Thank you, Mama,” Maggie sighed.

  “You want me to stay with you tonight?” Mama Dee offered.

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll be okay,” Maggie replied as she stood. She wrapped her arms around the little old woman that had been her rock during the last week. “I think we both need to get some rest.”

  “Okay then,” Mama Dee said as she patted the younger woman’s back. “You holler if you need anything.”

  “I will,” Maggie promised. She opened the door for her friend and watched as the woman shuffled out.

  “I’m proud of you, Maggie,” Mama Dee said suddenly when she was out in the hall.

  “Why?” Maggie asked, confused by the comment.

  “You were Brigit’s family. That woman had no business even showing up today; but you showed her kindness and patience. I just hope she recognizes that somewhere down the road. I’m proud of you for keeping your claim on Brigit.”

  “Thank you, Mama,” Maggie said quietly. She watched Mama Dee continue her shuffle across the hall to her own apartment and open the door. The little old woman didn’t look back as she entered and closed the door behind her.

  Maggie returned to the sofa and sighed again. The apartment was still filled with Brigit’s energy. Everything in it contained some piece of her essence and Maggie found it to be a double-edged sword. She was alone with it. Part of it comforted her and the other part broke her heart even more. She hoped that eventually, she would come to terms with both sides of it and be able to breathe again.

  Brigit watched as Maggie turned and lifted her feet up onto the sofa. She had been sleeping there all week. It was a defense against the memories that flooded their bedroom during the darkness of night. Brigit didn’t blame her. She didn’t think she could return there so soon either. She had refrained from entering that room herself since the accident. She knew there were just as many memories there for her as there were for Maggie. She would wait for Maggie to go there and they would face those memories together, just as they had faced everything in their life together.

  Her thoughts turned once more to John Blackwick. He said he wanted to have a conversation. She was still wondering what he had meant by an opportunity to remain. He had instructed her to meet him at the Bleecker Street Café tomorrow. As far as she knew, there wasn’t such a place; but he had given her a card. Upon remembering it, Brigit quickly pulled it from the pocket of her coat. She turned it over to read:

  REAPERS, INC.

  EST. 34 A.D.

  666 ½ BLEECKER STREET

  It was a simple card. Black ink written on white stock paper. Brigit held it between her finger tips as she looked over at Maggie. Her eyes were closed and the depth of her breath indicated that she was close to sleep.

  Brigit’s eyes snapped back to the card she held and she thought of what John had said about choices. She had received no choice in when her life had ended, yet, she had made the choice to remain by Maggie’s side even though she was a ghost. He had mentioned having a choice in carrying out his assignment in regard to her. Brigit began to wonder what exactly that meant. Reapers, Inc., her eyes read again. She was beginning to have the sense that she might not really have a choice in staying with Maggie if she didn’t hear him out.

  Her curiosity was sparked. She slowly placed the card back into her coat pocket and let her gaze rest on Maggie. She decided she would meet him tomorrow and hear what he had to offer. She would see what her options were in the after life. Whatever they were, she would take the one that would allow her to stay with Maggie. She would do whatever it took to watch over her lover. She had made that promise to Maggie and she would do whatever it took to keep it.

  5: The Bleecker Street Café

  It was a macabre feeling standing outside the café. At least, Brigit imagined it could be described as ‘macabre’. She could see the people patronizing the establishment and she wondered briefly whether they could see her as well. The feeling unnerved her because just two weeks ago, she knew this address to have been nothing more than an empty lot littered with garbage and the homeless. She was on the other side of life now and she knew that the building she stood before now was as much of a ghost as she was.

  The café was relatively quiet when she entered. Brigit noted the old man sitting by the window to her right. There was a longing look in his old eyes as he gazed through the glass at the movement of life on the sidewalk outside. His fingers rested lightly on the ear of the teacup before him. The sense of deep sadness that emanated from his direction reached out to Brigit with invisible arms looking to embrace her. She took a step back and let her eyes continue to roam the room until they rested on the profile of the man she had come to talk to.

  John Blackwick was sitting at the counter, studying the pages of a thin black book. There was a solemn expression on his face as he read. Brigit eyed him steadily as she slowed her approach of him. To her, he looked like a man resigned to his fate – as if it didn’t matter one way or the other to him what would happen in the next minute of his existence.

  “So, you’ve decide
d to come,” John said without looking up from his book. “Please, have a seat,” he offered.

  “How did you know it was me?” Brigit asked as she unbuttoned her coat and slid onto the stool beside him.

  “You have a certain energy, Brigit. You also smell faintly of French Lavender,” John pointed out as he softly closed the black book and forced a faint smile to his face. Brigit met his gaze and noted that his eyes were not smiling. In fact, there was no expression at all in them and it bothered her. It suddenly occurred to her that during each of their stare downs over the last week and a half, there had never been an expression of any kind in his ice blue eyes.

  “Maggie loves the smell of French lavender,” Brigit said quietly, forcing her self to ignore the thought that John Blackwick’s gaze could probably pierce a stone wall if he stared at it long enough. “You said you have a proposition for me,” she reminded. She wanted to get to the point behind his stalking of her. “I’m listening.”

  “Excellent! Would you like some coffee while we talk?” John offered. As if it were his cue, a waiter appeared from the kitchen and smiled as if he were seeing long lost friends sitting at the bar. Confused, Brigit looked back and forth from the waiter to John.

  “Are you kidding?” The confusion was mounting by the second at the idea of being a ghost and drinking a warm cup of coffee. It had been almost two weeks. She hadn’t realized that her only addiction was suddenly no longer a part of her daily existence until the second the word had escaped from John’s mouth. In response to the suggestion, a sudden craving for a cup of her favorite drink awoke within her.

  “Not in the least,” John replied. “How do you take it?”

  “How do I take what?”

  “Your coffee—how do you like it?” John asked.

  “Two sugars and some cream,” Brigit managed to reply. “Is this going to take long?” As the question came out, the waiter turned away and began to prepare a cup for her.