“Stop bouncing.” Shay places a hand on my knee. “She’s going to love you.”
“I hope so,” I say. “What if she doesn’t, though?”
“She will. I’ve never brought a girl home to meet her, so she knows you’re already special in my heart.”
I fidget with my hair until Shay entwines his fingers through mine. It instantly calms me.
The creak of the back gate opens and in walks a petite woman with light brown hair. Her eyes sparkle, and her smile is infectious.
We stand when she approaches.
“Hi, Mom,” Shay says and gives her a squeeze. “Did you find the house okay?”
“Yes, I did. Thank you, Shay, for asking.” She addresses me. “You must be Zoe. Shay has told me a lot about you.”
“Hello, Mrs. Curator.” I extend my hand, but instead of shaking it, she pulls me into an embrace.
“No daughter-in-law of mine is going to call me Mrs. Curator. Please, call me Lindy.” She steps back. “Now, let me look at you to see why my son can’t stop talking about you.”
Her blue eyes glow with Light as she scans me from head to toe. Something passes behind her eyes, and she frowns for a split second. She places her hand on my cheek.
That’s unusual.
Her palm also lights up, and my face warms a bit.
She nods, as if finding resolution for something.
“I’m glad Shay has found his soul mate in such a sweet girl.” Lindy hugs me again. “I know everything that you’ve gone through to get where you are now. Shay told me of the battle you fought and the friends you lost. I’m sorry.”
“I’m working through it.”
“Mom?” Shay asks. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is right. Or ... it will be.” She frowns again. “Would it be okay if I give the happy couple your engagement and wedding gift now?”
“Mom, you don’t need to get us anything.”
“That’s right,” I say. “Knowing that you’ll be there on our special day is enough.”
“That’s the thing, though, kids. I won’t be here for your wedding day.”
“What? Why?” Shay exclaims.
“Son, I think you know why. Please let me do this for you.”
“Shay?” I turn to him. “What is she talking about?”
“Are you sure, Mom?”
Tears swell in her eyes as she nods.
I still don’t understand. What does she want to give us that makes her cry? I look at Shay with pleading eyes. I recall that first night Shay took me flying. He told me how his mom had met Shay’s dad. Shay told me his father picked her because he knew she would be able to make a sacrifice one day.
That day has arrived.
“You don’t have to do this,” I plead. “We can find another way.”
“Hush now, kids. It’s my choice. I’ve lived a long life, and the only thing any parent wants to see is their child happy. Now, I can go knowing that Shay has found his partner in you.” Lindy holds up her hands even before either of us can speak. “I’ve taken the liberty of praying to your father. He should be on his way. So while we wait for him to arrive, I’d love to get to know you more. Tell me about your hopes and dreams.”
“Um, wow, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?” I ask.
“I always have done the direct approach.”
“Well, I’ll be a senior next year and after I graduate, I’m planning to attend the University of Minnesota. It’s where my parents also attended.”
“And so did I,” Shay reminds me.
“Yes, you, too,” I agree.
“What do you plan to study?” Lindy asks.
“I want to be a veterinarian. I love animals. Always have ever since I could remember. And the Spiritus Pack isn’t too far away; maybe I could be their Pack vet.”
“That’s a great idea. I know everything will work out.”
“It will be how it’s supposed to be.” An intense light flashes and Gabriel appears in his angelic form. “Good evening.”
“Dad?” Shay asks. Tears form in his eyes. He hasn’t seen in dad in months and never got to say goodbye. “How can you be here now?”
“Hello, Son.” He drapes an arm around his shoulders. It doesn’t really touch since he’s ghost-like. “Hi, Love.” He kisses Lindy on her cheek. “Are you sure?” he asks her.
“Yes.” She looks at me, nodding. “Positive.”
“Mom—”
“Shay, please don’t talk me out of it. My mind is set. I’ll be with your father soon. He’s come to shepherd my soul.”
My eyes burn as I feel the tears coming. I must be strong, though.
“Maybe I can come visit you?” Shay asks.
“Can I bring him?” I ask Gabriel.
“I don’t know if you can. It’s worth trying. But you should say your goodbyes now in case.”
“Shay, I’ll let you have some time alone with your family.” I take a few steps toward the house.
“No.” Shay latches onto my hands. “You are my family, too. I need you here with me.”
“Okay.” I smile. “I’ll stay.” I squeeze his hands. We turn back to his parents.
“I love you, Mom,” Shay says. “Thank you for—”
“I know, Shay, I love you, too. Be safe, be smart, and I wish you both a long and happy life.”
He lets go of me to hold his mom.
I remain silent.
Eventually, Shay steps back. His aqua eyes water like a storm. I wish I could take his pain away.
“I love you, too, Dad.” Shay hugs the only father he’s known. He steps back.
“Son, before I go, I think I should tell you something, too. You know that I’ll always love you. You are the son I never had. I watched you grow into a wonderful young man. I’d like to think you thought of me as your father.”
“I did and still do.”
“I met your mom after she was pregnant. I am not your biological dad. Another angel is.”
He knows. Has he always known?
“Who is it?” Shay asks.
“The thing about angels is that we pass on some of our angelic Light to others, offspring if you will.” Shay nods. “Yours came from Aiden. It’s why you share the aqua eyes. I should have told you sooner. For that, I’m sorry and you someday can forgive me.”
“I’m ... I think somehow I’ve always known that he and I were similar. While he may be the one who gave me my Light, you, Gabe, will always remain as my dad. There is nothing to forgive. You can leave here knowing that your son loves you.”
Shay and Gabriel embrace as well as a ghost form can. I see sparks of Light flutter about all around them. They step away from each other and stare, then to Lindy.
I know that Shay will need to work through what Gabriel has told him. And I’ll be there every step of the way. I can tell Shay about the good I saw in Aiden, especially the sacrifice he made for all of us.
Aiden and I will meet again. That I’m sure of.
“I’m ready.” Lindy nods to Gabriel.
“Press your hand to Shay’s chest,” he says. “Call for your Light, all of it. Think about it. Let it surround you. Pour it from your soul into Shay’s. Let it flow.” The backyard lights up with swirling indigo, cobalt, and cyan. Gabriel nods his approval. “Yes, that’s it.”
Sapphire blue Light once again illuminates beneath Lindy’s skin and seeps outward as if it’s an outer shell. It darkens as she continues to pull it from within her body. It becomes faint and changes to white. The Light creates a funnel as it makes its way into Shay’s chest.
His silver Light brightens with Lindy’s.
Gabriel is at the ready. He gently lays her body to the ground as her spirit is stripped. Her hand loses contact from Shay. He stumbles back. I’m ready to catch him if he falls but he doesn’t.
Shay kneels on the cement next to his mother. His head is bowed. “Be at peace, Mom.”
A tiny piece of Lindy’s blue Light remains outs
ide her body. It lengthens to match the same height as Lindy. Her form materializes like a ghost. She smiles that infectious smile at us. Her gaze is intense, and I feel it in my soul.
I look at Shay and Gabriel. They both are staring at Lindy’s floating soul.
As if the wind knows it’s supposed to carry her to another place, Lindy’s spirit fades. She’s shaking her head, not wanting to leave quite yet.
Gabriel’s extends his wings. He takes Lindy’s hand and carries them both to the skies.
Shay and I are left with Lindy’s human body on the ground but not for long. It, too, disappears.
I wasn’t surprised that I loved Lindy instantly; she is one of those people who radiate kindness. I know why Gabriel chose her and her love for Shay shows.
Which is why when she found out who I was and what I had done to save the world, she knew it was her time; her time to guide and watch over Shay was completed. She gave up her life, the part which made her have a longer than normal life, to Shay. She made the ultimate sacrifice for her son.
Now, Shay would be by my side for all eternity.
The End
Dear Reader,
KIERAN’S JOB OF BEING a guardian angel is straightforward: observe and learn—and don’t intervene in their lives. But then he watches as his first charge dies at the hands of evil while he does nothing to help.
Overcome with grief and doubt, Kieran flees back to the safety of heaven. With guidance from his mentor, he learns all he can about the Battle of the Fallen and the creation of evil itself. With renewed determination, he vows he will save the Ordinaries in his care.
The rules of being a guardian angel have not changed, but Kieran has. Returning to earth, only Kieran knows how essential it is to find and protect one 17-year-old girl. The girl who can thwart the Devil’s escape from his prison and the start of Armageddon.
Continue the journey!!
ARROWS & ANGELS: An Enlighten Series Novella.
Acknowledgments
I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE to thank.
First, to all the fans of the Enlighten Series. Thank you for sticking with me to the very end. Your many emails telling me about which character you love the most, when is the next book coming, to you inspire myself to write a book. I took all of those to heart, and ask that you keep sending them my way. I know it’s been a long time between Swords & Stilettos to Daggers & Dresses, but you all hung in there and coaxed me to finally write this last book. So thank you for the continued encouragement.
To my wonderful editor Rebecca Jaycox. Yes, I know I like to use the words: smirk, grin, just, and what was that last one? Oh yes, slowly. Thank you for developing my characters and taking them to a deep more meaningful level. Without you, I don’t think I’d have cried at the ending of the series.
To Angela for another fantastic cover. We didn’t have to do many rounds of edits, as I think you just ‘got it’ for what I was going for on the look and feel. You rock!!
To my beta readers: Genevieve, Jena, and Tiea. You’ve been with me since the very beginning and have read how my writing has grown over the years.
To the Six Queens: Rhonda, Sarah, and Hilary. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the great collaborative marketing effort. I know that we’ll smash it out of the park!
To the Indie Writing Community. Thank you for the words of wisdom, thoughts, suggestions, and everything in between.
To all my family and friends who have stood by me. For letting me indulge in sharing my stories with the world. It’s time away from you and the sacrifices made that allows me to do this.
And lastly, as the Enlighten Series draws to a close, I wouldn’t be where I am today, without my loving husband. I love you, Babe.
USA TODAY bestseller, Amazon bestselling, and award-winning young adult author, Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small town along the Mississippi River. Currently, she lives in Minnesota with her husband and a Calico cat, named Daizy. Kristin also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.
In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women’s Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!
Kristin’s books are published by Kasian Publishing LLC.
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Wars & Wings (Enlighten Series Book 3) Page 26