Текст книги "Silencing Eve"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 22 (всего у книги 23 страниц)

Epilogue

Lake Cottage

Atlanta, Georgia

Four Days Later

“DÉJÀ VU,” CATHERINE SAID to Kendra as she gazed down from the porch at the guests milling on the grounds below her. “It reminds me of the day that I was here for that phony memorial service for Eve.” No, not really, she thought. There were no public figures or media at Trevor’s funeral. Only the people who had been on the hunt for Eve and a dozen or so friends of Trevor’s who had flown in from Europe. They were all moving from group to group, talking soberly. Except for Seth Caleb, who was standing apart and alone, drinking a glass of wine. Her gaze rested on him for an instant before moving on. That fascinating face always made her pause, and particularly today, when she could sense the tension behind it. “I was so angry and bewildered when I showed up here that day…”

“And relieved when you found out she was still alive,” Kendra said. “God, it’s good to have her back. I only wish to hell that this was a celebration and not a genuine funeral.” Her gaze was focused on Eve and Jane, who were standing together down by the lake. “Jane is managing to hold it together, but I don’t know for how long.”

“As long as she has to do it.” Catherine had watched Jane all through Trevor’s funeral and burial this morning, and her heart had ached for her. She had been pale, tragic, but there had also been strength and endurance. “And she has Eve. You can almost see Eve…” She tried to find the words to describe the bond between the two women. “She’s kind of spreading invisible wings to enfold her Jane.” She suddenly stiffened. “There’s Venable. I wasn’t sure he’d be here. He was pretty pissed off at Jane for not letting him know about Harriet sooner.” She headed for the steps. “I’m going to intercept him and make sure that he doesn’t say anything to her.”

“He wouldn’t be that insensitive, would he?” Kendra asked.

“I don’t think so, but I’m not taking any chances.” Catherine glanced back over her shoulder. “And he should thank you for figuring out where those nukes were located. Who knows how long it would have taken him to find out where Kevin placed those devices? It could have been a threat for years.”

“Stop it,” she said testily. “I don’t want thanks. I had my fill of it with Eve when I got here. She’s free and back home, and that’s all that matters.” Her gaze returned to Eve and Jane. “And we can only hope that the healing begins soon.”

Catherine silently seconded that wish as she ran down the steps. Healing for Eve, who had been tortured mentally and physically. Healing for Jane, who had lost even more than Eve.

Venable was gazing at her with a sardonic smile as she came toward him. “Catherine to the rescue?”

“It depends on how much of an asshole you turn out to be,” she said soberly. “You’re not getting near Jane if you’re here to give her even one word of condemnation. She’s had enough.”

“I agree,” he said. “Though she was wrong, and I was right.” He added, “And, by complicity, you were also wrong, Catherine.”

She lifted her chin. “Then fire me, Venable. You could make a good case.”

“I thought about it.” He shrugged. “But I’d be cutting off my nose to spite my face. You’re the best of the best. I’ll need you next week when I send you to Guatemala City.”

“I’m not going anywhere next week but home to my son. Find someone else.”

“I could hold your disloyalty over your head and—” He broke off, then said wearily, “But I won’t do it. I’m tired of being the bad guy. Someone’s got to do it, but not me. Not right now. I’ve got to go over there and try to explain to Eve why I was willing to risk her life. I like Eve and Joe and Jane, and I let them all stay under the gun. They may never forgive me because I can’t even say I’m sorry.”

“Maybe,” Catherine said. “You’ll just have to try. You might begin by expressing your condolences to Jane for losing the man she loved. It might establish a rapport that could carry you through.”

“I was going to do that,” Venable said. “I’m not that much of a bastard.”

“No, you’re a good guy when you’re not trying to save democracy.” But she was suddenly bone weary of dealing with Venable and his agendas. “But I don’t care about jumping back on your bandwagon right now. Go do your duty and clear the way for me to say my good-byes. By midnight, I’m going to be on a jet to Hong Kong, and tomorrow I’ll be with Luke and Hu Chang.”

“Really?” His brows rose as his gaze wandered through the crowd to a table where Gallo stood talking to Margaret. “And what about him?”

Catherine’s gaze followed his, and she felt the familiar jolt of pure sexuality as he lifted his eyes and saw her. He smiled faintly and inclined his head.

Heat.

Electricity.

Both of which interfered with what she had to do. He was a complication. She needed her son and her best friend in the world and not to be swept away by Gallo. She turned away. “I’m leaving for Hong Kong,” she repeated.

“He’ll follow you,” Venable said softly.

“I can’t stop him. He’ll have to do what he has to do. He won’t have an invitation.”

“You could avoid him by going to Guatemala City.”

She ruefully shook her head. Venable was as obstinate as a mule. “No way.” She started to make her way through the crowd toward Joe, to say her good-byes to him. “Find someone else, Venable.”

*   *   *

“YOU’RE EXHAUSTED, JANE,” Eve said in a low voice. “Go on up to the cottage and go to bed. There are only a few people left, and they’ll understand.”

Jane shook her head. “I’ll wait. I don’t want to leave it up to you. Trevor was my—” For an instant she lost track of what she had been about to say. He was my heart. My life. My love. “All of this is my responsibility. It was kind of you to offer this service, but you shouldn’t have to—”

“Oh, be quiet, Jane,” Eve said. “This has nothing to do with kindness. This has to do with family, and if you weren’t in shock, you’d realize that. Joe and I only want to get you through this. That’s all that’s important.”

“No, what’s important is that I have you and Joe beside me,” she said unsteadily. “You’ve kept me from falling apart during these last few days. I know I’ve been behaving like a sleepwalker. It’s not fair to you.”

“You’d have gotten through it on your own. You’re tough.” Eve touched her arm affectionately. “It was our privilege to be with you. But now it’s my privilege to send you to bed. Scoot.” She gave Jane a quick kiss on the cheek. “If you won’t go to bed until everyone has gone, I’ll see that they take the hint.” As she started to turn away, she stopped and glanced at Seth Caleb, who was standing alone a few yards away. He had a glass of wine in his hand and he lifted it to Eve as he met her gaze. “But I’m not sure that Caleb will take the hint. I may have to send Joe to reinforce it. He’s been hovering over you like an eagle who’s spied prey.”

The last thing Jane wanted was a confrontation between Joe and Caleb. “Leave Joe out of it. It will be okay. Caleb has been very civilized ever since he got here today.” She tried to smile. “Even subdued. That’s a first for him.”

“You’d know better than I,” Eve said. “He didn’t look subdued to me. He looked like a hurricane waiting to happen. I won’t have him upset you.”

“He can’t upset me.” Not today. Everything that could be done to her had been done. “Stop worrying, Eve. He might just be waiting to offer his condolences.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Eve said doubtfully. “Just motion to me if he gives you grief.” She moved toward the remaining pockets of guests. “I’ll be there for you.”

Eve was always there for her, Jane thought lovingly as she watched her. Ready to do battle. Ready to offer a shoulder to comfort.

“I’m surprised she left you alone.” Caleb was at her elbow. “She’s been guarding you all day.” He lifted his wine to his lips. “We’ve all been in protective mode toward Eve, and now she’s returning the favor.”

“Hello, Caleb. Eve knows you’re volatile, and she didn’t want me to have to deal with you today. She wasn’t sure if I could handle it.”

“Can you?”

“I can handle it. I can handle you.” She added wearily, “But I don’t want to do it today.”

“I know,” he said curtly. “You’re so fragile, a wind could blow you away. You’re bleeding inside. I can see it. Feel it.”

“Am I? I guess you’re probably right. At least, figuratively. You know a lot about blood.”

“Not enough to save your lover.”

She stiffened. “No, you couldn’t do that. Though you did try.”

“You bet I did.” His dark eyes were glittering in his taut face. “I tried everything I knew. I didn’t want Trevor to die. I knew it would be like this. Now he’s a damn martyr. How can I fight a martyr?”

“Do you mind if we don’t talk about this right now?” she said unevenly. “I think perhaps it’s time you left, Caleb.”

“Yes, it is. But I can’t go until I’ve said what I have to say. It’s been seething inside me, and it has to come out.” His grasp tightened on the delicate stem of his glass. “And all these fine people who love you and sympathize with your loss would tell me not to put you through this. But everyone knows what a selfish bastard I am.”

“You weren’t selfish when you tried to save me from being shot. You covered me with your body.”

“Unusual circumstances. I didn’t think, I just acted.” He took a step closer to her, and said through his teeth, “I was angry. She was going to kill you. She’d already shot Trevor.”

“You still did it.”

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’m all that’s good and noble like Trevor. I’m not like him. I won’t be like him.”

“No, there’s no one who could be like Trevor.” She smiled faintly. “And he wouldn’t like you calling him noble. I remember that when you did it before, he laughed at you.”

“He laughed because we were so different. He had a code of honor, and I am what I am. We weren’t even on the same page.” His lips tightened. “And yet he said I could be anything I wanted to be.”

“I remember that.”

“But I won’t be what he wants me to be.” His voice was suddenly harsh. “I liked that son of a bitch. I didn’t want to like him, but I did anyway. Even at the end, I was mad as hell because I couldn’t save him.” His dark gaze was burning into her own. “And then he looked at me, and I knew what he was thinking, what he wanted of me. It was all about you.”

She shook her head in bewilderment. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“He had an obsession about taking care of you, of making sure you were safe and well. He was crazy about you, so that shouldn’t be surprising. But even as he was dying, he was worrying about you.”

“I know.” She tried to keep her voice from breaking. “That was Trevor.”

“But he found a solution, didn’t he? He looked at me, and I could see what he was thinking. What he was asking. You didn’t even realize that, did you?”

“I still don’t.”

“He wants me to take care of you, to keep you from being unhappy, to guard you.” His voice was harsh with exasperation and anger. “He wants me to be him, dammit.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? Even Trevor couldn’t believe that I’d be able to change dark to light. But he wanted to tie my hands. And he was willing to let me stand in and take care of what he regarded as necessary.”

She shook her head. “You have to be mistaken.”

“Am I? Think about it.”

“And, if you’re not mistaken, then you’re still not someone who would let your life be influenced by Trevor’s irrational wish. He was dying, Caleb.”

“A dying man’s last wish,” Caleb said. “You’re right, a callous bastard like me shouldn’t pay any attention to it. Because if I did, it would interfere with everything I intend to do to you and with you. I can overcome this setback. Given time, memories will fade, and I’ll be ready.”

She shook her head.

He smiled. “You don’t think so now, but it will happen.”

His voice was soft and silky, the passionate intensity nearly tangible. She could suddenly feel the force, the power, the fire of him. She instinctively took a step back. “My memories of Trevor won’t fade.”

“Then you won’t be doing what Trevor wanted you to do. He didn’t want you to look back. Remember what he said when he knew he was dying.”

You have to think of it as forever.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t let him go.” She moistened her lips. “I’m going to go to bed now. Please leave, Caleb.”

He nodded jerkily. “That’s all I have to say. You won’t see me for a while. I’m sure you’ll be relieved.”

She nodded. “You disturb me. I don’t need that right now.”

“It’s the nature of the beast.” He paused. “Aren’t you curious why I’m so angry about what Trevor did?”

“He did nothing. He expressed a wish.”

“He did more than that. He managed to delve deep and brought up feelings that I’ve kept buried and forgotten. I found myself wanting to do what he wanted me to do. Why do you think I’ve been staying in the background for the last few days? I was taking care of you, dammit. Do you think I don’t know I disturb you? I was being sensitive.”

“I’m sure it was only temporary. But you managed to forget all about sensitivity tonight.”

“Because I was going away, and I had to let you know why. I wasn’t about to fade into the sunset.”

Darkness outlined in flames.

“I don’t think that’s possible for you.”

“And my going away is because I want to give you a chance to heal. That damn sensitivity again. I want to move forward, not retreat.”

“Then I’m glad you had second thoughts. There’s nothing for you here.”

He ignored her response. “And I don’t think that instinct to take care of you was temporary. I’ve noticed the effect is still lingering. God knows, I hope it’s temporary. The last thing I want is to be chained like that. I watched you suffering today, and it nearly killed me. But it was my pain and had nothing to do with Trevor or what he wanted from me. That’s how it has to be. Oh, I’ll let Trevor tie my hands for a while. I’ll do what he wanted.” He finished his wine with one swallow. “But I’ll get over it.” He put his glass on the table beside him, and she could sense the frustration and anger back in full force. “I’ll fight it until I break free.” He smiled recklessly. “Just thought I’d give you warning.”

He turned and walked away from her.

She felt limp with emotion as she watched him. She’d thought she was numb, but he’d managed to make her come alive. He’d aroused her to bewilderment and ruthlessly inserted his presence in her mind.

And he’d brought back that agonizing memory of Trevor’s dying and her not being able to help him. It was never far from her, but she’d forgotten some of the nuances that concerned Caleb. Caleb trying to save him. Caleb angry and rejecting being used by Trevor.

Trevor gentle and loving and trying to protect her even after he was gone.

She felt the sting of tears. Why Caleb, Trevor? You might as well have set a hungry tiger to guard a flock of sheep. I don’t need him. I don’t need anyone but you.

She was losing control. She had to get away from there to the safety of the cottage before she broke down. She moved quickly toward the porch steps.

“Jane.”

She stopped at the steps as Margaret appeared beside her. She hadn’t seen her for more than a few moments today, but she’d been aware of her always there, helping Eve, talking to Joe. “Hi, Margaret.” She swallowed. “Thank you for being here. I meant to—”

“Stop being polite,” Margaret said bluntly. “Are you okay? I saw Caleb with you. I was watching him today, and all the lightning was flashing around him.”

“That’s a strange term. The lightning didn’t strike me. He wasn’t gentle, and he jarred me. But I survived it.” She smiled shakily. “But now I need some alone time. I was numb, and now I feel too much alive.”

“Caleb generates that emotion. I think it’s part of that wild DNA.” She shrugged. “Most of the time, that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe this is an exception. Maybe not. You’ve been a sleepwalker for the last few days.” She made a face. “Completely understandable. I’ll let you go up and get to bed. I just wanted to say good-bye.”

“You’re leaving?”

“You don’t need me. You have Eve.” She gave her a hug. “I envy you Eve and Joe. It must have been wonderful growing up with them.”

“Yes, wonderful. Are you going back to Summer Island? Devon called and told me that my dog, Toby, is doing well, but she wants to keep him with the other dogs for a while. She says he’s responding to the contact therapy and acting like a puppy. I’d like to know you’re with him.”

“I’m not going there right away. Kendra’s invited me to come out to San Diego to her place for a visit. It should be interesting.”

“And fairly explosive. You two seem to strike sparks wherever you are.” She kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Margaret. Keep safe. I’ll miss you.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll be around. You can never tell when I’ll come knocking on your door.” She turned away. “Now go upstairs and rest. I’ll help Eve shoo everyone else away and clean up.”

Jane didn’t argue. She started up the steps. The heaviness and sadness were becoming overwhelming. Another good-bye from someone who had become her good friend.

And the final good-bye to her love.

2:35 A.M.

“GOD, YOU’RE TENSE.” Joe cuddled Eve closer in bed. “Jane?”

Eve nodded. “I just heard her go down the hall toward the porch. She’s not sleeping again.”

“She always loved the porch. From the time we brought her home, the two of you would sit out there for hours.”

“I want to help her, Joe. There ought to be something I can do, something I can say.”

“You’ve said all the right things. You just have to wait for her to heal.” He raised himself to rest on one arm and looked down at her. “I know that sounds lame. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

She gave him a quick kiss. “It doesn’t sound lame. It sounds like you trying to give me comfort and love. There’s nothing lame about that.” Her arms slid around him, and she buried her face in his chest. He smelled of soap and lemon and the musky essence that was Joe himself. She remembered all the nights while she was with Doane that she had tried not to think of Joe’s smell, the feel of him. It had hurt too much. “I was lying here thinking how lucky I am that I have you,” she whispered. “And that I mustn’t ever take you for granted. You close your eyes, and suddenly love and all the beautiful things it brings can slip away from you.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Only I didn’t have to find that out. I’ve known it from the moment I met you. I’ve never taken you for granted, Eve.” His arms tightened around her. “I never will.”

“We have so much, Joe.” She could feel the tears sting her eyes. “What a rich life we’ve built together, the years, the experiences, so many memories.”

“And you’re thinking that Jane will never have that.”

“I hope she will. Somehow. Sometime.” She reached up and gently touched his cheek. It was hard with the faintest stubble. Everything about him was hard and warm and vibrantly alive. God, please keep him this way. Keep him strong and well and full of laughter and joy. Never take him away from me. “I love you, Joe.”

“Thank God.” He kissed her, long and deep. “I know that.” He suddenly pulled her up in bed. “I also know that you’re sad and want to help our Jane.” He got to his feet and held her robe for her. “So go out there on the porch and work it out between you like you always do.”

She hesitated, gazing at him. “But I don’t want to leave you.”

“I’ll be here when you get back.” He smiled. “Always, Eve.”

She glanced back at him as she opened the door. There had been some deeper meaning in those last words. Joe could read her so well. Had he also read that silent prayer for God to care for him and keep him by her side?

“I’ll be waiting. Never doubt it.” He repeated softly, “Always…”

*   *   *

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING out here, Jane?” Eve asked as she stood in the doorway leading to the porch. She came over to the swing where Jane was sitting. “It’s the middle of the night. I hoped you were sleeping, dammit.”

“I tried. It didn’t work. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Her gaze went to the lake. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Trevor and I spent a weekend on Lake Como once. But this is just as wonderful. I told him that I wanted to be here with him when Joe barbecued. He even mentioned it at the last…” She had to stop and steady her voice. “Sorry. I know you have to be tired of me not being able to—I should be stronger. You shouldn’t have to put up with it. I’ve been thinking that maybe I should go back to London and start working.”

“You’ll do what you think is best for you. Work can be a salvation.” She sat down beside her on the swing. “But not because you think you’re being a bother to us. Give yourself a little time. It’s not even been a week, Jane.”

“It seems longer.” She was silent for a moment, then whispered, “It hurts, Eve. He was so … God, I miss him. I keep remembering everything about him. The day I met him when I was only seventeen. Do you remember that day? He looked like a movie star and could charm the birds from the trees. You were worried I’d be dazzled by him.”

“And you were,” Eve said. “You were too young. I was grateful that he had some sense and walked away from you.”

“I’m not. They were wasted years. Maybe if I’d followed him then, I’d not have become so set in my ways, and we’d have worked our relationship out earlier.” She gestured. “I know. What-ifs are useless. He’s gone, and I have to deal with it.”

“Oh, Jane, it’s natural to have regrets.” She leaned back in the swing. “After I lost Bonnie, I thought I’d go crazy thinking about all the things I should have done and didn’t. She wanted a puppy, and I didn’t get it for her. I was going to get one for her that Christmas. But that Christmas didn’t come for her. There were so many things…”

“You gave me my puppy, Toby, after I came to you. Was that why?”

“Probably. I wanted desperately for you to be happy. I’d learned by then that you live for the day and not tomorrow.”

“Because tomorrow might not come.” She looked out at the lake again. “But you think tomorrow did come, don’t you, Eve? You think Bonnie comes back to you.”

“Yes,” Eve said quietly. “I know she does. I’ve never kept it a secret.” She paused. “But you have trouble believing it, so I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable by mentioning it.”

“You know me, hardheaded realist. But if it brought you peace, I wanted you to have it. I wanted you to have anything that would make you happy.”

“Peace and happiness … Yes, she brings me both.”

“I … like the idea of death not being the end. I never thought much about it. I was too busy living. Now all of a sudden…” She had to stop again. “Trevor said he didn’t know anything about it either, but he thought there was something more…”

“He was right.” She pulled Jane to her and nestled her head on her shoulder. “So much more, Jane. But no one can tell you. You have to find it for yourself.”

“I guess so.” She could feel Eve’s heartbeat and smelled the clean smell of the soap she used. It brought comfort and healing to the aching void that seemed to span the world. “I can’t believe what you say about Bonnie. I’m sorry. I want so badly to believe it, but I can’t.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Eve brushed a kiss on her forehead. “You don’t have to accept anything that I say except when I tell you that I love you. Now hush and try to relax. I want you to be able to sleep.”

They were silent for several moments, listening to the cool breeze rustle the branches of the pine trees. How often during the past years had they been out here together, Jane thought. Talking, laughing at Toby’s antics, just unwinding from the day. She had never dreamed that one night she would be clinging to Eve and having a conversation that was this heartbreakingly painful. She should have known this day would come. Life was never perfect. She finally raised her head. “I’m keeping you up. You should be getting to sleep, too. Didn’t I see the FedEx man deliver something day before yesterday? Are you starting to work?”

“Yes, providing you don’t need me. I can put it off.”

“No, don’t let me get in the way. You’ve wasted enough time on me.” She jumped to her feet and pulled Eve up. “I guess I wasn’t thinking.” She grimaced. “Only feeling. Life goes on.”

“It wasn’t a waste. It’s strange that the terrible thing that happened to me had a domino effect on the people who care for both of us. Friendships became stronger, characters became defined, confusion became clear. And you found and lost something pretty damn wonderful. Good or tragic, it wasn’t a waste. It made us stronger.” She put her arm around Jane’s waist as they walked toward the door. “And I needed the time to get my head together, too. Doing Kevin’s reconstruction was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It will be good to get back to doing reconstruction on children instead of monsters.” She glanced at Jane as she opened the door. “Yes, life goes on. Bad, good, or indifferent. Whatever it is, we have to open our mind and heart to it.” She smiled. “Now I’m done preaching.” She gave a mock yawn. “Time I headed for bed before I get too disgustingly sanctimonious. Good night, Jane.” Her voice trailed behind her as she moved down the hall. “If you need me, call…”

She wouldn’t call, Jane thought as she followed Eve down the hall. Eve had already given her too much time when she had her own nightmares to lay to rest.

Jane’s nightmares would come as they had every night since Trevor’s death. She had carefully hidden that from Eve. Then, after the nightmares, she would wake, and the tears that wouldn’t stop followed.

Maybe not tonight.

Maybe she could hold off the memories of that night of death that brought those nightmares. Trevor had said she was strong.

Let her be strong tonight.

*   *   *

THE NIGHTMARE WAS THE same. Jane woke from it with tears running down her cheeks.

She sat up in bed, breathing hard.

Don’t let go.

Don’t give in.

Take control.

Dear God, it was hard. The despair seemed to be deep and endless.

You shouldn’t have died, Trevor. You had everything to live for. I would have made your life so good. If anyone had to die that night, it should have been me.

The pain wouldn’t go away. It was starting to overwhelm her.

Don’t cry.

Hold on.

Ever … After. You shouldn’t be afraid.

Yes, that’s what he had said. She could hear it as if he were in this room.

Today. Tomorrow. Ever After.

You should be here now. I should be able to touch you, tell you how much I love you.

I don’t think it’s forever. But you have … to go on as if it is forever.

I want to see you again. Maybe if I concentrate hard enough … Eve says she believes Bonnie comes to her. I don’t care if it’s just some hallucination. It brings her happiness … She lifted her hand to push her hair back from her face. I know, I’m acting crazy. You wouldn’t be proud of me now.

Shh, love. You’ll get through it. You’re so strong. My own love …

Maybe if I concentrate, I can imagine—

*   *   *

“HE DOESN’T WANT YOUto do that, Jane. You have to remember what he said to you.”

She stiffened. Those weren’t the words Trevor had spoken that night. Maybe she truly was beginning to hallucinate.

“Trevor?”

“No, he won’t come to you. He said it wouldn’t be good for you. You’re so stubborn. You hold on with all your strength and won’t let go. He has to protect you from hurting yourself.”

Trevor always was trying to guard her, even in this weird hallucination, she thought with a bitter pang.

“It’s not a hallucination. Eve told you that you had to open your mind and heart. You’ve done it, Jane. Can’t you feel it?”

“I can feel that I’m talking to some figment of my imagination.”

“And not the someone you want to be there.” Soft laughter. “But I’ll have to do. Trevor sent me to explain why you have to put the thought of him aside. Oh, you’ll keep him in your memory and your heart, but he wants you to have your life. It hurts him that you’re hurting.”

“I don’t want to hear this.”

“Because it means starting to give him up. It’s what he wants, Jane.”

“No, he loves me. He’d want—” He’d want her to have freedom and happiness and no chains. The gentle answer came drifting like a warm cloud out of nowhere.

“And he can’t have chains either. He has so much to do there.”

“There? Not here? You’re not with him in the great beyond?” she asked mockingly. “This hallucination needs proofing.”

“No, I’m not with him now. Close your eyes. Where am I, Jane?”

“Is this a game?” Jane closed her eyes. “I’ll play along. Sort of hide-and—”

She stiffened.

A presence.

Gentle.

Knowing.

“Here.”

Her eyes flew open. She swung her legs to the floor and jumped out of bed.

The next moment, she was out of the bedroom and running down the hall. Her heart was pounding. Open your mind and heart …

She threw open the porch door.

“Hello, Jane. I’ve been waiting for you a long time.”

The little red-haired girl sitting cross-legged on the porch swing smiled at her. “This will be much better. Now we can talk, and I can make you understand so many things.” She tilted her head, and her smile became luminous. “You do know who I am?”

Jane stared at her for an instant, as the shock and bewilderment faded away. “Yes, I know you.” She started toward her. No dream. No hallucination. Proof of Forever. Proof of Ever After. “You’re Bonnie.”