Crossed Out (21 page)

“I’m fine, you two,” he said in the middle of our conversation about the date of our next training session. “Dylan, why don’t you go visit your grandmother?”

Dylan’s face turned red. He mumbled something, and I have to admit I was curious to know more about the woman who shared Dylan’s gift. In the back of my mind, I knew she could help us with any future rescues. Sure I knew Dr. Anthony had dealt with guys like Mark, but it would be nice to hear from a woman’s perspective what to do. I mean, if it happened once, it sure as heck could happen again.

I shuddered at the thought.

“Uh, no offense Dylan, but isn’t your grandma out to lunch?” I asked.

“Well, usually she’s not all there. She’s a little off. Or she was when I saw her a few weeks ago.” A faraway look came over his features. “But I’ve wanted to visit again. Especially after all the weird crap we’ve been through. Somehow I feel she could relate.”

He turned to me. “You want to come?”

“Sure,” I said. “If that’s okay?”

“I think that is an excellent idea, Dylan.” Dr. Anthony settled back against his pillow and reached for a dog-eared copy of
Sports Illustrated
. “Don’t think she can’t hear you. I’m sure she’d love to hear about your adventure.”

“You think?”

He looked so cute at that moment.

“Yeah,” I said, feeling protective. “Let’s go see her. I’d like to thank her too.”

Dylan and I drove to the institution in silence.

Dylan turned the car toward a huge brown building peaking out over the hill – a cross between an old boarding prep school and hospital, peeked out over the hill. Stately oak trees covered the grounds. Ducks glided on a man-made lake. Lush reds, yellow, purples, and oranges carpeted the area. Primroses, pansies, and violas were everywhere, interrupted by orange calendulas.

After we checked in at the main office, we walked down the sterile white corridor. “You sure you want to do this?” I asked. “I mean, I know your mother isn’t too keen about anything to do with the supernatural.”

“I don’t care,” he retorted. “I need to see my grandma. You know, to thank her?”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I’m so glad she gave you her journal. Who knew that stuff she wrote down a long time ago would help?”

We looked for room 223. The hallway seemed to narrow. Rooms 220 … 221 … 222. At the far left-hand side we found 223. But unlike the other rooms, the door to this one was propped open.

An old-fashioned Log Cabin quilt and big lacy pillows were on top of the neatly made bed. Some framed photos, including a picture of Dylan with his surfboard, decorated the top of the dresser.

“That’s strange,” Dylan said. “She’s usually in bed. She was the last time I saw her a couple weeks ago. Something must have happened.”

He turned to leave – panic on his face.

I heard a rustling. “Wait, Dylan. I think someone’s in there.”

He stopped. “You think so?”

“Well, we won’t know unless we look.” I took his hand and entered the room.

The blinds were shut, casting shadows in the room. I caught a whiff of lavender powder, similar to the scent my own Grandma Stewart wore.

Creak.

The sudden sound in the far corner of the room caused my heart to miss a beat. I glanced over and saw an old woman sitting in a rocker, a pillow behind her head. She smiled.

Deep lines surrounded her light blue eyes. Funny, she didn’t look drugged out. I saw Dylan in her smile. A calm presence surrounded her.

“Grandma?” Dylan gulped, clasping my hand tighter. “You okay?”

“I’ve been expecting you two.” Grandma Kate stopped rocking and motioned us forward. “What took you so long?”

Author’s Biography

Kim Baccellia has always been a sucker for the paranormal. She blames it on her families’ love for such things such as having picnics at cemeteries, visiting psychics, and reading her mother’s copies of the daily horoscope. She even had her own horoscope column in middle school, which was a big hit!

Kim’s other works include the poem,
“My Father”
, which appears in the anthology
Mind Mutations
, published by
The Sun Rising Press
. Her essay about the adoption of her son,
Finally, Our Turn
, appeared in
Adoptive Families
magazine. Her YA multicultural fantasy,
Earrings of Ixtumea
, is published by
Virtual Tales
and available now at Amazon.

A member of SCBWI, Kim is currently writing the sequel to
CROSSED OUT
. She’s also putting the finishing touches on an upper MG fantasy
No Goddesses Allowed
. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.