Everlasting (19 page)

“What is it, dear?”

“Well…I told you how Tate and I had been dating.”

“Uh-huh.”

“He needs someone to care for his dog, and he doesn’t have any family left to care for her. I decided to take her for him, but I’m flying out this morning, going back to Montana, and I can’t take her with me. Would you mind going to get her? She’s at two-twenty-two Seashell Sands. It’s a house that’s for sale, and we left her there yesterday. I’m sure Tate has been back to care for her, but he doesn’t have much longer. She needs a real person taking care of her. I’ll send for her in a couple of weeks. Could you do that for me?” I winced, biting my finger.

“I don’t think it would be a problem as long as my Jinxy wouldn’t mind. I’ll go get her for you but only for a couple of weeks. If there’s any problem with her and Jinx, I’ll let you know.”

I exhaled. “Thanks so much. Promise it won’t be any longer than two weeks. Her name is Symphony.”

“Symphony, huh? What a delightful name. It’s the least I could do for you after you helped out my Marrian.” Her hitched laugh held a hidden sob inside.

A rap at the door made me jump as soon as I hung up the phone. I looked at the time, already seven and time to take off for the airport. A stunning smile greeted me, gleaming white teeth flashing in front of my face. “Hello, beautiful.” Aaron leaned in for a kiss.

I backed away shyly, ducking, avoiding his lips. “Good morning.”

He pushed his way in. Just before I closed the door, a Livid slipped through a door across the hall—his trident gleaming in the recessed, fluorescent hall light.

“What’s the matter, no good-morning kiss?” He checked his hair in the full-length mirror as he went by, adorned in his lawyer attire—a black three-piece suit, shiny black shoes, white shirt, and a silk necktie.

“Just in a hurry, that’s all. Ended up falling back to sleep after you called, and overslept.” I brushed on a dab of beige powder to cover the shine on my nose.

“There’s always time for a kiss.” He crowded in close beside me by the mirror to steal a quick one.

I couldn’t avoid him this time, so I gave in. It lasted way longer than it should have, and I pushed him away, glancing at my watch. “We better be going. I don’t want to have to rush to get there.”

We walked toward the door, and I grabbed my purse off the sink counter. My gaze roamed, and I gave a quick look around the room, giving it a final inspection. “Oh, wait…I almost forgot something.” I went to the bed and pulled out the full briefcase from underneath.

“What’s that? I didn’t think you had any bags with you last night when I dropped you off.”

“The front desk rang me last night, telling me I had a package. My grandmother had bought something and had it dropped off here for me to bring back to her.” To avoid letting him see my evasive eyes, I turned away. “It saves her on shipping.” I nodded, patting it with my hand.

He shrugged. “So…what is it?”

I stammered, trying to think quickly, not wanting him to know about Tate’s money. “It’s some oversized genealogy book that she had a company here in Denver make up for her. It goes way back to everything you could possibly want to know about your family tree. They can dig up all kinds of crap about you.” I shifted from one foot to the other, hoping to sound believable.

“Oh, I don’t need them digging up anything on me. I have enough problems with family.” He gulped and rolled his eyes, reaching toward me, pulling on the briefcase.

I snatched it back, clutching it hard against my chest. “I can manage.” My face flushed hot.

“I’m only trying to be the gentleman and carry it for you. Please, let me help?”

“No thanks. I told Grandma I wouldn’t let it leave my hands. Sorry.”

He coughed and brushed the hair from his eyes, walking toward the door. “Suit yourself. We best be going now.”

Just before we went out the door, his phone rang. He glanced at it, then turned away, hiding something. “Wait right here, Sophia.” To stop me from going any farther, he held up his hand. “I need to take this call, but I’ll be quick. It’s business.”

I shrugged and nodded, uninterested. “That’s fine. Do what you need to do.”

He stepped out into the hall, giving a short pull to the door to close it. It didn’t close all the way, so his conversation carried through. “Stuart Law Firm, Aaron speaking. Hi…you got the job? That’s great…. You start tomorrow, already? Wow, that was fast…. Alright, see you in a few…bye.” I stepped away from the door when he said his good-bye, pulling at the collar of my blouse. “Okay, you ready to go?”

My tongue played along the side of my cheek. “Sure, as ready as ever.”

My feelings mimicked the weather when we stepped outside into the gloomy, rainy day. At every turn I thought I saw Tate, and I missed him terribly, but staying apart would be for the best. My lot in life was to now go home, finish school, go on to law school and maybe become a lawyer.

I didn’t know what role Aaron would be playing in all of this or whether I even wanted him by my side. I also didn’t know what to do with all of this money lodged under my armpit. It was my only true carry-on for the trip home, making me more than a little nervous.

Needless to say, security gave me plenty of funny looks but sent me on my way.

T
he landscape
and I had both been altered since the last time I had been home almost three months ago. It was now the first of August, and school would start in less than two weeks.

My mom had met us at the airport, and we were now seated in her nineties, cream-colored car, gliding along the winding highway toward home. She said it had been a cool summer here in Cascade, and an early fall looked to be on the horizon judging by the musty, orange- and russet-colored leaves that had already fallen from the trees.

“You remember Aaron Stuart, don’t you, Mom—Mandy’s older brother?” I had asked her back at the airport. I hadn’t told her Aaron was coming with me, and she was a little taken aback when she first saw him. When I came through the gates at the airport terminal with a guy by my side, I could already see her wheels spinning. Her smile, alone, told me she had us married off with a brood of kids on the way.

She stuck her hand out to greet Aaron, unleashing that familiar, excited, matchmaker-look she couldn’t keep hidden. “Aaron, it’s so nice to see you again.” She glanced at me from the corner of her eyes. “It’s been years. My, you’ve grown into a
very
handsome young man.”

“It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Bandell.” Aaron kissed the back of her hand, laying on the charm so thick, I coughed, slapping at my chest for extra effect.

“I didn’t realize you were coming back with Sophia.”

“Yes, only for a while. Sophia promised me she would show me everything I’ve been missing out on in the big town of Cascade and catch me up on all of the local gossip.” He flashed her an irresistible smile.

Mom whispered to me out of the corner of her mouth while we walked to her car. “Oh, Sophia, you didn’t alert me to any of this. How long have you two been dating, and how do you keep your eyes off that gorgeous man?”

“Shh.” I stole a quick peek to make sure Aaron hadn’t heard. “We’re not dating and he’s not
that
gorgeous. Besides, he’s only here for a short time.”

On our way home, I sat in the front with Mom, and Aaron sat in the back, making small talk once in a while. In the side mirror, I glanced at him. He couldn’t take his eyes off of himself in the rearview mirror, fixing his hair or examining his smile when he laughed. Way worse than any female.

Mom glanced back in the rearview mirror now and again as she drove. “How’s your family, Aaron? It’s been years since I’ve talked to your mother. Sophia tells me she had a wonderful time with Mandy. Didn’t you, Soph?”

I froze when Mom brought up the subject of his family. How was I going to tell her that Mandy had died? Aaron and I hadn’t discussed what we were going to tell my family when they asked about my vacation. As far as they knew, all was fine.

“They’re all—”

I touched her shoulder. “Aaron doesn’t live in South Carolina anymore, Mom.”

“Yes, I’ve moved to Denver, so I hardly ever see them. I caught up with Sophia in Charleston just this morning.”

“I see. Well, Sophia can fill me in on Mandy and your folks when we get home and have more time. So, what made you move to Denver?” She caught the tail end of me rolling my eyes.

“Mom, I don’t think Aaron wants to tell you his whole life story.”

“No, that’s fine, I don’t mind. I kind of like bragging about my life.” Then he paused dramatically, skimming a hand through his stiff hair. “I’m a criminal defense lawyer, Mrs. Bandell, giving convicts a do-over for a chance to get their lives right. I win ninety-nine point nine percent of my cases.” He flashed a wide smile into the mirror.

Mom gasped. “A lawyer? That’s exactly what Sophia wants to be.” She let her eyes rest too long on the rearview mirror, causing the car to cross over the centerline.

“Mom, watch out!” I grabbed the steering wheel, helping her bring it back.

She jerked it to the right, the car swerving erratically, pushing my hand away. “Everything’s okay. I have it under control. Aaron just caught me off guard.” She shot a quick glance back to him, then fluffed her hair, her face reddening.

He laughed, brushing at his shoulders. “Sorry to make you lose control like that. I guess I do have that effect on women. But, seriously, I told Sophia she has a place in my firm if she sticks with me and wants to be partners…business or otherwise.” A slow smile encompassed his face and he puffed out his chest, sticking his chin in the air.

The inside of the car went silent. I stiffened.

“That’s wonderful! I think you’d better take him up on that offer, Sophia. You know we don’t have the money to put you through law school, and if Aaron can help and make you a partner, you’d be set.”

Not sure how to tell Mom about the thirteen million, I gripped the briefcase even harder, pressing it up against my chest. I’m sure I’d have to make up another lie, for the time being at least, until I knew the time was right. “I’m not sure…I’ll have to give it some thought. That’s a long way off in the future, yet. I still have a year of school left.”

“Time goes faster than you think—it’ll be here before you know it.”

We pulled into our gravel drive, and our sheepdog, Bob, came bounding out of the picket-fenced yard, shaking his head to clear the long hair from his eyes. I could almost hear his old bones creaking. His hurry had slowed down since I’d been gone. My steps bouncy and light, I jumped out of the car, rushing to see him. I gathered him in my arms, and he whined and barked with supreme delectation.

“Cute dog. Wait a minute…is that Bob?” Aaron’s eyes grew wide, amazed, while I continued to throw my love at Bob.

“Yep, sure is. He’s almost ten. I’ll be heartbroken when the time comes to say good-bye to him.” I picked up my briefcase to go inside. “Come on, Bob, let’s go in. Oh, yeah, you too, Aaron.” I laughed and threw a glance over my shoulder.

“Sophia…I just realized something.” Mom gasped when she opened the trunk of the car. “You didn’t bring any of your suitcases back home? Where’s all your clothes?”

“Um…I was in a hurry to leave and forgot them. Mandy is sending them to me…along with something else.” I mumbled this last part under my breath, remembering I had to get Symphony back here.

Mom gave an unsure, shaky nod. “Alright. Sometimes I wonder about you, girl. Forgot your clothes? Who forgets all of their clothes from vacation?”

“Only me, Mom.”
Blah, blah, blah, you can drop it anytime now.

We went inside and Dad sat in front of the TV, watching the noon news. He jumped up and came at me, his arms stretched out weakly for a hug. “Sophia, you’re home. It’s about time, your dirty dishes are still waiting for you.” He belted a short laugh, grabbing my shoulders and giving a halfhearted squeeze.

Dad had never shown much affection, and his hugs were always like stiff, creaky boards that you didn’t want to get too close to for fear of getting poked by a rusty nail. But I loved them. He released me, coughing and rubbing the back of his neck, feet planted in an awkward stance like he didn’t know what to do next.

“It’s good to be back, Dad, I had a…wonderful time.” I tried to sound believable.

“Well, good, you’ll have to tell us all about it.”

“Yeah, I will. It was definitely…interesting.” I paused. “You remember Aaron Stuart, don’t you? He’s Steve and Marrian’s son.”

“Aaron, how’re you doing? It’s good to see you again.” Dad stuck his hand out, shaking Aaron’s with a firm grip. His other hand raised awkwardly to give him a slap on the shoulder, but he pulled away and brought it back down to his side, thinking better of it.

“It’s great to see you again, too, Mr. Bandell.”

“Follow me.” I stood on the bottom step of the steep stairwell and motioned to Aaron. “You can have Josh’s room while you’re here.”

L
ater on that evening
, after we visited with Josh and Kristy and I got introduced to baby Meyer, I closed the door to my bedroom and collapsed onto my lumpy bed. To be back home again and in my bedroom comforted me, but things were different now…much different than before I left. I was more mature, not the little girl I used to be. Things that once had so much meaning to me, like my high school yearbook and my awards, seemed meaningless and trivial.

I had been given a whole new picture of life and its meaning, not only from what I’d learned from my three dead friends, but by meeting Tate and falling in love with him. He had taught me so much in our short time together. I fought hard to keep him out of my mind, knowing I could keep him around longer if I did.

This wasn’t an easy task, quite the double-edged sword. If I thought about him and loved him too much, I knew he would be gone in a few short weeks. But if I could keep him at a distance, only thinking of him once in a while, I knew he would be around me forever. And if I knew he was still here, even just banging around in limbo with a ball and chain tied to his feet, I was pretty sure I’d be okay. He was my rock and gave me guidance, even when I couldn’t see him.

I pulled my worn pink T-shirt over my head and put on a pair of white shorts for bedtime, then picked up my phone to call my best friend Claudia.

“Hi, Claudia, I’m home.”

“Sophia, it’s so good to have you back. I thought you still had a week or so left of your vacation?”

Claudia Bunker was my serious, no-nonsense best friend. We were both going to be seniors and had been friends since the ninth grade. She became my new best friend after Mandy moved away. Always staying on an even keel, she never let her problems shake her up or bring her down. She told you how things were, and she never lied. You either liked her, or you didn’t.

She sniffled into the phone.

“Do you have a cold? You sound awful.”

“No.” She paused to blow her nose. “It’s allergies. That time of year again. Whenever school rolls around, I get them something terrible. So, when do you want to meet up? I wouldn’t mind seeing you before school starts.”

“I came back early to get some things done before it starts. The vacation started getting kind of lame, anyway. It was fun, but I’d much rather be home.”

This was so far from the truth, but I hoped it would push Tate that much further out of my mind if I talked like that. I ran a strand of hair through my fingers, my usual habit when I talked on the phone. “Yeah, let’s do meet up, Claudia. Does your mom still work at the bank? I need to open an account in the morning. Maybe we could meet each other there?”

Claudia’s mother, Alice Bunker, worked at the Savings Bank in Cascade for as long as I remembered. An upstanding, no-nonsense kind of lady, she and Claudia could have passed for twins if not for the twenty-five-year age difference between them. Their bright shock of curly red hair could be seen for miles, and they couldn’t go anywhere without wearing their black horn-rimmed glasses for fear of bumping into everything in their path. They preferred to wear these silly looking spectacles and didn’t believe in contacts.

I wasn’t afraid to show Claudia the enormous amount of money I would be depositing in her mom’s bank because I trusted her. I could tell her anything, and she would keep it a secret. Claudia wasn’t one to gossip. She would also believe my story about Mandy, Matt, and Tate being ghosts and me getting the money from Tate. Right now, Claudia would be the one I would tell—my family…not so much.

“She’s still there.” Claudia gurgled, sounding like she had just stifled a sneeze. “We can meet there, then. What time?”

“Does ten work for you?”

“Yeah, ten is fine.”

“Good, see ya then.”

I hung up the phone and fell back onto my bed. The pent-up feelings I never had a chance to release when Aaron was around, came rushing out like a dam breaking. I couldn’t stop the pain that brought with it a flood of tears. Tate was so heavy on my brain—engulfing me—I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Worried for me, I bit my knuckle. Would I even be able to carry on a normal life? He had changed me and then left me.

My life didn’t feel right, now. The hollowness inside ate away, nibbling at the sides of my chest and stomach, spiraling me down into a deep depression. Why did it have to be like this? Why did Tate have to die? Why did I have to fall so deeply and insanely in love with him, but yet, couldn’t have him? None of this made any sense. I curled up into a fetal position and bawled my eyes out until there was nothing left. I, too, like Tate, was dead.

I jerked, riveting upright when a movement at the foot of my bed caught my eye. I hadn’t even heard my door open. My eyes adjusting, I shuddered and blinked, then blinked again. My heart wanted to bolt, and it banged against the side of my chest.

Lidia, in her long black cloak, holding a sharp spear, stared me down. The spear, glinting from the glow of my ceiling-fan light, rose up evil and deadly, ready to still a beating heart with one quick flick of a wrist. Her face, tight and grim, glowered down at me, but her eyes carried a gentle kindness.

“Don’t be scared, Sophia, I won’t harm you. I just wanted to drop in and tell you that Tate has been captured by the Livids.”

Gruffness now coated over her sweet voice from the plane that day.

I gasped, the sharp intake of air causing my heart to clang even louder. I’m positive Lidia heard. “Is he alright? I need to save him.” My words were strained and broken, unreal. My eyes fluttered, then opened wide, taking Lidia in. It stunned me to think I was talking to a Livid, even though it was Lidia.

“He’s fine. I have rescued him for the time being. But who knows when he will be captured again, and my chances are limited. I only get three saves, then I must wait twenty-four hours to replenish my ability.”

I nodded. “Tell me what to do.”

“You must always be on the lookout. Tate is unable to reach you if they capture him. I will warn you, but, if my chances are used up, I have no power. Mandy told you what to do. They are on a mission, Sophia, it could be up to you to save him.”

I gulped and nodded again.

The next instant, Lidia was gone—vanished into thin air.

I pressed my heart back into my chest, but it seemed impossible to calm down. My lungs still ached, and I couldn’t slow down my breathing. My poor Tate. If Lidia made herself present again, I hoped I would be able to help him.