Page 24 of Having the Time of My Midlife

We didn’t have to wait long.

Alana Catherine reached up and put her chubby hand on Pandora’s cheek. My daughter giggled at the Goddess’ startled expression.

“Is this okay?” Pandora choked out. “I mean, do I need to wash my face first? Don’t you have to disinfect yourself to be around a baby?”

“It’s fine. She’s fine,” I assured her. “Just relax.”

Pandora appeared unsteady on her feet. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Without a word, Dirk brought over the armchair and placed it behind the anxiety-ridden woman. Cecily and Candy Vargo seated her. Alana Catherine was focused on papa—and only papa. Her small hand was still on her cheek, and she stared into the Demon’s eyes.

“What?” Pandora asked, gaping at the baby in shock. “Again. Say that again.”

There was some kind of silent communication going on. I was jealous. In vitro, my daughter could communicate with me. It had been a precious miracle. It had stopped soon after she was born.

“Three,” Pandora recited.

“What about it?” Candy asked.

She shook her head and continued to stare at Alana Catherine. “Past, present and future.”

Tim scribbled it all down. He didn’t need to. I memorized every word.

“The game is a riddle. Three must play to win and break the evil spells,” Pandora said. “The show will go on, and the wheels will turn. The answers are questions. The price must be right or the innocent will pay. In the end, the choice will be on the strongest. The strongest shall emerge the victor. Anything is possible. You just have to believe. Time is running out.”

My stomach lurched. We were running out of time. That didn’t work for me. I wasn’t quite sure what the rest of the clues meant, but I got that one loud and clear.

“Three, three, three. No matter what she says, the number is three,” Pandora repeated.

“Who is she?” I asked.

The Demon looked up. “You. She’s talking about you.”

Color me confused. I glanced over at Gideon. He wasn’t as perplexed as I was. The love of my life seemed to understand, and he looked like he was about to implode. Now, my stomach was housing a marching band who’d eaten a vat of sugar before they went onto the field at halftime.

As I was about to ask more questions, Candy Vargo held up her hand. “After. We talk after. The chickadee is getting sleepy. It’s almost over, Daisy.”

She was right. Alana Catherine’s eyes were getting heavy, and she stuck her thumb into her mouth. The look on Pandora’s face was no longer one of terror. It was one of awe.

“I’m not sure I believe that,” she said softly.

“What’s that?” Tim asked, missing what she’d said.

“Nothing. I was speaking to the child.”

“Spit it out,” Candy Vargo said. “We need to hear all of it.”

Pandora turned pink and appeared lost. “I think the last part was just for me.”

Candy shook her head. “Nope. Whatever the little critter said is fair game. Out with it, or I’ll yank it out of you.”

That didn’t sound good. Clearly, Pandora didn’t think so either. With a put-upon sigh, she leaned forward and kissed Alana Catherine’s head as the baby fell asleep. “She said that the path I’m walking will lead to salvation and that I’m free to leave now.”

No one said a word. That was some heavy stuff. Tears rolled down Pandora’s cheeks as she stood up and handed me my daughter. That didn’t sound like something a future Death Counselor would know.

“She’s very special,” Pandora said, lightly touching Alana Catherine’s cheek. “She’s far more than anyone could imagine.”

“Do you know?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I do not. The answers will come with time.” The Goddess of the Darkness turned to her counterpart. “Bitch Goddess Cecily, the time has come for us to leave.”

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