Page 90 of The Champion
The question stayed with me during the social part of the funeral as I mingled with people and received their condolences for my loss. When I bumped into Linea and her mother Athena, I had to ask.
“Do you think my father is still with us?”
Athena’s bright red hair had streaks of gray in it now, but for as long as I had known her, she seemed to age with half the speed as everyone else. Touching my arm, she asked, “Do you feel him with you?”
“No. I’m just wondering about death.”
Athena let go of my arm. “Ah, I see.”
“What do you think happens?”
Her smile was soft and sympathetic. “It’s an interesting question, but a pointless one.”
“Why?”
“Because all we can do is speculate. Eventually we’ll get our answers. Why waste time worrying about something that we have no control over?”
“My father wasn’t perfect.”
Athena angled her head. “None of us are, dear. That’s part of the package of being human. We’re flawed individuals.”
“What if he goes to a place where he’s punished for the things that he did wrong?”
Linea frowned. “You mean hell?”
“Yes, I don’t know. You don’t believe in hell, do you?”
“No. Not in the old-fashioned way.”
“Does that mean you don’t believe in heaven either?”
Athena moved in to hug me. “Oh, sweetie, that’s the problem with you smart, cerebral people. You overthink things. Don’t focus on the times your father did wrong when he was younger and didn’t know any better. Your father lived a long life and left the Northlands a better place. Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s happy with the way things worked out for him.”
My body relaxed a little as I hugged her back. With Athena standing so close to me I was reminded how short she was. I had been nine when I passed her in height and now her voluminous hair reached my nose. Yet, somehow Athena’s big personality made up for it and I’d never thought of her as short. “Thank you, Athena. I always love talking to you.”
Linea, who stood with us, hugged me as well. “I know it’s hard, but we are all here for you, sweetie.”
I exchanged a warm smile with her. “See, that’s why you are by far my favorite sister-in-law.”
They laughed with me, knowing that I didn’t have any other sisters and then Linea said:
“By the way. I talked to Isobel, and she wants to stay a few weeks. I think it would be nice for Pearl to have her around. The two of them always had a special bond.”
I looked across the room and saw my daughter standing in a group with her cousins and second cousins. “That’s a great idea. I would suggest that Nathan stays too, but I doubt he wants to. He’s in love with a girl back home and can’t get to her quick enough.”
Victor came from behind. “Mind if I steal my wife away for a moment?”
Linea and Athena were quick to agree. “By all means.”
“Is something wrong?” I asked Victor as he pulled me to the side.
“No. I wanted to check up on you. I’m afraid I got caught up in a long discussion with Archer and Leo and left you to yourself.”
Leaning against him, I breathed, “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. You know that.”
“I know you can, but everyone needs a little support sometimes. Today is hard for you and I know you miss him.”
Rising on my toes, I kissed Victor. “Thank you for having my back.”
