Page 15 of Ace
“Please, cher, let them go,” she crooned to Isaiah, his internal battle manifesting itself in the whirling vortex swirling around her and Agent Boniface, battering them with its fury. “You have to let each of them go, or they will take you down with them. Think with me. Pray with me. Picture the wicked men and women you saved as tiny little fish that you’ve caught in a net. Lower the net into the river that is the universe and give them back. Let. Them. Go.”
Agent Boniface now clasped both her hands within his powerful fists, squeezing her fingers. The scents of nature swirled around them. The wind built to a thunderous roar. It seemed Gran Mere’s tiny home had captured a hurricane. The boat would surely break apart soon.
“Please, Isaiah. You can do this, but you must do it quickly,” Savannah ordered the stubborn man. “You can do it. I will count with you. On three, okay? One…”
The wind lashed out, lifting her hair into the center of its fury, the ends of it whipping her face as if fighting her for Isaiah’s soul. Savannah held onto Agent Boniface as he held onto her. It was them against a force so strong that, for a single moment, she doubted they could save Isaiah. He was so hurt. So angry. And embarrassed. As he should be. It was never easy to admit to one’s pride. To be humble. But confessing sin was the first step. If he didn’t…
As if he knew precisely what Isaiah was going through, Agent Boniface called out, “Isaiah. Buddy. Come on, you’ve got to let those creeps go. If anyone cando this, you can. Let ’em all go. They’re not important, but Roxy is. They made their beds, let them sleep in them. But I’m telling you, man. Roxy needs you now, she and that baby boy in her belly. Your family deserves you more than anyone else. She loves you most. She’s gold, Isaiah. Everyone else is dross and chaff. Give ’em back to God. Let ’em go. Isaiah, let us all go. Save Roxy and your son.”
“Two…” Savannah breathed, secretly thrilled Agent Boniface knew how to reach his friend.
To Isaiah she said,‘You’re not the savior of this world. That job was taken long ago, and it was never what your power was meant for. Who do you think you are? God? Do you think you are more powerful that He is? Than His Son? Do you think you can save them when He could not? I promise He will catch them if they choose to be caught. Redemption has to be their choice, but you must first let go of your pride, and then—’
‘I never knew. I didn’t realize.I’m... I’m… Not. That. Guy.’
‘I know, my poor brother,’she told him mentally. Quietly. Privately.‘I see you. Are you ready now? Can you do it?’
Isaiah’s spirit was bowed down with so much remorse for things he hadn’t done and couldn’t change. But it was time he let go of the thing that was killing him—his pride.
Before he had time to answer, Savannah breathed one final, “For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever… On three!”
Just that fast, the struggle ended. The howling stopped. The wind stilled. Dishes settled onto the cupboard shelves with a clatter, as the windowpanes stopped rattling. Savannah’s hair fell softly to her shoulders and over her face like a veil. She swallowed hard at the sudden silence ringing in her ears. Holy Mother, she hadn’t realized how hard her heart was pounding until then. What a frightening, electrifying, sacred, fulfilling experience.
A whispered,‘I understand now,’came to her as Isaiah’s tortured spirit collapsed in upon itself, trembling from the tremendous battle he’d won.
“You are most welcome,” Savannah told him kindly. “Be good to yourself until you are strong again, my friend. I hope to meet you some day.”
‘Ssssssooooon…’
“What’d he say?” Agent Boniface asked, frustration gleaming dark in his eyes.
“He’s at peace,” Savannah murmured. Man, she was tired. “He’s going to live, Agent Boniface. Because of you, he’ll live a long and happy life.”
Agent Boniface made a face. “Thank God, but it was all you, not me.”
“And thank Isaiah for finally letting go and letting God,” she scolded. “But understand, this fight took both of us. You’ll see.”
Satisfied, she blew the messy curtain of hair out of her eyes. Despite, or maybe because of the tragic morning, Savannah felt oddly lighthearted and at peace. Isaiah had just triumphed. He was in a better place. Like Gran Mere.
“Are you gonna be okay, buddy?” Agent Boniface asked his friend, his big hands still squeezing Savannah’s fingers, his eyes dark and shimmering as if he might be able to finally mentally communicate with Isaiah.
Isaiah still lingered.‘Yes, Roxy’s here. She’s really here. She stayed,’he said tiredly.
Savannah hurried to pass that psychic message onto Agent Boniface. “His wife is with him. Roxy helped him to hold onto us. He needs to rest.”
“She’ll never leave you, man. She loves you,” Agent Boniface whispered to his friend, a definite sheen in his honeyed eyes.
‘You heard your friend, Isaiah. Agent Boniface will never tell you, but he loves you, too.’
‘I know,’Isaiah whispered.‘Gotta go-o-o-o-o-o…’
Savannah smiled as the spirit of a man she’d never met retreated northward like a feather on the wind, back to the loving embrace of his distraught wife.
‘Go in peace,’she told him privately, wiping the back of her fingers across her bleary eyes. Tears brimmed again, but this time they were happy tears.
Still seated across from her, the tough FBI agent let go of her to brush a big hand over his face. Isaiah’s rescue had touched him too. The circle was broken, and that was okay.
“It’s over,” she said out loud.
