Page 143 of Other Side Of Never
“Okay, baby girl.Okay.”Rustling sounds came from his side of the phone.“I’m on my way.Give me fifteen minutes to pack a bag.I’ll call you from the car.I’m coming, baby.I’m coming.”
The curtain closed.
I heaved a deep breath and hazarded a glance at Him.“This hurts.”
“Love does.”He paused.“Rest a while.”
I needed it.
But it didn’t take long for the restlessness to set in.It didn’t help that my partner in crime was a tiny, feisty, Irish lady who would have given me a run for my money back in the day.
I rubbed my hands together with glee.“You feel the pull yet?”
The resort my parents owned hosted a lot of weddings.I’d always been a fan.The idea of attending her granddaughter’s wedding thrilled me.
“Shut your gob or He’ll hear us,” she snickered.
“He hears you,” He answered wryly, stepping out in front of us.Turning to me, he asked, “What are you doing?This isn’t part of your journey.”
I shrugged, throwing a wink at the elderly lady who had become my best buddy.She insisted I call her Nan though, at times, she looked no older than 35.“It’s a side quest.”
His eyes twinkled.“A side quest?Really?”
“Ach, he’s a wee bit bored is all.”Nan put her hand on His arm.“I’ll keep him out of trouble,” she promised.
“You?”he teased.“Pot meet kettle.”
I laughed.“Listen, I’m used to a certain amount of activity.I don’t know what Aaron needs from me yet.I held out my hands in a universal shrug.“Side quest.”
With a smirk, He stepped away and waved us on with a flourish.
“I thought we were in trouble there for a wee minute,” she cackled, tucking her hand into my elbow.“You’re going to meet my granddaughter.”
“Is she in trouble?”
Her face lit up.“Only in the best of ways!”
I groaned.“Do I want to know?”
She looked to the ceiling.“Probably not.”
“Why are we going down there?”
Her brow furrowed.“Down?”
“Why does everybody keep saying that?”I grumbled.“What’s our mandate?”
“Shae’s got no family left.We’re just going to send her off.Let her know she’s not alone.”
She slanted a superior glance at me.“You know, the Irish are not so far removed from the veil.”
I opened my mouth to respond but she cut me off.
“Ach, would you look at her?She’s gorgeous,” she breathed.
“She is,” I readily agreed, the sharp pang in my heart reminding me of what I, at one time, so desperately wanted.
We stood in a small room at the very front of the church.Sunlight streamed through a stained-glass window, painting the floor with light.
