Page 88 of Living with Death

Monday. That will mark two weeks since I met Azrael.

“Once I found you, I was given two weeks for you to fall in love with me. If you didn’t, I would return to the In-Between and never be allowed to see you again.”

I swallow. He’ll never be allowed to see me again.

The thought causes my heart to drop.

But how can I forgive him? He made me think I was going to die. He acted as if he was giving me a choice, but honestly, did I ever have one?

I don’t believe I did. Not when it comes to him.

I shake those thoughts away and focus back on Leigh. Jason walks from the back. “Hey, Rue,” he says. Rue’s face lights up. “Jason. Mommy got a job.”

His face mirrors hers, and he looks at Leigh before grabbing and twirling her in the air. She laughs, and Rue beams. “Me next,” she says.

Jason kisses Leigh’s lips, and she blushes.

I’m thrilled that someone has found their happily ever after. Cassie walks by, coming in to restock the meat for the afternoon rush.

“Hey,” I call out to her. She looks at me, narrowing her eyes. During the two days when I didn’t do much, I did reach out to Cassie’s mother. I told her I’d seen Cassie and wanted to know if she wished to get clean. The conversation was awkward at first. She wanted to know who I was and why I was watching her daughter. I assured the woman I wasn’t a creep, just someone with extra money, and I wanted to do a good deed.

She relaxed and informed me that Cassie had gotten clean and wasn’t currently using that she knew of. I’d done some research on drug addicts, discovering that sometimes when they get clean, if they fall off the wagon, they will do the same amount that they were accustomed to before, and that causes the overdose.

I’m worried Cassie might do that. Regardless of Cassie being clean now, losing your child isn’t something a person gets over, so I asked if I could pay for therapy or anything else to help Cassie stay on the right path.

Her mother was thrilled about this and told me some places Cassie had been looking into but couldn’t afford. So, I sent a check to one of them and paid for a year’s worth of help for Cassie.

And I told her that if she felt she needed further help, inform the facility, and I would send more money.

Why do I care about a person I don’t know?

Maybe because everyone needs a little help, and if you can offer it, why wouldn’t you?

“Hey,” she says hesitantly. She looks around at the others, and Sam says, “Did you put on a little weight? You’re looking good.”

I smile.

Cassie looks down at her body. “Thanks,” she says, a blush spreading over her cheeks.

“What do you have back there today? I might cook some steaks tonight on the grill,” Patty says.

“Let me show you,” Cassie says. “I know they were supposed to deliver some nice New York strips.”

I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing regarding Cassie. The fact that they noticed I was reaching out and trying to include her, taking it upon themselves to do the same, warms my heart.

Good people.

These are good people.

Chapter Thirty-Three

My house is wide open. The evening sunshine covers the floors in buttery yellow, warming the house while a fire burns in the living room. The record player spins, filling the house with jazz.

I wipe my brow, sliding my hand over the new wallpaper down the hall.

It’s been a busy two days, with workers roaming in and out of my house. While I was at work yesterday, the kitchen wall was torn down, and the old tile floor was removed.

I enter the kitchen, studying the new checkered board, stone floor, and black cabinets with marble countertops. It smells brand new in here. The paint is fresh. The only original thing left is the Pella garden window.

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