Page 216 of Hidden Nature

She smiled.

“Hey, doll. Like they say in the movies, if you’re watching this, I’ve gone to glory. I don’t want you to grieve too much, but know I’m sorry, so sorry to leave you. I know we were meant to find each other for our higher purpose, but beyond that, you brought me so much happiness. And fun, too. We sure did have some fun.”

She had to pause, fight off the tears.

“I loved cooking for you, and you never failed to show you appreciated it. You brought me the pleasures of the flesh, and made me feel, every day, like a whole woman. You gave me my first airplane ride, my first look at an ocean on that trip to Aruba.

“And so much more, Sam. So much more.”

As she felt her strength rising, she took a breath.

“I’d hoped to surprise you with a trip to the Outer Banks. And that’s just what I’ll do if there’s no need for you to see any of this. But if there is a need, if that witch disguised as a human woman ends my life, I need you to heed what I’m saying. Don’t let grief hold you back. Don’t let sorrow blind you to what must be done.”

She shifted, leaned closer to the camera as the fire in her belly kindled again.

“You must continue the work. There are four more on the list, and you’ll pray for guidance and choose the one to take first, to hear their story, then to let go. When those four are sent home, you’ll find more.

“There are so many more, doll. So many who made that journey to eternal rest who were robbed of their peace, pulled back by the pride of man. Sending them back must be your life’s work now. I’m counting on you.”

She smiled again.

“I know I can. You’ve never let me down. The ones we’ve saved, Sam, well, they’re a drop in the bucket. I know you can’t save them all, like I know you’ll have to find someone to help you as you helped me. I feel for certain you’ll know that someone when they cross your path. It’ll be meant, as you and I were meant.

“Sam, I’ve spent time conflicted on what we need to do next. I’ve fought my war on doubt and fear, and I’ve come to accept. And I’ve come to know how we’ll go about taking Terrance Brown and the witch Sloan Cooper. I’m going to talk to you about that soon, and we’ve got more preparations to make, but I’ve felt the spirit come into me on this, and I know we’ll prevail. If the cost of it is my life, you need to know I’m willing. Doesn’t mean we’ll make it easy for her, but if that’s what’s meant, I’m ready for my eternal reward.”

She pressed a finger to her lips, kissed it, then blew it toward the camera. “I love you. I know in my heart, in my soul, that when your time comes, I’ll be there to take your hand and guide you. I’ll be there for your homecoming, doll.”

It took her time to transfer the recording to a disk. Sam usually handled that. But she did the job, labeled it.

For Sam with love

She hid the disk in her underwear drawer, then put the camera and tripod away.

It settled her, she realized. She’d fix Sam a snack for when he got home. The man liked his nachos, and he’d have earned a beer.

Though tired from her own shift, and the stress and effort of the recording, she browned up some ground beef, chopped onions, jalapeños, a tomato, got out a jar of the cheese he liked.

When he walked in, she started putting it together for him.

“Whew, babe! What a day. I expected you’d turn in early and get some rest. But here you are.”

He came up behind her, hugged, and she drew in his scent. Just a little sweaty after a double shift.

“I didn’t want you to go to bed hungry.”

“I sure appreciate it. I barely had time for two bites on my dinner break. We lost Mrs. Witner today, and damned if they didn’t zap her back. That poor woman. I don’t think she’s for us, though, babe. Eighty-nine and fragile as glass. I expect she’ll just move on in her sleep soon enough. Sweet woman. Always has a smile ready.”

Clara set the plate of nachos in the microwave for a spin, and got him a beer. She poured herself a glass of apple wine because she found it more soothing.

“They oughta be horsewhipped for dragging that poor old dear back. Sit on down, doll. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

“Horsewhipping?” he said with a grin.

“About half the time I wish that was the mission given to us. I know I’ve spent a lot more time than usual on what’s to come next.”

“I know it’s troubled you. I wish I had a way to lift that trouble.”

“I had to work through it.”

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