Page 49 of The Spirit Key
“Eat the damn thing. I swear to God, if I have to cram it down your throat, I will.” He let me go at my own pace, nibbling slowly, until I’d finally eaten it all. He tugged me into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around me, using one of his hands to stroke my chest. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “No wonder she’s so scared. Someone she trusted, someone she called Daddy…. God, it’s so fucked-up.”
“Who does that to a child?”
“You saw?”
“Every bit of it. It was like I was watching a movie, but I couldn’t turn it off. I saw you and her, and then just her.”
“I think Iwasher. Somehow I relived a bit of her life and her moment of death.”
When I was strong enough to look up, I found Elizabeth standing there, biting her lip. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I’d done nothing and had no idea what I could do to help her.
“He buried me in a place full of trees. There are other people there too. I think… I think they’re all kids.” She started to fade. “Do you think I’ll be able to see my mommy again?”
“Sweetheart, I guarantee it.”
“I hope that the others have moved on.” She reached for me, and my first instinct was to draw away, but I forced myself not to move. Her hand was still cold, but there was a strange warmth to it too.
When I recalled what I’d seen, I had to ask. “Elizabeth, what year is it?”
She gifted me with a quirky grin. “1902, silly.”
It was that moment when all the pieces started coming together.
“I—we—wish you well, Elizabeth. I know your mom will be happy to see you again.”
She smiled then, and warmth spread throughout my body. “Thank you for listening to me. I’m not afraid anymore.”
As she faded, Tim tightened his arms around me, giving me warmth against the pervasive chill. He leaned in close to my ear. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“This? What you did? It’s a good thing. I had no idea it was like that.” He kissed my neck. “Thank you for doing it.”
I was so glad he understood now, but there was something that he didn’t know and I hated the thought of telling him. Still, it had to be done.
The question was, how would he take it?
BY THEtime we pulled into the driveway, it was almost three in the morning and we were both dragging. I was still exhausted, but with Tim’s care, I wasn’t unconscious and waking up in the hospital again.
I opened my door and tried to get out, only to have my legs give way. Strong arms grabbed me from behind, keeping me from falling on my face.
“You need a keeper.”
I looked up into his twinkling eyes. “Are you applying for the job?”
He hefted me to my feet, slid his arm around my waist, and let me lean on him as we moved for the door. “I’m the only applicant.”
He’d said this was a good idea, but now I had to wonder how long before he got sick of it. Would he one day be like my dad and say he was tired of the freak show?
“Tim, I—”
“Whatever is going on in your head, it can wait until we’re in the house. You need food and lots of rest.”
I was about to say it might be easier if he just carried me, but knowing Tim, that’s exactly what he’d do. I might put up some token resistance, but I wouldn’t object.
