Sandy's Story (Ditch Lane Diaries Book 3) (26 page)

Chapter 16

There’ll Be Sad Songs

Lee pressed her head into Erinelle’s neck as they flew to Everglade Farms. She and Erinelle had talked last night about the possibility of her dying. Giving life to Reed in exchange for her own had been a no-brainer. He was Ruby’s mate and Joe’s father.

They materialized in her bedroom upstairs, and Erinelle laid her on the bed. “I’ll get Harry.” Lee nodded weakly.

Minutes later, Harry entered the bedroom pale and frightened. Lee lifted her hand, and he joined her on the bed, placing her hand over his heart. “Harry, be brave. We both knew this day had to come eventually. I’m not afraid of dying, but I hate leaving you.”

Harry broke into tears and said, “Don’t leave me, Lee. Please fight to stay with me.”

She closed her eyes and swallowed as the fluid filled her lungs, making it hard to breathe. “Erinelle will fill you in on what happened. I don’t have the strength. In my bottom dresser, I have the love letters and photos of our life. You read those and remember I wait for you. You’ve been my light in this world, my darling. My true love. Kiss me.”

Harry leaned down and held her face gently in his hands then kissed her. “You have made my life, too.”

Lee looked at him with half-lidded eyes, and a smile crept across her face. “You’re a granddaddy now. You take care of our boy and girl and our grandbaby. You tell him about me.”

Harry wiped the tears away with his forearm. “I will, I promise.”

An incandescent light filled the room, and Lee turned her head. “Not now, please.”

Gabriel’s messenger, Arlene, hovered in the corner of the room. “Lee, you’re a faithful and loyal servant. Heaven awaits, and Harry is left in good hands.” Arlene extended her right arm and the beam of light covered Lee as her soul left her physical body.

Lee glanced back at her husband one last time before taking her journey home.

* * *

Ruby sat in the Everglade Hospital ICU waiting area. She glanced down at the buffed hardwood floors and up to the hall door as she waited for Anna to come in with news. Outside in the corridor, a tech rolled a deck of food trays toward the elevators.

Nurses wearing scrubs rushed to and from the ICU. There was a doctor in scrubs speaking with another family at the table in the back next to the vending machines. Ruby had sat in here a few days ago after Hugh’s car accident. Cole Steele’s actions had set events into motion that changed her life forever.

Anna had told her before the surgery that Raphael placed faze over the surgical team. Anna, along with Raphael, was in surgery with Reed.

Ruby pushed the thoughts of her mother to the back of her mind. She would deal with her grief later. Reed needed her. Jerry walked into the room with a bag of food from McDonald’s. He handed her a Coke and offered her a burger. “I can’t eat. I’m numb all over. I wish Anna would come out and give us an update. Hold my hand.”

Jerry placed the bag of food on the side table and gently nudged her over on the couch to sit down. He put his arms around Ruby and rubbed her back. She wouldn’t cry. She had to stay strong. As if Jerry read her thoughts, he said, “It’s natural to cry. Don’t hold it in. It’ll make you sick. You can be strong and cry.”

Ruby glanced up and said, “I can’t start crying. I’m afraid I’ll go bonkers if I do. Have you heard anything from Luwenia? Did Sandy and the captives get out?”

Jerry pointed and said, “Luwenia is here. Baldric has Sandy, and the other prisoners are free. Seneca is recuperating at The Treatment Center. Erinelle took your mother to Harry.”

Ruby let out a cry of pain and a river of tears began to fall. “Is she gone? Really?”

“Yes, my sweet girl. Lee is with The Creator.” He continued to hold Ruby until the tears began to subside.

Ruby thought of her poor daddy and Joe. “Should I call Rose to take care of Joe?”

“I already thought of that, and Rose is with Joe at Everglade Farms.” Jerry leaned against the couch and Ruby leaned against his shoulder.

Ruby held Jerry’s hand, and her words came out choppy. “Do you think The Creator knew all this would happen when he gave us the power of the angels? In less than a year, I’ve lost my grandfather and my mother. Sandy’s kidnapping, the battle, and Reed fighting for his life don’t seem fair. Somehow deep down in my soul I always thought things happened for a reason. Do you think there’s a reason for all of this suffering?”

Jerry rubbed Ruby’s right arm and said, “I asked the same thing to Anna the day of Hugh’s accident. She told me, sometimes good and evil go hand in hand. I don’t understand the whys. I gave up trying. I concentrate on making decisions that are proactive in the fight against the darkness. As a doctor, Anna has seen so much suffering. We need to look at the big picture. Life is a blink. Then, when our human suit expires, we’ll have all the answers we need.”

Ruby straightened up as Anna came through the ICU doors. Her chest tightened as she stood on shaky legs. Anna looked as though she’d aged ten years.

A small smile crept into the corners of Anna’s lips. “Reed made it, honey. He’s going to be all right.”

A loud cry of relief escaped, and Ruby said, “Thank you, sweet Jesus. Can I see him?”

Anna draped her arm around Ruby’s shoulder. “Come on. I’ll get you back to him.” She tossed a glance over her shoulder at Jerry and said, “Then you and I are going home. I need some serious loving.”

Jerry chuckled and said, “I’m all about the love, baby.”

* * *

Baldric carried Sandy through the ethereal plane to the hidden room at Campbell Ridge Cave. He placed his hand on the symbol of the sun and went through a portal. They materialized on a beach paradise with no hotels or humans in sight. Baldric set her down. Crystal blue waves of an endless sea lapped up onto shore, breaking at his and Sandy’s feet feeling like warm bathwater.

Sandy stood on the beach and lifted her face to the sun. Then she looked left and right at the palm trees lining the pristine beach for miles. “Where are we?”

Baldric stripped into a pair of turquoise blue swim trunks that hit right above his knee. His golden chest shimmered in the sun. He looked at Sandy and waved his hand, so she wore a red and white striped bikini. “Let’s go swimming and then I’ll explain.” He dove headfirst into the water, and she followed him.

They swam out to the second sand bar and sat down on the exposed beach. The water healed his wounds from the fight and hers.

Sandy looked at the injury on her arm disappear and then looked at him. “Are these healing waters? And where are we?”

“Yes, the water is from heaven. When a soul goes to heaven, it experiences a transformation. After a period of adjustment, a soul must make accounts for their life actions and choices, both good and bad, before the Prince. The soul takes a training course for assessment and atonement is offered for any wrong doing. After the course is complete, the soul is allowed to create its own version of heaven. The soul may take the ethereal form or a physical form. It is up to the individual. And if you think something, it happens. For example, if I think I want a piña colada, then
voila
.” Baldric held a piña colada and handed it to Sandy. “Angels have the same opportunity. This is my place. How do you like it?”

Sandy took a sip of her drink and said, “Not bad. Are we alone? Have you ever brought anyone here?”

Baldric chuckled and shook his head. “Yes, we’re alone, and you’re the only person who’s seen my place. You’re my partner, my wife, and I wanted you to see it. Sandy, will you forgive me? I failed you when you needed me. I couldn’t take you the night you begged me. My superiors wouldn’t allow me. Did he hurt you?”

Sandy took another sip and handed Baldric the cocktail. “I was mad at you. I was mad at myself. There’s nothing to forgive. I took the book and placed myself in a dangerous situation, and it nearly cost me my life. What happened to Caiojezeal? And what’ll happen to Luc and his people? Are the other wards okay, the prisoners and my friends?”

Baldric gently placed her hand into his hand. “The demon angels who fought us at Arrington Estates reside in the Eternal Darkness. The human guards are currently making accounts for their life choices and actions before the Prince. Luc is with The Creator, and I’m not privy to that conversation. Caiojezeal is in the reconditioning program with Michael. The AAF recovered the prisoners, and they’re with their families. Your friends…” He blinked and took a deep breath.

Baldric continued. “Reed’s in surgery. He’ll recover. Anna, Jerry, and Ruby are all right.” He paused again, looked out at the ocean, and turned back to her. With sadness, he said, “I hate to tell you, but Lee passed away a few minutes ago. She was one of the best examples of humanity I ever met, and I’m so sorry, honey.”

Sandy dropped her face into her hands and cried. “Lee died?”

He draped an arm around Sandy’s shoulders and drew her next to him. “No one dies. They move on. Lee is with her mother and father. She is at peace.”

Sandy sobbed, and her shoulders shook. “Oh my God, Ruby and Harry and George. Oh, little Joe will never know his beautiful Mama Bear. She died for me, Baldric. Why do I consistently cause pain in the lives of people I love?”

“Humans are born into the world, and humans pass on. Lee served The Creator well, and a celebration is going on in heaven in her honor. The one thing I know with certainty is The Creator will never fail you. He will always bring you through the storms of suffering. When you love greatly, you grieve greatly. Angels aren’t immune to suffering. I suffer, too.”

Sandy searched Baldric’s eyes. “You’re not telling me something. What is it?”

“I have to give you up. After today, I’ll no longer be your guardian, and I must do penance to The Creator for breaking the rules.”

Sandy placed her hands over her ears and screamed, “No, no, no. I don’t want to live if I can’t be with you.”

Baldric removed her hands from her ears and drew her into his lap. “I placed you in grave danger by pairing with you. I almost didn’t make it before Luc did the unthinkable. When I entered his chamber, Luc was oblivious that I was in his presence. He was going to take you and make you bear him a son and then he was going to kill you. I can’t place you in danger any longer. A guardian will be assigned, and you won’t remember me at all.”

“No, Baldric, no. You can’t take my memories. I won’t allow it. You’re the only one for me. The Spirit of Man paired us for eternity. Please don’t leave me again.” He winced in pain from her words. She dove into the water and swam back to shore. He swam behind her. Baldric ran after her, turned her around, and crushed her with a kiss.

A rush of heat spread throughout his body as Baldric held her in his arms. His lips on hers, moving alternately between rough and smooth. She kissed him back and then jumped up, locking her legs around his waist. “I love you, Baldric. I love you.” He made a bed materialize behind them as the palm trees swayed back and forth in the warm, balmy breeze.

Baldric moaned as he pulled and sucked on her sweet lips. He lightly traced his tongue around the smoothness of her teeth. Then he plunged inside her mouth circling his tongue with hers. Sandy sighed, and his heart soared.

As Baldric made love to her, golden sparkles released in the air and fell onto her lovely skin. His fingers brushed out her long tresses to fall over her shoulders. Baldric stared into her eyes and then memorized every line of her face. Their paring cords linked and held no secrets, connecting them on a higher plane of consciousness. He let out a growl that echoed in the air. His cry was one of love, passion, and loss.

Baldric held Sandy in his arms, loving her and kissing her. Their time was running out. He had to plead his case, ask for forgiveness, and take whatever punishment was deemed appropriate to keep his wife safe. Baldric made a deal with The Creator to return after the battle. He would atone for the broken rules, so he had added one more to the list by taking Sandy to his paradise.

Sandy looked up into his eyes and said, “Remember, you told me not to give up on you. I’m not. I’m going to fight for us. I’m going to petition the Spirit of Man for help. I’ll pray so much they’ll want to send you back just to shut me up. I’ll not give up what we have. Do you hear me?”

He chuckled and rubbed his cheek next to hers. “I love it when you’re feisty. But I have to make atonement for breaking the rules. So, you’ll behave while I’m gone? Promise not to get into any trouble?”

Sandy cut her eyes left and then right. “I never try to get in trouble. It just seems that trouble finds me. I know I need to check on my friends and my parents. But I don’t want to let you out of my sight. And you must make me a promise.” She propped her elbows on his chest and laid her chin on the palms of her hands.

“Anything. I will promise you anything.” He brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear.

“Excellent. You cannot take my memories. Absolutely no memory cleansing. Deal?”

Baldric took a deep breath and exhaled. “I thought it would be easier on you if you didn’t remember me. What if I can’t get back for decades? I don’t want you to be alone.”

Sandy stretched her body out over his and held onto his biceps, then laid her face in the crook of his neck. “You will always be with me. In my heart and my soul as I will be in yours. You made me whole, warrior. I don’t need anything else.”