Sandy's Story (Ditch Lane Diaries Book 3) (27 page)

He growled low and whispered, “Make love to me again, wife.”

* * *

Later in the evening, Sandy and Baldric ported back to her parents’ home to pick up her car. Sandy squeezed his hand and said, “I haven’t been here since Cole kidnapped me. Go inside with me, please.”

Baldric held her hand as they walked up the front steps and he opened the door. “Let me go in first. I don’t think we have any worries. But I’d rather be safe than sorry.” He walked inside and then came back for her. “The coast is clear.”

Sandy stepped inside the house. Someone had come in and cleaned the place up.

Sally yelled from the kitchen, “Who is it?”

Sandy grinned at Baldric and said, “It’s me, Mom.”

Her mother ran in from the kitchen with tears in her eyes. “You’re home. Oh, thank God. You’re home.” She wrapped her arms around Sandy. “I love you so much, baby.” Sally released her and looked at Baldric, then hugged him. “Thank you for bringing her back to us.” She yelled out, “Hugh, honey, come downstairs. Sandy’s home.”

Hugh ran down the steps and into the den. He picked Sandy up and twirled her around. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, little girl.” He sat her down and extended his hand to Baldric, who picked Hugh up and hugged him.

Sandy said, “Be careful.”

Baldric’s eyes widened. “Sorry, got caught up in the moment.”

Hugh laughed and said, “No apologies needed. So what happened?”

Sandy looked at the ground and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “Mom and Dad, I have to go to the hospital. Reed was hurt trying to rescue me.” Then she sobbed. “And Lee was killed.”

Sally released a cry and held Sandy in her arms. “Oh, honey, I’m at a loss for words. Hugh, we need to check on Harry and see if he needs anything.”

“Mom, it just happened today. Let’s give Harry some time and we’ll go together. I have to go to the condo and get some clothes. I’ll call when I have news.”

Sally reached for her hand. “I went to your condo. You have some clothes upstairs.”

Sandy’s voice filled with emotion, and she replied in broken words, “Okay, I’ll walk Baldric out. He has to go to a meeting.”

Baldric bowed before Sandy’s parents. “I will try to return as soon as possible. Take care of my girl while I’m gone?”

Hugh nodded and said, “Baldric, you’ve saved my girl twice. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Sandy and Baldric walked out on the front porch. The afternoon sun warmed her skin as she squeezed his hand. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I love you, Baldric. I love you so much, and I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Baldric leaned down and held her face in his hands. “The AAF has sent warriors to watch over you while I’m away. The research team figured out the properties of the gelean wire, and demon angels will never threaten your life again. I love you more than my life.” He kissed her and dematerialized.

Sandy slumped against the porch door. Her heart sank as she wiped tears out of her eyes. She had to stay strong. Ruby needed her, and Baldric would come back to her—someday.

Chapter 17

These Dreams

Sandy quickly showered and changed into her jeans and a sweater. She slipped on a pair of loafers and went downstairs. Her purse and keys lay on the table in the foyer. She stuck her head in the den and said, “Mom and Dad, I’ll be back later. I love you guys.”

“Be careful,” her parents said at the same time, then looked at each other and smiled.

“I will.” Sandy went out the door and walked down the steps to her Corvette.

She cranked up the engine and turned on the radio to WKDF Rock before she pulled out of the driveway. Listening to music occupied her mind as she drove to the hospital. Her friends had sacrificed much to save her. The prophesied battle came to fruition. Sandy never wanted to waste another precious minute of her life on things that didn’t matter. It didn’t matter what kind of clothes you wore, the car you drove, or the place where you lived. It was the people she loved the most who mattered.

Had it only been days since her news story about Cole had aired? It seemed like an eternity. Life changed in a split second. Sandy pulled into the parking lot and stopped her car. She took a few deep breaths as she walked toward the entrance of the hospital. When the automatic doors of the ER opened, Sandy experienced a sense of déjà vu. She stepped over to the nurse’s station and inquired about Reed Jackson.

The nurse looked up from her computer screen and said, “Are you, family?”

Sandy nodded. “Yes.” Ruby and Reed were part of her family.

The nurse replied, “Mr. Jackson has been moved to the fourth floor, Room 422. Take a right at the hall, and you’ll find the elevators on the right.”

“Thanks.” Sandy walked down to the next hall, took the next right, and then hit the button on the elevator. She rode to the fourth floor and stepped out. Glancing at the sign on the wall, Sandy took another right to Room 422. Sandy began to tremble as she knocked on Reed’s door. The door opened, and Ruby burst into tears. Sandy enveloped her in her arms. They both cried until a nurse came over and quietly requested them to go inside Reed’s room.

Reed slept in the bed with an IV. Thankfully, no other monitors were hooked up.

Sandy swallowed hard, and her voice cracked. “Ruby, I’m sorry about Mama Bear. I should’ve left Cole alone. It’s all my fault.”

Ruby wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Don’t. It wasn’t your fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s Luc.”

Ruby took another deep breath, and there was a hitch in her voice. “You put Cole behind bars. The battle ended Luc’s foothold in Nashville, and Mom knew the risks. We all did. Sandy, as bad as it hurts, you should’ve seen my mama fight. Even in battle, she was graceful but lethal. The fight was unlike anything I’ve ever seen even in the movies.” Ruby swiveled in the chair and leaned in closer to Sandy.

In a quiet voice, Ruby said, “We fought with the warrior angels. We fought as soldiers. Erinelle pegged the demon angels correctly. They worked together, and I got caught in a surprise attack. They immobilized me. Reed and Mama came back to help me. It was a trap. The demon angels ran them through with their blades. Erinelle swooped in and took Mama to Daddy.”

Ruby shook her head and said, “Anna, man, she saved Reed’s life. Her healing power stopped Reed’s internal bleeding. She and Jerry saved my husband.”

Reed’s eyes opened, and he said, “Sandy, don’t let her fool you. Ruby fought like a madwoman. You should’ve seen her blow out the skulls of the demon angels with those blue energy spheres.” Ruby and Sandy moved to either side of Reed’s bed.

Ruby brushed the hair off his forehead and bent over to kiss him. “How are you feeling?”

Reed frowned and said, “I’m sorry Mama died, honey. I wished I could’ve seen those bastards before they tricked us.” He winced and placed his hand just under his chest.

Ruby gently put her hand over his and said, “Does it hurt bad?”

“Only when I move.” He snickered and winced again.

Sandy held the rail of the bed and looked at Ruby. “Have you talked to your dad?”

With sadness, Ruby replied, “Yes, I plan to go over in a little while. I just couldn’t leave Reed.”

Reed squeezed her hand and said, “Honey, I’m going to be all right. Go to your father.” He turned to Sandy and asked, “Will you take her? I’m going to click on the tube and see if I can find a basketball game to watch.”

“Of course, I will.”

Ruby’s shoulders slumped, and she sagged down into the chair next to the bed. “Part of me dreads going into the house without Mom. I still can’t believe she’s gone. George and Rose are staying until I arrive. Jerry and Anna stopped by to check on Daddy, too.”

Sandy walked around the bed and held out her hand to Ruby. “Come on, sister. We’ll do it together.”

Ruby nodded and stood. She looked around the room and shook her head. “I forgot we came here from the battle. The weirdest thing I remember is we had on these golden, armored angel suits, and when Jerry pulled onto the highway, our street clothes materialized. Isn’t that weird?”

A slow smile came to Reed’s lips, and he said, “You looked fierce and awfully sexy in that angel suit. Hey, come give us a kiss and I’ll be here when you get back.”

Ruby leaned over the bed and kissed Reed on the mouth, then caressed the side of his face with the palm of her hand. She took another deep breath and turned to Sandy. “Let’s ride, Clyde.”

Sandy and Ruby walked down the hall to the elevators.

Ruby looked at Sandy and said, “Oh, Sandy, I’ve been blubbering and didn’t even ask how you were. What happened the day after we talked on the phone?”

Sandy began to tell Ruby on the elevator about the terror she’d experienced at the hands of Cole and Luc. Once they got inside the car, Sandy paused and stared out the windshield. “I’m still afraid Luc will come back for me. Baldric said the AAF assigned several warrior angels to guard me, but I’m still afraid without him.”

She turned toward Ruby and said, “Baldric and I had Luc. We were killing The Dragon, and the Spirit of Man stopped us. I wanted Luc to explode into ash like Sazae, his demon wife. I don’t understand why we couldn’t finish him off. During my captivity, I saw a glimpse of something in Luc, a potential of something still good, for a brief moment. Then he’d go all crazy on me. Do you think that’s why The Creator saved him? The potential of what Luc could be instead of the malevolent being he is?”

Ruby shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. I’m afraid to fall asleep. I’m scared of the next dream. Will it be about death or life? It’s going to take time for us to heal from this ordeal. Like Anna said to Jerry, we need to quit trying to figure it all out and work proactively to make the right decisions in our lives.”

Sandy turned on the ignition and the engine varoomed. “You’re so like Mama Bear.”

Ruby smiled and said, “Well, Mama wouldn’t want us wallowing in sorrow. She’d want us to celebrate her life, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

* * *

Everglade Farms had a house full of people when Sandy and Ruby arrived. Jerry, Anna, Rose, and her friend Haley were in the kitchen. Harry sat in the living area watching little Joe as he rolled over onto his stomach from his back and tried to push up with his hands. Everyone seemed to talk at the same time. It was a nervous kind of chatter that comes when there’s death in the family. But there was laughter too, and plenty of tears as each person told a story about Lee’s life.

Sandy went upstairs with Ruby and Anna. They needed to pick out what Lee would wear for her burial clothes. Ruby pulled out several dresses and one pink pants suit. Lee loved the pink suit and wore it frequently to social gatherings in the community. They agreed on the pink suit and paired it with a light gray blouse with little pastel pink flowers.

Lastly, Ruby put together some undergarments and accessories. “Did you know my parents already picked out their caskets and made arrangements for their funeral service years ago? The only thing left to do is take her clothes and call Pastor Logan. Will you girls go with me to the funeral home tomorrow?”

Tears rolled down Ruby’s face, and she sniffled. “It’s just like Mama to choreograph her death, too.” Then Ruby chuckled. “I feel like I need to sleep but feel wired at the same time. You know what I mean?”

Sandy and Anna both nodded. Then Sandy said, “Oh, I get what you mean, Jellybean. I feel the same way. But we have to try to get some rest. The next couple of days is going to be tough. Are you going back to the hospital?”

Ruby sat on the edge of Lee’s bed. “No. Reed called and told me to stay with Daddy. I’ll head over in the morning to check on him. Then y’all can meet me at the funeral home around ten o’clock. I don’t think I can do this without you two.”

Sandy and Anna flanked Ruby’s sides, and they linked arms. Sandy chuckled, remembering a time long ago, and said, “The Three Mouseketeers.” Ruby and Anna both laughed out loud.

* * *

The Everglade community came out to support the Glenn family. Lee’s friends and neighbors filled every pew at Smith Funeral Home, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The celebration of Lee’s life had an open invitation to anyone who wanted to tell a story of Lee. Many of the stories Sandy had heard before and a few she hadn’t. Lee’s death brought Lizzie back to Tennessee and George. They were officially back together. Sandy grinned during part of the ceremony, imagining Lee’s spirit among her family and friends. Why not? Sandy liked the notion of Lee’s spirit floating among them.

Sandy listened to most of the stories, but her mind began to wander. She looked around the sanctuary and could feel the angels’ presence in the room. Sandy closed her eyes and silently prayed to The Creator not to be hard on Baldric and to consider them as a couple. Sandy reminded Him how much she and Baldric loved each other. Sandy prayed He would give a message to Baldric and let him know she would wait for him, and she missed him very much. Sandy had an emptiness only Baldric could fill.

She glanced over at Harry in the front row, and her heart ached for him. Harry and Lee’s love wouldn’t dissipate, but Sandy would bet her life Harry experienced a similar kind of emptiness after the loss of his most beloved wife.