The Gatekeeper's Sons (The Gatekeeper's Trilogy) (32 page)

“What?”

“That’s so sad. What do they mostly die of?”

“Hunger.”

“That seems so…preventable.”

“Yeah.”

She continued to gaze at the floor.

“Is there something else bothering you?”

“This is going to sound so selfish.”

“Tell me. I want to know.”

“Well, how would you ever have time for me?” She blushed. “Sorry. That sounds so, selfish and immature. But, I mean, think about it. When would we ever be together? It sounds like you have to work nonstop.”

He laughed. “Now don’t freak out, okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I can be in several places at once.”

Her mouth dropped open. “I don’t understand. How is that possible? I mean, are you somewhere else right now?”

“Right now you have my undivided attention, but when I’m acting as the death guide, I can be at many places at the same time.”

“That’s hard to grasp. So there’s like a whole bunch of your clones running around?”

He shook his head. “No, no, not clones. In each instance, it’s me, only me, and completely me, and not an imitation of some sort.
I disintegrate into many selves. Right now I am integrated into one.”

“I still can’t picture it.”

“You know how you can be on your computer, on the phone, and listening to music at the same time? You might also be petting Clifford, eating a snack, and glancing out the window.”

Therese nodded. “So?”

“Well, I can do a million more things at the same time as a human, even though I have one brain that is aware of the million things I’m doing and the million places I am at.”

“Okay, I think I’m beginning to understand. But then why can’t you be with me and be the guide for the dead at the same time? Why did Hip have to take over for you?”

He moved a strand of hair from her face and pushed it behind her ear. “Because as the death guide, I would endanger your life. As long as one part of me is acting in that capacity, no human could survive my company.”

“Oh.” She thought about that for a moment. “Then why can’t you do Hip’s job and be with me?”

“Because then you’d fall asleep around me.”

She laughed. “That’s hard to imagine.” She touched his cheek. “So is there anything you can do while you’re with me?”

He cracked a smile. “Oh, I can think of something.”

She laughed and lightly slapped his chest. “I mean somewhere else!”

“No. As long as I’m in my mortal form, I can’t disintegrate. I have to shift into my godly form.”

Her eyes opened wide. “This isn’t your usual form?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m brighter. Too bright for your eyes. Any more questions?” He leaned in.

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

He kissed her neck again, enkindling her quickly and unexpectedly. Her body felt like it was inflamed, the heat rising within her and flooding all of her senses. She ran her fingers through his soft, wet hair and met his lips with hers. He dazzled her, overwhelmed her, made her want to soar across the sky. Their slow, romantic kisses turned into feverish, passionate ones, and he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He gently laid her down on her bed without moving his mouth from hers. He moved on top of her, his body hot and hard against hers. She clung to his hair, keeping his face next her hers.

“
Mmm,” she moaned.

He pulled away and collapsed beside her on his back.

She turned on her side to face him. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop,” he said breathlessly.

“Oh.” Then, with her heart speeding up even more in her chest, she whispered, “That’s okay.”

He looked at her with a mixture of shock and desire. She was afraid but overcome. He kissed her, fervently, and she felt like she would overflow with passion. Then he stopped and collapsed on his back again.

“You’re killing me,” she said with frustration.

He laughed. “I’m sorry, Therese. But there’s something you don’t know.”

“Oh no. You’re already married.”

He broke into
a boisterous laugh. “Oops. That was too loud. I hope Carol and Richard didn’t hear that.” He covered his mouth with his hand and they both sat there, listening for the other humans in the house.

After a few minutes of silence, Therese said, “Tell me what’s wrong.”

He turned on his side to face her, propping himself up on an elbow. “I talked to my dad a little yesterday about…things. You have to know that every time a god has ever made love to a human, it has always, invariably, ended in pregnancy.”

Understanding washed over her, along with disappointment. “Oh.”

“Human forms of birth control are powerless against the seed of gods.”

She giggled at that. It struck her as funny. Not that she had any birth control anyway.

“What?” he demanded.

“Nothing. That just sounded kind of hilarious.”

“But it’s true. And you’re not ready to have a baby.”

She bit her lip. “No. You’re right. I’m not.”

He sat up. “I should go.”

She grabbed his arm. “No. Please don’t go. Stay. Sleep here with me.”

He grinned. “You want to drive me crazy, huh?”

She giggled again. “No.” Then she was somber. “I just don’t like being away from you.”

He lay back down beside her and stroked her hair. “Okay. I’ll give it a try. Maybe if you talk to me, you can distract me from what it is I really want.”

She giggled once more and then called to Clifford, who had been curled up in the corner on his pillow. “Come here, boy.”

He jumped on the bed between them.

“Can you translate?” she asked Than.

“He’s just glad you’re finally paying attention to him again. He was whining a minute ago, full of jealousy.”

She pet Clifford. “I already knew that.”

“I know,” Than said. “You can read animals really well. That’s what I meant when I said you had a gift. Your conversations with the horses in the pen made sense both ways. The horses love you, especially Sugar.” Then he said, “By the way, Jewels is wondering when you’re going to remember to turn off her lamp. She’s tired and wants to go to sleep, but she’s too warm.”

Therese jumped up. “Oh my God!” She snapped off the lamp. “I’m sorry, Jewels! Is that better?”

“She’s sighing with relief,” Than said.

“You should have said something earlier.”

“I was distracted.” He gave her a lusty smile, and she nearly lost herself again.

Therese flopped back down on the bed beside Than and Clifford. “What about Puffy? Has he said anything lately?”

“He wishes we’d shut up and go to sleep so he can have peace and quiet while he works. He’s miffed, but he’ll tolerate it. He really likes you and is glad you’re finally home. He’d just rather you go to sleep.”

“He said all that?”

“Here and there, throughout the evening. I had to finally tune him out.”

“Why don’t I hear anything?”

“He speaks on a different frequency. Most animals do.”

She turned off the lamp on her nightstand and made the room dark. “That’s for Puffy, of course,” she whispered.

“Of course.”

She climbed beneath the covers. “Coming in?”

He cleared his throat. “Um, I think I’ll sleep above the covers.”

She moved around beneath the sheet until she was comfortable lying against his chest. She made Clifford lie down on the other side of her so she could be against Than.

“He’s jealous again,” Than said.

“I know. He’ll live.” She nestled against
Than’s chest. “Are you sleepy?”

“A little.”

“Gods do sleep, don’t they?”

He stroked her hair. “Yes, just not as much as humans. You go to sleep, though. Don’t worry about me. We have a big day tomorrow if we’re going to Greece.”

She kissed his chest and closed her eyes.

Therese awoke after a dreamless night to the bright sunshine coming through her bedroom windows. It took a minute for her to remember that Than was supposed to be there, that he had been beside her when she had fallen asleep. Clifford gave her a cursory glance as she sat up and wondered where Than was. Do gods use the restroom?

“
Than?” she called softly as she climbed from the bed. He wasn’t in the bathroom.

The clock on the night stand said it was 9:30. She wondered if Carol and Richard had left for their day of sightseeing. Only one way to find out. She and Clifford went downstairs to see if they were alone, except for the officer she knew would be on the deck.

“Oh good, you’re awake,” Carol said as she emptied a half-eaten bowel of cereal into the sink. She was dressed in jeans and a button-down blouse, her red hair pulled back in a short ponytail, make up perfect. “I was hoping to see you before we left. You sure you don’t want to come along?”

“I’m sure. He’ll watch out for me.” She pointed to the kitchen window through which they could see the police officer sitting with a pastry and coffee,
his feet propped on a cooler. Then Richard walked in from the guest bedroom. “Hey, Richard.”

“Hey.” He sat at the granite bar and opened the newspaper in the same spot her dad had always sat. He too was dressed and ready to go.

Therese sucked in her lips and sighed. “No, I really want to do this. I’ve decided donating mom and dad’s things to charity might give me some…I don’t know…closure.” She put the leash on Clifford. “I’ll take him to the front to do his business. Come on, boy.”

Carol kissed Therese’s cheek as she passed and then took Richard’s
empty cereal bowl to the sink. “Call me on my cell if you need anything.” Then she asked, “You won’t be alone, right? I mean, except for him.” She nodded her head toward the officer.

“No.
Than’s coming to help.”

“Okay. Don’t hesitate to call 911 if anything suspicious happens. Even a police office
r may need help. Promise?”

“Promise.”

As soon as she came back inside with Clifford, and after Carol and Richard had left, Therese poured herself a bowl of cereal and said out loud, “Than, where are you? Will you please come back?” She was startled by his instant appearance by her side. “Geez, you scared the crap out of me.”

He gave her a smirk. “Sorry.”

“Why did you leave? I thought you were staying the night.” She ate some of the cereal while she waited for his explanation.

He took her face in his hands. “You look so cute first thing in the morning.” He kissed the top of her head.

“How would you know? You weren’t there.” She couldn’t hide the slight hostility in her voice.

“Was too. I didn’t leave you till dawn. I wanted a quick shower and a moment with my sisters. They had news.”

Clifford put his paws on Than’s jean-clad shins.

“Hey, boy. Good morning to you, too,” Than said, patting the dog.

“So, what was the news?” Therese stood to rinse the bowl in the sink. “Want some?”

“No thanks. I already ate.” Then he said, “The news is complicated and I’m not sure…”

She left the bowl in the sink, turned, and pressed herself against him. “Tell me. I want to know.”

He toyed with her mussed up hair, straightening it, smiling. “You’re so cute, and you’ve been so happy. I hate to…ruin that.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy.”

The doorbell made her jump. “Who could that be? I’m not dressed.”

Hold on. He vanished and then instantly reappeared. “It’s Pete Holt.”

She sighed. “Oh God. Will you get it while I run up and get dressed?”

“He won’t like that.”

“Too bad.”

She dashed up the stairs and quickly changed into a knit top and matching short skirt. She brushed her hair out, glossed her lips, and hustled back down.

Pete lingered at the front door, a wide space between him
and Than. He wore jeans and boots and no shirt and was sweaty and grimy, as though he had just finished cleaning the barn. “Hey, Therese.” Pete’s voice was sobered, nearly grave.

“Hey, Pete.”

“Sorry to barge in…”

“Don’t apologize.”

“My mom sent me to deliver your earnings. She would have given them to you yesterday, but…Hey, are you feeling better?” He glanced at Than and back at her.

“Yeah, thanks.” She gave him a hesitant nod. “And thanks again for covering for me. I hope it wasn’t too much of a drag.”

“Not at all.” He gave Than another glance.

They all three shared a moment of awkward silence without looking at one another.

Therese finally said, “Well, hey, thanks for coming by.”

“Oh, sure. Here’s the money.” He held up a white envelope. “I don’t want to get your house dirty.”