I looked around the room. “Where is Samuel?”
Claire shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. She wore sweats, her gathered gray pants pushed up to just below her knees, and a matching hooded jacket over a ratty white tank top. She had been summoned unexpectedly. “Babysitting Ryan until I get back. Now that the trial is over, he’s vulnerable.”
“Is he okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “Kim goes home tomorrow. Father Francis is in stable condition, but he will be in traction for a while.”
Bex frowned. “That should have never happened. Clergy should have more protection than that.”
“Father Francis’ guardian is an Arch, Bex. His hands were tied when Donovan attacked him,” Claire explained.
“So what now?” Jared asked Gabe.
“Shax still wants his book. Hell doesn’t want the child to be born. Things are stacking against you, Jared,” Gabe said. “One thing at a time.”
“One thing at a time,” Jared repeated, letting his father’s advice sink in.
Gabe hugged his children one more time, and then made his way toward the door. “It’s a long time between now and the time she delivers the baby, Jared. We’ll keep an ear to the ground, but be on alert. Heaven won’t step in until you give them a reason.”
“You mean start a war,” Jared said.
“Figure out a reason, Son.” In that instant, Gabriel was gone.
“Huh,” Bex puffed. “Weird.”
Claire’s shoulders dropped. “He’s never coming back, is he?”
“Probably not,” Jared said with a small, apologetic smile on his face.
Claire sat on the closest pew, beside her mother. She leaned against Lillian’s shoulder and closed her eyes, pushing the remaining tears down her face. “I’m so sorry you couldn’t see him,” Claire whispered.
“She’ll know,” Bex said. “She always knows.”
The windows began to brighten, and light danced down the walls as if the sun were rising.
Eli smiled, kissing me lightly on the cheek. “Congratulations, kiddo. On both counts. See you soon.”
“How soon?”
He smiled. “It’s as I said before. When there is only one question left to ask.”
“But...what does that mean? What is the question?” I asked, but I was talking to empty space. He was gone.
Claire stood, taking a deep breath. “I have to get back,” she said, looking behind her. Samuel stood at the door with an outstretched hand reaching in her direction. “You look beautiful,” she said to me with a small smile. In no hurry, Claire ambled down the aisle. Once her hand touched Samuel’s, she was gone as well.
Bex laughed once and shook his head. “That’s so cool.”
Chapter Four
Little Heaven
Jared took my hand and led me to our former spots at the front of the church. Bex took a position beside his brother. We watched each other as the sun grew brighter, slowly brightening the faces of our audience. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement, and Father Julian shifted his weight, signaling their awakening.
The minister smiled, gesturing for us to turn. We faced our friends and family, and Father Julian placed his hands on each of our shoulders. “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jared Ryel.”
Every face in the room beamed, and applause filled the room. Even with the frightening events just moments before, joy consumed me. Jared’s hand enveloped mine, and we walked the few steps to the aisle, and then made our way outside. It was surreal to return to the scene of Jared’s trial, this time in the sunshine where birds sang, happily riding the bobbing branches that swayed with the breeze. The plaza at the bottom of the chapel’s steps where Michael and his small army had stood not ten minutes before now bathed in the warmth of the sun, waiting for our friends to occupy its smooth, rocked surface. The fountain gushing, the road peppered with townspeople—I felt a bit sick at the sight of it.
“You okay?” Jared said, stopping to smile as Beth took our picture.
“Yeah…yeah, I just feel…confused.”
“Changing planes is unnatural and unsettling for humans, which is why they typically don’t allow it.”
“That explains a lot,” I said, stopping to pose for more pictures as Lillian, Cynthia, Chad, and Jared’s Uncle Luke and Aunt Maryse filed out of the chapel. “Does it…,” I smiled again, “affect the baby?”
“No,” Jared answered, kissing my forehead.
“How do you know?” I said, leaning into his kiss.
He looked down to me and touched my cheek. “Otherwise Eli wouldn’t have done it.”
“Oh,” I said, my eyes wandering until I found Lillian. “Of course.”
Lillian hugged her son, and then me. Her sweet, energetic smile lit up the island. I watched and waited, wondering if she realized she’d been in Gabriel’s presence just moments before.
“What is it?” she said, half curious, half amused.
“Nothing,” I smiled. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
“Not as much as I,” she winked.