It's a Wonderful Death - Sarah J. Schmitt Page 0,59

find peace in my death.”

Azbaugh interrupts, “That’s very sentimental, Angelica. You are such a devoted mother. I imagine you would do anything to help your daughter, wouldn’t you?”

Angelica’s head snaps up. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re implying.” I can see the fire in her eyes. Azbaugh has awoken the mama bear.

He doesn’t seem to care. “Did you attempt to influence Ms. Jones’s decisions?”

“No. I didn’t think that was possible. Since I was her first guide, Death Himself had given me very detailed instructions on what she needed to know before the first test began. I couldn’t change them, even if I wanted to.”

“And you refrained from lecturing or shaming her into making a choice that would better serve Abigail?”

Angelica looks guilty. “Not exactly,” she begins. “I thought I would be able to talk to her like any other soul. I’ve done some work with the counselors, especially when mothers of young children arrive. I thought I was prepared for what I was going to see.”

“But you weren’t, were you?” Azbaugh continues to question.

“Do something,” I hiss at Sal. “Isn’t he badgering the witness or something?”

“He can’t do anything, Ms. Jones,” Azbaugh says. “As a member of the Tribunal, I am entitled to ask any question I see fit. It would serve you well to remember that.” He turns back to Angelica and while his voice softens ever so slightly, he is still doing his best to intimidate her. “Please, answer the question.”

“No, I was not.”

“And you did lead her.”

“A little,” Angelica admits.

“Thank you,” Azbaugh says, sitting back in triumph.

Shepard clears his throat. “If I may, Brother, I would like to follow up with a question of my own.” Azbaugh says nothing so Shepard continues. “Angelica, did you explicitly tell RJ that she needed to protect your daughter?”

She shakes her head. “No, I did not.”

“Then what did you tell her?” Azbaugh interjects.

“I reminded her that all choices have consequences and that her challenge was to make better ones than she did her first go around. I told her that everyone has regrets and she’s been given a gift to go back to the moments where she was the most selfish and do the right thing.”

I sink down low in my chair. I can feel the stares of everyone in the room burning a hole in the back of my neck.

“Did you tell her what she needed to do in order to, as you said, ‘do the right thing’?”

Angelica shakes her head emphatically. “Absolutely not.”

Azbaugh looks like he’s going to push this line of questioning even further, but Shepard smiles at Angelica and says, “Thank you. Unless there are other questions from the Tribunal, Sal, I believe you may continue.”

A heartbeat passes before Sal speaks. “Before her first test, did RJ know how she was connected to you?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“And during your observation, what did you see?” Sal inquires.

“I saw RJ struggle at first. But there was also a point where she looked at Abby and it was as if a lightbulb clicked on. She sacrificed herself in order to buy time for Abby to go get help,” Angelica explains.

“Why didn’t she run for help?”

Angelica looks thoughtful. “I don’t know. I believe that is a question only RJ can answer.”

“We can retrieve that answer during the memory evaluation,” Zachriel offers. Azbaugh nods his approval.

“I have one last question,” Sal says. “What impact did RJ’s decision have on your family?”

“I will not allow that question,” Azbaugh roars. “Stick to the facts.”

Sal looks a little shaken. “Let me redefine the question, then. Angelica, did RJ’s decision have a positive or negative impact on your family?” Azbaugh opens his mouth to object and Sal adds quickly, “As compared to the first timeline?”

Angelica doesn’t hesitate. “Positive. For all of them,” she says, beaming with joy.

“Thank you,” Sal says. “If there are no other questions, you may return to the galley.”

Angelica looks expectantly at the Tribunal but Azbaugh dismisses her with a nod.

As she walks by, she gives me a wink and warmth spreads through my body. No matter what happens, Angelica’s approval is almost worth an eternity in the Afterlife. Almost, but not quite.

Chapter 24

“Is there another witness?” Azbaugh asks.

Sal glances to the front row. “Gladys Jones will be our next witness.”

I swing my head to face her but Grams looks right past me as she walks to the chair. After our conversation, I know I’m not going to like what she has to say.

Once she’s seated, Sal begins. “Gladys, you are RJ’s