A Most Excellent Midlife Crisis - Robyn Peterman Page 0,80
my eyes still closed.
“I’ll show you, darlin’,” she promised. “Stay with me.”
Birdie hid below the bridge. My mother’s body hit the water with a sickening crash. Her soul, a beautiful golden orb, left her body.
Clarissa flew like a bat out of hell to steal it.
However, Birdie was faster.
My mind went back to static for a brief second and then we were in a home—a home that I’d been in many times in my life.
Chills skittered up my spine. “Oh my God,” I said. “I know where we are.”
“Of course you do,” Birdie said. “Watch.”
An old woman came into the room with a young girl. I smiled when I saw the child. I would know my best friend anywhere. The little girl who’d stopped my tears. Missy. And the old woman looked just as Missy had described her. The very same woman who had told her the story of the Soul Keepers.
Missy held her beloved great-granny’s hand and had no clue that the old woman was conversing with a ghost who carried my mother’s precious soul in her hands.
Looking down at the child, Missy’s great-granny smiled. “This little one is the strongest Soul Keeper of them all. My tiny gal has the magic and the love.” She focused her attention on Birdie and the glowing remnant of my mother. “Missy will keep the two of you safe. I’m goin’ to my maker soon, or else I’d let you hitch a ride in me. She will accept you both, and you will be respectful of my baby.” The last part had been directed at Birdie.
Birdie nodded her ghostly head and kissed the gnarled old woman on the cheek. Missy played with her great-granny’s colorful skirt and giggled as Birdie and my mother slipped in and hitched a ride.
“Missy,” I whispered. “My mother is still inside Missy.”
I opened my eyes and looked at Birdie. “That’s why you were so excited to see Missy.”
“Indeed, it was,” Birdie said. “She’s a rare and beautiful one. I was sad when I had to leave, but I knew it was my time—just didn’t know why, until I met up with you.”
I shook my head and tried to take it all in. “Could you see me? I mean, could my mom see me through Missy’s eyes?”
“No, darlin’,” Birdie said. “Nothing like that, but your mama could feel you. When you and Missy were together, Alana could feel your spirit.”
“I think I felt her too,” I said, marveling at the magic. “Missy’s the one who stopped my crying when we met. She’s been my best friend forever.”
“Forever is a long time,” Birdie said with a chuckle.
I nodded and then shivered. “I have to get to Missy.”
“Yes, you do,” Birdie agreed. “Don’t wait for me to go into the light. I can get up to my Heavenly maker just fine. When you leave me, go to Missy. Find her before the evil one does.”
“Birdie,” I said, throwing my arms around her. “I love you and I will never be able to thank you enough.”
“Find your mama and send her into the light. That is thank you enough, hooker.”
I laughed through my tears and flipped her off. “I’ll miss you, hooker.”
“Right back at you,” she replied with a beautiful middle finger salute. “Go now, Daisy. May God be with you. Or at least that hot man you’re banging.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
As I came to, Gideon held me cradled in his arms with his forehead pressed to mine. We were on the couch and Birdie was gone. Staying in his protective embrace would have been heavenly, but I’d just learned too many hellish truths.
“How long was I out?” I was worried that hours may have passed.
“Only ten minutes after you left Birdie. An hour total,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear and looking so relieved, I laughed weakly.
“Did Birdie move on?” I asked, looking around the room. I’d be sad if I missed it, but she’d promised me she’d be fine on her own.
“She did,” Tim confirmed. “Birdie flipped all of us off and laughed like a loon when she went into the light. Told Gideon his balls were in for a treat.”
“Of course she did,” I said with an embarrassed groan. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” Gideon said with a smile. “Looking forward to it.”
I was about to comment, but instead, rolled out of Gideon’s arms and jumped to my feet. I had just witnessed my mother’s death… which meant my father had, too.