Ghost River, Jon Coon [ebooks online reader TXT] 📗

Carol shook her head, “Cops aren’t good patients. Go back to bed, Gabe. I’ll tell you if there are changes.”

When they were back in the hall, Gabe asked his nurse, “Could we stop in the chapel, please?”

“Sure, but only for a minute. You need to be back in bed, and I have other patients.”

Gabe eased open the door. Alethea was collapsed on the floor in front of the crucifix. The nurse put a code in her phone then knelt to the floor beside Alethea. Gabe was already out of his chair with Alethea’s head in his arms. She moaned and opened her eyes.

“That’s awful,” she said. “I must have fainted.”

“I doubt it,” Gabe answered, “You’re much too tough for that.”

The nurse took her pulse and went out to the hall to get a blood pressure cuff. “I’ll get another wheelchair,” she said and did an about-face. Gabe waited for the door to close behind her.

“What did you do?” he asked sternly. “Did you make a deal with that loa, Baron what’s-his-name?”

“Baron Samedi. And no, I told you, I’m a good Catholic girl now.” She sat up more in his arms and straightened her skirt. “I was praying, and I must have fainted. Old folks do that, you know. It’s been a long, hard day, and I’m not young anymore.”

If they’d been playing poker, he would have called her bluff.

“Emily’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”

“She’s going to be okay. For certain sure. You saw Charlie, didn’t you?”

“Yes. How did you know?” he asked.

“Because you’re both still alive. Now help me up. Emily’s in good hands. The best.”

CHAPTER 44

He didn’t know how long he’d slept, but when Gabe woke daylight filled the room. Alethea and Carol were sitting beside his bed quietly talking.

“Good morning,” Carol said. She looked exhausted.

“Emily?” he asked.

“It’s a miracle. She woke this morning alert and smiling. She’s still congested, but her doc says it’s not that serious. If she continues to improve I can take her home tomorrow.”

Gabe looked at Alethea who smiled and then looked away. “That’s wonderful, Carol. Our prayers have been answered.” He looked back at Alethea and wondered.

“She knows what happened, and she’s asking for you. She and Paul want to come in if you’re ready for company.”

Gabe smiled and wanted to hug Carol, but she held him away. Not understanding, he dropped his arms and quietly said, “Sure, bring them in.”

Paul pushed Emily’s wheelchair into the room and up to his bed. She took his hand and pulled herself up until she could hug him. “I’m still kind of wobbly,” she said and coughed. “But I’m going to be fine.”

“That’s wonderful, honey,” he said.

“Gabe, I’ve got something cool to tell you, and you probably won’t believe me, but I swear it’s true.”

“Try me.”

“Dad was there with me. He held me while we waited for you.”

“Did he talk to you?” Alethea asked. Her smile was warm and full of love.

“No, he just held me. But I felt so much love it was like more than talking. He kept me warm. You believe me, don’t you?” She dried a tear she hoped no one had seen.

“Without a doubt, child. Gabriel, how about you?” Alethea said.

“No question. Of course your dad was there,” Gabe confirmed.

A nurse came into the room, “Emily, sorry to bust up the party, but we need you for another test.”

“I’ll take her back,” Paul said and then reached out to Gabe who took his hand. “Thanks, man, no one could have done what you did. Well maybe no one except my dad and you. Thanks.” Paul rolled Emily out, and the room was quiet.

After a few moments of awkward silence Carol stood and spoke, “Gabe, when Emily is discharged, I’m going to take her home with me . . . back to my house. I almost lost you both. I couldn’t live through another loss like that. Not again. And there are the other things. Please understand.”

“But, but—we saved her. Don’t do this! Not now.”

“Yes, you saved her, but didn’t all of this happen because we were with you? I love you, but I need time to think,” she turned toward the door and then turned back again. “Maybe you were right. Maybe it is just too complicated. But I want to know, Alethea, did Cas do this? Did she send me that dream and try to kill my daughter?”

“I don’t think so. The dream warned you danger was coming. It helped prepare you. I’m certain Casilda didn’t send that message. It’s Gabriel she’s mad at. Not you.”

“Then from where? Who?”

“Who do you think?”

“Charlie?”

“He warned you. He’s protecting you both, even now. Only powerful spirits can do that.”

“And you believe that’s possible? It’s too much. I just don’t know.”

“Who’s to say what’s possible and what’s not? You did those dives with Gabriel. Was what you saw possible?”

“Charlie was there, holding Emily,” Gabe said. “I saw him. I was tangled and running out of air. His light let me see. He saved us both.”

“And that surprises you? I should think you would have been expecting it,” Alethea said.

Carol didn’t respond at first. It was too much to process. She just sat down on the foot of his bed, quietly turning the wedding rings on her left hand. “I’ve got to think about this a while.” She got up, hugged them both and left them alone.

“I never had a chance with her, did I?” Gabe said shaking his head.

“Carol is lovely, Gabriel,” she said leaning toward him affectionately, “But she’s not your people. Sooner or later she was bound to break your heart. I was right. Now you see that’s true.”

“But—”

“You belong with us. Cas loves you. I love you. No secrets, no explanations. Just family. With your gifts and Cas’s—”

“What happened to ‘I’m a good Catholic girl who doesn’t believe—’”

“I don’t believe in spells and curses or dolls and pins. But the supernatural is real. You see it every time you speak to a soul and send it