Eighth Grave After Dark

“I can’t imagine why.”

“It wasn’t until the park incident with the missing girl’s mother that I realized what he was doing. When I found out, I was livid.”

“Because he was paying attention to me?”

“Because I was so against believing what I saw with my own eyes. Despite everything that happened, I had convinced myself that the angel was a figment of my imagination. That my mother did not go to a better place. That supernatural beings like angels and demons did not exist. It went against everything I was trying tooth and nail to hold on to. There was too much hurt and too much suffering in the world for me to believe that an omniscient being would allow it all to happen. I became an atheist. People are just good or bad. There’s no devil making us do evil things.”

“Well, I have to agree with you on the people front.”

“But the devil front?” Gemma asked.

I let a slow smile spread across my face for Denise’s benefit. “I’m married to his son.”

“Charley, that’s not funny.”

This time I planted a serious gaze on my sister. “I wasn’t trying to be funny, Gem.”

She leaned forward and whispered to me. No idea why. “You mean—? Really? As in—?”

“Lucifer’s son. Yes.”

I was hoping that would send Denise running. Instead, she rambled on. For the love of—

“When you told me what my dad had told you that day in your apartment, the thing about the blue towels, my last desperate grip on atheism slipped through my fingers. I didn’t know what to do. How to handle it. But then everything happened so fast with your father.”

“After Dad died,” Gemma said, “Mom started going to church.”

“He’s in a better place, right?” she asked, sobbing into a tissue.

“Actually, last I saw him, he was in my bathroom.”

They both blinked up at me, their mouths forming perfect Os.

“What? I wasn’t naked or anything.”

“He’s here?” Denise asked.

“No. Not right now.” I glanced around just in case. “Not sure what’s going on with him. But I really have to pee, so is this a wrap?”

“No,” Denise said, her posture suggesting she was going to stand her ground. “I would like to ask for your forgiveness.”

“My forgiveness?” I said with a huff.

“Charley,” Gemma said, “you promised to listen.”

“I did. I am. But that’s all I promised.”

“No,” Denise said, patting Gemma’s hand, “it’s okay. Charley listened. That’s all I can ask. I just want you to know that I am sorry for any suffering I may have caused you.”

“There’s something you’re missing here,” I said.

“Okay.”

“You’ve known all along what I was. Or at least that I was special or had a gift or something along those lines. And you denied it and tried to make me feel like shit because of it. Is your knowing supposed to make me feel better? Because trust me when I say that makes you a bigger bitch than I thought you were.”

Gemma lowered her head, then spoke softly. “Sometimes we just need to forgive. Not for that person, but for ourselves.”

“You’re right, Charley. I fought the truth. Fought you. Fought my father and your father and even our Maker. I have no one to blame but myself.”

She stood, tucked the tissue in her handbag, then walked to the door. Without facing me, she said, “Thank you for listening. If you can find it in your heart, I want to be a part of your life. A part of Beep’s life. I’ll do anything you need me to do. I’ll help you with the baby. I’ll go to the store. I’ll change diapers. Anything.” Her voice cracked with her last plea. “Please think about it.”

She walked out, but Gemma had one last thing to say. “It’s taken her months to get through a whole day without crying about Dad. She’s come a long way, Charley. She has no family but us. Please consider her offer.”

“I’ll think about it. After I pee.”

8

ANXIETY GIRL!

ABLE TO JUMP TO THE WRONG CONCLUSION IN A SINGLE BOUND.

—T-SHIRT

When I got back from making number one, Katherine the Midwife was there waiting for me, gloves on, in her ready stance. Gawd, she liked sticking her fingers up Virginia.

“Hey, Katherine,” I said. “Time for another torture session?”

Reyes was there, too, looking rather ashamed of himself. As he should. Picking fights with hellhounds was not something to be proud of. I would’ve kicked him out of the room, but I couldn’t be too mad. I now had ammunition for when the time came to tell him about the Loehrs.

“Let’s have a look at you,” she said. “You fell?”

“Yes, in the woods.”

“I see that.” She lifted my shirt, and a burst of heat washed over me.

Confused, I looked in the full-length mirror and saw what Reyes saw. I hadn’t even noticed it before. I had scrapes all along one side of my back and over my rib cage.

Reyes didn’t say anything, but I could feel his desire to question me further.

“Okay, no broken ribs. You’re breathing okay?” she asked.

I nodded.

She checked Beep’s heartbeat, then said, “How about we do this right here? I’ll just check to make sure everything is intact.”