by Dale Mayer
“I think your place must be beautiful,” she said with a smile. “I’d love to see it.”
“Then that answers my next question.” He walked closer and placed a cup of tea on the night table beside her. “I was hoping to take you there this afternoon. It would be good for you to get out and enjoy a day’s outing.”
He sat down on the bed, long fingers reaching out to stroke her hair back off her forehead. “In fact, I wouldn’t mind going soon.”
She tilted her head, hearing an odd note in his voice. “Why the rush?”
“I have information at home that I need.” He paused then confessed, “And I need to stop at the children’s hospital and visit a little boy.”
At the mention of the hospital she realized she’d hoped to go see Jacob. “I actually wanted to go and see Jacob at the hospital. He was injured at Chico’s and has been in a coma ever since.”
“Perfect. We’ll do both visits then head to my place for the afternoon.”
It was a great idea. And it saved her from going to the hospital alone. She gave a small laugh. “Then away with you so I can dress.”
He leaned over and brushed her lips with his, startling her. Then he was gone. She heard the door whisper closed behind him. It didn’t matter that she was still awestruck by that kiss. So gentle and light, but like an electric jolt. Her hormones had shot into awareness and her body had woken up big time. Even now it felt like little electric currents raced across her lips. She shook her head, determined to clear the clouds and remember the reality of her existence. She needed to enjoy having him in her life but not to get used to it. She didn’t expect him to die like her parents or her fiancé had, but she did expect him to get tired of the limitations her blindness would put on them and soon pull out.
She wanted him to be different, but she hadn’t seen many men who could deal with a blind partner.
Back to reality, she dressed quickly in capris and a bright-colored t-shirt. She needed to do her laundry soon. Returning to the bed, she quickly straightened out the bedding and in the process she found the hairbrush he’d used last night.
It reminded her of how she’d gone to sleep. She’d asked him to stay.
He hadn’t stayed because he wanted to be here. He’d stayed because she’d specifically asked him to.
She had to remember that.
*
After a quick breakfast of toast and cheese – apparently she needed to go shopping too – Stefan took her first to see Jacob. As they walked through the crowded hospital area, her hand tucked securely in Stefan’s arm, she realized how much nicer it was to walk with someone. She was always so independent – specifically so as to not become dependent – that she’d forgotten the joy of just being able to relax and let go, knowing that she’d be taken care of.
She’d often wondered if there was something wrong with her. As a young teenager, after losing Caslo, then her parents, any association she made immediately became something she grasped onto so tightly she often choked the relationship – sometime to death. She hadn’t realized what she was doing, of course, but she’d been very good at it. She’d also become scared of going anywhere on her own in case no one was there when she came back.
Over time, she’d lost a lot of friends and had clung a little too tightly to the rest until she was sure she wasn’t going to lose them too. Eventually they had drifted away anyway. Then she’d become fiercely independent, refusing any and all assistance to the point of being stupid about it. It stopped her from being hurt when friendships broke up.
Her ghosts had helped. They were always around. In some cases there were too many around. Still, they never seemed to leave. She could send one or two away to the light, but for the most part the others stayed around all the time.
After losing her sight some problems had returned. Like the lack of self-confidence and the feeling that her friends wouldn’t want to be around her now that she was blind.
It had been a rude awakening to realize that except for her co-workers at the symphony she had no friends.
Somehow she’d become isolated anyway.
At Jacob’s doorway she stopped and stared in the direction of the bed. She didn’t hear anything. “Is he there?” she asked Stefan in a low tone.
He squeezed her hand and led her forward. “His body is here, but it looks like he’s not.”
“What?” she asked, confusion coloring her voice. “Is he dead?”
“No. Not at all.” Stefan pulled a chair forward and helped her into it. He then placed her hand on Jacob’s warm, still one.
“Remember how you look around a room and see ghosts?” he asked.
“Yes.” She frowned up at him. “And?”
“Do that now,” he instructed.
With a shrug she opened her eyes to the ghosts in the room, realizing with surprise that there really was a process to it. She’d been doing it for so long it came naturally, so she hadn’t seen the steps she took. With her eyes now open to the ghostly visitors in the room she cast a quick glance. There, on the other side of a long, slim rope-like thing stretching across the room to the bed she was sitting beside was a man.
She frowned, half-recognizing him, but his features were blurry. That he had distinct features at all was already unusual. Normally ghosts were blurred until she got to know them. Maybe she put their features in place so she could identify with them or be more comfortable talking to them. When a ghost appeared out of focus like this it was hard to stare at them. It actually gave her a headache, so she always brought them more into focus. And that meant adding features.
She went through the same process right now.
She gasped in joy then cried, “Jacob.”
*
Jacob had lit up at the sight of Celina and a stranger walking into his room. Finally, a visitor he’d been waiting for. He understood that only family had been allowed for a long time, but apparently that rule had been lifted.
When she’d sat down he’d wished more than anything that he could squeeze the hand holding his. He’d tried. But he’d felt nothing. Then she’d turned that wonderful gaze and looked right at him.
He’d caught his breath, that non-existent air in his chest, and hoped for something – anything – but had expected nothing.
Then she’d seen him, like actually seen him. And had called his name.
How could that be? He hopped off the window ledge and walked slowly toward her. He waved his hand in front of those blind eyes and laughed in disbelief when she reached out a hand to catch his. Of course her hand went right through his, but she’d actually seen it. Seen him. He wanted to laugh and scream and really wanted to cry.
He dropped to his knees beside her and laid his head on her lap. Sobs wracked his frame. Someone actually saw him.
“Jacob. This is Stefan,” she said gently. “He’s a friend.”
Jacob lifted his head and studied the man at Celina’s side. And damn if that man didn’t smile at him too. “You can see me?” he asked in shock. “Both of you can?”
He turned to make sure his body was still lying separate from his soul. It was still there, so nothing had changed. He looked back to the two people watching him. “How is this possible?”
Celina laughed. “I have no idea.”
“It’s because the more open you are to seeing the energy vibrating at different frequencies the more able you can see what’s around you.”
Jacob stared at him. Who was this man who stood so possessively by Celina’s side? “Who are you?”
Celina lifted a hand to grasp Stefan’s hand in a lover-like way. Had he been out of real life for so long that she’d actually met someone and formed a relationship already, or had this been going on and he hadn’t known? Either way, it almost made him laugh at his disgruntlement.
“I’m a friend of Celina’s,” Stefan answered carefully.
“A friend?” Jacob asked cautiously. He watched the corner of Stefan’s lips quirk slightly. Suspicions aroused, he said, “How
good a friend?”
Celina flushed and rushed to say, “Jacob, that is none of your business.”
Stefan just laughed. “I’m a good friend that hopes to become a much better friend.”
“At least you’re honest,” Jacob muttered. He stepped back to study the two of them. “Why can you both see me, talk to me, when no one else can?” Stefan remained silent, just staring back at him with a twinkle in his eye. Realizing he’d get no answers there, he turned his attention to Celina. “Celina?”
With a tiny wrinkling of her beautiful face she admitted, “I see and talk to ghosts.” At his shocked look, she grinned. “I know you’re not dead, and supposedly I shouldn’t be able to see you, not to mention that I’m blind, but I think Stefan had something to do with that.” She reached up to pat Stefan’s hand on her shoulder.
“Stefan?”
“Yes?”
“You can see people like me?”
“Obviously.”
Stefan didn’t appear to want to discuss Jacob’s state, but damn it, that’s all he wanted to talk about. “Can you tell me how to get back into my body?” he asked, flinching slightly at the desperation in his tone.
“No. It’s instinctive for you to leave and to go back.” Stefan studied him. “Your life force is strong, your cord is healthy. Your body still needs healing time and could be in a coma for another few days.”
“That’s not good.”
“Why?” Stefan asked.
“I…” Jacob shrugged. “There’s something I was supposed to do or say. And I can’t remember to whom or why.” He turned to Celina and dropped back to his knees. “I think it was to you. A warning.”
“A warning?” Celina reached forward to grasp his ghostly hands. “About what?”
“I don’t know!” He shuddered. “I’ve been trying to wrack my brain about what it was but I can’t remember.”
“About the accident at Chico’s?” Stefan asked. “Did you have something to do with the message on Celina’s bathroom?”
Celina gasped in shock, her head shaking in denial. Not possible. “Surely that couldn’t be?”
Stefan squeezed her shoulder. “When someone needs to send a message, the how and why they succeed is often a mystery. I had to ask.”
Only Jacob’s face was screwed up as if trying to remember.
“I don’t know. Maybe? Yes.” Jacob stood up and stared at Stefan. “Yes. A warning. About the car accident. The driver. Something…”
“Did you know him?”
Jacob frowned. “I don’t know. Who was driving?”
“Owen Dugar, and he didn’t survive the crash.”
“Owen? Dead?” Jacob stepped back, his hands slapping to his chest even as he struggled to breathe. His hand fisted at his mouth to hold back his cries. He could see his form waver and thin. He looked longingly at his body. “My phone. He texted me. At the end. Almost at the end.”
“Who is he to you?” Stefan asked urgently.
“He desperately wanted to meet Celina.” Jacob stared at Celina, her blind gaze staring back at him. “I thought it would be okay.”
“Yes, but who was he? Why did he want to meet me?” she asked, then suddenly understood something. “Was this your new boyfriend?”
“He was the love of my life.” Jacob cried out, “And now he’s dead.”
Overcome with grief, Jacob disappeared.
*
Celina stared at the drifting remains of Jacob’s ghostly image and said, “Please tell me he hasn’t died.”
“No, he’s not dead.” Stefan turned her slightly and put her hand back over Jacob’s hand in the bed. “He’s back in his body.”
He just didn’t know what shape Jacob was in emotionally after that shock. It was also hard to focus on what was happening here, and now he wanted to call Brandt and set him to tracking down Jacob’s cell phone. The driver of the car was important. He wished they’d fully understood why Dugar had wanted to meet Celina. That he was Jacob’s partner was one thing, but he doubted it was everything.
She brightened. “That’s great. Right? That’s what we want, right?”
“Absolutely. It’s where he belongs. Hopefully now that he’s back he’ll heal.”
“Goo–”
A series of alarms went off from the machines at Jacob’s side.
“Oh my God, what’s wrong?” she cried. “Stefan.” She stood up and leaned over Jacob, her hands reaching for his face.
Running feet in the hallway were followed by a strange voice calling out, “Get back, please.”
Stefan moved Celina gently but firmly off to the side. He held her close, feeling her shudder as they listened to the orders given and instructions taken as the team worked to save Jacob.
“It’s all right, Celina. I can see a shift happening. He’s going to be okay,” he murmured against her ear. Jacob’s cord was strong, glowing. “It might take a bit for his body to recover but he should heal now.”
She stilled, turning her face toward him in hope. “Really? Oh, thank God.”
“If you two will please step out in the hallway?”
Stefan led Celina out into the hallway at the nurse’s request. Out there he ran his hands up and down her arms in a soothing motion. “There’s nothing more we can do to help here. Are you okay to leave?”
She dropped her head against his chest, then lifted it to stare up at him. “Yes. I just hope he’s going to be okay. That was scary.”
“Maybe, but it was also very helpful in that we now have a lead to follow in that fatal crash and Jacob is back where he belongs.”
Before leaving the hospital Celina took a moment to use the washroom, and Stefan took advantage of the privacy to contact Brandt. Quickly he relayed Jacob’s words and association to the driver that had crashed into Chico’s. We need to find that cell phone. Jacob said he’d sent the text a few moments before the crash.
“Which could be nothing more than a man telling his friend he’s going to be late.” Brandt groaned. “Why couldn’t he have told us why Dugar wanted to meet Celina?”
True. It could be just that he wanted his best friends to meet. And it could be something else altogether.
Stefan smiled as people walked past him down the hallway. For that we need Jacob to regain consciousness. In the meantime, check his phone for the messages between him and Dugar. It’s probably here at the hospital. Or at the restaurant still.
“I hope not. Chico’s is a still a mess.”
Maybe, but it’s habit to put a cell phone away immediately. Consider that he wrote the message in Celina’s bathroom – that’s not the action of a man who doesn’t care.
“Yeah, see, I don’t get that,” Brandt said.
No, but he did it regardless of what we understand. That phone has to be important. He was at a crowded bar, standing around laughing and drinking. There’s only so much space to put down a valuable item like that and not lose it.
The words had barely left his mouth when the hospital hallway ripped away like a curtain torn back over his mind and he could see a vision of the bar full of laughter and drinking. High-spirited calls back and forth and there, Jacob in the center. A drink in his hand and nothing else. He lifted his glass and called out, “A toast! To one of the most talented groups of people–”
“Stefan?” Celina called out, her hand rubbing his forearm. “Are you alright?”
With a jolt he brought himself back to his surroundings. Closing his eyes, he worked to ease back the edges of his control and calm his breathing. He took a shuddering breath and managed to murmur, “I’m fine. Just lost in thought. Are you ready to leave?”
At her nod he covered her hand with his and led her out the doorway. As he walked through the double doors out into the sunshine, he sent Brandt a strong telepathic message. Find that damn phone. We need it.
*
Brandt got the message the first time; he hadn’t needed it slammed into his subconscious again. But Stefan was used to giving orders and havi
ng them followed. Brandt checked the report to see what items had been logged in from the crash site. Several phones, the numbers identified, and not one was registered to Jacob. He called the hospital.
There was a bag with personal items that he came in with. Yes, there was a phone there, but it had no identification on it. Brandt hung up, checked his watch, and realized he had twenty minutes to run up and check to see if it was the right cell phone and what, if anything, was on it that mattered so much.
Chapter 21
Out of the hospital, Stefan at her side, the sunshine on her face, Celina realized how different life was from even just a week ago.
Stefan drove competently, as always. She couldn’t see his hands or the look of focus on his face but she heard the engine purr under his sure touch and roar forward at his command. She doubted there was much he didn’t do well. She’d gone to school with several people who just surpassed everyone naturally in a particular skill or subject. There’d been one girl in the final year who’d thought nothing of reupholstering her own furniture as a weekend project. And then did it. She’d done an incredible job.
Trusting that Stefan would take her to the next place safely, she relaxed into her seat, her mind remembering Jacob and their visit. How terrible that Jacob’s love was the man who’d caused the accident. She couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. He’d been coming to meet her. She hadn’t known, of course, but still… She turned to Stefan. “Is Jacob really going to be okay now?”
“I don’t know for sure, but he did sink back into his body. I’m thinking that is a good thing.”
Such a weird concept. “It sounds bizarre.”
“Only because it’s new,” he said. “Most people leave their bodies while they sleep.”
Not something, she wanted to consider. “I don’t think I ever have.”
“You have.” He grinned. “But like most people you don’t remember the trips you’ve taken.”
