by Zrinka Jelic
Cold wind wrapped around them as they rounded the building. He pulled a knitted hat over Rosie’s ears. Bubble gum pink seemed to lighten her dark hair and eyes. He placed a kiss on her chubby cheek, but even his cherub’s grin didn’t stall the anxiety building in his chest. A real angel must’ve visited Tadem. His wife wasn’t religious and never quoted a single line from the Good Book. But why would a heaven’s entity hang around his sister-in-law? Unless … “It’s not a saying. It’s from the Bible, Matthew 5:3.”
Olivia shrugged deeper into her scarf. “How do you know these things?”
“I was an altar boy.” A memory of the church where he’d spent his fair share of mornings in Sunday school and serving during Mass filled him with warmth. “My parents were so proud of me when I was chosen. Mom’s face beamed the first time I walked down the aisle with the cross in my hands.”
Olivia shared his smile as if reliving the day with him. “What does this Matthew something mean?”
Tom shrugged, trying to recall lessons from church. Tadem was weak of mind. Therefore an angel could show herself in front of Olivia’s sister. But what would the spiritual being want? His heart pounded against his ribs, but Olivia waited on answer. “Basically, tells us to be kind to those who are poor. Be it in spirit, money, or mind.”
They walked along the garden path in silence. Olivia kept her gaze on the light decorations on the bushes and bare trees. Tom pondered her theory of parallel worlds. The fact she could be correct pressed on his shoulders. Even if she weren’t his wife, he couldn’t stop loving her. And if his real spouse returned someday and this woman vanished, would he know the difference? No, nothing would change. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “I should’ve let you get some rest when we checked in. Could it be you’re exhausted and imagined her becoming an angel?”
She ceased walking and cast him a long stare, the kind that always sent shivers up his spine. How could she not be his wife?
“No, Tom. I know what I saw.” A shy smile stretched her lips. She brushed his chest, dreaminess filling her eyes. With a sharp inhale, she continued, “She left and Tadem’s appearance returned. She seemed to have no recollection of what happened.” Olivia swallowed then continued. “I wasn’t scared of this … entity.” Her lips twisted and she averted her gaze to the gravel on the path. Could she be omitting something about her encounter with the divinity? “Oh, but Tom, my sister would’ve been beautiful. It’s so unfair to her.”
“Life is unfair.” Tom cast her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “We’re luckier than some. Come on, honey, cheer up. Tomorrow’s Christmas.”
Olivia glanced at the brown brick building. “We should get her into a better place.”
He cringed at yet another inconsistency in Olivia’s story. “We already tried that. She’s spent most of her life here and doesn’t like being away from her room.”
“I don’t think her room is cozy at all. The bed looks like it’s on its last leg.” A smile lit up Olivia’s face. “Well, I’ll go shopping and get her a few nice things.”
“I’m sure she’d like that.” Tom kissed Olivia’s cheek. With her mood improved, the weight lifted off his chest. “You must be feeling better.”
She nodded. “Um-hmm.” A slight frown replaced her small smile. “Can you hear Milo and Tadem? When was the last time you saw either of them?”
His eyes widened and panic engulfed him. How could he forget those two? He handed the baby to Olivia. “Hold her, I’ll go look.”
Gravel crunched under his pounding boots. His breath misted as he called out. “Milo, Tadem! Where are you guys?”
He stopped and listened. A child’s laughter echoed in the distance. Tom followed the sound and the chuckling grew louder. The path ended and a lone tree stood in the small clearing, its bare branches decorated with frosty Christmas lights. Milo giggled while a young woman spun him in her arms. The curls of her raven hair bounced on her back. A soft glow radiated from her.
Milo pointed at him. “Look Daddy, Tadem’s angel came out to play with me.”
The woman placed Milo on the ground and faced Tom. Her glow seemed to intensify when she scanned him.
“Tom.” The voice called his name with urgency, but the angel’s lips didn’t move.
Dizziness spun him. He pressed his hand to his temple. What is that buzzing noise? The presence of others surrounding him pressed on his awareness, but he saw no one — just Milo and the angel.
“Clear,” a male’s voice shouted.
Coldness pressed to his torso and a second later a strong, electrical current seared through him. He clenched his chest and fought for every breath. A steady and monotonous tone replaced the broken bleeps.
His heartbeat steadied, the searing pain in his chest dissipated and those invisible presences seemed to leave his side at the change of the sound.
He still clutched his chest when he raised his head toward Milo. Tadem, looking her old self, stood beside to the boy, a wide grin on her face.
• • •
A pained groan drifted from the garden. Olivia straightened from her crouching position behind the bushes she’d been searching. She clenched Rosie to her chest and broke into a run on the gravel path.
Her feet slowed down with the sight of Tom, Milo, and her sister seated on the bench.
“Thank God you found them.” She panted, approaching the trio. “You two scared us. Why did you wander off on your own?”
No one spoke, but Tom’s eyes, round as plates, were red rimmed and his face pale.
Olivia caressed his shoulder. “You’ve seen the angel, too.”
Tom’s slow nod stopped her heart. He gasped before he spoke. “She spun Milo in her arms when I found them.”
His voice, though steady, seemed awkward. Did he hide something? No, he wouldn’t keep anything from her. Seeing the angel had spooked him. Hell, it had thrown her for a loop when it happened to her.
“It’s getting late, let’s head back.” She took Milo’s hand. “Tomorrow we’ll bring Tadem to our hotel to celebrate Christmas.”
“Yay.” Milo grabbed Tadem’s hand. “Santa’s coming tonight.”
A dimple on his chin formed with Tom’s frown, and made him adorable. “What about this angel?”
Olivia shrugged one shoulder. Perhaps she was experiencing some of that marvel of the season she’d heard about all these years, but never believed in. “It’s Christmas, miracles are supposed to happen.”
A slow smile replaced Tom’s grimace. “Yes, you’re right.” He pushed off the bench and wrapped her in a bear hug. “I’ll love you no matter what.”
And she loved him. The words formed in her mouth, but her tongue froze. Damn it, why couldn’t she bring herself to say them?
“I know you love me, too.” His whisper brushed her neck. The warmth of his breath spread heat through her on this cold evening. “It was difficult for you to admit it for the first time.”
Her throat closed and she blinked fast, pushing back stinging tears. A long breath loosened the knot in her chest. Why couldn’t she listen to her heart? Her soul wanted her to love him. She always thought a life without love was better. No one could hurt her. How was she to change her firm belief?
Tom released her from his embrace and took her by her hand. “It’s been a long day. Come, this will all make more sense in the morning,” he said, leading the way back to Tadem’s apartment.
• • •
The next morning, Olivia woke in a spacious bed next to Tom. He slept on his side, his powerful arms crossed over his chest. She smiled at his peaceful appearance and slipped from under the covers.
She leaned over Rosie’s cot. The baby sucked her thumb noisily, but continued sleeping. The tip of Milo’s head peeked out from beneath the blanket. Olivia flipped the corner, uncovering his face. He inhaled deeply and turned to his side, hugging his teddy bear under his elbow.
She scrambled from her nightgown into a pair of tight jeans and a sweatshirt, then scr
ibbled a note for Tom.
Gone to get Tadem. Don’t open any presents without us. Love, Olivia.
Car keys jiggled on their ring when she grabbed them off the counter and she snuck out of their hotel suite. During her drive, she kept thinking about yesterday’s events. Neither she nor Tom brought up the topic of seeing an angel after they left the facility. Had Milo known of this entity overtaking his aunt’s body? Why had he never mentioned a thing?
A coffee shop with an open sign caught her attention. She pulled over and grabbed her purse. The line extended from the counter to the front door, but she needed a quick wake up. The service was fast and some ten minutes later, she left with a large cup, the heat from the beverage warming her hand.
The front of the home where Tadem resided stood empty in the early morning. The front door was open, but the reception decorated with a string of paper angels was unattended. She continued to Tadem’s unit and found her sister ready and anxious to go.
The roads suddenly turned busy on their way back. The stores were closed on holidays. Where were all these people going? Must be a church-attending crowd.
Olivia blew an exasperated breath as the traffic light ahead changed to red for the third time. There must be an accident ahead. She turned to Tadem in the passenger seat. Her sister had her head turned toward the window, but Olivia wanted to find out more about the angel.
“Tadem,” she croaked, not knowing how to ask the delicate question.
Tadem whirled her head around, facing her with a grin.
Olivia forced a smile to her face. She raked her brain, searching for right words. “Does the angel visit you often?”
“She’s always with me, since I was little.” Tadem turned her attention to the window again.
Tadem’s casual tone baffled Olivia. Her sister must be used to this entity if she’d been with her all these years. Of course she wouldn’t know, she never visited nor cared.
“And she enters your body every time she appears?”
“No.” Tadem traced her finger on the fogged glass. “Last night was the first time. She said it’s the only way you can see her.”
The sedan in front crept another few feet. Olivia eased her foot off the brake and let her car follow the flow. “Why did she show herself to Tom and Milo?”
“I told Milo about her long time ago and he wanted to see her.” Tadem shifted in her seat, tagging on the belt. “Last night she told me her secret. She’s Tom’s guardian, too.”
Olivia swallowed a lump. Tom had appeared ill when she found him slouched on the bench, but she dismissed his shaky voice and trembling hands as fear of what he’d experienced. Could it be his days were numbered and his angel waited for him to die and take his soul? No. It was Christmas. Bad things should not happen on this joyful day.
“Ah, there’s the hold up.” She raised the hand over the steering wheel when the flashing lights of a squad car came into her view. The two officers in navy blue uniforms dragged a handcuffed woman toward their vehicle. They struggled to contain her while she shouted and jerked, trying to free herself of their hold.
Everyone stopped and gawked at the early morning show. Olivia pulled up alongside the police car just in time to see one of the officers press his hand on the captured woman’s head, attempting to push her into the back of the cruiser.
The woman froze and raised her head. Olivia shuddered when the scraggly captive seemed to glare in her direction. She’d seen her before, but where? An odd, familiar feeling slid down her back. She’d experienced this only once before and she would never forget the woman’s tired yet accusatory eyes. It happened the moment she’d fired her last employee from the list. Right here in Vancouver. What was her name? Nela something … starting with L. Larkin, Larin? Yes, Larin. That was her, getting forced into the police car. The foreboding filled Olivia’s head. What connection could she possibly have with all this confusion? The first time Olivia had seen the woman her life had gone amiss. Though she couldn’t complain now, what if the woman’s reappearance was meant as some sign?
The traffic light turned green and Olivia pushed her foot on the accelerator. She was acting on her gut instinct, but beyond that, she had nothing to go on. In this future life, she had to take everything as a warning.
CHAPTER 12
The memory of pain swarmed Tom before he opened his eyes. His hand flew to his chest. The bed shook as he jolted and sat up with his spine rigid. Through the thin cotton of his t-shirt, his heart drummed against his palm. He heaved a heavy sigh. The fear sent his heart into overdrive. He turned to Olivia and spotted a vacant pillow and flat covers. A pang of emptiness swept him. Every morning for the past three weeks she’d greeted him with her enchanting smile. He missed placing a kiss on her face, warmed by sleep. Today however, his rude awakening would’ve startled her. Perhaps it was for the best he woke alone.
Still, the strong and steady thumping under his palm failed to convince him he was fine. The dread of a heart attack shattered his cheerful Christmas mood. God, the presence of the others closing in on him and the cold, slimy pads against his skin weren’t something he wanted to experience again. During the incident, someone had definitely called “clear” — he didn’t imagine that — but that could’ve come from the frozen pond beyond the tree line where youngsters played hockey.
The door to his suite room popped open. Milo bounced on his toes at the threshold. “Good morning, Daddy.” He held his arm up, pointing behind him. By his round eyes and a grin stretching his lips wide, Tom knew what the boy would say next. “Santa came.”
A chuckle shook Tom. It’d been close to midnight by the time the boy finally succumbed to sleep. Olivia and he had tippy toed, putting the presents under the small Christmas tree by the window. Now, their son’s joy caused him to forget his gloom for a moment. This was the first year Milo grasped the whole Christmas splendor and seeing him this happy made Tom relive his childhood holidays all over again — an incredible thing he had thought a thing long gone.
His eyes zeroed in on a neon yellow sticky note on the footboard. The bed cover rustled as he reached for the paper, reading and eyeing Milo. Not that the boy would notice his father’s preoccupation with chest pain, especially on Christmas morning, but Tom couldn’t shake off the guilty feeling. “Can’t open the presents yet.” Frowning, he waved Olivia’s note in his hand. “Mommy went to get your favorite auntie.”
A pout quickly set on Milo’s face and he lowered his head and arm. “Aw, can I open just one?”
Tom shook his head, feeling his son’s disappointment. “Mommy said not to open any until she gets back. Let’s wait for her.” He glanced over Milo’s cowboy pajamas. “But she’d like it if you change.”
“Then can we open the presents?”
Tom had to chuckle at his son’s persistence. The boy was strong willed, just like his mother. “If Mommy and Tadem are back by then.”
Milo scratched his head, but retreated to his room. With him gone, Tom’s gloom returned. He drew in a long breath, held it in, then exhaled slowly. He waited. No burning pain and none of the numbness or tightness of last night.
He eased out of the bed and grabbed his favorite faded jeans off the floor. Pulling his pants on, an idea turned in his head. Maybe he should use the hotel’s gym to reassure himself. Do a bit of cardio exercising, bring his heartbeat up and see if he could keep it steady for twenty minutes.
Sliding his arms through the sleeves of his sweatshirt, he pulled the hoodie over his head. Nah, he should trust his body and not jump to conclusions. The whole thing could’ve been just a fluke. Tadem’s angel must have had something to do with the occurrence of his near heart attack.
Tom cautiously ambled to the living room. Milo hummed a tune from The Polar Express and pranced around the Christmas tree. His frolicking pulled Tom out of his mulling. The boy had seemed remarkably comfortable around his changed aunt. Maybe he knew more than Olivia or him. Careful now, he warned himself. He must proceed with a delicacy of ho
stile hostage negotiation. Ease off, Milo’s just a five- year-old boy.
“Come here.” He patted his leg for the boy to sit in his lap.
Milo glanced over his shoulder, but didn’t let go of the big box he was examining with zeal. Good luck figuring out what is under the wrapping.
“What?”
“Rosie’s still sleeping so we can’t talk too loud.” Tom tapped his leg again.
When the boy approached, Tom picked him up, sat him on his lap, and wrapped his arm around his small shoulders. “Auntie Tadem looked different last night. Did she scare you when she changed?”
Milo’s eyes lit at the mention of Tadem’s angel, but he shook his head.
The boy was hiding something. Maybe the angel frightened him. Tom had seen abused children so terrified that nothing could get them to speak out. He stared at his son, thinking of his next question, but Milo kept his keen gaze on the presents. “Have you seen her change into an angel before?”
Milo tapped his finger on his cheek, his eyes slid from right to left. A proud grin sprung on his face. “No, but Auntie told me stories, and last night, she said the angel wanted to see me.”
Had Milo ever mentioned Tadem’s angel? Tom couldn’t remember. It was possible the boy had chatted excessively about it, but he might’ve replied with an absent-minded aha and um-hmm, while he’d paid attention to anything else. “What did angel tell you?”
“Nothing.” The boy’s guilty face matched the tremor in his voice.
Tom cocked his head, fixing Milo with his best speak-up-or-else stare. “I can tell when someone’s not telling the truth.”
Milo slouched. A frown replaced his sunny smile. “I can’t remember.”
So the angel had spoken. Tom tickled the boy’s ribs, making him squirm and giggle. “Try to remember.”
Milo face crumpled, lips scrounged. “I don’t know what she meant.” He dragged his words out. “But she said you and mommy will be happy when I and Rosie get born.”
When they get born? What kind of riddle does this angel want me to solve? Olivia’s theory of alternate worlds pressed heavy on his mind — with every revelation it made more sense. Tom clamped his molars before he blurted out something and scared Milo. Instead, he cleared his throat and grinned at the fond memory. “Of course we were crazy happy to have you, and always will be. Wouldn’t change a thing for the entire world.”
