“‘Tis the child that she carries.” Oakley asked Harris if that was it. When she nodded, he did as well. “She’s having a leader. Her son, he will be as great as his great grandfather and as kind and loving as his father. But he will have the strength and the knowledge of his mother that will keep him steady as the world comes to terms with his birth.”
Oakley asked Harris if she knew what she was having. When she said she thought it was a boy, he confirmed it. Then Oakley told her what he’d said. Longley was a little embarrassed when she cried a little. Such a different sight of a woman who had men shaking in their boots for fear of what she’d say to them.
“Thank you so much, Longley. You’ve no idea how much I needed to hear that just now. I was worried he’d dislike having a hardass as a mother.” Longley told her he would be the envy of all children that her son came in contact with. She was special. “Thank you again, kind sir.”
“What do you want to do with the rest of the money, Longley? I think there is plenty here that if you knew a couple of more people, you could make a difference in their lives.” Longley stared at Oakley. It didn’t occur to him, it seemed, that he should get a part of it. He asked him about it. “I’ve enough money, for now, thank you. As my grandma said all the time, so long as I can light the candles and feed my family, there isn’t much more in the world that I need. I feel the same way.”
“Thank you for that. I would like you to take the money and use it as you see fit.” Oakley asked him if he could use it to open a charity that would use the money as needed. “Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. And this time, I’d like for my name to be put on it. I know that it’s sort of selfish of me, but I’d like my wife to know that there was plenty of money for a nice home, but she killed me instead of asking.” He thought about it for only a few seconds. “No. Don’t do that. That isn’t what I’m doing here. You do it like the other money, young man. My name need not be on anything. You found the money, as Mr. West said, and it should be your name on the charity.”
“I’m going to name it for my mom, if you don’t mind.” Longley nodded, knowing that if Jill were here, she’d pop him on the back of the head for agreeing to have her name on such a thing. “The Jill Ann foundation. That’s how everyone knew my momma, so that will be just fine with me.”
After he left, knowing he’d be staying with the young man forever now, Longley went to find Jill. He told her of his visit with her son and how much he’d enjoyed himself. He even told her what her son was planning to do with the rest of his funds. Just like he predicted, she did pop him on the back of the head.
“You old turd. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Longley told her he didn’t know what she was talking about. “You do too. I don’t think I’m going to care at all that they’re thinking of me at this time. My sons, they’re wonderful, aren’t they? Much kinder than I deserve, but I’m ever so proud of them.”
“As you should be. You did a good job of raising them, Jill. No one in the world would find fault with how they turned out. Living or dead.” She nodded, thanking him for bringing her such news. “I’ll be working with Oakley now. He’s going to help so many of us. If you’d not mind, I’ll come to see you whenever I have news from them. I’m sure it will be daily.”
“I miss them—all of them. Clarisse, she told me she spoke to Oakley about Shep. I do hope he goes and talks to his brother. I so hate that he’s sad. I should never have made him promise me such a thing as finding a wife and having me a grandchild. I’m ashamed of myself for saying such a thing.” He told her she’d meant it in a good way. “Yes, I did. When I see him and Harris together, it warms my heart so much. She’s good for him. And the others.”
Longley knew he’d tell their mother everything he found out. He remembered her from when they were living. She was a kind woman that didn’t deserve a man like she’d been married to. But without him, she’d not have gotten the best of the litter either. Nodding to himself, Longley thought of spending time with the Marshalls and was glad he’d been chosen to help Oakley out.
Chapter 10
Jill wasn’t sure she was in the right place. She’d been told to center her thoughts on Lach, and she’d end up where she was. But there were so many people around that she was sure she’d popped into the wrong house. Then she saw her. Lach was sitting in a chair being teased by two other women.
“Hello.” Jill told her she didn’t want to interrupt her dinner. “You’re not. I was hoping I’d get with you today.” She turned to the other women. “Harris, do you have a place I can talk to this lady? I just need a little privacy.”
“Sure. Use my office. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.” Harris looked around the room as if looking for her. Jill had a moment of fear just then. “Don’t you hurt her. I don’t know what you want or need, but don’t you hurt her.”
“I won’t.” Lach told Harris what she’d said. “Is she always this intense? It must be hard to be around her a lot if she is.”
Laughing, Lach got up and told her she was the nicest person she could call on. So was Bella.
Jill followed Lach through the home. Pausing only once, Jill saw the pictures of herself along the hall, with her children when they were younger. Playing in the yard. Or at a game together. Touching one of them, she felt the love and the warmth of the picture come to her. Instead of lingering in the hallway and being put to the test of her emotions, she followed Lach to the office.
“They love you.” Jill nodded, unsure if she could speak just then. “They all miss you something terrible. Especially Grandda.” She asked if they all called him that. “We do. In fact, when I was introduced to him, he told me that’s what I was going to call him. I’m glad you came to see me. Especially today.”
“Today?” Lach told her what today was. “Oh. I didn’t know. Time hasn’t a great deal of meaning to me anymore. Sometimes I’ll find myself taking a rest and wake up to find an entire week has gone by. So, it’s my birthday? I’ve not thought of my birthday in months.”
“They’re all here, all your family. Some extended as well. They decided a few days ago that they’d all be together today and that they’d share their fondest memories of you. Oakley has been writing down his memories with you. He wants to write all of them down that are said today and put them into a book. For all the children coming along.” Jill was touched by their idea. “Would you like to speak to them today?”
“Oh, no. I mean, I can’t do that.” She thought about saying things to her sons. “Could I? I don’t want to put anyone out. And with you breeding, I don’t want to take all your energy either. No. Some other time.”
“I found out something just recently. That if you’d like to come and see the babies born, you can. They will be able to see you when you do. Not a single person here would object to you seeing them either.” Jill hadn’t had an occasion to cry lately, but now that’s all she wanted to do. To sob out how much she wanted to be there to hold one of her grandchildren. To feed them a bottle. Read a story to them, or better yet, tell them about their father. To even knit them something that would be only theirs. “I’m so sorry to have upset you.”
“You didn’t. I only just realized how much I’m missing being with my grandchildren.” Lach started to speak. “Now, I know you said I could visit them. And I will, all of them. But to hold one of them in my arms would be something that would forever make me happy. But you have given me such a gift, Lach. Such a wonderful gift that I cannot tell you in words how very much that means to me.”
There was some shuffling outside the door, and she realized they were all going to the dining room. Jill wished she could sit with them. Hear about their days. When Lach stood up, she asked her where they were going.
“We’re going to the dining room. If you don’t want to talk to them, that’s up to you. But I think you’re missing a great opportunity to tell them once more how much you love them. However, y
ou can come around anytime you wish and hear them talking about you. Listen to their pride and love for you.” Jill said it wasn’t fair that she died before getting to see the children of her children. “No, it wasn’t. Nothing is fair when someone you love is taken from you by a senseless act.”
Jill followed Lach into the dining room. When Lach sat down next to Oakley, he kissed the younger woman, then her belly. Oh, the love from these two could power a state, she thought. Looking around the table, she saw Sheppard there, holding an infant while he fed him his bottle. Jill didn’t know the two men sitting next to him. However, she did recognize the illness from one of them. Dementia. She could see too that the other man and Sheppard were used to caring for him with a gentle word and kindness that she knew he had.
“I would like to propose a toast. To our mom, who couldn’t be here today.” Shep stood up and held his glass high. It was tea, she noticed. All the others around the table stood then and held their glasses of tea up as well. “To the greatest mother of all time. If she were here now, she’d tell me to hush up and eat before things get cold. Happy birthday, Mother. I love you more every day, and I miss you so much; I cannot explain.”
They all said the same, happy birthday to her, and it was all she could do not to run away and leave them to their meal. Her heart was so full now she knew she’d be happy for a very long time from just them wishing her a happy birthday.
Lach turned and looked at her.
“Yes. I’d like to talk to them. How do we do this?” When she put out her hand, Jill stared at it. “Will they be able to hear me simply by me touching your hand?”
“Yes.” They stared at her then, everyone at the table looking in the direction of Lach. When she stood, it was as if a great pause had taken place. “Hold onto your britches, guys. I have a wonderful surprise.”
When she touched her hand to Lach’s, the power of her touch made her sway just a little. Looking down at the end of the table when something fell, Jill saw that Shep, her oldest son, had not just fallen back, but it looked as if he were unconscious. She let go of Lach to see to her boy.
“What’s happened to him?” Lach was laughing so hard she couldn’t answer. Looking around the table, just to see if anyone could answer her, she saw the stunned faces of all her boys and Sheppard too. Jill looked at Lach. “This was a terrible idea. I’m sorry, but I didn’t mean for them to be upset. I’ve even made my oldest faint at the sight of me.”
“He’s a pussy.” She scolded Lach for saying such a thing. “He is. He is this big leader, and there he lies, on the floor.” Lach kicked Shep in the foot. “Get up, dumbass. You’re scaring your mother away.”
Lach finally stopped laughing and helped to wake Shep. Jill wasn’t happy with her methods, but tossing a glass of tea into his face had the desired effect. Shep got up, spitting tea and cursing like—well, she didn’t know who cursed like that. Taking Lach’s hand again, she looked at her oldest.
“Do you want me to wash your mouth out with soap, young man?” He shook his head and said he didn’t. But it was Lach’s fault. “Does that make it any better? Let me answer that for you—no, it does not. Why, to think I came here today being so proud of my sons, and what do I hear? Well, too much if you were to ask me.”
“Jill Ann, you’ve not changed one iota, have you?” She looked at Sheppard. He was finished feeding the infant and asked her to come to see. “This here is Dru. Dru Sheppard. Ain’t he about the prettiest little thing you’ve ever done seen?”
Sheppard pulled the blankets back when she asked him to. He even took off his little socks so she could see his toes. Her need to touch him overwhelmed her, so she reached out to touch the full head of hair the little man was sporting.
“I can feel him. His warmth.” Dru opened his eyes and looked right at her as if he could really see her. “Lach, can he see me? Like you said, can he really see me?”
“I was told that all children can see their family when they come around. When parents start telling them that they shouldn’t is when they stop seeing. I doubt you’ll ever have an issue like that when you come to see them. Not a person here will tell their children they’re too old to be seeing something that they cannot.” Jill watched the little boy as he stared at her. She told him she would be around if he needed her and that she already loved him. “I think your sons believe you’re here, Jill.”
Still clutching Lach’s hand, she turned to the table. They were all staring at her, not with surprise, but with huge grins on their faces, their cheeks pink with something akin to heat. She wanted to hug them all at one time. But it was Harris that broke the spell of them staring at her.
“Shep? Tell your mother you love her, you giant lummox.” Deciding to ignore the way they were mean to one another, Jill stood in front of her son. “Tell her.”
“I love you, Mom. I’m so sorry.” She asked him what he had to be sorry for. “For not making it home more often. For not finding my mate until you were gone. Everything in the world that made me miss you.”
“Oh, son. Don’t you understand? Had you met Harris sooner, your grandfather would still be sitting at Alma’s grave grieving. It’s all a timeline, you see?” He said he didn’t understand. “In order for you to meet Harris, your grandda had to become her friend. Had he not, then Grandda might not have been called when Harris needed help. It’s all in the steps that it takes to get you to where you are now. You wouldn’t have come home without me dying. Then where would you be?” He told her he’d be unhappy. “You’d be lost, son. Never meeting your other half also means the others wouldn’t have met theirs. You did exactly what was needed of you to make sure every one of you, going forward and now, will be as happy as I am to be here with you today.”
Jill could see he was still hurt by something. Instead of talking to him more, letting his mind capture what she was saying, she turned to the others. They were all her boys. All of them right here and in her heart, like nothing had happened to take her away from them.
“Tell me what you’ve been up to before I fade away.” It was Oakley that stood first. She didn’t know what he was doing until he addressed the table.
“Power. We need to give both Mom and Lach more power.” Bella asked if she had an extension cord to plug them in. “Ha. That’s a good one. But I have something in mind that is a good deal safer. Love is a strong emotion. I know I’m feeling it all through my body. As I’m sure, the rest of you are. I want to try something. I want all of us to hold hands with the person next to you, and form a circle of power through our love for Momma.”
As soon as Oakley took Lach’s hand into his, she felt the surge of something roll over her from Lach. Each time one of them took the hand of the person next to them, connecting them to her, Jill felt like she really had been plugged into a socket.
“You’re beautiful, Jill Ann.” Sheppard handed Dru to his mom and stood up. “I love you all to pieces, I surely do, but this is too much for this old man. I need to have a few minutes.” Then he looked at her. “You tell my Alma that I’m missing her so much. And if she has a notion of coming around to see me, I’d surely love that too. I love you very much, Jill Ann. You and yours are the best things that ever happened to me.”
Sheppard left then, and she hated that she’d hurt him so. She would talk to Alma when she returned. Tell her how much her husband still grieved for her. Turning back to her family, she realized she wasn’t holding onto Lach any longer, but her family could still see her.
“Tell me what you’ve been up to. I want to know everything.” They started talking over one another, and she had to laugh. “Nothing has changed, I see. You’re still the rude little boys I love.”
They did tell her everything. About their jobs and how they’d been working to fix things around the town. Oakley told her about the gazebo and the murder that had been solved. Bella told her things about her life prior to falling in love with Dean.
Jill knew she’d been with her family longer than she should have been. She didn’t want to leave them. Ever. But she knew she’d be around and would listen to whatever they had to tell her. She made them promise they wouldn’t mourn her any longer, but to make sure they took the time to appreciate the things around them.
“Life could be gone in a flash of a second if you’re not paying attention to the things you have now—family, friends, as well as a safe, good home. I want you all to look at the things around you and pick one thing daily that you’re grateful for. Hold your memories close to you so that when you’re here, on this side with me, you have them to keep you company. It’s how I have managed to cope with being gone.” They all nodded, and she nodded as well. “I need to go. I don’t want to, but I need to. But don’t you dare think I’m not keeping an eye on you. Understand me?”
They were telling her they loved her as she faded out. Before she was gone completely, her energy spent, she looked at Lach. Thanking her seemed to be so inept, so she did the only thing she could think of. She told her she loved her as much as if she’d come from her own body. Then she left.
Jill was exhausted when she returned to her world. Lying down on her bed, she closed her eyes. So many memories would keep her happy until the next time she could see them. Seeing her children like she had today was something she’d never forget. It had been the greatest birthday gift she had ever received.
~*~
Oakley was taking a walk when he found his grandda sitting out on his front porch. He’d been staying in the little house behind theirs off and on since he’d told him it was his. Asking if he could join him, Grandda nodded while rubbing his face with his white handkerchief.
“Are you all right, Grandda?” He nodded and said he was just thinking. “I know. We all have a great deal to think about today. Before I forget to tell you, Harris had their new cook, Hallie, fixed you a few plates of leftovers you can put in your freezer. It was a great meal.”
Oakley: Marshall’s Shadow – Jaguar Shapeshifter Romance (Marshall's Shadow Book 3) Page 13
