With Ruby, Matthew, Irene, and Beryl putting their heads together, Rachel, Trevon, and Noelle researched the temperature at which something would freeze enough to kill the toxins.
It wasn’t as easy as saying just ice everything down. In fact, sometimes the ice could preserve whatever was in it. It had been known to happen with fossils, dinosaurs, mammoths, and other things. Even parasites often survived a freeze. This had to attack differently, and yet the same.
“What will happen to me when this is done?” asked Beryl.
“I’m not sure,” said Luke. “What you did to Hezekiah wasn’t very kind but he doesn’t seem bothered by it all. So, my guess is that you’ll be able to move on. I don’t think we can say the same thing for your daughter and granddaughter.”
“I didn’t think so either,” she said nodding sadly. “I take solace in knowing that I was right about one thing.”
“What’s that?” asked Cam.
“That Hezekiah was, is a good and kind man. Anyone that can forgive what was done to him would have been a wonderful husband and father.”
“He said he never wanted to be a father,” said Eric looking at the man, listening as the others formulated their plans. “I think you’re right and that he would have made a good one but he seems to think otherwise.”
“Don’t all men?” she smiled. “I never met one man that immediately said he wanted to become a father or even a husband.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” smiled Eric. “All I could dream about was becoming a husband and father but only with my sweet Sophia Ann.”
“Same,” smiled Luke. “I knew from the time I was in high school that Ajei was the woman I would marry and we would have children.”
“You boys were ahead of the curve compared to me,” said Hex. “I figured my time was done. I’d already had one failed marriage and I damn sure wasn’t looking for another.”
“What happened?” asked Beryl.
“I stumbled into a café and had coffee with that man over there,” he said pointing to Matthew.
“He’s an angel, isn’t he?” she asked.
“I believe so,” said Luke. “He’s my grandfather and I would have sworn him an angel even before I knew it to be true.”
“You’re all such good people,” she said. “I feel so ashamed for what I did and I’ll never be able to make it right.”
“But you have,” said Luke. “You’ve helped us find your daughter and granddaughter. You’ve helped us to understand what happened at the cabin and you’re willing to stay here and help us now. I’d say that earns you a reprieve.”
“Wouldn’t it have been nice to have known you all when I was alive and to have this knowledge in my head?” she smiled.
“Hindsight certainly is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?” smirked Eric. She laughed nodding at them.
“Let me ask you all something. How is it that you’re all so robust? You’re all tall, broad, strong, handsome, and the women are beautiful without even trying. Is there something in your soil?” she asked.
“I don’t think so,” chuckled Eric. “I do thank you for the compliments. We all do. We were given a very special life by Irene and Matthew. All of us and believe me, it’s not lost on us how fortunate we are. We have more than most and are able to help those that need it.”
“Like the good doctor,” smiled Beryl.
“Exactly like the good doctor,” nodded Eric.
“What will happen to him when we’re done? I assume I’ll go wherever I’m intended to be. I’m fine with whatever that is but he doesn’t deserve anything except eternal happiness. I hope they accept him into heaven or wherever it is he wishes to go.”
“That’s usually what happens,” said Luke. “He may have some other unfinished business that will keep him here but if he stays, we’ll welcome him into our family. He’s a skilled doctor and from what I understand he’s been very helpful to our medical teams at the clinic.” Beryl nodded at the handsome man.
“I suppose time will tell.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Luke, we think we’ve figured out how to do this,” said Matthew. “It’s going to take a day or so.”
“Do we have that kind of time, Grandpa?”
