“Your parents started all of this, I know that. But the things they’ve survived are unimaginable. Is it magic? Is it training? What is it?” he asked genuinely curious.
“I’d say it’s all of the above,” said Eric. “You know that SEALs, Rangers, Delta, Green Berets, MARSOC, all of them have programs that are the toughest to get through. The ongoing training is extreme and we, our fathers, carried all of that back with us, and added to it.
“But I think it goes beyond that. We have a relationship here that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.”
“I definitely get that,” smirked Shep.
“It’s true. We truly love one another, care for one another like family because we are family. We can thank Matthew and Irene for that,” said Eric.
“How so?” he asked.
“They made sure that we all knew we belonged to them. We were their children, their grandchildren. It didn’t matter what your last name is, or what the color of your skin is. You are their children. To have that kind of love envelop you is more than most men could possibly ask for,” said Cam.
“It’s true,” nodded Ben. “Luke, Adam, Carl, me, Violet, and Lucy were adopted by Gaspar and Alexandra. But you would never hear that word from grandma. We belonged to her from day one and I can tell you that made a difference for all of us. Their capacity for love, adoration, and devotion is beyond anything I’ve seen in my entire life.”
“Remarkable,” whispered Shep. “Do you think they somehow brought you all together?”
“Oh, that’s a definite,” smirked Joseph. “My father would tell you that they ensured he was guided to this very place. He thoroughly believes Irene played a role in him meeting my mother, which by the way, happened in Virginia.”
“Not here?”
“No, not here. They are also responsible for bringing my great-grandfather to this place as a ghost. They brought Yori as well, Hiro’s grandfather.”
“So, did you know about these strange powers your grandparents possessed before they, uh, passed?” said Shep.
“We knew they were special,” said Luke. “We always knew they were special. Even though they’ve technically passed, they’re still here, with us. They’ve also done a beautiful job of training Aunt Claudette and Uncle Gabriel to take their places.”
“I have to say, your grandfather took me on a long walk the other day. It was the most remarkable conversation of my life. I felt as if I were speaking to the Dali Lama, a shaman, the Pope, and a Chief Rabii all in one.”
“Well, that pretty much describes my grandfather,” smiled Luke.
“Shep, this is a lot to take in, a lot to understand,” said Ajei. “I wouldn’t think too hard on it. Everyone is willing to talk to you about our history, as long as it’s not shared with anyone outside the property.”
“Oh, I would never,” he said shaking his head. “I hope you didn’t misunderstand my intentions. You have to remember, I’m always trying to figure out what’s happening in our minds. To meet people who are able to give so much, sacrifice themselves, their families, everything to help others, is not something I see every day. It’s a beautiful thing to work with.”
“We think so, too,” smiled Kate taking a seat next to Cam. “Nice to see you again, Shep.”
“Nice to see you, Kate. You know, something just occurred to me. All of your suicide victims were missing something in their lives. Casimir, as we know, was missing the stability he wanted for his family. The lottery ticket was going to provide that but with his wife leaving him, it seemed like the nail in the coffin. Forgive the reference.”
They all nodded at him.
“What about the others?” asked Luke.
“That’s what we need to find out. What were they missing in their lives that made them want to end it? We figure that out, we can help our three remaining ghosts.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Where are you headed so early?” asked Luke.
“We’re gonna go check in on Claire and Mark to see how they’re doing,” said Milo. “Those kids broke my heart and I think their father is struggling so much he doesn’t even see it. I can’t blame him but just want to be sure the kids are doing alright.”
“Care if I come along?” asked Luke.
“It’s your party, brother,” smirked Griff. “Let’s go.”
The drive into town was nicer than the last few days. The weather had cleared somewhat and the temperatures were tolerable. The rain finally subsided and it was beginning to feel as though maybe they’d seen the last of winter in Louisiana.
As they parked on the street, the house seemed quiet, the blinds were closed and the men wondered if perhaps they’d left for a few days. Milo knocked on the door and waited. He heard rustling on the other side and worried that something was wrong. Knocking, he waited, then spoke.
