Silence. It’s like Kierah is entranced.
“I wish I could see her,” I whisper to Nana.
She nods. “I can’t see her either. I just feel her.”
“Does she talk to you?”
Nana nods. “In dreams.”
“Me too,” Sera says from the doorway. “Thanks for calling me, Nana.”
Kiki looks at Sera.
“You mama smell pretty.”
Sera nods. “Does she talk to you?”
Kiki nods.
“Does she know I’m here?”
Kiki nods again. “She touch your hair.”
Sera smiles, and tears fill her eyes.
“She say she love you.”
“I love you too, mama. I miss you so much,” Sera says softly. “But I know you’re always here with me.”
Kiki nods.
“What do we do?” Nana asks. “If I bind her further…”
We may lose our connection to Lily. She doesn’t have to say it for all of us to know it.
Kiki looks sad. “Mama?”
“Yes?”
“I promise I be good. Me no want Sera sad. She need her mommy.”
I look at my daughter. My daughter who knows too much for her age, and I nod. “If you promise Nana, then we’ll agree. If you break the promise, you’ll make us very sad and Lily won’t be able to visit.”
Kiki’s lip trembles. “I promise.”
I look to Nana. Her face is anguished.
“She say no be sad, Nana,” Kiki announces.
Nana smiles softly. “Thank you, Kiki. I love you, Lily Darling. We’ll keep the connection open for now. No more scaring the men.”
Kiki nods then shakes her head. “No, Nana say not funny.”
“Lily,” Nana scolds.
Kiki giggles. “You in trouble.”
The scent of flowers gets heavier before slowly fading away.
