“You’re looking lively. How are you feeling today?” I asked.
“Pretty good, actually, although maybe it’s the cocktail dripping into me,” he joked. “Best drugs I ever had! The 60s have nothing on hospice care!”
I laughed, just as he meant me to. We joked and chatted for a bit, and I was happy to listen to his stories. He was such a sweet old man, and he had been a pleasure to care for. I could tell he was getting tired, though.
We fell into silence for a moment, then he asked, “It doesn’t mean anything, me feeling better today, does it?”
“Sometimes people get a last burst of energy. I’ve seen it fairly often. It’s good that you’re not feeling much pain, though,” I told him.
“Tell me again, Sebbie,” he whispered, and he closed his eyes.
I knew he wasn’t sleeping, because his grip on mine was still strong.
“No one ever dies alone, and it doesn’t matter if you have ten people with you or no one when it’s your time. Death isn’t an ending; it’s a new journey. A journey that many other people will be taking with you,” I answered. “You lived an adventurous life. I expect you’ll have an adventurous death as well.”
Mr. Russell smiled, his eyes still closed.
“And you know who will be on this journey with you, too. There will be new friends, but you’ll run into some old friends as well. Perhaps even an old romance is waiting,” I teased.
His lips lifted slightly again, and then after a moment, his breathing evened out and his hand grew lax in mine. I gently placed it on the bed, giving it a small pat.
“I’ll see you on the other side,” I whispered, then I got up and headed out of the room.
I expected that the next time I came in, someone else would be in this room. Mr. Russell was ready to head off to his next great adventure.
When I pulled in, Thea was sprawled out on my front steps. They led up to a porch with a railing, and there were even rocking chairs on the porch, but Thea chose to sit on the top step, leaning against the post with her feet up on the other side. She was effectively blocking the way, and I chuckled in amusement.
I got out of the car and was greeted by the cawing of crows. “Hello, loves!” I called out. A few crows flew down and landed on my porch. I noticed they kept a respectful distance from Thea, though.
“I know you’re not talking to me,” Thea commented, “because you’re not my type, Seb.”
I laughed at her comment, and when I got to the top of the steps, I playfully pushed her legs aside to get by and unlock my front door.
Thea had been hanging around ever since that whole kidnapping thing. For the first day or two, I kind of figured it was because she was worried about me. Now, though, I thought she was trying to figure me out. Or, more likely, figure out what I knew.
I walked inside and grabbed some peanuts from my stash by the door, coming back out to place them on the railing for thecrows. Thea just stared at me. She kind of sucked at small talk, which I found amusing.
“You want some sweet tea?” I asked her.
“What, are you a fifty-year-old southern woman now?”
I giggle-snorted at that, and Thea stared at me. I pushed her legs out of the way (again) and sat on the step next to her. One of the crows hopped up to the steps, something in his mouth. He left it on the bottom step. It was a perfectly smooth, shiny pebble—blue with swirls of white.
“Thank you!” I called out. “I love it!”
“You know they’re crows, right?” Thea asked.
I gave her a look.
“You’re odd,” she stated.
I giggle-snorted again, bumping my shoulder against hers. “Says the woman who’s stalking me.”
“I am not!” she said, sitting up straight.
I threw my arm around her shoulder so she would know I didn’t mind. “Thea, you’ve been on my porch or in my yard almost every day for the past couple of weeks. Yeah, I was kidnapped by some crazy lady who was trying to get to Aiden—who’s really a rich guy in hiding, and whose grandfather had some shady dealings, apparently.” I paused, still kind of surprised by finding out Aiden’s family was super rich and obviously trouble. Mob, maybe? Money laundering? Arms dealer? I didn’t know, and guessing crazy backstories was Toby’s job, not mine. I didn’t need to know—Aiden was a super sweet guy, and I was just glad he’d found love and family with the Smiths.
Thea cleared her throat, and I continued. “But the lady and her minion are dead, and so is Aiden’s grandfather, and I’ve been assured by the sheriff and the whole Smith crew that no one is out to get me. I don’t need protection. So what’s the scoop?” I asked, looking over at her.
