While we were outside battling zombies, Jegguthiz had moved Dip Doody from the floor to the couch. Jennifer was at her man’s side. My normally ebullient buddy was pale and subdued. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her cheeks were tear-stained. Every inch of my friend was in pain.
The entire picture made my heart hurt.
Alana Catherine and Shitty Ritchie stood near her. Their expressions were sorrowful. All of the Demons saluted the Sheriff. It was tragically lovely and very fitting. Gram and Gramps hovered over the sad scene and did their ghostly best to comfort her.
I wasn’t sure Jennifer could be comforted right now.
Upon entry, Tim moved immediately to his daughter. He put his hand on her back, but she barely noticed. All of her attentionwas on the man she loved too much to marry. Dip had proposed a few times, but Jennifer had always turned him down. She’s been burned by marriage multiple times and swore off ever standing on the altar again. She felt like making it legal was a catalyst for disaster. My friend had it real bad for Dip Doody—loved him so much that she promised she’d never screw it up by marrying him. He’d accepted her decision and loved her just as much as she loved him
Gideon scrubbed his hand over his face and crossed the room. I stayed by his side. He was a Demon. He was the Grim Reaper, but he was also Jennifer’s friend. None of this was easy.
“Jennifer, you have some decisions to make,” he told her.
Dip looked peaceful in his unconscious state. He was a kind and handsome man. Although, he was going to have a hell of a shiner and a broken nose when he came to.
“What decisions?” Jennifer asked, keeping her gaze trained on Dip. Her voice was flat and lifeless. I believed she knew exactly what Gideon meant, but needed it spelled out.
Gideon squatted down next to her. “I’m going to wipe this entire day from Dip’s memory. You need to decide if I’m wiping more than just today.”
Jennifer leaned towards Gideon and rested her head on his shoulder. “I know what I have to do,” she whispered. “Why is it so hard to say the words… so devastating?”
Gideon was quiet for a long moment. He put his arm around our friend and gave her a gentle squeeze. “It hard because you love him. It’s hard because being selfless can inflict deep and lasting wounds. He’s a good man, Jennifer. Don’t know many humans who would have braved zombies and would have come back at me when ten guns were aimed at his head. He’s brave but foolish. He loves you and put his life on the line for you. He did it today, and he’ll do it again. Are you prepared for that?”
She shook her head. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Gideon rested his head on hers and continued. “Dip could have died today. Humans aren’t meant to be part of our world. They don’t understand it and will never be able to accept it.”
Jennifer glanced at Gideon quizzically. “I never had a problem with it—even when I was human.”
Tim squatted down on her other side. “You were never fully human, child,” he softly reminded her.
She looked at her dad, patted his hand, and gave him a weak smile. “Whoops. Forgot about that for a hot sec.”
She then kissed Dip’s lips and adjusted his ripped shirt. Jennifer turned to Gideon, who awaited her decision. “Wipe me from Dip’s memories.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
She nodded and smiled. It was a sad but resigned smile. “Yep. I’m sure. If the tables were turned, he’d do the same for me.”
I didn’t disagree, but the whole situation was heartbreaking.
“Candy Vargo,” Jennifer said, pointing at her. “You promised you’d fix Dip back up after the battle. He’s a mess right now and I don’t want the last time I see him for him to be all broken and bloodied up.”
“On it,” Candy replied.
The Keeper of Fate moved her hands in a circular motion over the prone body of Dip Doody. Delicate orange sparkles danced over him. We watched in real time as his nose straightened and mended, and the ugly bruises on his cheek and eye disappeared. The buttons reappeared on his shirt, and his uniform went right back to being as pristine as when he’d arrived.
“Thank you,” Jennifer told her.
Candy swiped a tear and gave Jennifer a hug. “That was my fuckin’ pleasure—my total fuckin’ pleasure.”
“Are you ready?” Gideon asked.
Jennifer sighed and forced a smile. “A few questions first.”
“Ask.”
“Will this mind wipe hurt him? Will he feel pain?”
