Page 219 of A Courage of the Chosen

“Spirit magic,” Brodie winks.

He’s the next to be suffocated by me, although I’m not sure you can suffocate someone who is already dead? I’ll ponder that later.

Rach rolls her eyes before squeezing me harder than I’d expect her to be capable of. “What he’s saying is, the spirits allowed us to come here when you arrived. Their final gift to you both, since you were robbed of so many goodbyes.”

How do I respond to that? The spirits aren’t exactly here for me to thank. Instead, I complete another round of hugs, not fully convinced I’m not dead until Brodie pinches the skin on the soft flesh under my upper arm when I ask them if they’re sure I’m alive.

“I see dying didn’t change a damn thing,” Callahan half-smiles.

Brodie bumps a fist into his upper arm. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, Brother. And Elsie wouldn’t feel that if she were dead,” he shrugs casually.

“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” Granny says, lowering my hand as I’m about to flip Brodie off. “I’ve always been proud, and to see you as queen of the home I loved so much is . . .” She shakes her head like she can’t quite believe it.

There are so many things I should ask her, details of her life I’m desperate to know. Somehow, not a single one of them matters, and all I can do is soak in being with her, Mom, and my friends again.

The four of them gather in a line, and I spend a few seconds absorbing each of their faces, the goodbyes I didn’t get to say trapped somewhere in my esophagus. So I don’t say anything, I just watch.

Brodie and Rach arm in arm, smiling at one another. Together, as they should be. The tears that pour down Mom’s face. And the pride that shines in Granny’s green eyes.

My family, perfect and whole, and most importantly, completely at peace. To experience this with Callahan, for him to have this, too, is pure joy, and every ache caused by their loss, and what we had to do, is eased in their company.

It’s too much, and I drop to my knees as I sob into my hands. Callahan’s worry spikes down our connection, but he knows why I’m crying. Because he feels it too.

There’s no sound as they move, but their presence surrounds me as they join me on the ground.

Mom pulls me into her arms. “Hey. Shh, it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” I hiccup around sobs.

“What on earth are you sorry for?” Mom asks, as she tugs my hands away from my face and lifts my chin.

“Because you all had to die. It’s not fair.”

“We all gotta go sometime, right?” Brodie boops my nose.

“It was our time, sweetheart,” Granny adds, rubbing a hand up and down my spine.

“And we’ll always be watching,” Rach soothes.

Brodie snickers. “Baby, that’s creepy.”

“I really hope you’re not,” Callahan grimaces.

“Oh shut up. She knows what I mean,” Rach bites back.

Their bickering makes me laugh, and dries up the heaviest of my tears.

“What Rachel means to say, is that in the afterlife, we remain connected to our past. We inherently know what’s happening to the people who loved us, and who we loved in return. If they’re happy or sad. When something important happens to them.” Granny smiles, and I think of all the things her and Mom missed. All the things I thought they wouldn’t get to see.

“So when we got married, you knew?” I direct the question at Mom and Granny. Callahan leans close.

“We did, and we couldn’t have been happier for you,” Mom says as she cups my cheek.

The knowledge that they were aware, even if they couldn’t be there, has new teardrops cresting my lower lashes.

She turns her attention to Cal. “I wish we could’ve known each other.”

“Me too,” he replies.