case.
But she had to do something. There had to be a way, and she wasn’t going to find it staring after the priest like this.
She started after him.
* * * “DON’T DO IT, MAMA. You’ll only get upset, and he won’t change his mind.”
Bonnie.
She turned to see her daughter sitting on the edge of the fountain. The sun was shining on her red curls, and the spray surrounded her in a misty aureole.
“He’s got to change his mind. I have to find Danner.”
“I think you’ll find him, but it can’t be through Father Barnabas. He’s not going to give in.”
“He might if I keep after him.”
Bonnie shook her head. “That won’t happen, Mama. He and Ted Danner have been together for a long time.”
“So he’s going to let Danner have a chance to kill again?”
Bonnie didn’t answer.
She gazed at her in despair. “I don’t understand how this works, Bonnie. I believe Danner may have killed you, dammit. Why won’t you help me?”
“It has to play out the way it’s meant to do. I don’t understand either, Mama. I’m trying to help, but I told you that it’s only gradually becoming clear to me.” She shook her head. “But I can feel your pain, and it hurts me. I want it to be over, Mama.”
Lord, so did she. “Then go and make that priest help me. What good is being a ghost if you can’t pull a few strings?”
Bonnie chuckled. “It doesn’t work that way. Though I’m learning things all the time.” She added softly, “Beautiful things, Mama. You can’t imagine. I can’t wait to show them to you.”
“Neither can I, baby.” Eve felt the tears sting her eyes. “But it was pretty beautiful when I had you with me, too.”
Bonnie nodded. “But that was only the start. There’s so much more.” She got up from the fountain. “But we have to work our way toward it. We’ll be together. But you’re still on the path, and you have wonderful companions to travel with you.”
Joe, Jane, Gallo, Catherine…
“I’m going now. Now forget about going after Father Barnabas. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“What? Do you think I’d mug a priest?”
“No, but there’s no telling what else you might do to make him give you what you want.” Bonnie grinned at her. “And you can be very determined about getting what you want, Mama.”
“I don’t promise not to try with Donnelly. I don’t trust him. Even if he’s not as bad as I suspect, he has no right to put roadblocks in our path just because he’s worried about Danner’s soul. Your soul is the only one I care about.”
“That’s not true. You care about the souls of a lot of people. You just don’t think about souls very much. People on the path are usually too busy to do that.” Her smile faded as she met Eve’s eyes. “You have a wonderful soul. It’s deep and strong, like a clear, powerful river. It sweeps everyone along and makes them feel safe, as if they know they’re headed in the right direction.”
Dammit, her eyes were stinging again. She smiled unsteadily. “It sounds… wet.”
Bonnie didn’t return her smile. “You made me feel safe.”
“I didn’t keep you safe.”
“You’ve told me that before. I didn’t know what to answer you then. I do now. It was one of the things I learned. It was time for me to go.”
Eve shook her head. “Seven years old?”
“Years don’t make a difference. I was ready.” She said gently, “You kept me safe, you gave me love, you made my stay beautiful.”
Bonnie was the one who had made their time together beautiful. As she stood looking at her, Eve could feel the golden haze of those seven years enveloping her. She could remember every moment, every word, every touch. “I love you, baby.”
Bonnie nodded. “I know. In the end, that’s all there is, Mama. No regrets, just the love.”
“Is that why you came to see me today?” Eve asked unevenly.
“I felt I had to be here. I wanted to come before. I knew there wasn’t a threat yet, but I could feel your pain. But there are things I can do on that other level that I can’t do for you yet. Wonderful things… It took me a little while to break away. Here, everything is confusing, and I can’t see what’s going on. I just have to work my way through it. But I had to do something to help you.”
“You did help me.” She cleared her throat. “Though I can’t see things as you do.” She made a face. “And don’t tell me that I will someday. I have to do what I have to do. So unless you can offer me a little nudge toward getting that priest to give us a little assistance, I’d better go and see what I can do.” She had to leave before she lost her resolve. This time with Bonnie was too precious, the love too strong. She turned and moved toward the church. “And I won’t cause Father Barnabas any distress about-well, maybe a little distress. But not enough to worry you.”
* * * BONNIE DIDN’T ANSWER.
Eve didn’t have to look back to know she had left her again.
IT WAS THE CHILD AGAIN.
Danner’s heart was pounding with fear as he stared at the little girl standing by the fountain. He had been hovering in the garden house, waiting impatiently for the chance to approach Father Barnabas, when Eve Duncan had appeared. It had shocked and disturbed him, but he had not been terrified.
Until the child had appeared when the priest had left.
Danner staggered back and leaned against the wall of the garden house, trying to fade into the plaster. He was sweating, his palms cold and wet.
It was the child again. What was the little girl doing here?
Had she known he would be going to Father Barnabas and meant to stop him?
Hide.
Hide.
Don’t let her see you.
He had to keep hidden until he was sure she had vanished, then go find the priest. Talk to him, and perhaps the priest would be able to tell him what he needed to know.
What do you want from me? he thought in agony as he stared at the child. I’ll do anything. Just leave me alone.
