Adriel went back to the bedroom and returned to toss another notebook on the table.
“His diary entries started going strange right after that. I think he figured out what happened to Ben, and the guilt over providing the beer got to him. He felt responsible and couldn’t face telling anyone what he knew, so he disassociated completely in order to hide the memory so he could live with the guilt.”
All the pieces slotted into place but one.
“But why would Edward sabotage the equipment? He could have put the kibosh on this ditch before the work ever started.”
“He told me he wanted a break from town business after his heart attack. I think he was deliberately trying to ruin his own reputation, along with Lydia’s.\, so they could both retire.”
“It all fits. Show me the car.”
***
When it was all over, Zack reckoned Damien Oliver set a record for the fastest confession ever given in the county lockup. If she’d been present, Kat could have told him how Estelle and Ben standing in the corner might have had something to do with it. It seemed the touching-the-wing trick worked on Estelle just as well as it had on Adriel. The sight of his victim watching over the proceedings had a profound effect.
Two days later, Ben’s bones were released, and Pam finally got the chance to lay her brother to rest with her parents. The whole town turned out, including a sheepish Rodeo Bill. Callum McCord never left Pam’s side during the entire service—a fact that was commented on in hushed tones.
Chapter 19
“Are you ready?” Adriel’s gentle hand on Pam’s arm shook a little. How was she supposed to get through this if the angel wasn’t even ready for what was about to happen. Tears welling, Pam managed a quivering nod. The prospect of seeing Ben again brought up so many emotions; she wasn’t sure she could handle it.
“Ben is going to touch my wing,” Adriel explained yet again, then nodded to Ben, who buried his hand in the living softness. Eyes squeezed shut, Pam missed the moment when Ben shivered into visibility. Even so, some change in the atmosphere triggered her awareness.
“Open your eyes. Don’t be afraid, I am right here with you.” Adriel made her voice as soft and soothing as she could, then gave little Ben another nod.
“Hey, Sissy. You’re not scared of me are you?”
At the sound of his voice, just like she remembered it, Pam’s knees turned to mush. A rush of exultation rose up in her so strongly that Adriel couldn’t see how a fragile human body could hold it without bursting.
“Bennie, is that really you?”
“I’m standing right here. Oh, are we playing hide and seek? Are you it?”
Pam’s eyes flew open. “No Ben, please don’t hide again.” She hunkered down to bring herself to his level. He looked exactly as he had the last time she saws him. Dressed in jeans, sneakers and his favorite red jacket. A shock of pale blond hair fell across clear blue eyes that twinkled when he grinned at her.
“Boy, you sure got bigger.”
With a wry smile, Pam nodded, “And older. I know I look different. Does that scare you?”
“No. You love me, nothing to be scared of. I watched you lots of times. I called and called, but you never answered because you couldn’t see me.”
“So you know you’re a…”
“A ghost? Yeah. Adriel ‘splained everything. She’s nice. She told me ‘bout how I stayed with you instead of going into the light, and that was okay for a while. But now it’s time for me to go be with Mom and Dad.” He scuffed his little Converse-clad toe back and forth across the floor. “And I helped her figure out what happened to me.”
Tentatively, Pam reached out a hand as though to stroke his hair, then pulled it back and looked up at Adriel. Her longing to touch him ran deep and strong.
“It’s okay, Pam. You’ve both been waiting so long.”
When the silky strands of his hair threaded through his sister’s fingers, hesitation turned to joy. Pam pulled Ben in to hug him so tightly he squirmed in her arms in order to remain in contact with Adriel’s wing.
“Hey Sissy, take it easy. You’re squooshing me.”
“Oh, Bennie boy, I can’t help it. I’ve missed you so much.” Laughter and tears mixed in the bittersweet moment that healed a heart broken for such a long time. The look Pam gave Adriel spoke volumes as she mouthed, “Thank you.”
Tears ran down Adriel’s face in a human show of emotion. She was learning how cathartic it felt to cry sometimes.
Turning back to the small but sturdy form, Pam asked, “Do you know what happened to you?”
“I was riding my bike down past old man Tilden’s place, you know?”
Pam nodded.
“When I got to Keough’s, there was a car coming up behind me, so I moved over into the grass like Dad taught me and put on my brakes. Then I must have fell and bumped my head, because it hurt for a minute. Then the light came, and I went home.”
Another weight lifted off Pam’s chest. He’d felt no fear or pain.
“The light’s back, Sissy. I think it’s almost time to go. Adriel says Mum and Dad will be there when I go into the light, but I don’t want to leave you all alone. Should I stay?”
The lump threatened to choke Pam’s words but she managed to swallow past it and say, “No, it’s time for you to go. I’ll be fine. One more hug?” She gave him another squeeze and a kiss, then stood up, one hand over her mouth to stop the sobs, and another over her heart.
“Love you Bennie Boy.”
Ben took a step backwards into the leading edge of the light. His figure shimmered for a moment, then elongated
