Page 103 of When the Snowman Whispered
“You made a spell to kill him?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because he messed it all up.”
“But. . .Addie Mae. . .” I dropped the blooms.
They fell to the floor and rolled her way. But it was too late, by the time the flowers got close to her, the costume had zipped up. She was now the woman I remembered. The soft, old woman that looked more young than her age.
Disgusted, the flowers rolled off to another part of the garden and kept their blooms closed.
“Yes. I killed him.” She bent over and picked up her cane. “And due to that, I shattered my own spirit. I’d done too much to the path—messing with yours and Faith’s, Remy’s and Brett’s. Even that poor girl that died. I put too much negativity out in the universe. The magic responded and separated my spirit.”
“And now you are heads?”
“Yes.”
“You said those were spirits.”
“I can lie outside the garden.”
“What are they?”
A tear left her eyes. “They are the bits of what I used to be. I will never be whole again.” She wiped it away. “But on another note, I’m not sure I will die either.”
“O-kay.” My heart broke.
“That is truly it, Daniel. In that way, I am the villain. For others, I’ve done wrong. For Faith and you, I’ve always been protecting and trying to unite you two together. I love you like my own son.” She stared down at Faith. “And this child and my grands are my entire life.”
In that moment, I returned to my love. There was no more doubt about Addie Mae. She was in the garden. She couldn’t lie.
Remy had gone to the light or wherever.
Everything would be okay.
And if not, we would all take it day-by-day.
“Do we have to give something to Faith?” I took off my jacket and placed it over her body. Touching her skin, I realized she was warm.
“She’ll be fine.” Addie Mae went over to a few purple flowers and picked some. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“Will it?”
Humming and holding the flowers, she smiled at me. “Oh yes, sir. I’m about to have me a new grandbaby. Nothing like living forever and getting to see your kin live on.”
“Grandbaby?”
She stared off in the distance. “Oh yes. Not just one either. Three grandbabies.”
I swallowed. “Are you telling me the future or putting in an order?”
She didn’t answer. Her smile widened. She returned to humming and headed out of the garden.
“Addie Mae?” I called after her. “What are we going to do now?”
“Make some soup.” She left the garden and stepped into the pantry.
