Addison woke the next morning with an intense feeling of sadness. It had been a short time since she’d left Barry. He still hadn’t forwarded Briggs’ information, and she had a good idea why.
She fed and dressed Amara Jane, gave her to Luke, and went for a drive. Two hours later, she parked in front of a yellow house with white trim. She walked to the door and knocked. A taller-than-average man in his early twenties opened the door and put his hands on his hips. “Yeah?” was all he said. He had bushy eyebrows and long brown hair, and wore a shirt displaying the cities Aerosmith had visited on their “Get a Grip” tour in 1993.
“Does Barry live here?”
“He can’t come to the door right now,” the man said.
“I’d like to see him.”
“He’s, uhh ... not well.”
“I know. I heard.”
“I mean, he’s too weak to get out of bed.”
“Why isn’t he at the hospital, then?”
The guy shrugged. “I’ve tried to get him to go. He refuses.”
A young girl wrapped her arms around the man’s leg and poked her head out the side, grinning at Addison.
“Hi,” she said. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Addison.”
“That rhymes with my name. I’m Madison.” She looked up at the man. “She can come in, Daddy. She’s all right.”
He looked at his daughter and tried to keep a straight face. It didn’t last. He cracked a smile, patted her on the head, and said, “She’s all right, is she?”
“Yep,” the girl said. “She’s nice.”
“You don’t even know her.”
Addison pressed a hand to her lips in an attempt to stifle her own laughter. “I assume Barry is your father and this sweet girl is his granddaughter?”
“Who are you?” he asked. “How do you know my father?”
“We met at the library several years ago. If I could see him, even for a few minutes, it would mean a lot to me.”
He ran a hand along his jawline, thinking. “I have a better idea. I’ll tell him you’re here, and if he wants to see you, you can come in.”
He pushed on the front door like he intended to close it, but it remained open a crack. A minute later he returned and said, “I’m Tim. Come on in.”
Addison walked inside.
“It’s just ... he’s not good, you know?” Tim said. “I don’t think he should have visitors, but he wants to see you.”
Addison placed a hand on Tim’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for all you’re going through.”
Tim turned away, blinking back a pool of tears. “I thought I’d be ready for it. I mean, he said he didn’t have long a few months ago. Guess I hoped it wouldn’t happen this fast.”
“Not long ago, my grandmother died. I understand what it feels like to lose the one you love. Even though she’s no longer here, I feel her, and you’ll feel him too.”
He shrugged. “Guess so. Anyway ... umm ...” He gestured down the hall. “Second door on the right. He wants to see you alone, so you go on ahead.”
Addison entered Barry’s room, surprised to see how frail he looked from the man she’d seen such a short time before.
Barry attempted to smile. “I’m glad you came. How did you know where I live?”
“I have my connections.” She walked to the bed and sat down. “I’m sorry, Barry. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Who knows? Maybe you can.”
“Maybe I can, what?”
“Let’s play a game, a getting-to-know-you game.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I’ll tell you a secret, and you tell me one.”
It seemed like an odd request.
“I ... don’t know.”
“Oh, come on,” he said. “I’ll even go first.”
She paused, then said, “Sure, why not?”
“When you took my hand when we last met, I saw something.”
He couldn’t have.
Could he?
“What did you see?”
“If I had to explain it, I guess I’d say I saw what people refer to as the other side, a life beyond this one. I saw myself in it. Ever since I was diagnosed, I’ve feared death. I think it’s natural, to fear the unknown, the things we know nothing about. It’s human nature. We spend our lives afraid of a lot of things. But once I saw where I’m going, my perception changed. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m at peace now. I’m ready to let go.”
Addison smiled. “I’m glad.”
“I never thought I’d get the chance to thank you, but here you are.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For the chance to see my destiny. I believe you did that for me. You made it happen. What I don’t know is how you did it. Indulge a man’s dying wish and tell me. Please?”
Addison walked to the bedroom door and closed it. She returned to Barry’s side and said, “I often find ways to disguise who I am because if I share the truth with others, most won’t understand. People have a hard time accepting things they can’t comprehend. It makes people like me outcasts, weirdos who claim to be someone others assume we’re not. Not everyone can handle the truth, no matter how much they think they want it.”
“I can. Tell me who are you, Addison. Won’t you please?”
Who was she?
Some days, she didn’t even know.
“The simple explanation is I see things,” she said. “I have visions. I see into the past, and on occasion, I see the future. I see those who have passed on, those stuck between this life and the next, and I help them get there.”
He stared at her without changing his expression, like she had told him what household chores she’d done for the day. “How interesting. Is there a name for what you are?”
“If there is, I don’t know it. I’m an empath, I guess, or a medium. The women in my family have unique abilities. We’re gifted, but I’ve never had anyone tell me they saw the afterlife when we touched before. You’re the first. Ever since my grandmother’s death, I’ve experienced things I hadn’t before, things I never thought possible. It makes me nervous at times. I’m still trying to figure it all out.”
“Don’t be nervous. You’re blessed to have such talents.”
“I suppose I am.”
“Can you do something for me? Can you cross me over into the next life?”
“I can’t do things like—”
“I believe you can. I know it.”
If she could, she didn’t know how.
“I appreciate your belief in me, but I can’t do what you’re asking.”
He sighed. “Can’t blame me for trying. I’ve seen what’s waiting for me when I leave this tired, old body, and it’s ... well, worth dying for to get there. Believe me.”
She believed.
“By the way, Briggs came by this morning,” he said. “We talked about your interest in the Carrington girl’s case. He’d like to meet with you. You should give him a call.”
“I don’t have his number.”
Barry attempted to lift a finger and failed.
“It’s okay,” Addison said.
“No, it isn’t. He wrote it on a piece of paper. It’s on the nightstand.”
Addison located the scrap paper, picked it up, and slid it into her pocket.
“Can I get you anything before I go?” she asked.
“You can tell my son I need him.”
She poked her head into the hall. Tim was close, hovering like he was waiting for permission to come back in.
Tim approached Addison and said, “Is everything okay in here?”
“Your father is asking for you,” she said.
“Come over here and sit by me, son,” Barry said.
Tim wiped a tear from his cheek, sat down, and took his father’s hand.
“Dad,” Tim said, “let me take you to the hospital.”
“Don’t need it,” Barry said. “All I need right now is you. I love you, son. I hope you know how proud I am of you.”
He seemed to know he didn’t have long.
In an attempt to give Tim more time with his father, Addison
headed for the door.
“Addison,” Barry whispered.
She turned. “Yeah?”
“One more thing before you go,” Barry said. “Take my hand, please.”
She stared at his hand, and at him, knowing what he expected, what he thought would happen when she did. He’d be disappointed.
“Please, Addison,” Barry said. “Take my hand and then you can go.”
She nodded, crossed the room, and reached for his hand.
“Thank you,” Barry said. “Thank you for being here today, for indulging an old man. It means a lot to me.”
Barry’s eyes drifted closed, and his head sagged to the side.
Tim shot out of his seat. He bent down, shaking his father. “Dad? Dad! Can you hear me? Dad! Say something.”
“I’m sorry, Tim,” Addison said. “I think he’s gone.”