Present Day
Bindi whisked them away to the present where the boys were still sleeping. Dixie was elated she wouldn’t have to share the last meeting with Holland with the boys, at least for a while. She’d known from the beginning the man was violent. Even before they’d ventured into the past Holland had put his hands on Dixie. No doubt there was something wrong with the man. He’d derived great pleasure from belittling Bindi, and Dixie felt like she wasn’t the only girl who’d suffered his abuse.
Dixie needed to sleep on it. She wanted to see what happened the day Bindi died and knew the next time they slipped off Blake and Lathan would insist on accompanying them. She closed her eyes in the warmth of the bed on the second floor and prayed for a night without haunting dreams of the past.
A couple of days passed with no sightings of Bindi or Holland. Dixie figured Bindi had worn herself out with all the trips back to her prior life. Dixie was painting a wall in the parlor steel gray. She’d decided to use this section of the room for mirrors and all things silver. Holland was always in the back of her mind because she’d felt his bony fingers around her neck. Every once in a while, even when it was quiet, she stopped and did a visual scan of the surroundings.
Blake was with her, nailing photos to another wall. In fact, he’d made himself available a lot. Dixie figured despite his obvious lack of wings he was still in charge of her well-being and allowed him to hover. It must have been difficult for him to protect her given he no longer possessed his extraordinary talents. The thought made her giggle because she knew the whole concept ticked him off. He deserved it, though, and perhaps he’d learned a lesson. Maybe being human no longer held the romance it once had. It wasn’t visible all the time, but this Blake had less self-confidence and Dixie missed the angel in him.
Bindi appeared sometime after noon. She didn’t say anything at first but swayed around the room, checking out all the merchandise and décor. When she’d completed her tour, she brushed Dixie’s arm. “I like it, Dixie. I think it’s gonna be great… once…”
Dixie climbed down the ladder, regarding the sorrowful disposition of the ghost. “What’s wrong?” She dropped the towel in her hand in a bucket of water and waited.
“Oh, once we’ve figured everything out I won’t be here anymore. I guess I’ll just miss you and this place.” Bindi stood in front of a large oval mirror and stared at the reflection of her translucent body.
“Won’t you be happy to move on? We aren’t supposed to stay bound to Earth forever.” Dixie glanced up at Blake, who continued about his task.
Bindi had a habit of disappearing when the boys were around, but just then she seemed at ease with Blake’s presence. “Yes. I’d like to go, but it’s a bit scary. I’ve been in this house a long time.” Her eyes settled on Blake as though she needed his reassurance.
Dixie wasn’t sure he was going to speak, but then he sat on the sofa and studied Bindi with a patient air about him. “People are supposed to move on when they die, Bindi. The soul can’t find peace if it never crosses over.”
She swung around at the sound of his voice and then her eyes softened as they fell on him. “I know, but what if they don’t want me anymore?”
“God is waiting for you. He expects you to come home to him. People weren’t created to spend eternity here.”
Dixie loved the way he looked when he spoke of God. A glow came over him, and she felt like if she wandered close enough she’d feel the effects of its power. He was exquisite. His hazel eyes heavy with the message he wanted Bindi to hear. Guilt slid over Dixie again. If she hadn’t denied him, he’d still be an angel.
“I’m afraid I’ve ignored the other side so long they won’t let me in.” Bindi’s voice jolted Dixie from her thoughts of Blake.
“It doesn’t work like that. The invitation is open. You just have to accept it.”
Bindi frowned, and as she gazed back at the mirror her head shifted one way then the other as though she found deep interest in the way emotion changed her facial features. “I can’t leave until it’s done. You’ll all understand someday.” She glared over her shoulder at Blake, waiting for him to answer.
“I’m not judging you. Look at what I’ve done. I want you to be happy though, and there is no happiness here with Holland.” Blake stood behind her, watching her reflection. Dixie was touched by the moment.
“You still haven’t seen everything.” Bindi attempted to convince them as her eyes moved to Dixie.
“Well, I’m ready to go back anytime.” Dixie shoved the paint roller into the tray of paint in an effort to demonstrate her boredom with the project.
Bindi giggled. “Where are Lathan and Emily? Shouldn’t we wait for them?”
Dixie thought about it for a second. Emily had gone to complete paperwork for insurance on the shop. They’d better wait, or Dixie was sure she’d kill them.
Because she didn’t want to suffer Emily’s wrath, she had to spend another hour painting. By the time Emily and Lathan returned, Dixie had completed the job and cleaned up all the paint brushes. She was apprehensive about this trip for some reason. Something was different. New beginnings and endings had always caused a pit of panic inside her and this felt like an ending.
Bindi was even talking like she sensed it too. Dixie stood back and admired her work as she thought about her time in The Holland House. If someone had told her a few weeks before she’d be friends with a ghost she would have snickered and then went on with her day. The things she’d experienced recently were straight out of horror movies and psycho wards, and even though she’d slept little, she wouldn’t trade a bit of it.
Because of Bindi, she’d learned so much. The girl was loyal even in death. She’d tied herself to the house because there was more to the story than simply her own plight. What kind of strength did it take to see the white light beckon to you and be able to turn away because others were in need? Maybe in the long run, it had been Dixie who needed Bindi. Before she’d come to the house, she’d drowned herself in grad school and then work. So much so that she hadn’t dated for years, and at times, she’d even shut Emily out.
Now she had Blake too, her own Guardian Angel turned human. Dixie chuckled. He’d been whining about hunger all day. Even though he seemed to be a bit wimpier without his wings, she loved him. Even Holland had reminded her of how tough she was. She’d been able to stand up to him unafraid, and she was grateful to see how far she’d go to protect her friends.
Blake leaned his chin across her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Dixie was still staring at the wall. “Yeah, I was just thinking about how glad I am I found this place.”
Blake brushed his lips against hers and she watched his eyelids grow heavy and close before springing open again. “You might not be so grateful once this is all done.”
“Regardless, I have you. And as long as that’s true, everything else I can handle.”
A smile bloomed across his perfect pout. He kissed her again. This time his mouth parted and his breath swept across her lips. Dixie shivered as Emily and Lathan entered the house. It was time to face down the monster once again.