| |
Three months after The Night
Ann and Maggie knelt at Bram’s grave. Maggie placed a bunch of flowers at the foot of the headstone. They went to each victim in turn, leaving Derrick for last. It had become a monthly ritual.
With Teresa tucked away at Mountain View and Derrick gone, the state found some additional paperwork that named Ann as Maggie’s legal guardian in the event of Derrick and Teresa’s untimely death, or—in Teresa’s case—parental unfitness. The papers were signed by Gail Park.
Maggie still carried Sophia within her. Every once in a while, she said something wise, older than her age.
When commercials begging for funds to help wounded warriors or starving children or anything of the like came on TV, Ann had to change the channel. If she didn’t, it would send Maggie into a fit. She would swear Yaldabaoth was still out there doing things to cause these people suffering. She would be inconsolable.
Ann learned to give her time in these situations. And to monitor the television a little closer.
Maggie knelt at Derrick’s grave when Ann’s radio crackled.
“Sheriff Logan,” a young man’s voice said. He was her new deputy, a kid who reminded her of George in every way except his knack for law enforcement.
Ann stepped a few paces away from Maggie to give her the peace she needed.
“Go ahead, Deputy.”
“The last of Louise’s cats have been rehomed.”
“That’s great.”
“Oh, and Rachel is complaining about the dog’s gassiness.”
“Did Pinky get in the trash again?”
“No . . . well . . . no. But I might have shared my sandwich with her.”
Ann rolled her eyes. Being sheriff of her tiny town was what her father always wanted, and it was what she needed in her life right now.
“You know I have to live with that gas later tonight,” Ann said. “Can you please follow the rules?”
“Yeah . . . sorry,” he said.
Maggie finished at Derrick’s grave. She always took a little more time at his.
“You ready to go?” Ann asked.
Maggie nodded and took Ann’s hand. The scars on her wrists from the ropes had faded to a silvery reminder of that night, just like the mark on her chest. Ann’s mark had also faded, but it still told her when Maggie was sad or angry or hurt.
Today was one of the days in which being Sophia was exhausting. Though they rarely spoke of that night, Maggie told Ann things, sometimes after her bedtime story when she was on the edge of sleep. She told Ann she could feel Sophia within her, though she’d never felt her before The Night.
Ann had called in Raghib’s body, but when the coroner arrived, Raghib was gone.
Ann had trouble sleeping most of the time. Knowing the Messengers of the Light were still out there, still looking for vengeance and for Maggie, troubled her thoughts. Some day they could all rise up again and come after her, even though their god was gone for good.
All she could do was keep Maggie safe, and by doing so, the world would be as peaceful as it could be.