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“I blame Jenni,” Juan answered.

Travis grinned and opened the door to the hall. “Ornery beyond the grave, ain’t she?”

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nbsp; Juan laughed as he headed down the hall. “That’s our Loca. ”

3. Grasping Shadows

The sun was still blazing hot outside when Katie drew the curtains and turned down the air conditioner. She felt tired after her morning walk and decided to lay down again. At eight months pregnant, she was too big to run anymore.

Laying down on the bed in the cool darkness, Katie tried not to think of the latest news from Rune and the recon mission Travis was sending.

Her eyes easily closed and sleep fell over her immediately.

She dreamed of her mother… “…Katie, of course you love your best friend. She is your best friend. Just because you love her doesn’t mean you have to kiss her. You’re just confused…”

“But, Mom, I’m in love with her. I need you to understand,” her teenage voice answered.

“Don’t be foolish, Katie-girl,” her mother chided.

Agitated, she fought the dream away, not wanting to remember her mother’s unrelenting refusal to accept her for who she was. The dream wavered then Lydia sat at the kitchen table as her mother fussed with dinner.

“…and this is simply ridiculous. Women do not marry women,” her mother was saying to Lydia.

“Sit down, Katie,” Lydia’s sweet voice said as she patted the chair next to her.

Katie moved into the dream and took the seat next to her dead wife. Her dream mother continued to cook, filling the room with fragrant, delicious aromas.

“You look lost,” Lydia decided, and gently swept Katie’s hair back from her face.

“I was looking for Jenni,” Katie answered glumly. “I never see her in my dreams. ”

“I know, honey. ” Lydia smiled sweetly. She reached out and squeezed her hand. “It’s not time yet. ”

Katie’s mother turned, saw their clasped hands, and quickly turned back to the stove.

“I miss her, Lydia. So much. She’s my best friend,” Katie whispered emotionally, tears in her eyes. “I need her here. I am so afraid. I don’t have you or her here to help me through this. I feel so emotional over the baby and so lost. Travis tries, but he doesn’t understand how this feels. ”

Katie pressed her hand to her stomach.

Lydia fastened her gaze firmly to Katie’s face and said, “Katie, look at me. ”

With tears glittering on the edges of her eyes, Katie obeyed.

“You’re going to be okay. You’re going to be fine. Travis will take good care of you and the baby. But you need to be careful. Things are about to become very, very difficult. Very dangerous. ”

“I can’t deal with anymore loss,” Katie whispered.

“I know, honey. I know. But you need to listen to me. You’ve always been strong. You’ve always been confident. Trust your instincts. Do what you know is right and don’t back down. ”

“I need Jenni,” Katie insisted, her hands trembling.

“You know, Jenni,” Lydia said with a smile. “She’ll be there when you need her. She won’t let you down. But until then, you need to be strong and listen to your instincts. Do what you know is right. ”

Lydia looked up sharply toward the door, then back at Katie. “I need to go now. Remember what I said. ” Standing, she kissed Katie gently on the forehead and smoothed her hair before fading away.

Katie’s eyes opened to see a sliver of sunlight had found its way through the closed curtains and was drawing a line of glowing light over the floor.