Page 10 of Mend My Soul (Shattered Hearts of Carolina Ghost Psychic Mystery Romance #2)

________________

ANSON

“Thank you for agreeing to come.” With her newborn strapped to her, Amara opens the door of a single-wide trailer.

I notice the bracelet Xavier gave her, and Agent Reed returned to her, on the same wrist as her chain of hearts tattoo.

She steps onto a recently patched wooden porch, hardly large enough to accommodate two people. There are plant pots hanging over the railing, brimming with stargazer lilies. The front yard teems with goldenrod and wildflowers. The gravel driveway bumps up to a vegetable garden.

Sidney, the friend Amara lives with, steps out behind her. The addition of another person pushes us into the yard.

“Congratulations.” Rae Lee offers, extending her healed arm to touch the baby’s tiny hand. “She’s beautiful.”

“What’s her name?” I ask, interested, yet cautious not to act as familiar with Amara’s baby the way Rae Lee can.

“Xara. Xara Martin. I’m glad she’s a girl. I mean, I knew all along what I was having, but I’m glad for him…” Amara wipes an errant tear away, trying to stop emotion from overwhelming her, “…now that I know Xavier wanted a little girl.”

Standing behind the young woman, Sidney rubs her upper arms.

After her release from the hospital, the pair endured considerable questioning by Agent Reed. Facing possible obstruction of justice charges, I’m happy to say both teens were cooperative, and their recounts of the events that night matched.

Despite finding no footage whatsoever of Amara and Xavier together outside of their jobs at her father’s gas station, the ISB uncovered video surveillance of Sidney buying a Mountain Dew coinciding with the time Xavier fell from the bridge.

He’d also used his credentials for online gaming.

When the authorities subpoenaed the company’s servers, it showed he logged on and off almost immediately, consistent with what he’d told Agent Reed.

Amara had pounded on his door for help right after he’d gotten home from the grocery store, and he was about to play a game.

As for Amara, it was so early in her pregnancy she couldn’t have known she was expecting.

That, and Amara’s deep attachment to her child—breaking down that the baby was the only thing left of the boy she loved, and the regret she and Sidney hadn’t found Xavier; believing he might have lived if they had—put fears to rest over a lovers quarrel.

With Xavier’s daughter’s best interest on the line, the ISB was unwilling to risk increasing the possibility of neglect that too many kids who grow up in rural areas can’t escape.

With Amara’s due date approaching, getting child protective services involved after the baby’s birth wasn’t beneficial to anyone.

Nor would it do anything to honor the victim they’d spent months seeking justice for.

In the end, neither of the teens was charged for withholding information, and Xavier Martin’s death was ruled an accident. Moira closed the investigation, satisfied with the outcome.

Sidney offers Amara a tissue. “Sorry, we’re not getting a lot of sleep,” he says.

Amara blows out a deep breath. “I don’t like to sleep. When I close my eyes, I can still feel his fingers slipping through mine.” She kisses the baby’s tight fist, wrapped in her hand.

Rae Lee puts her hand around it. “You have something to hold onto now.”

“My dad refuses to speak to me, but I start working at the grocery store soon, and Sidney’s sister offered to watch the baby.” She straightens her spine.

“My sister stays home with my niece and nephew,” Sidney says.

“That’s nice of her,” I reply.

“We might not love each other the way we’re supposed to, but Sidney’s a good dad.”

“Thanks, ‘Mara.” Sidney beams with pride, like it’s the first time his best friend has given him the compliment.

It’s good Amara has a support network, and Sidney’s still stepping up as a father figure.

Both seemed to have gained confidence, removing themselves from Mr. Henderson’s watchful eye and going through the ordeal that they had.

I don’t expect the teenagers’ lives will be easy ones.

It wouldn’t shock me if they went their separate ways.

But the choices they’re making at the moment are setting themselves up for a better future.

Amara dabs the damp tissue at her face. “Rae Lee, can I ask you how you did that? Channeled Xavier.”

“I can’t be certain. Possession never happened to me before.”

I clear my throat. We came to see Amara, knowing she needed closure and would ask Rae Lee hard questions, but the word “possession” makes me uncomfortable.

“Is he still here?” Amara wants to know.

“No, Xavier isn’t here. I don’t know where he is, but he’s not connected to this place the way he was to your father’s service station.”

“So, I probably won’t feel his presence again.”

“I can’t answer that. On one hand, I’d like to think Xavier’s work on earth is complete. On the other hand, I want to believe, if you or the baby ever needed him, he’d show himself again.”

“But you wouldn’t count on it.” Amara offers Rae Lee a watery smile.

“No, sweetheart, I wouldn’t,” Rae Lee replies sympathetically.

“That’s okay, I guess.” Amara shrugs sadly. “We might move, anyway. If we can save enough.”

“My parents fell in love with this little one after she was born.” Sidney reaches out to cup Xara’s tiny head.

“They offered me some of the tuition money they’d put aside and then took off the table when they thought I’d gotten Amara pregnant.

They weren’t happy that I lied, and lost my shot at attending college right away.

But knowing I had a decent reason for stepping up for a friend changed their perspective.

It’s going to be an uphill battle, but—”

“I think you’ll make it,” I tell them, because I do.

My lifelong dream was to be a cop. However, in this career, I want better for everyone than the often tragic circumstances I meet them under.

“I understand you and Xavier connected over mutual loss and that your mom passed before you met him.” Rae Lee opens a door I wasn’t sure she intended to.

When my fiancée and I discussed her interactions with the spirits at the gas station, she mentioned Mrs. Henderson.

Rae Lee believes Mrs. Henderson is an intelligent haunting.

During Rae Lee’s abundance of free time after her fall, she tried to interpret the unusual visuals Amara’s mother projected.

“It might take longer to get your degree, but I think she’d be proud knowing you followed your dreams and went to college, too.”

“She really wanted that for me.” Amara bites her chapped lip. “Do you think there’s a possibility she’s okay with me not going to the school she wanted me to attend?”

“I know so,” Rae Lee says, unusually sure of herself.

“I believe you.” Amara clutches Rae Lee’s hand.

“I was at school when my mom died. I didn’t get to say goodbye to her or tell her I loved her.

Over the past few months, I’ve wanted the connection with her I’d felt through you with Xavier.

As much as it can, what you said fixes that need. Thank you for bringing me peace.”

“You’re welcome.”

Rae Lee gives Amara a hug, and I shake Sidney’s hand before we get into the car to leave.

Shifting into gear, I’m glad Rae Lee didn’t tell Amara she could contact her again, and that this is the end.

What happened during the Xavier Martin investigation left me fearful for her safety.

Rae Lee’s concussion and broken elbow were the best-case scenario.

I don’t want the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with losing hers.

In the rearview, the teenagers huddle together, waving. Their decision not to give up on their education reminds me of the resilience of the human spirit.

When I look over at Raleigh, my heart swells. Rae Lee Chatham’s calling is hard, but she’s resilient too.

She’s proven to me she can mend the souls of people who have been waiting for the day their loved ones find peace. And maybe someday, strengthened by her love and devotion, I’ll regain the peace of mind I once had, and we’ll close another cold case together.

Thank you for reading Mend My Soul! I hope you enjoy the continuation of Rae Lee and Anson’s love story as much as I loved writing it! Stay tuned for more Ghost Paranormal Romance Mysteries. Until then…

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