Sandy's Story (Ditch Lane Diaries Book 3) (10 page)

The hospital staff and visitors remained unaware of the medical miracle. Dr. Abnob sent Hugh for more tests, trying to determine if radiology had mixed up the reports. Hugh would stay in the hospital for another day or two in a regular room for mere observation. Sally requested a cot for Hugh’s hospital room because she didn’t want to leave his side.

Sandy offered a silent prayer.
Thank you. Thank you for the miracle.

Brent walked over to Sandy from the exit door. He gently traced the curve of her face with his forefinger. “What happened in the ICU? Did I see angels?”

Sandy briefly told Brent about the cave, the mysterious stones, and how each ward possessed divine supernatural powers. Brent gazed into her eyes and said, “How in the world did I not see how amazing you are? Sandy, I miss you. I miss us.”

Sandy held his hand. “Oh, Brent, I’m glad you were here for me today. I do miss you, truly I do, but my heart belongs to another.”

Brent tensed and took a step away from her. He tilted his head, and with a raised voice, he said, “Where in the hell was he today? Why wasn’t he here for you?”

At that moment, Baldric materialized beside Sandy. Brent’s eyes went wide, and he shook his head. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding. Sandy, him? Surely not him.” Brent sized up Baldric.

Baldric spread his feet hip-width apart and golden sparkles like pixie dust released around Sandy. His wings released, his chest puffed out, and he let out a low growl.

Sandy gently touched Baldric’s forearm. “Baldric, please be gentle. Don’t hurt Brent. He didn’t know. It’s not his fault I’m in love with an angel.”

Baldric immobilized Brent into a trance. “I’m not going to hurt you, Brent. You’ll only remember good things about Sandy. You won’t remember anything about the wards’ powers or meeting the guardians today. You’re going to fall in love and have three kids, but it’s not, nor will it ever be, with Sandy. Are we cool, bro?” Brent nodded, and Baldric dematerialized, leaving Brent staring at Sandy, dumbfounded.

Brent glanced around the hospital property and scratched his cheek. He glanced up at the sky and then back at Sandy. “Um, glad your dad is okay, and it’s been good to see you again. I’m going to leave now.”

Sandy rushed to Brent and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you for being such a wonderful friend. Take care of yourself.” Brent turned around and walked slowly into the parking lot.

Sandy watched Brent get into the car and leave. She prayed that Baldric’s memory wipe wouldn’t leave Brent with any long-term damage. Sandy noticed the angelic faze had worn off as she walked back into the hospital. People walked up and down the hospital corridors. Nothing seemed amiss. She stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the second floor.

The time had come to talk to her father. Hugh nearly died today, and she didn’t want to live in the past anymore. Sandy had blamed her dad for bringing Ben Salinger into her life. She’d blamed her parents for not protecting her as a child. The pain and suffering had clouded her mind from the real love her family shared together.

Hugh sat up in the hospital bed holding Sally’s hand. Watching her parents, Sandy wondered why she had never noticed how much they loved each other before now.

With a little apprehension, he said, “Mom told me you wanted to talk?”

Sandy sat on the opposite side of the bed from her mother and gave her parents a little smile before pouring her soul out to them. For the first time, in nineteen years, Sandy expressed her grief, her pain, and her suffering from the child abuse she’d experienced.

Sandy purged the demons of pain and suffering from her soul. The light of love lit the room with a bastion of warmth. “I blamed myself. I blamed you. I was too young to understand what happened to me and too stubborn to talk about it later in life. So I acted out as a teenager. I apologize for what I must’ve put you through during my wild and wooly youth. I can’t take back my actions, but I’ll promise, from this day forward, to try to be a better person. I love you both so much. Will you forgive me?”

Tears filled Hugh’s eyes as he opened his arms to Sandy. “Come here, baby girl. It was never your fault, and we love you, too.” Hugh hugged her, and Sandy broke out in a sob. Wiping the tears from her eyes, he said, “I blamed myself. I should’ve protected you, honey. I felt like I failed you as a father. I’m sorry I was hard on you as a teenager, but fear for your safety made me crazy. You make your mother and me very proud. Not just your career accomplishments, but you’re my beautiful daughter with a big, compassionate heart.”

Sandy pressed her face into her daddy’s neck. All the years of pain and bad memories had been washed away with love and forgiveness. She had finally let go of her past.

Chapter 6

All I Need Is a Miracle

Hours ticked by before Sandy left the hospital. She had spent hours talking with her parents like she’d never done before. Sandy’s spirit soared while she drove down Highway 99.

Everglade was a one-red-light town, but Sandy missed living here. She passed Anna’s Clinic and the Pharmacy with its old fashioned soda shop. Turning onto Concord Road, she drove by Ruby’s Everglade General Store. Several minutes later, Sandy found herself sitting in the St. Timothy’s Church parking lot. She stared at the beautiful old church with its old gray stone and high steeple that still chimed the bells every hour.

Growing up, Sandy had gone with her parents to every service. Pastor Logan was getting older, but his sermons of love and forgiveness gave her peace. He would get so emotional during his sermons that he’d cry.

Sandy opened the car door and walked slowly up the sidewalk. The sun had melted nearly all the snow and ice. The afternoon was fading quickly into dusk as the sky turned dark orange and pink. The church doors had never been locked, to her knowledge. She reached for the knob and pushed the door open.

The stained glass windows of Jesus with the twelve disciples along with Mary and Joseph and other saints and angels cast a warm glow from the fading sun. The dark red velvet carpet was worn from years of foot traffic. Plush homemade cushions fit on the walnut pews, lovingly made by the women’s Bible class. The light inside was dim; only a couple of track lights lit a beautifully carved cross with Jesus mounted on the wall behind the pulpit.

Sandy sat on the front pew with her hands in her lap. She hadn’t been to church since Christmas. Her hands began to tremble as the events of the past few days caught up with her. In the quiet stillness of the church, Sandy found herself on her knees praying for her many blessings. She prayed for forgiveness for any wrong to others or herself. Sandy prayed for her family and her friends. She prayed for strength.

Last, she prayed for Baldric. “You know my thoughts before I think them. You know I’m in love with the angel you sent to protect me. I know it’s against your rules, against the rules of heaven. It’s not an ordinary love we share. I get that part. He won’t go against your wishes, and it isn’t right for me to ask him to. But I love him. I love Baldric. Why do I feel like he’s the one you chose for me? If this is wrong, then please, please help me to overcome my feelings. I need your help.”

Baldric appeared before her and knelt down on one knee. Sandy sucked in a deep breath, and she choked up with emotion. He took her right hand and said, “I have a confession to make. Last night, as you gave me your heart, I didn’t offer mine in return. You’re right. It’s against the rules for us. It’s against the rules for humans, too.” He released her hand, turned, and pointed down the aisle. “You should want to walk down the aisle of this holy place with someone worthy of you. Marry in front of your family and friends. You deserve real love.”

Baldric pushed his hair off his forehead and then rubbed his chin. “But I can’t stay with you if you do. I can’t watch you marry a man. I can’t look at you while you raise a family with another when I want you for myself.”

Sandy’s hand flew over her mouth.

Baldric raised his eyes toward heaven and said, “Strike me down, Lord. Take me from her and give her someone worthy of protecting her because I can’t deny my love for Daireann any longer.” The look he gave her had the air backing up in her lungs. Her chest tightened, and her heart fluttered. “I love you, Daireann. You’re my other half. You make me whole. I want to spend eternity with you as my paired partner, my best friend, my lover.”

Sandy threw herself into Baldric’s arms and kissed him. The union of their kiss bathed the sanctuary in light. When they broke apart, a celestial being hovered right above them. She wore all white, and the essence of her beauty made Sandy speechless.

The female spirit said, “Baldric, you’ve reached a decision marking you to Sandra Daireann through eternity. However, your pairing with the human female will require His sanction. You may have this night with your partner, but you must appear before Michael in the morning. He’ll make arrangements for you to meet with The Creator. I pray you both find an outcome filled with love and happiness. Take Daireann’s hand.”

Baldric stood and bowed deeply before the spirit. “Blessed Spirit of Man, I’m forever in your debt. You heard my prayers.” He reached for Sandy’s hand, and she stood beside him.

The Spirit of Man opened her arms with a sweeping motion and turned to Sandy. “Before we begin this most sacred nuptiae, you must understand, Sandra Daireann Cothran, the ceremony in which you partake. Are you in agreeance?”

Sandy had never been shy or timid, but standing before the Spirit of Man she was awestruck. She nodded and whispered, “I agree.”

The Spirit of Man repeated a litany of rules and regulations regarding the pairing of angels. Since Sandy was one hundred percent human, most of the jargon was foreign to her. Sandy raised her hand, and the female spirit smiled. Sandy said, “I’m afraid I don’t understand the meaning of some of the words you’re using. Would you mind explaining in human terms?”

The Spirit of Man said, “You and Baldric must agree to the laws and regulations outlined in a binding agreement of what humans refer to as marriage. There are no allowances for separation under any circumstances. There are no allowances for any infidelities. You and Baldric will be bonded by the laws of heaven past your death until eternity ceases to exist. Are you willing to bind yourself to Baldric?”

Sandy had some Latin classes in college when she’d entertained the idea of becoming an attorney. She turned to Baldric and grabbed both his hands and squeezed. “
Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia.”
Which meant, where you go, I will follow. Sandy turned and looked up at the spirit. “I bind myself to Baldric.”

The Spirit of Man turned to Baldric, who at this point had a golden halo effect around his entire body. “Baldric, do you bind yourself to Sandra Daireann Cothran?”

Baldric kissed Sandy’s knuckles and repeated her choice of words, “
Ubi tu Gaia, ego Gaius.”
Baldric turned to the Spirit of Man and exclaimed, “I bind myself to Sandra Daireann.” Baldric whispered to Sandy, “Clasp my right hand.” Sandy did as he requested, and the Spirit of Man wrapped a glowing, golden, braided cord over their wrists.

The Spirit of Man appeared in a physical form. She held Baldric’s and Sandy’s hands tightly. “You have my blessing, my children. Your love isn’t ordinary and falls outside the boundary of conventional pairings or marriage in the traditional sense. I’m sure all three of us will be accountable for our actions today. It is my nature to fill the universe with love, and your love is evident in my eyes. Be well and prosperous.” The Spirit of Man vanished in front of Sandy’s eyes.

Sandy swallowed hard as she searched Baldric’s smoldering eyes. “Are we married?”

Baldric’s kiss was both passionate and gentle. The electric energy between them made the hair stand on her neck and arms. The tingling of his soft, full lips against hers made her weak in the knees, and he supported her with his strength. Sandy and Baldric were married. She didn’t care that she wore blue jeans and not a white dress. All Sandy cared about was that the angel in her arms loved her enough to commit himself to her for eternity.

Baldric moved slightly away from her face. “Our union won’t be like normal marriages. But you’ll have my love and my devotion forever. Do you think we could make it official?” He chuckled.

“You betcha! And you know I’ve never been normal.” Sandy laughed and said, “I’m staying at Mom and Dad’s. Is that okay?”

“I have fond memories of you growing up in the house. Let’s go to your old room.” Baldric held her tight and kissed the top of her head.

Sandy reached up on tiptoe and kissed him again, then she said, “You mean, our old room.”

They walked arm in arm as they exited St. Timothy’s. Stars twinkled in the jet-black sky. Sandy could see her breath in the frigid air, but she was toasty warm in Baldric’s arms. At her car, Baldric opened the door, and she slid behind the wheel. He said, “It’s customary for the groom to light a fire for his bride before she enters the house of their consummation. I’ll go ahead to your parents’ house and start the fire in their hearth and search for a bottle of wine.” He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. “You hold my heart.” He disappeared.

Sandy played Baldric’s words over again on the drive to her parents’ home. The mention of consummation had her squirming in the car seat. She’d lost her virginity at seventeen, but tonight she felt like a maiden again. Baldric the Warrior married her before the Spirit of Man. She pushed away any negative consequences tomorrow might bring. He belonged to her, and she belonged to him.