Bonnie - Iris Johansen [54]
“And you don’t want to get too close to Joe or Catherine,” Eve said shrewdly. “They might get in your way.”
“Very perceptive. I don’t deny that could be part of it.” He gazed at Eve. “When we get to the airport, I’m going to try to call O’Leary and see if I can catch something that Catherine didn’t find out. She said he was drunk. But after I make that call, I’m boarding the first flight to Atlanta.” He paused. “But you might prefer to catch a flight to Valdosta to meet Catherine and Quinn. You might find it more profitable.”
“Forget it,” Eve said grimly. “I’m not leaving you, John.”
“I was afraid that would be your answer.” He looked back at the highway, and said soberly, “I hope you won’t regret it, Eve.”
She hoped she wouldn’t either, she thought. She didn’t know whether staying with Gallo would translate into protecting him or battling with him. She didn’t want to do either. She wanted to be with Joe at this crucial time.
Stay the course. Every instinct was still telling her that she had to travel this path.
But why, Bonnie?
* * *
“WHY, BONNIE?”
Bonnie lifted her head as Eve’s words swept to her like a wind through autumn leaves.
So much pain. So much bewilderment.
She couldn’t always hear her mother when she spoke to her when Bonnie was here on this plane. As she’d told Eve, it was like being in two different worlds with different rules and memories. She was not allowed to take this world with her. The balance was difficult, and letting her go back from here to Eve’s world was a trade-off. It was usually only when Eve needed her most that she could break through the barrier and be there for her.
Why?
I wish I could tell you, Mama. I don’t know myself. I’m feeling my way and hoping that everything will come together. I have to have faith that it will. I don’t even know why it couldn’t have happened before. I wanted all the hurt to go away for you, and it hurt me that it didn’t. But there’s that wonderful order here that I have to trust.
As Bonnie was doing this moment in the middle of this forest that teemed with life … and death.
She fell to her knees beside the injured doe that was soon going to pass to the other side.
She could see the deer’s heart beating frantically with fear. Fear was always the most terrible part of the passing.
Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. She gently put her hand on the deer’s head. I’ll show you. See? You’ll be safe soon, and there will be nothing but the joy. Do you see it?
The doe was quieting and looking up at her with eyes that no longer held the fear, only the wonder.
Trust. Love. It’s all there waiting for you. It’s only the beginning. Do you see it?
Wonder was being replaced by the joy in the deer’s eyes.
And Bonnie knew she was beginning to see it.
* * *
“WHY ARE YOU PHONING ME? Why the hell are you bothering me?” James O’Leary’s voice was rough with irritation and slightly thick from the alcohol he’d obviously been imbibing. “I’ve already talked to that nosy Ling woman. She wouldn’t leave me alone. I told her I didn’t have time to talk to her. I have a business to run. Now you come asking me the same questions.”
“Because I’m not satisfied that she got the right answers,” Gallo said.
O’Leary muttered a curse. “I’m hanging up now.”
“And I’ll call you back. If you don’t answer, then I’ll get on a plane and be knocking on the door of your pub within a matter of hours. I won’t give up, O’Leary. And I’m much more difficult to deal with in person. It would be much smarter if you give me a few moments right now.”
Silence. “What the hell did Kevin do to you all?”
“Nothing that would get him in trouble with the authorities. We just need some information from him that he may have obtained from one of his patients.”
“Then he won’t tell you anything. I used to ask him to tell me if those nuts he talked to had any weird stories that would give us a chuckle. He’d never say a word. Asshole.”
“You didn’t get along