The Other Side - J. D. Robb [103]
“Wait.” Vanessa looked back at the twisted wreckage; the bloodied, mangled bodies. “Ted, darling, think of the pain this will cause Christina. This should be the happiest time of her life. Instead, she’ll be grief-stricken over her loss, as well as overwhelmed by all the details. And then there’s the care of little Tyler.” She turned to Ted’s grandmother. “Is there any way we can stay around and ease our daughter through this horrible time?”
Sarah smiled. “As a matter of fact, yours is not an unfamiliar request, Vanessa. Often, when someone dies unexpectedly, there’s a great deal of worry about the well-being of the loved ones who are left behind. If requested, a grace period can be granted between the former life and the hereafter. Otherwise, there would be many souls who wouldn’t be able to properly enjoy their eternal reward. And, as you’ll soon see, it’s meant to be enjoyed.”
Vanessa exchanged a look with her husband before turning to Sarah. “We can wait? Here on earth?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, thank you, Gram.” One wet tear rolled down Vanessa’s cheek. “I’m sure we won’t need more than a couple of days. Just enough time to get Christina and Tyler through the funeral. Thank heaven that little Tyler has his big sister to get him through this.”
“And thank heaven,” Ted added softly, “they both have a strong, loving man like Mark to lean on.”
“Yes. Mark.” The older woman’s words became clipped. “I must warn you. There are certain rules by which you must now abide. Though you can see and hear, you can no longer be seen or heard by those on the other side. Furthermore, you cannot physically intervene with the free will of those still living.”
Vanessa’s brows lifted. “Intervene? Why in the world would we want to do that?”
“You are apt to see things that may displease you or annoy you or upset you.”
Ted winked at his wife before turning to Sarah. “That might be true in some families, Gram, but not in ours. You’ve had a chance to see Christina. You know what an amazing young woman she’s become. And little Tyler. There’s an innocence in him that can’t be denied.”
Sarah sighed. “Be that as it may, I must warn you that however much you may try to persuade earthly creatures to get involved in solving the problems that you see from this side, you may use only peaceful means. No matter what you see or hear, no matter what you learn about those still living, you cannot resort to violence.”
“Violence?” Ted grinned. “Gram, why would we even consider such a thing?”
“Just so you understand the rules.” His grandmother touched a hand to his arm. “You may want to ask for more than a few days before you join me.”
“I’m sure a levelheaded girl like Christina will be able to pull it together in a matter of days.” Ted looked over, but his grandmother’s image had begun to fade to a pale, shimmering light until even that gradually disappeared, and she was gone as quickly as she had appeared.
Drawing his wife into his arms, Ted brushed a kiss to her cheek. “Silly rules, if you ask me. We can watch but can’t touch. We can interfere but can’t intrude on free will. I’m not sure I like being . . . one of them.”
“Not that it matters what we like, Ted.” Vanessa sighed. “At least we can take comfort in the fact that our family will be taken care of now that we’re gone.”
“You bet.” Ted lifted his head. “I hear sirens. Brace yourself, babe. I think someone has spotted the wreckage. Once they learn the identities of the victims, Christina is in for a shock. It’s not going to be easy to stand by and watch her grieve.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mellon.” Christina accepted a cup of strong, hot tea from the housekeeper, whose eyes were as red-rimmed as her own.
“You should get some rest, Miss Christina.”
“I will. Soon.” Christina, drained by grief, glanced at her little brother, who was standing by the big windows, watching as the last of the mourners’ cars headed down the long, curving driveway.
The old woman turned to Mark, who hadn’t left his fiancée’s side since they had first heard about