“I am.” She sighed.
When she was younger, she had used her psychic abilities to help Ice and his gang get their drug deals made without interference from the cops. She hated where she came from, and she had hated her gift for a long time. But everything had changed.
“I have this ability inside me. A way for me to help make a difference. I want to keep doing that.” She looked up at those cobalt-blue eyes that made her breath catch in her throat. “I want to be with you. If it works out and we have a successful supernatural PI service, then great. If not, we can do something else.”
He kissed her, softly and sweetly. “We can always open up a pizza place, since we love it so much.”
“Deal.”
No matter where they ended up, they would be together, and that made her heart soar.
* * *
“Do you want to see the picture I drew of Mommy in heaven?”
“I would love to.”
Dawn sat on the princess coverlet as Mandy opened a pink notebook and flipped the pages past several drawings.
Luca was chatting with Jack in the kitchen. Jack had told them he and Mandy would be visiting Patricia’s mother for a few days and then moving to Rhode Island where Jack’s parents were. He had two sisters who both had daughters close to Mandy’s age. It would be good for Mandy to be around family. Jack’s dad already had a job lined up for him.
They would live with his parents for a few months while they settled in. Mandy was glad when he told her they would be moving. She didn’t want to leave Mommy alone. They’d buried Patricia in her mother’s home town of Rockland. Jack had explained that Grandma and Grandpa would be there and they would keep Mommy’s grave pretty. Also that Mommy wasn’t really in there. She was in heaven, watching over her. That seemed to help her—a lot.
“I like your pictures. The colors are so pretty,” Dawn said.
“Daddy said that too.” Mandy carefully put the notebook away. She looked up at Dawn, her big blue eyes filled with sadness. “Do you think Mommy can see them?”
Dawn nodded without hesitation. “I know she can. I know she loves your pictures and she loves you. Forever and ever.”
“I think I saw Mommy last night when I was sleeping.”
“Did she say anything?”
“She just sat on the bed and smiled at me.”
“How did that make you feel?”
“Happy and sad at the same time.” Mandy glanced at Dawn. “Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s perfectly okay.”
“Do you see dead people?”
“I sense things. I feel other people’s emotions. So who knows? Maybe one day, I will.”
“Maybe if you see Mommy, you can tell her I love her?”
“You can tell her yourself.”
“Do you think she can hear me?”
“I know she can.” Dawn tucked a curl behind Mandy’s ear. “Do you want to tell her now?”
Mandy nodded.
“Close your eyes and tell her how you feel.”
“Mommy? I hope you can hear me. I just wanted to say I love you so much. And I never want you to forget me, because I will never, ever forget you. I promise to take care of Daddy too. I love you, Mommy.” Mandy opened her eyes. “Did I do good?”
