I wanted to give him all the time he deserved with Blue, but knew we only had mere moments before getting kicked out of her room, so I had to push for answers. Since, according to what I had overheard with Dale, she wouldn’t talk to others, I had to be the one to help her?—
“He is mad at me.”
At the sight of Blue, my mind wanted to shut down, but my heart insisted I never fail her again. So it focused like a sharp laser beam. He. The pastor. “Is that who hurt you?”
She nodded weakly.
The pastor was her father. How could he do this? “But… Why, Blue?”
Little eyebrows, that hadn’t been cleaned of blood completely, scrunched together. “Because who hurt me first now suffers.” Her bottom lip quivered with… guilt? “But he was wrong, though. Right, Johhny? Those things he did to me? They are wrong?”
I hadn’t been told the details of her abuse, however, I wasn’t naïve. I’d heard of grown men wanting sexual acts from children. Plus, from how Seb had told me about the way Blue had reacted after a sweet kiss… “Yes,” I promised. Even though I was still confused, I knew, no matter what, she should be guilt-free. “He was wrong to ask such things from someone so young, and someone who didn’t want to do them.”
Brave Blue, with so much relief, lifted her chin. Staring at the ceiling, as if speaking to her lord, she said, “Then I accept my sin for being happy that those things happened to him in prison.”
And there it was: karma.
My dark side internally groaned, so pleased.
Appreciating karma had found that man, it still didn’t explain the connection between the pastor and the man who harmed his child. Somehow, I was missing a huge detail of her story. That’s why I shook my head to clear my baffled mind. “Wait, what does that man have to do with the—” Pastor? I was still trying to honor her secret while fulfilling Dale’s wish.
There was so much peace around Blue as she gazed at me. True serenity as she spoke words that stunted me. “Because he is his father, too.”
As if a tidal wave had slammed into me, I stumbled back, my hand releasing hers. “No.” The room spun, threatening to knock me to my knees. “Noooo.”
The reason for the present beating was he—the pastor who didn’t have a sliver of grace in his criminal body—attacked Blue for what his son deserved. A stay in prison where his, like Blue’s, permission wasn’t requested.
I wanted to confirm that man was getting what he deserved, but could sense the energy shifting around Blue. Death’s gift was speaking to me again. I could feel angelic energy present, like I had with Noma, breaking my heart once more. If there is a god, he didn’t want Blue to suffer any longer and was calling this precious girl home.
Not a-fucking-gain!
I raced forward and held Blue’s hand, wanting to hold her to this earth. But she was leaving. All I could do was hope for a few more moments to say what needed to be said. Choking on a pain I knew would change all my fellow fosters forever, I promised her, “All those tender moments you had with Seb weren’t wrong. They were the magic that makes life perfect.”
Sebastian and Blue had found their way to a healthy sexual relationship. Young adults in love.
Blue suddenly looked to Seb. Her bruised eyes full of adoration. “And I’m happy I sinned with all your sweet kisses.”
Tears seeped into Sebastian’s mouth as he forced himself to smile. Then, he kissed her hand. “I… I…”
“Say it.” I didn’t mean to sound harsh, but we only had seconds left. I couldn’t forgive myself if Seb didn’t have this last moment.
His expression changing, Seb’s head tilted as if hearing me, true. His breathing became labored as he slowly looked to Blue, who was weakening right before all our eyes. “But?—”
I growled at the unfairness of this, all the while telling Seb, “Brother, speak. Now.”
So proud of the strength he suddenly summoned, I watched as Seb got face-to-face Blue. With a commitment of an old man who had lived a full life, he vowed, “I love you. I’ve loved you since that night you appeared in that doorway. I think I’ve loved you before I ever met you. And I always will. I swear it, Blue.”
Every Misfit stood there, in shock.
Sebastian spoke clearly. He didn’t have one. Single. Stutter.
Happy tears slipped down battered cheeks that smiled for only Sebastian.
Maybe I was nuts, but it was like Blue matured right before our eyes. Appearing older, like the age her soul truly was, she told Seb, “You have made this tough life one I’d live over and over, just for one more kiss.”
Instinctively, I stepped back. The power in the room was strong enough to have pushed me out of the doorway, yet I sensed it didn’t want to be forceful with me. It was almost as if I had permission to witness the soulmates… recognize one another. Bright light glowed from within them both as they stared at each other. So much being said without one word shared.
It was absolute and miraculous.
