Page 8 of Reckoning

“She’s not the only one, but she’s the most confrontational. The others give me that look, and then turn their backs,” Lilith said.

Abel was horrified. “I didn’t know! What on earth are they saying? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lilith glanced at their little boy. She didn’t want to say anything in front of him. “Never mind. We’ll talk about it later,” she said.

At that point, Doctor Joe spoke up. “I’m going to trim a little bit of hair away from the wound, but first a little stuff to numb it before we stitch. Just a couple of little needle pricks first. I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

Lilith sighed. “It’s okay, Doctor Joe. Right now, my jaw hurts worse than my head. Do what you have to do.”

Abel moved to a chair standing next to a wall, then lifted Tate up in his lap. “Mama is going to be okay,” Abel said, and hugged his little boy.

Tate looked up at his daddy—at his dark hair and brown eyes and the shape of his face—and knew he would look like that one day. Then he lowered his voice to a whisper. “People say ugly things to Mama because of me. They blame her because I see stuff. They think it’s her fault I’m different. Briar’s mama says my mama made friends with the devil and that’s why I’m bad.”

Abel gasped. “Oh, good lord! Why didn’t somebody tell me? No! Son, no. You are a blessing, not a curse. And no two people are ever alike. Everyone who is born on earth is brand-new and different. We’re supposed to be different. And we’re all given a gift when we’re born that we’re supposed to use when we grow up. Like Miss Ellen is a teacher. And how I know how to fix cars. And Mama knows how to cook the best food and grow the best stuff for us to eat in her garden. Some people are jealous and aren’t happy with their own gifts. They want theirs and what everyone else has too. Don’t worry about Mama anymore. I’ll take care of her and you, and you just keep being our good little boy, okay?”

The reassurance in his daddy’s deep voice, and the sense of safety Tate felt within his father’s embrace was all he needed, allowing him to shift his focus to the funny-looking needle Doctor Joe was using to sew up Mama’s head.

* * *

Roger Lowe was directed to the ER bay where Lilith was being cared for. The door was open, but Abel Bandy looked up in warning as he stepped into the doorway. Before either man could speak, Briar realized Tate’s mother was awake and talking. The relief she felt was so huge that she let go of her daddy’s hand and walked straight to Tate. Tears were rolling down her face, but her chin was up.

“I made my daddy bring me. I’m so sorry my mama was mean. I told the police the truth. My mama ran off and left me. They ’rested her in jail. I will be sad if you don’t want to be my friend anymore.”

The two men watched, stunned by the obvious bond between their children. Then Tate reached for Briar’s hand. “You didn’t hurt Mama, and I will always be your friend,” Tate said.

Roger looked at Abel. “There are no words to express how sorry I am that this ever happened. I was unaware of the persecution my wife has been fostering. Briar has awakened me to a lot of things I didn’t know before. I’m not here to beg for mercy. Mariah doesn’t deserve it. But I want you to know that I take full responsibility for the medical bills and care your wife will need until she’s fully healed.”

“Thank you,” Abel said. “And for the record, the gift Tate has comes from my family. There has been one male child born in every generation of the family with the ability to see the way Tate can see, and it’s always someone’s firstborn son. My brother has it. My daddy has it. My grandfather has it, and his father had it before him, and so it has been for at least six generations that we know. Tate got it from my side of the family, not from Lilith. And you can let it be known that if anyone even looks cross-eyed at my wife or son, and if they still plan on growing old, they’ll shut their mouths. Otherwise, they’ll answer to me, and I do not shy away from retribution.”

Roger sighed. “Understood. Come along now, Briar. You and Tate are still friends, and Mrs. Bandy is going to be okay.”

Lilith had been listening without speaking, but when they started to leave, she spoke up. “Briar, honey. Thank you for coming to see me, and thank you for being Tate’s friend. You are always welcome in our house.”

Briar beamed. “You’re welcome.” And then she waved at Tate. “Bye for now.”

“Bye,” Tate echoed, but then as they were walking out the door, added a parting comment. “Don’t pet the stray cat on your front porch. It’s a big gray one. He’s sick.”

Briar was accustomed to Tate’s random warnings. “Okay,” she said, and then they walked away.

Doctor Joe paused and glanced at Tate. “How is the gray cat sick?”

Tate shrugged and looked up at his daddy. “Daddy, what’s that word that makes mad dogs?”

Abel’s eyes widened. “You mean rabies?”

Tate smiled. “Yes, that word. The cat has rabies.”

Doctor Joe stared at Tate in disbelief. “Is this for real?”

“If he said it, then it is as real as that tornado he saw up on the mountain,” Lilith said. “Can I go home when you’ve finished?”

“Besides the five stitches I just put in your head, you suffered a concussion when you fell. I will give your husband instructions, and he’ll have to keep an eye on you for a while. You can’t be on your own right now.”

“I’ll eye her for you, Daddy,” Tate said.

They all laughed, including Tate, who laughed with them, even though he missed the point of why.

Doctor Joe spoke to Lilith in detail, then left the nurse to apply the small bandage. He needed to make a phone call to the PD about the possibility of a rabid cat in the vicinity of the Lowe property. He’d seen one man die from rabies when he was still in med school, and it was a terrifying thing to witness.