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“Grace, I do, darling, I do. I wish you were here.” The words were choked out between gulps of crying.
“I’ll see you one day. I love you.”
“Grace…”
“She’s gone,” said Violet, gently opening her eyes, her voice still distant and sounding somewhat disconnected. “Her message of love is strong. Please listen to her and no longer blame yourself.” Violet rested her hand lovingly on Adelia’s shoulder, her face full of genuine concern.
Adelia nodded, sobbing as her husband moved to comfort her while Violet moved away.
“Thank you.”
Vickie couldn’t help feeling empathy for Adelia. To see the woman believing what just happened, especially with a bit of research, Violet would’ve known beforehand about Grace defying her mother and being gassed in one of the attacks. It happened to so many children early on in the war. Since they were seated, Violet would’ve known where to go to find Adelia.
This is way too orchestrated, thought Vickie. Nothing was happening to change her mind that this was all fake and nothing more than a performance. However, she kept watching Violet as she moved between the tables.
Violet paused next to a man. “Mark, your wife, Janette, says hello.”
Vickie noticed the woman next to the man stiffened, and a disapproving look shadowed her face. The couple looked familiar, but she couldn’t place where she might’ve seen them before.
“Is that right,” said Mark stiffly, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
“Honeybun, you’re looking good.” Violet’s voice had changed again as if it were really Janette speaking through her.
A few snickers resounded around the room at hearing the nickname Janette had for Mark. He blushed a little and looked down at his hands resting in his lap.
Violet paused until people were once again listening, and the room was quiet.
“Honeybun, I do like your choice. I’m glad to see you’ve found love again.” Violet’s low voice chilled the room. The woman’s expression next to Mark softened, her eyes misted.
“You were always a sucker for pretty women, but I can also see she has a heart of gold. You shouldn’t have doubted her commitment, you know,” continued Violet. “I love you, and I look forward to seeing your family grow up.”
The woman’s hand moved to her belly, a shocked expression on her face.
“Is it true, Maud?” asked Mark.
Maud nodded as he beamed at her.
“Take care, Mark,” Violet’s voice drifted. She left the couple as they embraced, and people clapped, talking in soft, excited tones.
“I do hope she comes to us,” said Ruby leaning close to Vickie. “I wouldn’t mind talking to my grandma again.”
What worried Vickie was how taken Ruby appeared to be with this performance of speaking to the dead. Before Vickie could voice her caution to Ruby, Violet stopped at their table. Her eyes closed, her hands opened as if she were receiving something invisible.
Ruby inhaled sharply, and Vickie could feel the excitement radiating from her friend.
“Do you have a message for me from my grandma?” asked Ruby, her voice gruff as she remembered she was parading as George.
Violet inhaled deeply and shook her head. “There’s someone else here wanting to speak to you.”
“Really? Who? My grandma is the only person I’ve lost.” Ruby sounded confused.
Vickie found herself holding her breath. Who could this person be?
Chapter 5
“Aman.”
Vickie suppressed a smile. Well, that sounded more in line with Ruby’s character. Her blood chilled. Her mind pieced together what Violet said and the fact it was meant to be George next to her. Did Violet know? Or was this something that concerned George? Her mind was whirling through all the people George had lost. There wasn’t a significant male figure, at least not one that she could recall. She shifted uneasily in her chair, looking at Ruby, and then Violet, trying to make sense of it all.
