A Mother's Love(22)
“Why would I be cross?”
“Because you sometimes sound cross when you’re upset, darling,” he told her, not unkindly.
Celeste dropped her shoulders in defeat. “You’re right. I did sound like I was cross. I didn’t mean to. Now he’s gone and it’s all my fault. He doesn’t realize how fond I am of him.”
Robert rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You say the box is full of Jack’s things.”
“Yes,” Celeste answered eagerly.
“He didn’t want you to have it?”
“No, he took it with him.”
“Then he’s taking it to Jack.”
Celeste looked bewildered. “But how can he?”
“The chapel. I took him there yesterday. Now I think about it, he did say a funny thing when we arrived. He said, ‘Jack’s here.’ I thought he meant Jack’s grave. What if he actually meant Jack, the boy?”
Celeste’s fingers hovered about her lips. “Then we must go to the chapel immediately.”
“I’m coming with you,” said Marigold, but Huxley held her back.
“No, old girl. I think they should go alone.”
Marigold was disappointed. “Oh, all right,” she conceded, looking to her son for a hint of encouragement, but none came. She watched them walk around to the front of the house and disappear.
“This is all most irregular,” said Huxley, not sure what to make of it.
“It’s wonderful,” sniffed Marigold. “All the time we’ve been thinking Jack’s gone, he’s been with us, trying to let us know he’s still present. I think I need a little fortification. Would you mind, darling?”
“You sit down and I’ll go and pour us both a glass of wine. I do hope they find him. Georgia will be very cross with us if she turns up to fetch him tomorrow to find that we’ve mislaid him.”
The sun was now beginning to set and the birds were roosting noisily in the pine trees that circled the graveyard. As Robert switched off the car engine, they saw Bruno’s small figure huddled beside Jack’s grave. The child turned to see who it was; then, seeing his aunt and uncle getting out of the car, he turned away sheepishly. Celeste was sure he had made himself even smaller. “Bruno!” she cried, hurrying across the grass. “Darling, I’m not cross. Not at all. Please don’t think I am.” When she reached him he was hovering over his box, like a beggar over a sentimental treasure. He’d laid all the contents on the ground by the headstone and was now staring at them tearfully. Robert caught up with his wife. When he saw the objects so carefully displayed, he felt a lump lodge in his throat. Usually so adept with words, he now didn’t know what to say.
Celeste crouched down and put her arm around the child. “I’m not cross. In fact, I’m very happy. You’ve made me very happy, Bruno, and I never thought I’d ever be happy again.”
Bruno wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “Mum told me to keep it secret,” he said.
“Your gift?”
“She says people will think I’m weird.”
“We don’t think you’re weird, do we, darling?”
“No, we certainly don’t,” Robert croaked.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a beautiful thing to see spirits, Bruno. I only wish that I had your gift.” With her heart thumping wildly behind her rib cage, she gently probed into the boy’s magical world. “What’s he like, Bruno?” she whispered. “Is he happy?”
“He’s happy all right, and really funny,” he replied, cheering up.
“What does he look like?”
“He’s grown his hair a little because he says you always cut it.”
Celeste stared up at Robert in astonishment. “He’s right. I always did.” She laughed. “I hated it when it fell into his eyes.”
“He has a T-shirt with a dragon on it.”
Now Celeste began to tremble with excitement. “Red and grey? Is that the one?”
“Yes. And he has a pair of really cool sneakers.”
“Oh, Bruno, you’re right. He does.”
The child turned and looked at Celeste with the eyes of a wise old man. “He’s not dead, Aunt Celeste. People don’t die and they don’t get buried. It’s a lie. He wants you to know that he’s okay. That’s all they ever want to tell us, that they’re okay. Jack’s not sick anymore.” He grinned and his eyes were those of an eight-year-old boy again. “I’ve been playing with him.”
“All the time?” Robert asked.
“Pretty much. He’s been sending me out to find things for you.”