Chapter 9 Seeing the Light
Chapter Nine
Seeing the Light
NORA
As I enter Coffee Oasis, I take in the comforting scent of freshly baked pastries and the gentle hum of conversation.
I’m relieved to see Katie hasn’t shown up yet.
I could really use a minute to sit alone and let the warmth of my coffee soothe my nerves.
I’m a complete wreck emotionally. I texted my beloved witchy friend last night as soon as I was back inside the safety of my house and away from the tempting call from the depths of the lake.
She agreed to meet me here this afternoon on her lunch break if I promised to stay inside for the rest of the night and rest. I agreed.
Going back out there wasn’t something I considered, not after the realization of how close I came to death.
I know it was him… my shadow, my stranger with the wings is the one who saved me.
He refuses to let me go. I’ll thank him if he shows himself to me again one day, but not before asking a million questions.
I glance around the brightly lit room, at the unfamiliar faces busy reading the paper or sending emails before they start their long day, a part of me hoping emerald eyes will meet mine.
Now that I know the truth, I can admit to myself that deep down I always knew something about him felt safe.
He doesn’t want to hurt me. Then again, I don’t know anything anymore.
My thoughts and my mind can’t be trusted.
The bell above the door rings, and Katie strides in gracefully. Her white dress flows down to her feet and the deep cut in the front steals all the attention. She pulls her sunglasses off and tucks them into her designer bag as she smiles and opens her arms wide, stepping toward me.
“I’ve missed you,” she says, bending and wrapping her arms around me.
“I’ve missed you, too. Where have you been?” I sip on my coffee as she takes a seat in front of me.
She sighs. “Work has been crazy. You know how the end of summer is. The endless tourists dying for a glimpse into their future cleaned me out. I’m working on a massive restock for next season.
” She combs her fingers through her wavy white hair, her blue eyes sparkling like rays of sunlight exist within them.
Katie is beautiful. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s also smart and kind and the best friend anyone could ever ask for.
She has been here for Olivia and me through so much over the years, and I don’t know where I’d be without her.
Simply being near her calms my nerves and brings peace to my soul.
The waitress stops at our table and Katie orders her coffee the same way she always does. Black like her soul, or so she says, but her soul is one of the purest in the world. She has a light within her that reflects and shines, spreading positivity to those around her.
“I know. I might need to make a visit to your shop soon. I think I need a tarot reading or a blessing or… an exorcism, possibly.” I wrap my hands around my warm mug, my eyes wide and pleading for help.
She sips from her mug as her eyes search mine. “What exactly happened last night that has you so shaken up today?”
I stare at my hands, afraid of admitting the truth and hearing her tell me I’ve lost my mind. Maybe it’s what I need to hear to help sanity find its way back to me.
I look up, deciding I have nothing left to lose.
“I went for a swim. At first it was fine. It was fun.” I tuck my hair behind my ears, glancing around to make sure no one is listening.
“I felt this pull to swim deeper and further away from shore until I could reach the floor of the lake and never resurface. Something, and I don’t know what, had a hold of my thoughts and actions.
It controlled my every move. I couldn’t escape, Katie, it was terrifying,” I whisper, averting my gaze and focusing on the dark liquid within my mug.
She leans forward, placing her warm hand on mine, and gives me a small, sad smile.
She looks at me like she thinks I’m crazy.
I probably am. “You’re not crazy, if that’s what you’re thinking.
I believe you, Nor. But if you felt as though you had no way to break free, how did you?
” She leans back in her chair, her eyes calm and unreadable.
I give her a half smile, unsure of how I should answer. If she doesn’t already think I’m crazy, she will now.
“Someone… or something pulled me back to the beach. I felt their hands wrap around me and I fought against them. I didn’t want to be saved.
Once I was out of the water, I heard… wings flapping above me and that was all.
There was no one there, but I was glad to be free, to have my mind back again.
While I was out there, I was not in control…
I-I don’t know who or what was, but it was not me.
” I shake my head back and forth to clear my thoughts.
“I’m scared, Katie. I don’t understand what’s happening to me.
” My vision blurs as my eyes fill with tears.
She smiles as I sniffle and wipe them away.
“I know this seems bad, and it is. I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do.
But the good news is, it seems you may have a guardian on your side, and that is a blessing.
” She clasps her hands together in front of her, looking down at her freshly painted nails.
“He saved you from the bridge, too, I hear.”
My eyes dart to hers immediately. “How did you know the truth about the bridge?” I lean toward her, and in a hushed tone I beg, “please don’t tell Olivia. She’ll worry herself to death if she finds out about the multiple strange suicide attempts I’ve experienced this past week. Please just don’t.”
She huffs a laugh and shakes her head. “Of course not. Her hysteria would drive us both mad, especially if she found out I was aware and kept it from her. There’s no need to tell her.
” She waves her hand nonchalantly, smiling as if my life isn’t falling apart.
“You’re going to be fine, Nora. I promise.
” She pulls out her phone and glances at the time.
“I have to get back. I have a tarot reading scheduled for one o’clock, but we’ll talk more later.
” She stands, grabbing her purse and putting her sunglasses back on.
“Wait! How do you know him? You said at the hospital his name is Kairos and just now that I have a guardian on my side. You mean…like, an angel? I know you believe in the strangest things, but seriously? Angels on Mackinac Island??” I shake my head in disbelief as she tilts her head down, peeking at me over her glasses.
“He might pull out his dagger if you call him an angel, but yea, something like that.” She smiles and winks.
“Oh, Nora. You have no idea yet of the unbelievable things that exist in the world, but I guess we can’t keep it from you for much longer.
” She smiles, pushing her glasses back up to cover her eyes. “Later. I promise, okay?”
I sigh. “Fine. I’m meeting Ere at home and he’s staying with me tonight, so I’ll call you tomorrow as soon as he leaves.”
She nods, turning and waving over her shoulder as she glides through the coffee shop and leaves.
Things just keep getting stranger. Guardian angels might exist and my best friend acts like it’s no big deal.
Maybe she understands what the hell is happening to me.
She doesn’t seem surprised by the terrifying things I’ve told her, that’s for sure.
What else does she know and why the hell hasn’t she told me?
I never knew Katie was one to keep secrets, and honestly, I’m a little hurt that she’s been keeping things from me.
We’re best friends. We don’t lie or keep secrets, it’s just not who we are.
The thinking and wondering will have to wait until later. I need to head home before I’m late.
Being with Ere, the comfort of his arms around me and his calming energy, always makes everything better. He’s exactly what I need right now.
* * *
A knock at the door has me on my feet and smoothing out the wrinkles on my red dress in seconds.
I hide my romance novel in a drawer of the coffee table before rushing to let Ere in.
Last time he saw me reading one of my books, he laughed and said love in novels is written unrealistically, giving women false expectations of men.
For me they’ve always been an escape. A way to disconnect from the real world and get lost in another.
He doesn’t get it. Now, those romance novels are my dirty little secret.
I swing open the door and he smiles like I’m his favorite person in the world, the way he always does. Before I can even lock the door, he pulls me into his arms, lifting my feet off the floor and swinging me in a circle as I giggle and wrap my arms around his neck.
“I’ve missed you.” His hands settle on my waist as warm golden eyes melt into mine and every part of me forgets about everything except for him. “I’m sorry I had to leave after I spent that night at the hospital with you. Work has been particularly busy lately. Too much going on at once.”
When my feet are back on solid ground, I run my hands down the smooth muscles of his biceps all the way down to his forearms. I pull back slightly, admiring the look of his tan skin in the black tank top he wears.
“I’ve missed you, too.” I smile as he leans down, his soft lips brushing against mine as he kisses me. “I get it. Bosses are busy. You always come back to me, and that’s what matters.”