With All My Soul
Page 112
Sophie laughed. Dad would have killed me if he missed the look on your face. So...Im going to be a big sister. Weird, huh?
Beyond weird. I turned back to Harmony. Wow! So, when are you due?
Three months. Were excited! And your old room at Brendons will be the nursery.
Speaking of babies... Em stepped forward with her phone and showed me a picture of a laughing toddler with her sisters eyes and my old math teachers wavy brown hair.
I took the phone from her and stared at the picture. Oh, Em, hes adorable! Her nephew was so cute, in fact, that though I would have sworn it was impossible, I wasnt creeped out by his resemblance to the man whod murdered me.
Yeah. And he never would have survived without you. Without the soul you gave him.
Id left instructions in my goodbye letter, begging Harmony to help them install the soul in the baby when he was born. Whats his name?
I suggested Damien, Tod said while Em showed me how to scroll through the latest pictures on her phonea leap in technology Id missed during my sabbatical in hell. But no one listened.
Caleb. Hes very sweet but quite a handful.
Have you searched his head for a birthmark in the form of three sixes?
Emma shoved Tod again, and I got the impression that was a joke hed told in infinite variations. I didnt get it.
Most little boys are...challenging, Harmony said. Including the two of you. She smiled at both her sons.
Okay, Im here. Whats the big...?
I froze at the sound of my fathers voice, and when it faded in surprise, I turned to find him staring at me.
Kaylee? His voice cracked, and disbelief dripped from the fracture. I smiled at him while my heart thundered in my chest. Is that you? Are you real?
Tod laughed again. Weve been asking her that all day.
My dad practically floated across the room toward me, and only once his arms were wrapped around me did I realize he was wearing a flannel plaid shirt Id been trying to get him to throw away for months before hed disappeared into the Netherworld.
Im real. I inhaled his scent, and fresh tears formed in my eyes. I am so sorry for everything I put you through. I clung to him, crying onto his shirt, burying my face in his shoulder.
My dad held me at arms length, staring at me through his own tears. Kaylee, what on earth could you possibly have to be sorry for?
I lied to you, I said, between sobbing hiccups. And I skipped school, and communed with evil forces, and drugged my boyfriend, and went to the Netherworld without permission, and Im about four years late for my curfew. I totallyunderstand if you want to ground me. With four years worth of interest.
My father laughed so hard his whole body shook, and tears dripped from his chin. Is that what itll take to keep you here?
I shook my head. When he pulled me into another overdue hug, I laid my head down on his shoulder. You couldnt get rid of me this time if you tried.
For at least a solid minute, we cried in each others arms, unleashing four years worth of grief and pain and guilt.
When he finally let me go, I turned in a slow circle, looking around at everyone I loved. Everyone Id abandoned in an attempt to protect them. The room blurred beneath my tears. I cant believe Im here. I cant believe youre all here.
Um... Sophie crossed her arms over a designer blouse and arched both manicured brows at me. Out of all the weird species, out-of-body experiences, resurrections, and octogenarian pregnancies represented by the occupants of this room right now, your presence is the thing most difficult to believe.
Sophie... Uncle Brendon said, but my cousin shook her head.
I have something to say, and Im going to be heard. She turned to me again, and I braced myself for a well-meaning but offensive critique of my hair, or my face, or the tee Id borrowed from Tod, which hung nearly to the cuff of my shorts. But instead, she smiled and glanced around the room. I think I speak for everyone here when I say...welcome home, Kaylee.
* * *
Are you sure about this? I called through the closed bathroom door, lifting acres of gold tulle. When I turned in front of the small mirror, light caught the sequins on my bodice and reflected a thousand points of light on the walls of Tods tiny bathroom.
Im sure. Come on out.
I feel stupid, I moaned, pulling the door open, but my complaint died on my tongue with one look at him. But you look... I stared at him for a second. Then I had to touch him.
I ran my fingers over his gold tie, feeling the raised thread pattern, then down the right side of the matching vest, half-hidden by his black tux jacket. You look gorgeous.
Okay. He nodded hesitantly. Thats a little feminine, as far as compliments go, but I cant argue with the general sentiment. I look great. And so do you. Turns out gold is a good color for us both. He made a spinning motion with one finger, and I turned slowly to show off my dress. To show off me in my dress. The prom dress Id never worn.
I felt simultaneously beautiful and foolish, twirling in what little floor space there was between the unmade twin bed and the pile of unfolded laundry. Tell me again why were wearing four-year-old prom clothes, alone in your bedroom?
Beyond weird. I turned back to Harmony. Wow! So, when are you due?
Three months. Were excited! And your old room at Brendons will be the nursery.
Speaking of babies... Em stepped forward with her phone and showed me a picture of a laughing toddler with her sisters eyes and my old math teachers wavy brown hair.
I took the phone from her and stared at the picture. Oh, Em, hes adorable! Her nephew was so cute, in fact, that though I would have sworn it was impossible, I wasnt creeped out by his resemblance to the man whod murdered me.
Yeah. And he never would have survived without you. Without the soul you gave him.
Id left instructions in my goodbye letter, begging Harmony to help them install the soul in the baby when he was born. Whats his name?
I suggested Damien, Tod said while Em showed me how to scroll through the latest pictures on her phonea leap in technology Id missed during my sabbatical in hell. But no one listened.
Caleb. Hes very sweet but quite a handful.
Have you searched his head for a birthmark in the form of three sixes?
Emma shoved Tod again, and I got the impression that was a joke hed told in infinite variations. I didnt get it.
Most little boys are...challenging, Harmony said. Including the two of you. She smiled at both her sons.
Okay, Im here. Whats the big...?
I froze at the sound of my fathers voice, and when it faded in surprise, I turned to find him staring at me.
Kaylee? His voice cracked, and disbelief dripped from the fracture. I smiled at him while my heart thundered in my chest. Is that you? Are you real?
Tod laughed again. Weve been asking her that all day.
My dad practically floated across the room toward me, and only once his arms were wrapped around me did I realize he was wearing a flannel plaid shirt Id been trying to get him to throw away for months before hed disappeared into the Netherworld.
Im real. I inhaled his scent, and fresh tears formed in my eyes. I am so sorry for everything I put you through. I clung to him, crying onto his shirt, burying my face in his shoulder.
My dad held me at arms length, staring at me through his own tears. Kaylee, what on earth could you possibly have to be sorry for?
I lied to you, I said, between sobbing hiccups. And I skipped school, and communed with evil forces, and drugged my boyfriend, and went to the Netherworld without permission, and Im about four years late for my curfew. I totallyunderstand if you want to ground me. With four years worth of interest.
My father laughed so hard his whole body shook, and tears dripped from his chin. Is that what itll take to keep you here?
I shook my head. When he pulled me into another overdue hug, I laid my head down on his shoulder. You couldnt get rid of me this time if you tried.
For at least a solid minute, we cried in each others arms, unleashing four years worth of grief and pain and guilt.
When he finally let me go, I turned in a slow circle, looking around at everyone I loved. Everyone Id abandoned in an attempt to protect them. The room blurred beneath my tears. I cant believe Im here. I cant believe youre all here.
Um... Sophie crossed her arms over a designer blouse and arched both manicured brows at me. Out of all the weird species, out-of-body experiences, resurrections, and octogenarian pregnancies represented by the occupants of this room right now, your presence is the thing most difficult to believe.
Sophie... Uncle Brendon said, but my cousin shook her head.
I have something to say, and Im going to be heard. She turned to me again, and I braced myself for a well-meaning but offensive critique of my hair, or my face, or the tee Id borrowed from Tod, which hung nearly to the cuff of my shorts. But instead, she smiled and glanced around the room. I think I speak for everyone here when I say...welcome home, Kaylee.
* * *
Are you sure about this? I called through the closed bathroom door, lifting acres of gold tulle. When I turned in front of the small mirror, light caught the sequins on my bodice and reflected a thousand points of light on the walls of Tods tiny bathroom.
Im sure. Come on out.
I feel stupid, I moaned, pulling the door open, but my complaint died on my tongue with one look at him. But you look... I stared at him for a second. Then I had to touch him.
I ran my fingers over his gold tie, feeling the raised thread pattern, then down the right side of the matching vest, half-hidden by his black tux jacket. You look gorgeous.
Okay. He nodded hesitantly. Thats a little feminine, as far as compliments go, but I cant argue with the general sentiment. I look great. And so do you. Turns out gold is a good color for us both. He made a spinning motion with one finger, and I turned slowly to show off my dress. To show off me in my dress. The prom dress Id never worn.
I felt simultaneously beautiful and foolish, twirling in what little floor space there was between the unmade twin bed and the pile of unfolded laundry. Tell me again why were wearing four-year-old prom clothes, alone in your bedroom?
