Read Online The Rosaries (Crossroads Series) by Sandra Carrington-Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sandra Carrington-Smith
Ads: Link
lady.” As she spoke those words, Natalie looked up toward the ceiling.
There you go, Aunt Catherine. I suppose you are forgiven. I never thought so before, but I really think you are a nice lady, and I wish now I could have known you better…
“I am so sorry, Natalie. Is there anything I can do?”
“Everything happened so suddenly that I am not entirely sure what needs to be done. My mother is taking care of the arrangements but I haven’t heard any details yet.”
And I’m sure I’ll be the last one to hear. The neighbors will find out before me…
“Listen, Natalie, may I come by tomorrow? I know there is little I can do, but unless you’re planning on spending time with your family I would really like to be there with you and for you.”
“I would really like to have a little time to grieve on my own, Ryan. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course I do. How inconsiderate of me. Will you please call me when you find out details about the wake and the funeral?”
“Of course….”
“Take care, Natalie.”
“You too, Ryan. And thank you.”
She hung up and sat back on the sofa. Billy appeared from the bedroom and loudly demanded the attention he lacked throughout the afternoon. She scratched under his chin – to which he responded with a purring serenade – and closed her eyes. There was so much she needed to process that right now she felt completely overwhelmed. She glanced at the paintings she had left by the door, and felt a sharp pain shoot through her heart. Could a heart truly be broken? She thought of Aunt Catherine’s one-time affair with her father, and felt her stomach lurch at the mere thought of the next family gathering. Jokes apart, Aunt Catherine’s funeral was going to be arranged within the next few days, and there was no way she could escape that sentence. Not that she wanted to. If only after her death, Aunt Catherine had done something wonderful – for the first time in her life Natalie felt she belonged with someone in her family, faults and all.
What about the rosary Aunt Catherine bought for her daughter? Was there something special about it? She was well aware of her overactive imagination, but she knew that something very strange happened when she held it in her hand. Reliving the images of her dream in such vivid detail was something she hadn’t expected, and the whole episode caught her by surprise and electrified her. Somehow, she knew that what happened in the dream was an omen for something real to manifest. She stood up abruptly, hoping the shift of pressure would clear her mind, and she headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. Coffee was probably not a good idea at this time in the evening, but she needed the comfort of something warm, and tea just didn’t sound bold enough.
While the coffee brewed she changed into her night clothes and washed her face. When she looked up to reach for the towel, she gasped at what she saw. The woman looking back at her from the mirror didn’t look as weak as she felt right now, and she instantly thought back about her dream. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, the strange image was gone. Her eyes were playing tricks on her – or maybe it was her mind. She remembered reading once that the human brain can only temporarily store a limited amount of information before having the opportunity to sort it during sleep. Natalie’s brain had reached capacity; in fact, it was probably beginning to overflow.
She went to the kitchen to get her coffee and went straight to bed with the mug in one hand and the velvet pouch in the other. She placed the rosary under her pillow and took a few sips of coffee. Despite the caffeine, her eyelids felt suddenly very heavy, so she placed the mug on the side table, hoping that Billy would not knock it off during his night-time acrobatics. The moment her head touched the pillow, sleep whisked her away. That night, Aunt Catherine was happy that Natalie forgave
There you go, Aunt Catherine. I suppose you are forgiven. I never thought so before, but I really think you are a nice lady, and I wish now I could have known you better…
“I am so sorry, Natalie. Is there anything I can do?”
“Everything happened so suddenly that I am not entirely sure what needs to be done. My mother is taking care of the arrangements but I haven’t heard any details yet.”
And I’m sure I’ll be the last one to hear. The neighbors will find out before me…
“Listen, Natalie, may I come by tomorrow? I know there is little I can do, but unless you’re planning on spending time with your family I would really like to be there with you and for you.”
“I would really like to have a little time to grieve on my own, Ryan. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course I do. How inconsiderate of me. Will you please call me when you find out details about the wake and the funeral?”
“Of course….”
“Take care, Natalie.”
“You too, Ryan. And thank you.”
She hung up and sat back on the sofa. Billy appeared from the bedroom and loudly demanded the attention he lacked throughout the afternoon. She scratched under his chin – to which he responded with a purring serenade – and closed her eyes. There was so much she needed to process that right now she felt completely overwhelmed. She glanced at the paintings she had left by the door, and felt a sharp pain shoot through her heart. Could a heart truly be broken? She thought of Aunt Catherine’s one-time affair with her father, and felt her stomach lurch at the mere thought of the next family gathering. Jokes apart, Aunt Catherine’s funeral was going to be arranged within the next few days, and there was no way she could escape that sentence. Not that she wanted to. If only after her death, Aunt Catherine had done something wonderful – for the first time in her life Natalie felt she belonged with someone in her family, faults and all.
What about the rosary Aunt Catherine bought for her daughter? Was there something special about it? She was well aware of her overactive imagination, but she knew that something very strange happened when she held it in her hand. Reliving the images of her dream in such vivid detail was something she hadn’t expected, and the whole episode caught her by surprise and electrified her. Somehow, she knew that what happened in the dream was an omen for something real to manifest. She stood up abruptly, hoping the shift of pressure would clear her mind, and she headed to the kitchen to make some coffee. Coffee was probably not a good idea at this time in the evening, but she needed the comfort of something warm, and tea just didn’t sound bold enough.
While the coffee brewed she changed into her night clothes and washed her face. When she looked up to reach for the towel, she gasped at what she saw. The woman looking back at her from the mirror didn’t look as weak as she felt right now, and she instantly thought back about her dream. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, the strange image was gone. Her eyes were playing tricks on her – or maybe it was her mind. She remembered reading once that the human brain can only temporarily store a limited amount of information before having the opportunity to sort it during sleep. Natalie’s brain had reached capacity; in fact, it was probably beginning to overflow.
She went to the kitchen to get her coffee and went straight to bed with the mug in one hand and the velvet pouch in the other. She placed the rosary under her pillow and took a few sips of coffee. Despite the caffeine, her eyelids felt suddenly very heavy, so she placed the mug on the side table, hoping that Billy would not knock it off during his night-time acrobatics. The moment her head touched the pillow, sleep whisked her away. That night, Aunt Catherine was happy that Natalie forgave
Similar Books
