Chapter 23

Reme

Reme's fingers tightened on the door handle as he pulled it open. His knuckles were still sore and rubbed raw from the ropes on the boxes he’d loaded and unloaded the week before. He stepped inside trading the summer twilight for the brightness of the lobby. His sneakers flopped as he crossed the carpet for the large wooden doors. He’d seen doors like them on TV and he knew what lay behind them but he wasn’t prepared for what met his eyes when he opened them.

A great window rose nearly to the ceiling on the far wall. Summer sunset streamed through the glass a cascade of colors coated the walls and the floor the very tip of the rainbow touching his feet. His dirty shoes now shimmered purple and green. He reached his hand out. Red light bounced off of it. He reached up and up, his eyes following to the source of the light, the window.

The picture in the glass seemed to be alive with the colors. He took a step forward straining to see the man’s face but it was hidden from view, hidden in the hair of the child he was holding. Reme swallowed hard and let his eyes rove over the picture. He had never seen anything like it. The man sat under a tree and he was surrounded by children. Three sat at his feet, and two more hung onto his shoulders, but it was the one in his arms that drew his attention. The little boy had dark hair and grubby brown feet. His arms wrapped around the mans neck and the man was leaning towards him as if he were whispering in his ear. Whispering something very special, something meant only for that little boy.

Reme blinked his eyes half expecting the image to be gone but it was still there. There was something else as well. Walking up the center aisle were the man and woman he had met at the police station the day before and between them, holding onto both of their hands was a little girl with olive skin and curly black hair. He swiped the back of his hand over his eyes, salt from his tears burning the cuts. He was scared. He didn’t really know why, she was just a kid.

The sun was setting quickly. The light grew deeper and more purple with each minute that passed, but the Man was still there, still holding the boy, still whispering and Reme almost thought he knew what he was saying. It’s okay now. Everything’s gonna be all right. I’ve got you.

The End.

So? What do you think?

What are the strong points of the story? The weak points?

Yes, Reme is Chastity's half-brother. He's about 15, has no claim on the child and would not be able to care for her even if he wanted to.. he is no threat to Kit and Randall! I hope I made that clear in the story, but thought perhaps I should clarify. Thier mother died.

Someone asked about me being MIA. I will be spending the summer months in deep Kentucky where internet access is very limited! However, I hope to do a lot of writing, so new things should be posted come September!

I recommend reading Redeeming Ruke McCreagan if you haven't yet. I think it is the best thing I've written so far and it will only be online for a limited time! Check it out.

Thanks so much for all of your reviews and encouragement in this endeavor! I do appreciate your advice and critique. Perhaps in 3 or 4 years I might dust off The Fortune Teller and re-write it properly! For now... adios. soyonara. good riddance! hallelujiah! good night.

Kree