Chapter 12

Ralph felt those words thrum though her veins, piercing the deepest part of her heart. "Did she know, Drucinda? Did she know how you felt?"

Drucinda's snow-white head moved with a slow nod. "We were a couple for more than thirty years. We were a couple when society said we shouldn't be." She lifted a slender finger. "Mind you, we were always careful, of course, because the world could be such a horrible place. We kept separate residences until the day I died, but the dream was always to live together, make a home together…" Her voice hitched, her eyes filling with tears. "We just never did."

How absolutely tragic. Ralph felt her heart constrict in sympathy. It was crystal clear, Drucinda loved this woman deeply. How cruel to have been denied the right to love one another due to fear, to not spend the rest of your years wrapped in the embrace of happiness.

It made her angry, sad. It made her want to rage against the ignorance, the nerve of someone to decide who you could love.

Ralph swallowed hard, her voice hitching, too. "I'm so sorry. The world can be a horrible place sometimes, can't it? Filled with people who have no business sticking their noses into your life. I'm sorry acceptance is still so dreadfully small, and I know my words are just that—words. But I mean them."

Her sigh was low, filled with sorrow. "We could have bucked the system, thrown caution to the wind and lived together anyway, but Kat was so afraid it would harm my agency, my legacy. Back in the day, I don't know that it wouldn't have. Even after all the awareness surfaced and began to pick up speed, she refused. Even after I told her I didn't give a right damn. I only wanted to spend every night in her arms. But then I found out I had cancer, and it was over before I could give the agency and all its trappings the finger."

Ralph gripped Drucinda's hand in hers while they looked down at Kat. "I hate that for you, for her…for anyone who's denied the right to enjoy their life, free of ridicule and persecution."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all simply be ourselves? Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for us, and we wasted so much time hiding. I hate that we wasted so much time." She looked down at Kat, letting her hand rest on her cheek, stroking it lovingly. "I wasn't alone when I left this plane. She was right by my side until the bitter end. But she has no one. No family, no truly close friends. I guess there was no time for that because of our careers. We didn't make time for that. But I don't want her be alone, Ralph. I want to be here for her, too."

"Her time is very close," Ralph murmured. "I feel it."

The beep of the heart monitor, slowing rapidly, sounded in her ears. But the voice that spoke to her about Gloria, the one that told her it wasn't her time to go, the hushed, gentle disembodied voice in the dark, spoke to her once more.

You're right. Well done. Her time is near, Raphaela. It's very near… Are you ready?

Was she ready?

"That's why I wanted your help, Raphaela. Because I've been spying on the nurses and this morning, they said, it wouldn't be long—maybe even tonight. During the last weeks of my life, I promised her I'd find a way for us to be together… That when her time came, I'd be waiting. Even if we could only be together for a moment before she went where all good people go, I'd wait. I want her to know she should go where she belongs. I want her to have eternal happiness."

Ah. Now it all made sense. She was waiting on this plane in limbo for her love. "That's why you haven't crossed to the other side."

"That and…" She hesitated, but then determination pushed her to finish. "I didn't live the purest of lives, Ralph. I've done things that some would, in this day and age, call shady. I didn't commit murder or hurt animals or anything like that, but I wasn't above finagling a deal, poaching a model or two, working them too hard."

Ralph cocked her head. "Do you really think those things would keep you from going somewhere good, Drucinda?"

What defined good, anyway? She'd tried to live an honest life, one with integrity, but she wasn't above lying at one time or another.

And what was considered good up there, anyhow? Were there levels of good, the way there were levels of Hell? Were you given a package according to your excellence? Bronze, silver, gold?

She knew Drucinda wasn't going anywhere bad. Once more, she didn't know why she knew, but she knew.

However, Drucinda's smile was ironic. "Oh, there were other things I did before I discovered I was gay. Married men, drinking, you name it. Things I'm ashamed of to this day. I was uncompromising as a businesswoman, sometimes far more than need be, because I thought I had to be. I was selfish, I was judgmental. I was even mean. In our later years, Kat was my measuring stick—for when I became too aggressive, when I needed to lighten up, and she was the only person unafraid to tell me."

Ralph whispered, "She softened you. What a wonderful quality to find in a life partner."

"She made me see things from a different perspective. She was the calm to my storm." Drucinda shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "Anyway, I was afraid to cross because of that, if I'm being brutally honest. Afraid I'd be denied entry…"

As the heart monitor slowed yet more, Ralph nodded her understanding. "So you've stayed in limbo. That, in and of itself, is pretty selfless, Drucinda."

She flapped a dismissive hand, her shoulders sagging. "Yes, I stayed where I was in the waiting room and denied myself the light, because I knew Kat was going to the best place the afterlife has to offer. And I didn't care how long I had to wait to see her just once more, because I don't think I'm going to be allowed admittance to where she's going. Unfortunately, I didn't have to wait long at all."

A thought popped into Ralph's head, as though she'd opened the cover of a book on Katriana Wellington, where every bit of information about her was in each chapter.

Kat's life had, indeed, been good. The seventy-eight years she'd spent on Earth had been filled with her kindness.

While other models clawed their way up the ladder of success, she'd gracefully turned the other cheek, ascending on hard work and her helpful, empathetic nature. Kat Wellington had lived a selfless life, charging head-on against the naysayers who called models vain and selfish, like a bull in a china shop.

She wasn't only beautiful on the outside; she was a million times more so on the inside. Her heart virtually glowed, and true to Drucinda's statement, Kat had kept her lover on the straight and narrow.

And Ralph knew—knew it as surely as she knew her name was Raphaela Marguerite Tucci—that was why she was here, in this moment, with Drucinda. To lead Kat to her rightful place in the afterlife, and her entry would be glorious.

She. Knew.

Yet, she had a question or two, and seeing as no one was available to help her, she'd ask someone who was there right now.

She placed a hand on Drucinda's arm. "I don't understand the afterlife yet. I'm new, so forgive me when I ask, how do you know Kat will go first to the same place you are right now?"

"We all go to a waiting room of sorts when we first pass, unless you're pure evil. You're dispersed to your afterlife from there. Your guide has to take you, though. When you choose to go is up to you. You can remain in limbo forever, but rumor has it, that's nowhere near as wonderful as it is when you step into the light."

Which meant they should have known she'd been due to arrive, too, right? Why didn't she go to the waiting room instead of Nina's castle?

"Then why was I left here, on this plane? Why didn't I go to this waiting room?" she murmured.

Drucinda cocked her head. "You know, I wondered that, too. We're all aware when someone new is arriving, but I never saw you. None of us did."

Ralph dismissed the rest of her questions for now. Right now was about Kat and Drucinda. "Cancer," she murmured. The words of Kat's diagnosis popped into her head without warning. "Lung cancer?"

Drucinda's bark of a scoff held anguish. "Yes. Damn cigarettes. Back in the seventies, it's just what we did to stay thin, curb our appetites. Among other unsavory recreational things. Though, never Kat. Smoking was her diehard limit." Then she gave Ralph an odd look. "How did you know?"

Ralph frowned. "I don't know. I don't know much of anything about what's happening to me, but what I do I know? I know without a shadow of a doubt, you loved her and Kat loved you and I'm here to help—both of you."

The promise frightened her, but that voice, speaking to her from somewhere far away, told her she could help.

Letting go of her grip on Drucinda, Ralph sat on the edge of Kat's bed, taking her hand and holding it against her chest. She didn't question why she could hold the model's hand, she was simply grateful it was possible. She didn't know what to say or what exactly to do, she was acting on instinct alone.

Leaning forward, she softly whispered, "Kat, wherever you are, my name is Raphaela and I'm here to help you. Can you hear me?"

Almost instantly, Kat's famous hazel eyes opened, staring straight at Ralph, clear and bright, before she closed them again. She nodded and squeezed her hand.

Licking her suddenly very dry lips, Ralph stroked Kat's hand, praying for the words to come, and when they did, she smiled and nodded with the knowledge she was saying exactly the right thing, and Kat would hear her.

"Hi, Kat. Are you comfortable? In any pain? Squeeze my hand if you are."

When she lay still, Ralph continued. "Drucinda's here, too, Kat. Just as she promised, she's been waiting for you."

Drucinda lay on the bed next to Kat, putting her arms around her, enveloping her in a translucent embrace. "I love you, Kat. I love you more than ever before."

I love you…so very much…

Kat didn't speak the words, but Ralph heard them, and so did Drucinda.

Ralph's eyes filled with tears but the words continued to flow, words she didn't even know she should speak, but they felt right.

"It's time, Kat. It's time to go somewhere more beautiful than you can ever imagine, and I'm going to take you there."

Hurt…I hurt so much. Can you make it stop? Please, please make it stop…

"Where you're going, pain doesn't exist, only the beautiful, wonderful things you gave to everyone in life. I promise, nothing will hurt anymore. Will you come with me, Kat? Come with me to this magnificent place waiting for you?"

Drucinda…she groaned in Ralph's head. Where has she gone?

Ralph stroked her hair, smoothing the marks lining her furrowed brow. "She's there, Kat. She's waiting, just like she promised. Please, come with me, won't you?"

Quite suddenly, she smiled, leaning into Drucinda's hand with a deep sigh as though she knew her lover was there.

Ice cream…

Drucinda chuckled as tears continued to stream freely down her face. "She adored ice cream. She denied herself for years because she has a will of iron, but she always joked she hoped they had ice cream in Heaven." Turning to Kat, she pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. "Chocolate ice cream, right, darling? No frills, just the chocolate, three scoops, please."

Kat smiled wider then, her lips sweeping upward, beautiful and happy.

Ralph smiled as well, tightening her hold on Kat's hand. "I wouldn't be surprised if ice cream is on the list."

She went silent then, but her body began to vibrate and hum, sending a signal to Ralph that the time had come.

The beeping of Kat's heart monitor began to slow, coming to an almost complete stop.

Ralph stroked Kat's hair. "Are you ready to go home to Drucinda, Kat? She's waiting for you. She can't wait to hold you in her arms again."

A slinky tendril of smoke slithered upward from Kat's body, turning, twisting, taking various shapes until it took the form of a long, slender body, floating above the bed in all its splendor.

Ghost Kat blinked, looking around until her eyes settled on Drucinda, her gaze going soft, filling with the purest love Ralph had ever witnessed. Their connection was so keenly displayed, so brilliantly evident, Ralph almost couldn't breathe.

The couple embraced, swirling in a circle, floating to the top of the room in a glorious display of soft light before they settled back on the bed.

"You waited," Kat whispered almost in disbelief, tucking Drucinda's hair behind her ear. "You said you would and you did!"

Drucinda nodded as Kat cupped her cheek. "I made a promise. I would have waited forever, my darling."

Guide her to her eternal place, Raphaela. Guide her home. You'll know the way. Don't ask questions, let your heart lead you.

Ralph held out her hands to the women, looking upward. As they rose to the ceiling once more, their heads almost touching the beautiful hand-painted mural, a bright light appeared, so bright, so warm, it brought tears to Ralph's eyes.

They all gasped in awe. This was the light everyone talked about. It was real…and it was magnificent, filled with love, comfort, acceptance, joy, and above all, peace.

"Oh, Ralph, it's beautiful," Kat whispered, her arms around Drucinda. "Is this where I'm going?"

Wish them well, Raphael. Take them into the light. Show them the way. It's time for them to go.

Together? she asked the gentle voice in her head, oddly devoid of snark tonight.

Yes. Together. Always.

Ralph offered a hand to each of the women. "The light waits."

But Kat hesitated, her voice fraught with worry, her gorgeous face filled with fear. "I won't go without Drucinda, Raphaela. Please don't make me leave her. Please!"

"Take my hands, both of you, and trust. Please trust me," was all Ralph managed, the calling of the light a force she couldn't resist. Like a moth to a flame, her body began to move forward of its own accord.

Drucinda's eyes were wide as she floated beside Ralph. "Me, too?"

Ralph smiled, her heart warm. "Both of you, together."

With that, they finally placed their hands in Ralph's, and together, they walked into the light.

The euphoria she'd felt seeing the light was nothing compared to the feeling of the glow surrounding the couple, enveloping them in its embrace, holding them close until she felt their hands slip from hers as they turned away.

As they walked forward, Ralph heard Kat gasp again, "Oh, Ralph…I…there are no words… Thank you! Thank you, thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

But Drucinda looked back over her shoulder at Ralph as her tears fell down her lean cheeks. "I can go…with her?"

Ralph nodded, her throat tight, her heart clenched. "You can. Be well, Drucinda. Most of all, be happy."

As the light almost swallowed them entirely, Drucinda whispered, "Look for a man named Michael. And thank you, Ralph, thank you. I'll never forget what you've done…"

And then they were gone, the light consuming them, leaving her heart full to almost bursting.

Ralph sat for a little while before the nurses came to detach Kat from the heart monitor and her IV, marveling at the amazing moment she'd just been blessed with witnessing.

And then she sent up a moment of gratitude to whomever was in charge for letting her be a part of it.

Thank you…

You're learning, grasshopper. Well done.