Chapter 36
CILLA
Sitting at a small table in the diner, with Shelby making sure everyone stayed calm and did not cause any issues with the way the evening is run. I tap the small gavel Shelby found, from goodness knows where, and get everyone’s attention.
“Good evening, everyone. It is lovely to see so many of you turn out to support this fundraiser. Now, let me be clear on the fact that I cannot call certain people who have passed away. I can only connect you to the ones that appear. It is a case of some passing on to other places once they pass, and those places are out of my reach. Others stay within my reach until they arehappy with either giving a message, or whatever it is they are waiting around for.”
At this point, I give a look to Bono, Tank, and Pyro who are standing on one side of the room, arms folded over their chests and pretending to lean against the wall. They know that I know if they try to lean on the wall they’ll fall right through it, but it seems to amuse them, so I ignore it.
I continue, “I can see a few people waiting to connect with one or more of you. I’ll make a start, and if you recognize the person, then give me a shout out.”
People shuffle in their seats, getting comfortable. Mr. Gallagher mumbles, but loud enough for most of us to hear, “If it’s Doreen, tell her I have had enough of her in life, and she can take a hike in death. I’m done with it.”
That is greeted with some chuckles, some gasps, and some are trying their hardest to pretend they didn’t hear him. I shake my head, roll my eyes, and look at Tank who is laughing his butt off.
“Okay, the first person I have here is a gentleman of I guess fifty-five years of age. He’s tall, with brown hair with flecks of gray. Handsome man, and he looks fit, so not sure at the moment why he passed to the other side. Oh, he says his name is Bartholemew,” I look around the room to see if anyone is recognizing the description.
“Oh my, is it you, Bart?” A lady in her later years asks. She is holding her hand around her throat and looks as if at any moment she is going to burst into tears.
“Do you recognize the lady, Bartholemew?” I ask.
*Oh, yeah, that’s my wife. Or was my wife. But tell her I divorced her on this side because she was being boned by the grocery boy*
My eyes must nearly pop out of my head. Bono falls to his knees guffawing so loudly I can hardly think, and Pyro is flicking his flames faster than I’ve ever seen before.
“Shit, Bono. Shut up laughing. I can’t tell her that in front of all these people,” I’m speaking to Bono and Bartholemew mentally, which means thankfully the crowd in the diner do not know what is happening.
*Why not? She did it, not Bart here*
I open my mouth to speak when Tracker, Finger, Cap, and four other brothers walk into the diner. They take a seat near the back and look around at all the expectant faces before looking back at my face, which must show some panic.
Tracker, of course, has no filter or shame. Whichever it is I don’t know, and don’t care at this moment in time. Tracker opens his mouth and I could put a sock in it to shut him up.
“What’s going on? What happened?” Tracker asks, and yeah, the damn room turns around and tells him Bartholemew is here, and his wife is here, but I’ve gone quiet. “What’s going on, Cilla. Did this bitch do something to him? Did she kill him?”
“No…” Bartholemew’s wife gasps, looking as though she’s going to run out the door.
“No, she did not hurt Bartholemew,” I quickly said, doing my utmost to calm the situation. The room is loud with questions, and most are staring at the wife by this point.
“What did you do?” Tracker insists asking, and I can see the woman finally understands what is happening. She looks at mewith a hint of panic, and before I can say anything she jumps out of her seat and heads out of the diner.
*Crisis over*
“Shut up, Tank. It is not funny. Well, not too funny,” I state, but I can feel a little hysteria starting, and I quickly swallow the giggle that wants to explode from me.
“I’m sorry, Bartholemew. If I see your wife at some time, I will speak with her on your behalf,” I assure him, and he gives me a wink as he disappears.
Turning when I hear Tracker and the brothers from the MC guessing what could have happened, I quickly spot a child and speak to the room. “I have a young girl here. She is around five, I think. Blonde hair with beautiful blue eyes. She is waving at someone over in that direction.” I point to the left of the room, and a woman rubs her hands together nervously.
“Is it Hailey?” The woman quietly asks. Turning to the little girl she nods and waves to the woman.
*Mama*
Now, the hardest thing is to tell a parent that a child is connecting with them. It can go one of two ways, it can tip them over, or it can give them peace. “She is calling you Mama,” I mumble.
The woman cries out, and the woman next to her wraps an arm around her and holds her firmly. Giving her strength, I am sure.
I relay the small amount the child wants me to, or she is able to tell me. The woman is smiling, and peace is seen now that she knows her daughter is not suffering, not alone, and is ready to move on with her grandfather. I wondered why the elderlyman was hovering near her but didn’t want to break the child's concentration.