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Amazon - Beth's Story By Itinerant Edited by Amelia R. Author's Note: Some of you have expressed interest in what happened to Beth Edwards. Her sacrifice was equal to Tom's, and she is equally deserving of attention. What follows is at least a brief look into her life during and after the events in 'Amazon: ReGenesis'. ********** Saturday, November 25, 2000 Waukesha, WI A wave of dizziness passed over her as she stood up, as if the world was changing in an instant around her. Beth's eyes refocused, and she saw a body that looked just like Tom lying motionless on the floor. There was no sign of the visitors or of Tom, only an echo in her mind of the comforting voice of Michael saying, "Know peace in your pain, dear one. In your heart you will know all is well with your husband, even though he is no longer with you. And know you will see him again, in time." She still felt the warmth of the comforting touch that came with the words. Despite that, even at the end of her days, she never understood how she'd managed to remain so calm at that moment. Somehow she managed to quickly make her way to the phone and call 911 to summon an ambulance. ~ I have to do this for Tom's sake. I have to play my part, though I never really thought I'd be an actress.~ A small, hiccupping laugh followed the thought. With the call made, she quickly returned to the body that looked like Tom. She knelt beside him and spoke softly. "I know you're not really here. I already miss you, love, but I've called for help like I'm supposed to." She caressed his face, careful not to move him lest she disturb the scene. The face was pale and still -- almost doll-like. It looked as if he were sleeping. She brushed a stray hair back and silently prayed for strength for herself and the safety of her beloved husband. It seemed to her as if no time passed before the ambulance pulled up and a knock came at the door. She stood quickly and opened the door, finding two Emergency Medical Technicians with their equipment. "Excuse us, ma'am. Where is the patient?" "He's in the living room over there." She pointed toward the body, which looked like her husband, in the other room. She felt calm -- so oddly calm that she wondered if this was all just a dream. She held the door and watched as the two EMTs carried their equipment in. ~It's just like watching a TV show.~ They'd opened Tom's shirt as they tried to check for a heartbeat and get blood pressure readings. They flashed a light in his eyes and checked for breathing. It was a lovely dance in a way; the choreography of saving a life. ~And it's all for show. He's not even there.~ Her breath hitched again at the thought. She was distracted from her vigil by a sudden sound at the door as someone rang the doorbell. Outside was Rita Blasczyk, who was a long- time friend from both the neighborhood and church. "Oh! Rita! Thank you for coming over." Beth's voice was eerily calm as she hugged the new arrival. ~I have to do this. I just wish I could share this burden with her.~ "Beth, I saw the ambulance! What happened?" It was all like watching a play from the audience as she answered Rita's questions; as if someone else was responding from a script using her voice. "I don't know what happened. We were talking and then he suddenly collapsed on the floor." "Do you want me to call Pastor Gabe?" Rita asked. "Yes, that would be good. Thank you." Rita looked at Beth with concern. ~I wonder -- is she in shock? I'd better make that call to Gabe and get some help.~ She moved to the phone in the kitchen and dialed a number. "Pastor? This is Rita Blasczyk.... I'm fine, thank you, but I'm with Beth Edwards. Her husband, Tom, collapsed a little while ago, and the EMTs are working on him now.... No, I think we'll be leaving before you can get here. Can you meet us at the hospital?... Thanks, we'll see you there." Rita thought for a moment after ending the call. She dialed another number. "Cathy? This is Rita. We need to get the prayer chains going for Tom and Beth. Tom collapsed at home just now, and I think they're taking him to the hospital.... No, I don't know anything more, but I'll call when I do.... Thanks.... You too! Bye!" She made one more call to make sure her husband knew she'd be going to the hospital with Beth. "Dan? Tom collapsed, and it looks like Beth really needs someone to take her to the hospital. Can you meet me in the emergency room? I don't know how long we'll need to be there.... Thanks, honey. Love you, too!" She hung up and returned to the living room. She heard the metallic clacking of latches as she left the kitchen. The techs had continued to work, and Tom was now on a gurney with a ventilator wheezing as it forced air into his still lungs. One of the techs called Rita over. "Ma'am? We're ready to transport him. It might be best if his wife gets a ride with you to the hospital emergency room." "I'll take care of her; just get her husband to some help." A cold chill ran down Rita's spine at the sad, bleak look on the EMT's face. ~Oh no! Poor Beth!~ As Beth watched the other tech pack their gear, she heard, almost in the distance, one of the techs talking to Rita. ~Rita, I wish I could tell you what's really happening. Oh, God, why does it have to be this way?~ Rita turned her attention back to her neighbor. "Come on, Beth. Let's get your coat and purse. You need to get to the hospital for Tom." Beth's voice just couldn't hold emotion right now; a corner of her mind knew the dreadful reality and yet couldn't share it for the moment. She felt as if she was still detached from it all. "Yes, we need to be there for Tom when he wakes." ~He's gone, and I have to hold it together for a little while yet. I have to act like I don't know he's not there.~ A shuddering sigh was the only outward indication of the emotional stress she felt. The trip to the hospital was silent, other than Rita's briefly talking to her husband about something on her cell phone. Beth sat and watched the barren trees slide by as they rode downtown. ***** Waukesha Memorial Hospital Rita stayed with Beth as she worked through the painfully slow process of insurance paperwork. Beth had the presence of mind to locate her insurance card in her purse, and the process ground slowly through the maze of pages on the clerk's terminal screen. Beth was patiently walked through each form, the clerk pulling up information from earlier visits and quickly checking with Beth for changes. It seemed to take longer than the twenty minutes indicated by the clock before they walked through the pale green hallway, following the signs to the emergency room. The sound of their heels echoed along the empty hallways; there was little activity this Saturday morning, and there seemed to be only a minimal staff on hand. The ER nurse nodded as Rita identified herself and her companion and directed the two women to one of the beds. Beth at last found herself beside "Tom's" bed in the emergency room, looking down at the pale, still face of her beloved husband. No machines beeped; no IVs dripped. Only a faint sound filtered into her awareness from the few people in the room beyond the curtains. She raised a hand and gently smoothed a stray hair from his forehead. Rita stood on the other side; the sheen of tears in her eyes was just visible in the subdued light. Beth put a hopeful look on her face for a moment. "If they don't have him hooked up, that's good -- right? We just need to wait for him to wake up now." Only the tiniest quiver of her lips reflected her awareness of the truth. ~I'm glad he's not really here, but I can't live without him!~ A tear began its slow way down her cheek. "Mrs. Edwards?" Beth turned and saw a young man, almost a child it seemed, standing in the gap between the drapes. She sniffed and wiped the trailing tear away. "Yes? I'm Mrs. Edwards." "I'm sorry, Mrs. Edwards. Your husband was gone before he arrived at the hospital. There was nothing we could do to save him." Beth looked blankly at him. For a moment her mind was unable to process the words he had spoken; a cold statement of the reality she desperately wanted to deny. ~Either way, he's gone; I'll never see him again.~ "But...." The brittle shell of her shock and determination began to crack. The pain of reality was leaking its way into her numb and sheltered heart. Softly, almost whispering, she spoke. "No...." The room seemed to spin around her as she allowed herself to express the pain she felt; she could give in to the loss at last. Rita and the doctor were suddenly beside Beth, guiding her collapse into a chair beside the bed as she broke down. She never shrieked; only a heavier sobbing indicated the depth of her mourning at the loss of her best friend, lover, and husband. She was still sitting there with Rita's arm around her shaking shoulders when Gabe arrived. ********** Friday, December 1, 2000 Waukesha, WI ~It seems right.,~ Beth thought. ~It *should* be a grim, gray, cold day.~ The sun hid behind the snow-laden clouds as she stood in the cemetery as a mix of rain and snow, driven by a brisk wind, pelted the shrinking group around her. The cold rock of the headstone reflected sparkles of light from the mica in the granite, contrasting with the shadows of grim reality from the engravings: EDWARDS Thomas Harold Elizabeth Crystal Born: July 20, 1945 Born: April 23, 1951 Died: November 25, 2000 Her eyes were dry now; she'd cried -- God knew how much -- but it was done now. Her very heart was gone from her life, an empty shell, buried in the cold earth, in his place. ~Why can't I be with him?~ She recalled the doctor's final report on what had happened. "Your husband had an abdominal aortic aneurysm that ruptured. If it's any comfort to you, he went quickly and without any pain. Even if the EMTs had been in the same room, there was nothing they could have done." The visitation at the funeral home and the funeral at church left her astonished. The sheer number of people that turned out was amazing. She had found herself sitting on a cushioned stool near the coffin for much of the time as a long line of people, some of whom she'd never have believed really knew her name, flowed by in a stream that only ended when the doors cut off the line from the outside. Only the strength lent by the friends from church, Tom's work, her fellow teachers at school, and the neighborhood had helped her make it through the last week. The people at UCLA, the ones with whom Tom had spent the summer, had sent their condolences. Even her third grade students had gotten together and had designed, colored, and sent a poster with all their names written on it. That poster was destined for a secure and special place in her memorabilia. ~Those children seem to have an instinct for expressing their love.~ Still, if she and Tom hadn't made all the preparations ahead of time, even that support would have been inadequate. Yet even through all this, there was a faint echo of Michael's voice in her mind with his words of comfort, and that sense of peace she had felt all week wrapped her heart, dulling the bitter pain of her loss. She knelt next to the stone and disturbed earth, bringing a gloved hand to her lips. She kissed the fingers and touched them to the headstone. ~Goodbye for now, my love -- my heart. I'll pray I'll be with you soon.~ As she stood again, an arm draped itself around her shoulders, and Beth glanced over to see Gabriel Fischer, the pastor of her church, standing there. He just stood quietly, holding her gently. She leaned into the support, thankful for the long time friend. "Thank you, Gabe. I don't think I could have handled this without you." The tall, sandy-haired man smiled down. "That's what the church is here for, right? We help each other bear the burdens along the way." He spent a long moment gazing with her at the tombstone. "I'll be stopping by every so often to check up on you, and so will one or another of the elders, if that's okay." "I'd appreciate that; Rita has promised to check in on occasion, too. It's just so quiet and lonely now around the house." A small hitch in her voice betrayed the emotions lurking so close to the surface. "I think I'm ready to go now." "We all miss him, Beth. We'll all be here for you when you need us, too." The two walked slowly toward the remaining car. ***** A tall figure in white stood behind them, invisible to all and unaffected by the weather. Michael watched as they departed. "Take time to heal, daughter. Peace will come again in time, and you will find your rest, but you have work that still needs to be done in this life. Ariel?" A second figure seemed to walk out of the air. She was about five and a half feet tall, with short, auburn hair. "Yes, sir?" "Beth is your charge." He nodded toward the departing pair. "I promised Tom she would be given all the care and support she needs; she's your only priority from now on. You have clearance to contact her directly; don't lie, but don't reveal what you are unless she asks directly. Your cover name is Ariel W?chter. All the appropriate identification and accounts are set up and ready." "I understand, sir. Shall I use the standard draw accounts for funding?" "Yes. Whatever she needs and whenever she needs it. Also make sure the house is paid off and her medical insurance is picked up. She has a special job to do in the near future, and we want her to focus on that." He shook his head. "At times like these I wish we could just take the pain away, but this isn't heaven -- not yet. And even she has growing to do that won't happen without the challenges she faces." ***** Monday, December 4, 2000 Waukesha, WI 9:30AM CST Beth's morning had been occupied by financial planning. Her laptop was on the table, next to a cup of hot tea, with a spreadsheet running as she entered information about income and expenses. ~Income... my salary, the pension from GE,...~ She frowned at the distressingly small number. ~Now for expenses.~ She pulled up the budgeting software she and Tom used to track their expenses. A few mouse clicks later, she had a summary of the average expenses for the last year. The comparison to her expected income was depressing. ~There's no way. I can pay the mortgage, or the taxes, or the heating bill.~ Her lips quivered as she accepted the evidence of the numbers and reached for the newspaper. ~I wonder what the housing market is like.~ She started looking at what she could get for her home, and what she might be able to afford. ***** Ariel W?chter walked up to the front door of Beth Edward's home with her satchel. The weekend frost had turned the grass to a uniform brown, and the garden beds were mulched against the cold of winter. The cold wind whipped around the house, ruffling her hair. ~Days like this, I'm grateful I don't need to really worry about temperatures.~ She had taken time to arrange the financial side of her task; Tom's income was no longer available and, despite her teaching position, Beth would need some additional income unless the housing expenses were covered somehow. She'd taken the time to familiarize herself with Tom and Beth's background, learning where they'd met, who they knew, and where they'd worked. A plan finally sorted itself out. She could just make things happen, but that would be poor workmanship on her part and generate ripple effects that would need to be counteracted. A smarter approach, a minimal adjustment at the proper point in time, would create the situation she wanted without the undesirable side effects. She thought for a moment of one of Tom's favorite authors, Isaac Asimov, whose novel 'The End of Eternity' caught the flavor of her objective, the 'Minimum Necessary Change' -- accomplishing her end without unnecessary problems and side effects. She had finally settled on a small change to a form. During Tom's employment at Digital Equipment Corporation, he had needed to fill out an insurance authorization. He had turned it down, but by changing that to an acceptance she was able to make the resulting funds available for assisting Beth. It was more than enough to pay off the house and keep sufficient income flowing for the rest of her life. With the survivor benefits at General Electric providing medical care, as well as Beth's own benefits, Ariel was confident that she could focus on her role as a counselor. She smiled at the prospect of doing what she loved most -- providing comfort and healing to a hurting soul. She stepped up and rang the doorbell. ~Time to meet face-to-face.~ ***** Beth frowned at the doorbell's ring. ~Who could it possibly be?~ No-one was scheduled to be here this morning from church or school, and Rita was already at work. She really didn't need the distraction; she needed to focus on her finances and get her house on the market before the costs bankrupted her. She wondered where Michael was, now that her need was greatest, and she fumed internally. ~I don't see how this is providing support. I lose my husband and now my home, too.~ She put down the real estate advertisements next to her tea on the dining room table with a sigh. ~I'll get back to this once I've taken care of whoever is at the door.~ She walked to the door and opened it to find a young woman of her own height standing there with a brown leather satchel in her hand. "Yes? May I help you?" "Mrs. Edwards?" "Yes?" "Mrs. Edwards, my name is Ariel W?chter, and I'm a local representative for several insurance companies. I was notified of your husband's passing, and I have some information for you regarding a policy from one of your husband's previous employers. Is it convenient for me to come in and speak with you for a while?" Beth nodded as she opened the door for her visitor. "Certainly, come in. Would you like to join me in some tea? I just made a pot of hot Chai and there's plenty." Ariel nodded her acceptance. "I'd like that very much, thank you." As she pulled a mug out of the cabinet, Beth called out, "Have a seat at the table while I get your tea. Would you like some honey for sweetening?" "Please!" Ariel sat down at the table next to the advertisements. Beth brought the mug over and set it on the table in front of her guest. "I'm sorry for the mess. With my husband gone, I need to look for someplace new to live, since I can't afford the mortgage payments and all the other expenses." There was a hitch in her voice as she continued. "We built this house from a set of plans we found shortly after we married. It was our dream house and intended to be our final home, and it's hard to give it up." Ariel put a hand on the older woman's arm and smiled. "I don't think you'll need to give it up. I'm here because you are the beneficiary of your husband's life insurance policy from DEC." [Author's Note: Digital Equipment Corporation] She extracted an envelope from her satchel and handed it to Beth. The envelope's contents consisted of a form acknowledging delivery of a payout check and a cashier's check paper-clipped to the top of the form. Beth looked at the check and gave Ariel an incredulous look. Ariel nodded and smiled. "Yes, it's real and the amount is correct. We also have taken care of all tax withholding for you, so the entire amount of the check in your hand is yours." Beth's hand shook gently and made the papers in it flutter. ~I can keep my home!~ Happy tears began to overflow, and she reached out to hug the young woman in gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" ~This is to best part of what I do!~ Ariel thought as she returned the hug. "I'm glad I can bring this kind of good news, but the money wasn't the only thing I came here to do. I'm also a transition counselor; I'm supposed to help you through the adjustments ahead. That part of my job is open ended, so from now on if you need help or advice you'll have my phone number. Any time, any question, any kind of assistance you need, just call and I'll help you as best I can." Beth smiled warmly as the overwhelming burden of the morning was lifted; she could refocus on rebuilding her life now. ***** Wednesday, December 20, 2000 Waukesha, WI 10:15AM CT The cold, east wind carried the clouds and snow inland from Lake Michigan. The previous week had brought nearly two feet of snow, they'd gotten another six inches yesterday, and the forecast was for another two or three inches tomorrow. The grass in the yard was buried in a uniform blanket of white that was blown around by the gusty winds. She was thankful that Dan Blasczyk had blown the snow from her driveway and sidewalks. Beth sat curled up in her favorite chair and stared glumly out at the back yard. Today was -- would have been -- their thirty-first anniversary. She looked again at her ring finger where the small diamond still glittered. She hadn't the heart to take it off. A smile grew as the memory of Tom's pursuit of her heart and hand came to mind. She basked in that warm memory of a persistent young man who'd relentlessly wooed her until she gave in. She remembered that wonderful day when he knelt on the ground in Schenectady's Riverside Park and asked her to marry him. The trip to Stephentown to tell her parents; the trip to Syracuse to tell his folks. The joy of the wedding despite the cold, snowy, rainy weather. And that wonderful honeymoon.... The memories brought her loneliness into sharper focus; tears glittered in her eyes again as she felt the pain of her loss. ~I miss him. Dear heaven, I miss him so much!~ She sent up a prayer for her absent husband. The doorbell interrupted her further decent into gloom. Beth unwound herself from the chair and made her way to the front door. She hadn't expected visitors, so she cautiously checked the newly installed security monitor. The insurance check had permitted her to have it installed; without Tom around she wanted to have some kind of alarm system just in case. A short, young woman stood at the door; the face was one Beth had come to know well over the past three weeks. She smiled as she turned off the monitor and opened the door. "Ariel! It's good to see you! Come on in!" The young woman stepped in, and flecks of snow that dotted her coat and hair collapsed into tiny dots of water as they melted in the warmth of the foyer. A bright smile framed Ariel's greeting. "Good morning, Beth! How are you this lovely winter morning?" She shrugged the coat off, hanging it on a handy hook to dry. The smile was returned, although edged with the sadness Beth had recently felt. "I'm dealing, Ariel. It's just kind of a hard day. It would be Tom's and my thirty-first anniversary today, and I was just indulging in some old memories before you knocked." A gentle hand stole its way onto Beth's arm as Ariel nodded. "Do you want to talk about it for a while?" Beth nodded. "I think I'd like that. Would you like some tea while we talk?" "Yes, please." The two walked into the kitchen as Ariel continued. "How did you and Tom meet?" Beth looked at her guest and nodded. Maybe it would help. She handed over a hot mug of tea and began to tell her tale of a chance encounter that occurred years before in a Schenectady, New York shopping center between a newly graduated high school student, just enrolled in college to become a teacher, and a young computer programmer. ***** Monday, December 25, 2000 Waukesha, Wisconsin Christmas dawned with the clear, blue sky typical for a west wind and dry day, and the sun reflected brilliantly off the diamond crystals of the deep snow in the yard. It was bitterly cold; fortunately, the wind was moderate. Beth made her way from the bedroom to the kitchen to make her morning cup of tea. She had tried to get Tom interested in the sweet/spicy flavor of Chai with honey for several years, but he'd stuck, with all the stubbornness he was known for, to his coffee. Rita and Dan were expecting her for lunch; the two had tried to step in to keep Beth from being entirely on her own. During the snowfall last week, Dan had come over with his snow blower and taken care of her driveway. Their refusal to accept payment was unsurprising, but they found it hard to turn down the fresh-baked Dutch Honey Bread she'd brought over the following day. It seemed that each day she had a new reason to give thanks for the neighbors she had next door. She walked out to the front of the house with her mug and sipped as she examined the small, artificial Christmas tree on the table. It was no more than two feet tall from tabletop to the little angel at the peak -- an heirloom from her family. Three wrapped gifts sat under the tree. She had found one as she'd dug the tree out of storage; it was hidden in the box holding the tree and had a label "To: Beth / From: Tom" He had, for once, done his shopping early. She'd wept gently as she set it out of the way while she set up the tree. The other two were gifts she'd purchased for Tom. ~I don't know quite what to do with them. Perhaps the Salvation Army or something.~ She placed her mug on a coaster. ~I should open it; it's his last gift and a last memory to cherish. Unless it's a gag gift to distract, like those rocks he put in a box.~ Of course he had been forgiven when he said he'd gotten the wrong rocks and handed her a different gift -- with diamond earrings and a diamond necklace. Another tear trailed down her cheek and was quickly wiped away. That hole in her heart would always be there, but this was the season of hope -- one day she'd see him again. ***** Ariel stood nearby, invisible to the widow. She'd wanted to be there and a direct comfort, but Beth had been adamant. "Ariel, I don't want you here over the holidays. Go home! Be with *your* family. I'll be fine for a few days, and you'll be better off for the time away. Now shoo! I don't want to see you again before the first of the year! Rita and Dan are already making sure I'm taken care of for the next week." They had hugged, and then Ariel had left Friday, supposedly for home. She waited now, unable to do what she wanted, but taking opportunities to place a reassuring hand on her charge's shoulder. Beth would have the comfort she needed. As Beth began opening the gift, Ariel moved in and placed an arm around the shoulders of the older woman. ***** Beth took the gift and started loosening the tape, a warm feeling of comfort stealing in from that now familiar place. ~It's like a little bit of Ariel is still around.~ Another memory drew a smile as she recalled Tom's enthusiastic shredding of the wrapping. A small jewelry box lay within, and as she opened it she saw a necklace with a gold, heart-shaped locket. With a trembling hand, she took it out and opened it. Within, on one side, was a picture of the two of them taken not many weeks ago. On the other side was an engraving: To my best friend, my wife, and the love of my life. You will always be with me in my heart. All my love, Tom Beth closed her hand around the locket to shelter it from the tears that fell. Ariel tightened her embrace and waited for this latest storm of pain to pass. ***** Tuesday, January 2, 2001 Waukesha, WI The cold wind was back. It rearranged the deep snowdrifts in the yard as Beth looked out her front window at the early morning commuters trickling out of the neighborhood. She stood quietly as her mind drifted back to the thoughts earlier that first Monday after the funeral, and she had wondered where Michael was with the promised help. ~I wonder? Ariel said prior to being chased off for the holidays that she'd be back today. She would be in the perfect position to be one of Michael's people or angels or whatever.~ The thought made her smile and chuckle a bit. ~I never thought I'd be seriously considering a situation like this.~ She waited patiently, sipping her tea as the breeze blew tiny diamonds into the air that sparkled in the cold sunshine. ***** The two women sat in the great room, looking through the French doors to the back yard, as Ariel caught up with Beth's holiday. As she asked some questions of her own, the widow began to notice some small evasions in the answers from her auburn-haired companion. ~It's worth asking, anyway.~ Beth thought. "Ariel, do you work for someone named Michael?" The young woman's eyes widened in surprise and then a smile grew. "That was quick. What gave me away?" "Nothing specific really. You were in just the right place at the right time, and you were very evasive just now about where you were over the holidays, and I just took a chance. You were there on Christmas day, too, weren't you?" "Yes, I work for Michael, and I'm here to make sure his promise to you is kept. I was forbidden to tell you who I really am, unless you asked." Beth blushed faintly. "I guess I owe Michael an apology. That morning as I was struggling with my finances I wondered where his support was; I guess I should have had more faith in the promise he made." "Don't worry too much about it; we know you aren't perfect and understand when you fall short." "Thank you, Ariel. I can't say how much your being here has helped." She thought for a moment. "Ariel, how's Tom doing? Is he well and happy?" "It's been hard for him at times, and he's still adjusting to some of the changes he's been though. Christmas was very hard for him, but he's learning to cope with his new role in life, and there will be more help for him when he starts his new job." "Is there any way you can let him know that I still love him and that I'm praying for him?" A sad look gave the answer before the first word was spoken. "Beth, it will be easier for him and you if I don't. Tom, as you knew him, is gone; you both need to focus on the future. For your safety and his, you have to think of him as if he's really dead. You need to move on with your life as it is." ***** Monday, February 5, 2001 Waukesha, WI A month in relatively warm Florida and a dreadfully cold Wisconsin morning combined to keep Beth in a warm sweater this morning. Even the warmth of her tea failed to dispel the chill that seeped into her bones. ~I keep the thermostat set at seventy two, rather than sixty eight, and I'm still cold.~ Another shiver emphasized her feelings. The time spend with her old friend was worth the discomfort. Roberta had provided the listening ear Beth desperately needed. They had spent time walking beaches and talking about the adjustments Roberta had experienced, and that Beth now faced, after the death of her husband. "The one thing you really need to do, Beth," Roberta had emphasized, "is to find something to invest yourself in, other than work. It keeps you focused on the future and helps fill those quiet hours." Now Beth sat at the table, trying to decide what organization to contact. She had started with the phone book, cross checking with a list of organizations funded by United Way. ~Over seventy programs and forty agencies! What do I really want to do?~ She looked over the list, trying to decide on her future. ~It needs to allow for my work, too. I'll be back in the classroom next week. I really love working with children. I wonder what's available?~ The doorbell interrupted her investigation, and soon she and her now familiar guest, Ariel, were sitting at the table. "Ariel, I think you visit just for the tea!" Beth chuckled as she gently teased her young-looking friend. Ariel struck a dramatic pose with the back of her hand to her forehead. "Oh! I have been found out! Whatever shall I do?" Only a moment passed before she dissolved into giggles. Beth joined in the happy sound, then decided to draw on her young friend's knowledge. "Ariel, during my visit to Florida, my friend, Roberta, suggested I get involved in something to help me keep my energies focused on something positive. I really love working with children, especially like those third-graders I teach. Do you have any recommendations?" Ariel looked thoughtful. "Have you ever thought about Big Brothers/Big Sisters? They work with children, and I suspect they'd be ecstatic to have someone with your background. A lot of those kids can use some extra encouragement on the academic side. In fact," she dug into her purse and extracted a card, "I talked to someone there recently. Give a call to Danielle Ferguson. I know she'll be happy to spend some time explaining the program to you." Beth took the card and copied the contact information. "Thanks Ariel. I really appreciate this." ***** Monday, February 12, 2001 Waukesha, WI Hillcrest Elementary School 7:45AM CT The tan, four-door Saturn pulled up into its familiar parking place. Beth extracted herself from the car and pulled her briefcase from behind the driver's seat, shivering a bit as the cold morning air hit. She smiled as she noticed the principal's car was already here. ~I guess Mike is as anxious to get me back as I am to be back.~ She walked across the lot to the main door and headed to the office. She had adjusted to the winter temperatures again, to a point, but she was grateful for the lack of wind. ~Perhaps Mae, the secretary, will be there already; I want to make sure the paperwork was sent in to update the life and health insurance policies.~ The prospect of being back with 'her' kids filled her with new energy. Beth made her way to the office, smiling and greeting several other teachers as they welcomed her back. Mike was waiting in the doorway to his office, sipping on a cup of coffee, as she walked into the school office. "Welcome back, Beth! How are you doing today?" Michael Sukawaty, the principal of the school, gave her a warm smile and quick hug as she came in. "I'm doing OK, Mike. It's still hard, but it feels good to be getting back with the children." Mae Muehl, a small woman in her thirties, looked up from the stack of paperwork on her desk. "Beth! Welcome!" She quickly stood and joined in the hug-fest. "I have most of the paperwork ready for you to sign; there are just a couple of things I need you to fill out yourself." ~It's almost like a homecoming.~ Beth smiled as she settled back into the familiar routines of an elementary school day. ~I can't wait to see the kids again.~ ***** Saturday, March 3, 2001 Beth nervously waited in the office. Her 'Little', an eight-year-old girl named Shamiqua Mason, was due to arrive any time with her mother, Karen. The last month had been a busy round of interviews and background checks. ~I'm grateful that teachers have much of that work in place. I can't imagine what it's like for someone having to have all the checks done from scratch!~ The last step was a meeting with the parent and child. If the parent agreed, then Beth would be spending at least two weekends per month with her 'Little Sister'. The door opened and Sharon Carstairs, the staff member who was assigned to Beth, came in, trailed by a small girl with medium brown skin and her mother. Beth stood to greet the newcomers. Before anyone could speak, the child gave Beth a rapid, careful, visual examination and rendered her judgment with all the seriousness an eight- year-old can muster. "You look more like a Grandma than a big sister." "Meek!" The child's mother, Karen, squawked in dismay. Beth smiled broadly and winked at the perturbed parent; she then crouched down and looked Shamiqua in the eye. "Would you be happier calling me Grandma?" The child looked thoughtful and then nodded. "I like it better!" "Well, I guess I'd better get used to it then, hadn't I?" The other two women watched the interaction. Beth and Shamiqua were oblivious to the others as they bonded almost instantly. Sharon nudged Meek's mother. "Do you have any problems?" she asked quietly. The child grinned and threw her arms around Beth's neck. "Hi Grandma!" The mother smiled at the tableau. "I wouldn't dare. This is the happiest Meek has looked in a long time." ***** Saturday, June 12, 2010 Waukesha South High School The years had passed quickly for Beth as she devoted herself to her children. There were always new names and faces in her classroom at school and new personalities to meet and try to teach. Most of all there was the new constant in her life, Shamiqua, who grew from being her precious and precocious 'Little', to a tall, confident, and lovely young woman graduating second in her class from high school. She was a dear granddaughter who filled part of that void in Beth's heart. Meek was heading off to the DC area in the fall with a full academic scholarship to Georgetown in hand. Beth's eyes filled with tears of joy as she watched Meek stride confidently and proudly across the stage to accept her diploma. Meek would be missed, but both her mother and 'Grandma' basked for the moment in pride at what their daughter and granddaughter had achieved. ***** Monday, April 22, 2013 Waukesha, WI The telephone trilled as Beth finished cleaning up her plate from lunch. She pushed her brown-streaked gray hair back from her face as she took off her glasses and stepped to the phone. The Caller ID displayed a familiar number. She smiled broadly as she picked up the receiver. "Hi, Shamiqua! It's good to hear from you! How are your classes at Georgetown going?" "Hi, Grandma! My classes are going fine. I'm on the dean's list again, and I'm all set to graduate next month -- and in only three years!" The tone of Shamiqua's voice wouldn't have made an impression on a stranger, but Beth knew the young woman well. A frown of concern appeared on Beth's face. "So I still need to be there on May seventeenth for commencement. I'm very proud of you, Meek; you've done very well. Now then, what's wrong, Granddaughter? Are you in trouble?" A quiet chuckle came from the other end of the line. "I've never been able to hide anything from you, have I? No, I'm not in trouble, but I have a decision to make, and I don't know what to do!" "Hold on a minute; let me find a seat." Beth located a chair in the family room and settled into it. "OK, dear, tell me all about it." There was a pause from the other end of the line before Meek spoke again. "Grandma, I can't say too much. I was out with some friends at a mall in Virginia yesterday afternoon. They'd gone into a store while I was doing some window-shopping, when all of a sudden I get a weird feeling in my head. I'd never felt anything like it before; it wasn't a headache and didn't hurt. It was more like an itch or tickle in the back of my head, and I couldn't scratch it. I didn't know what to do, so I stopped at a table and looked in my purse for an aspirin. Suddenly, this woman walks up to me and starts talking to me about that feeling and why it's there. She described just what I was feeling and what was causing it." The confusion in her voice was thick. Beth couldn't keep the concern from her voice as she asked, "Meek, did she threaten you or hurt you?" "No, Grandma. She never raised a hand, or even her voice. She just stood there for a bit, and we just talked." "Do you know her, or have you seen her before? Did she tell you her name, at least?" The smile on the other end was audible. "No, Grams. I hadn't ever seen her before, and she is as nice as you are -- in fact, she seemed a lot like you. She said her name is Nicole Harrison, and I didn't feel scared around her at all." There was a hesitation before she resumed. "It's like I found someone I was missing all my life, but didn't know it until I met her." "I don't think I understand what you mean, Shamiqua." "I don't mean a lover or anything, Grams! I still like boys!" The amusement in her voice was plain and she laughed lightly. "It's more like I found family I didn't know I had. We talked for just a little while before she left, but we set up another meeting in a park later. "When we finally met, we must have walked and talked for three or four hours! I'm not sure I really understand it all, yet. What she said seemed really unbelievable, at first. She showed me something that convinced me, though. She wants me to," the young voice paused, "come work for her after graduation. She says she needs me if I'm willing; she didn't get into real details, but she said I'd have a chance to make a big difference in the world. The choice is mine, though. She did tell me I couldn't tell anyone about it, but I *had* to talk to you Grandma. I don't know what to do!" Beth thought for a moment before speaking. "Meek, what have I told you in the past about things like this?" There was a pause from the other end of the phone. "You told me that I should pray about it, then follow what my heart and head told me were the right things to do." "And...." There was another quiet moment. "Grandma, I think I need to do this. She didn't give me a set time to answer her, and I have a phone number to call, but I did pray about it, and my heart says to do it. I'm still scared, though." "So you think this is where God's leading you?" Beth spoke quietly to the young woman she considered a precious granddaughter. "I do, Grams. I really think, somehow, this is what I'm supposed to do. I have a real sense of peace about it." "I'll pray for you, but if you think it's the right thing to do, then do it. I'll be here for you no matter what." There was audible relief in the voice at the other end of the line. "Grandma, I wish I was home to give you a hug! I love you, and thank you for listening!" "I love you, too, Meek! Let me know what you can, so I can pray for you, OK?" "I will, Grams! I'll call you again later and let you know what I can! Bye!" "Goodbye, Granddaughter! Stay safe!" ***** Thursday, October 1, 2020 Waukesha, WI The doorbell, now tied to an identification system and voice synthesizer, announced, "Beth, Shamiqua Mason is at the door. Shall I let her in?" The old woman, her hair entirely gray now, smiled and replied. "Yes, and list her as family. She is to be admitted on request. Tell her I'm in the kitchen." "Yes, ma'am. The door is unlocked and she will be in momentarily." A tall, strongly-built, chocolate skinned woman walked into the kitchen, dropped her purse on the counter, and enveloped Beth in an enthusiastic hug. "Grams, it's so good to see you again!" "Oof! It's good to see you, too, Meek, but breathing is becoming a problem!" Meek looked chagrined and eased off her hug as she planted a kiss on the top of the smaller woman's head. "I'm sorry, Grandma, but I just missed you so much." "I missed you too, but what brings you home? And where did you get those muscles?" "I'm on leave for a while and wanted to come home and see you. As far as the muscles go, you remember when I called you just before graduating from Georgetown?" "Yes, I do. And you haven't said 'Boo!' about that since. You haven't said much about where you were or what you were doing for the last seven years." "I know, and I wish I could say more. What I can say is that it's all better than I'd hoped for. I really do have a family, Grandma; I have sisters who love me and are helping me do more good than I'd ever hoped for. I wish you could meet them, and I hope someday you can." The youngster smiled broadly at the memories invoked. "Isn't there anything you can tell me? Don't you even have pictures?" Beth was happy for this young woman who meant so much to her, but chafed at the way she was locked out of so much of her life. Meek's face held a look none of her troops would believe. The tough sergeant had an uncertain and nervous look on her face as she pondered how far to stretch beyond her express orders. "Grandma, I have a picture. The problem is I was told not to let anyone know anything about what I do or who I work with and for. If word got out, it would be dangerous for you and for us. I just want to keep you as safe as I can." She tapped a finger on the counter as she pondered what to do. "Granddaughter, if talking about it will cause trouble, then don't say anything. Your safety and happiness are more important than an old woman's curiosity." "Grandma, I think I can safely tell you a little about what we were doing this summer. Please don't tell anyone else though." Her eyes refocused on things only she could see. "We got word that there were some women kidnapped for sale as white slaves. We had planned to stage a raid on a place we knew had activity like that, but we decided to change our timing to save those women. It worked, and we saved more than a dozen from the slavers." The memory of exactly where they were and how they'd hid in plain sight evoked a smile. "They never knew what happened or who did it. "That's the kind of thing we do -- we go in when no one else can, or will. We're ghosts. Those women are safe now, and we found some things that will help us keep others from winding up in the same trouble, and we'll keep haunting the people who did it until they're gone." Meek had a grim smile as she finished. "That's what my sisters and I do -- help people like those women. And that's why I can't tell you too much, because the people we're hunting are upset about what we're doing and want to stop us." Beth smiled. "It sounds like you're in a group that's the opposite of that terrorist group called the Amazons. Have you encountered them?" A dark look passed over Shamiqua's face. "Grandma, all I can say about that is you shouldn't believe everything you hear in the news. Now, let me show you my picture." She laid her picture out on the counter and pointed to it. It showed a group of about twenty women of various ages around a long table. "This picture is the group of us I work with. We had dinner together before we all went off on vacation, and Nicole took this picture. You can see me back there." She pointed to a face at the far end. "Kate, another friend, is next to me...." She pointed out each face, putting names to the images. She ended her description, smiling at the memories. "This is my new family, Grandma. We love each other, cry on each other's shoulders, tease, fight, and all the other things sisters do. I love each and every one of them, and Nicole's a mother to us all, no matter how old she looks." "Who's Nicole?" "She's my... boss. She's the one I told you about over the phone just before I graduated." "How old is she?" The young woman shrugged. "I don't know; she never says. She doesn't look a day over twenty-five; she's older than she looks, though. Some of the older group members say she's the one that recruited them, all the way back to the year 2001. She's at least twenty years older than she looks, but she's special. She's the one who leads us, loves us, and makes us what we are. I tried to invite her home to meet you, but she said she had responsibilities and couldn't come." She paused. "I think ... no, I *know* you'd just love her, too. She's a very special lady." Beth embraced her granddaughter. "I'm glad you're happy. I just wish I could meet more of your 'sisters'." "Maybe one day, Grams." ********** Monday, June 2, 2031 Waukesha, WI The sky was clear and blue; only a few puffy clouds provided contrast as they were pushed along by the soft, warm breeze. The recent rain had awakened the grass to the bright, emerald green of new growth. An old, slightly weather-stained headstone had received new engravings: EDWARDS Thomas Harold Elizabeth Crystal Born: July 20, 1945 Born: April 23, 1951 Died: November 25, 2000 Died: May 30, 2031 Two women stood quietly at a freshly filled grave. One was tall and dark skinned with short, curly, black hair; the other was about the same height, but had light, tanned skin and long cascades of flame-red hair. They both wore similar dresses -- the black of mourning. The dark skinned woman spoke in a voice filled with grief. "I can't believe she's gone. I just talked with her the other day and she seemed fine." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I've known her since I was eight, and she's always been there every time I needed someone to talk to. I wanted so much to tell her what I do and have her meet you and my sisters. Now she'll never have a chance to meet you." The redhead nodded. "I know, Meek; it's terribly hard to lose someone you love so much." Nicole's long-practiced emotional discipline was being tested; this was the second time she'd lost Beth. She reached over and gently hugged her companion. "You know I'm here, and your sisters are here, anytime you need a shoulder to lean on. You don't have to be the tough sergeant just now." Meeks lips quivered as she finally gave in to the grief she felt. The strong arms of her queen wrapped securely around her shoulders as she poured out her sorrow and loss. Her shoulders shook with her sobs. Nicole's heart, too, felt the pain of loss; she closed her eyes to shut out the world for a moment. She had held hopes that someday, somehow, she'd again see Beth in this life. Tears trailed from her eyes as she opened them. As she looked again at the world over Meek's shaking shoulder, a familiar figure in white stood in her field of view along with a young woman she'd not seen before; Michael smiled in reassurance at his daughter. She glanced around, noting that no-one else seemed to see him. In a voice that only she could hear he said, ~This is Ariel, who was Beth's guardian angel. Beth passed peacefully, and painlessly, in her sleep. She's home now, and she knows everything. She's well and happy and will be waiting for you. Have peace, daughter.~ Nicole returned a sad smile. ~Thanks, Daddy. It helps a little.~ She refocused her attention on comforting her companion, walking them both back to their waiting vehicle. ~Tomorrow the lawyer reads the will.~ Nicole thought. ~Meek said she's listed as Beth's heir and needs be here to settle the estate. We'll be here a while.~ ********** Wednesday, June 4, 2031 Waukesha, WI Shamiqua unlocked and opened the door to the house that would always be Grandma's to her. She stepped in, knowing no one was there, but still expecting to hear the familiar voice from the kitchen. Nicole walked in and stopped in the foyer. She felt a weird sense of deja vu as she stood where it had all begun. Little had been changed in the years since she left, just a few new knick-knacks added here and there. She shook herself and followed Meek into the great room. Meek looked around the room, wondering where to start. A picture on a table she'd not seen before caught her attention. It showed Grandma Beth and a man she'd never seen. She picked the frame up and studied the photo more closely. The man's face seemed oddly familiar. Abruptly her mind made a connection, and she looked around at her queen. Nicole had watched Shamiqua as she approached the old picture of Beth and Tom. When she picked it up and then turned, Nicole wondered if her companion would ask her question. "Your Majesty? Do you know who this is in this picture? It looks like a relative of yours." The smile she received in response puzzled the tall sergeant. "Would you like some tea, Meek? I'll want something while I tell you a story you need to hear now." Shamiqua was puzzled even more, if possible. "I guess I can make some if you'd like." "That's OK. I think I know where everything is." "But ... how? Grandma never mentioned you. How could you have been here to know where anything is?" Nicole returned from the kitchen and handed one of the two cups of tea she carried to her friend. "Beth always did love Chai tea." She took a sip. "Have a seat. What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room. There are only a handful of people that know this story, and I want to keep it that way. "The picture you have shows your Grandma Beth with her husband, Tom. About thirty years ago, he was returning home from a trip to California...."