The pair followed the rainbow's arc toward the shore, commenting on the ripples rising off the bright colors. A few more droplets fell as the clouds returned to their pre-tempest buoyancy.
Sadie put her arm around Aanders and hugged him to her side. “You did it. I'm so proud of you. By setting your sorrow aside and making sure Tim made it through the light, you earned your rainbow at midnight."
Hues of color danced around them. “I'm glad he's with his mom and dad,” Aanders said. “He really missed them.” He cocked his head toward his left shoulder and gazed questioningly at Sadie. “Did you notice Lora didn't go with Tim and Mr. Bakke? Do you think she decided to go to the parallel world to find her son?"
"Let's hope so. Let's hope she's got the sense to do that."
Aanders held his hand out. “It stopped raining."
"They've quit crying,” Sadie said. She pointed toward the sky. “Look at that glow from the rainbow and then look at that billowy cloud behind the rainbow. That's called a cloud of crossers.” She watched Aanders look back and forth over the horizon. “It's full of crossers lost. When you see billowy clouds during a rain storm, it's the crossers lost crying for the future they never realized. Tonight they were crying tears of joy."
"It's always cause to celebrate when a new death coach earns their rainbow,” Sadie said. “For all we know, you're the youngest death coach ever chosen. I'm sure the crossers lost are pleased with the sacrifice you made.” Lifting his hand off the bench, she cradled it to her cheek. “A new journey begins tonight. Do you think you're ready?"
"No. But Tim and I talked about it. I'm going to do what he asked me to do.” Aanders’ gaze fell upon the lake. “Sometimes Tim was so smart, it was scary. He told me it'd be easier for me if I always pretended he was walking beside me."
"He's right, you know,” Sadie said.
Aanders sighed deeply. “That's what's so scary."
33
Sadie hurried up onto the porch, opened the door and waved the newspaper at Jane, who sat lost in concentration at the kitchen table. Nan had asked Jane to prepare an obituary for Mr. Bakke. Jane sighed with exasperation, wiped the eraser back and forth over her last sentence. Struggling to find the proper wording, Jane had queried Sadie several times before Sadie walked over to the lodge to buy a newspaper.
Mr. Bakke had spent the last fifty years of his life as handyman and caretaker at the Witt's End Resort. Vina, the twins’ mother, had hired him when he was a young man. He never realized the desire to seek alternative employment. Taking a leave from the resort, he had served four years in the Army with the knowledge his position would remain open until his return.
Vina had treated the shy, unremarkable little man as a son. When Vina passed away, Mr. Bakke pitched in with unwavering vigor to make sure the twin's transition to resort owners went as smooth as possible.
"I've never seen such a buzz over the headlines. People stood five deep at the counter buying copies of today's paper,” Sadie said. The screen door slammed behind her. A muffled bark caused her to retreat and swing the door open to let Belly in. The dog sauntered over to Mr. Bakke's chair and sniffed vigorously before looking toward the kitchen table.
Jane dabbed a tear with the edge of her napkin before rising and walking to Mr. Bakke's chair. Squatting down to pet the dog, she whispered, “You miss him too, don't you fella?” She pressed her cheek against the chair and cried softly. “What am I going to do, Sadie? I feel so empty. He was part of our lives for so many years I can't remember what it was like without him."
Sadie knelt next to her sister. “He's watching you, you know. He knows how you feel. He told me to take care of you. He told me that as he was going through the light."
"You?” Jane laughed. “He must have lost his mind when he hit his head.” The conflicting emotions made Jane cry even harder.
"He told me to throw your clothes away and take you shopping,” Sadie said. “He insisted I buy you a thong."
"Now I know you're pulling my leg."
"It was worth a try,” Sadie said. After helping her sister into her chair, Sadie listened while Jane read through the obituary, pausing from time to time to sniffle and wipe her nose.
"Because he didn't have any family, Nan asked me to make decisions. I've got most of the stuff picked out for the funeral,” Jane said. “I think he'll be happy with what I've selected."
"Of course he will. He worshipped you. His goal in life was to make you happy."
"He didn't take a shine to me until he realized you had no intention of going out with him,” Jane said. “It took him a year to get over your rejection. Poor man. He hardly came out of his cabin for a month."
"But that was forty years ago,” Sadie said. “If you hadn't catered to him back then and made a fool of yourself drooling on his doorstep, he'd have eventually come around and asked you for a date on his own."
"I doubt it,” Jane said. “You totally deflated his ego. But once he got to know me, he realized I was the better catch."
"Bull,” Sadie responded. “He just settled for less. And besides, he was too horny for me. All he talked about was sex."
"Not to me,” Jane said with a huff. “That's because he realized I was pure and worth taking time to get to know."
Sadie's red glitter glasses slid down her nose as she lowered her head and scrutinized Jane. “You need to see a psychiatrist. You've lost your grip on reality.” Sadie spread the newspaper over the table.
The headlines read Local Business Man Indicted on Murder Charges. “Look at that,” Sadie said, slapping the front page with the back of her hand. “That rat Carl took all the credit."
"That's what you agreed to, wasn't it?"
"It was. But you'd think Carl could have mentioned my name in there somewhere."
"I think you're going to have to settle for the fact Carl dropped the lawsuit. He exchanged the lawsuit for your silence."
"That just frosts me,” Sadie said. “I did all the ground work, but he became the hero."
"I'm surprised he was willing to take a chance that people wouldn't find out about his business dealings with Paul."
"Unfortunately, I have to agree with him. If they haven't discovered the information by now, they're not going to find it. I'd still like to see him hang by those itty bitty balls for all the grief he caused Mrs. Fading Sun when her husband was arrested. Those diversity crusaders would love that tidbit of information."
"You've always got that to fall back on,” Jane said.
"You should have seen Carl's face when I told him that very thing. What goes around comes back to bite you. But in Carl's situation, his prejudice ended up slapping him across the face. If Mrs. Fading Sun hadn't mentioned the policy, I would never have put two and two together. At least it will keep Carl in line until the next crisis.” Sadie bit at the inside of her cheek. “If he wins the election, it'll give him power. And power makes him crazy. That's when he'll cook up another scheme to get his hands on this resort."
Jane nodded in agreement. “I'm afraid you're right. Everyone knows he needs money. His wife goes through money like water. You can tell she thought their wedding vows said for better or for purse.” Jane forced a smile. “At least we have the satisfaction that Paul will never see daylight again. Lon said Paul will probably get three life terms for murdering the Fossums. With everybody concentrating on the trial, it gives us time to get things in order. If Nan can come up with enough money to buy the mortuary and the acreage it sits on, that'll be one less thing for Carl to get his hands on."
"Is that hole in your head getting bigger?” Sadie asked, frowning at Jane's lack of comprehension. “Weren't you listening when Nan told us there's no way she's going to get a loan? The bank turned her down flat. That's why she was ready to accept Paul's proposal."