Demon
Chapter 53

Natalie’s

The family has experienced a remarkable week. So many significant events have taken place. All of them the direct consequence of decisions made by my beloved Seer.

Her parents are remarried, filled with bliss and joy and love. She did this. It was she who set their reconciliation in motion, over a year ago, when she orchestrated their Christmas Eve celebration.

Her grandfather’s situation is notably improved. She did this. She had scarcely known of his existence before this week, but during the last several days he has become another critically important member of her inner circle. Her determination to help him has been as firm as her commitment to the Jonathan Project. Her focus was staggering. She managed to convince her parents to visit Grandfather each day, and she spent each visit maximizing her physical contact with him, scrutinizing his reactions and his health. I was tasked to intensively monitor each aspect of his being, and report everything to her. Her touch continuously brought healing to every part of his consciousness.

The improvement has been remarkable. His soul glows more robustly, and his mind thinks more clearly. His emotional state has transitioned dramatically, as his isolation was replaced with inclusion. Even the physical tremor has improved, becoming significantly less noticeable. It grows increasingly clear how much the Seer’s touch can impact the well-being of a person who needs it. Nearly every aspect of her Grandfather’s life has been rehabilitated.

Theodore’s relationship with his son has also been repaired. He had nearly forgotten the argument with Ron so many years ago, which caused their rift, but began to recall it as his ability to remember was healed. Finally realizing his part in the estrangement, he was able to draw Ron aside two days ago, sincerely apologize for the cruel things he had said, and win Ron’s forgiveness. It is not only Theodore himself who has been healed. The Seer’s father feels an immense relief, and the lifting of a burden of guilt and grief that he had not even realized he was carrying.

Ron and Brenda have arranged for the hire of caretakers to tend to the home and yard, which will improve the physical living situation of Theodore. He even has become reacquainted with Brenda’s parents, when Natalie managed to convince him to join them all for dinner yesterday evening. Margaret and Frank have committed to remaining in contact with him, ensuring that his loneliness will not be as acute.

The Seer has transformed the life of this broken being that she now fiercely loves as much as any other member of her family.

Her brother has also experienced a transformation, in his perception of his little sister. Gabe’s awareness of her unusual abilities has grown, starting with her surprising capacity to see in dim light. However, it was when he volunteered to take notes for her, after their first visit to their grandfather, that he truly began to realize the extent of her talents. Being more directly involved in our conversation made him see more clearly what she is capable of. With the Jonathan Project, he always felt himself to be more of a bystander, viewing the experiments conducted by Timothy from the outside. Now, he is invested as a fully participating member of this effort. He has become equally focused on his grandfather’s progress, contributing comments and making suggestions as the endeavor unfolded. In the process, his admiration for the Seer has blossomed. He sees anew how her formidable awareness of the world guides her unerringly towards the achievement of remarkable goals. He wants to help her, and support her in whatever she pursues. He is determined to follow where she leads. He feels love as her brother, but even more begins to feel adoration as her acolyte.

She did this as well.

Natalie

We had a fun morning. Grandma had us do a big Easter egg hunt, and we found goodies all over the house and yard. So much chocolate and stuff. I think Gabe ate almost everything already.

Then it was time to go to the airport and board the plane. I was sorry that we didn’t have time to go to church with Grandma and Grandpa. I would have liked to talk to the pastor again. Although with my luck, I suppose I would have been left behind and I wouldn’t be sitting on this plane flying back home with my family.

I think about the last flight, where I was tracking whether the Guardians can hear each other, but I don’t need to continue with Timothy’s experiment today. It already worked.

I am going to have so much to tell Timothy. I can hardly wait to see him. I don’t think that I’ll get the chance today, though. My parents are probably just going to want to go straight home.

Well, at least Gabe and I should be able to go see Jonathan. I’ll see Timothy tomorrow at school.

It makes me sad to have to wait, though. I really miss him, and want to talk to him. Angel has told me all about the archeology project he’s been working on, with maps and a bible and everything. It sounds really interesting and I’m eager to hear everything he will have to explain.

“Darling, there is actually news about Timothy. Guardian has shared with me an event which took place this morning, which we feel you should know about.”

Well that sounds ominous. “What’s wrong?” I think to him, suddenly filled with worry.

“Do not be alarmed, Timothy is quite well, as is his father. However, his father had an earlier incident which threatened his health.”

There’s no use asking him what’s wrong again. I just have to wait for him to tell me. Gabe is in the seat next to me, playing his Gameboy, but I’ll bet that he figures out pretty soon that Angel is telling me something important. He has really started to notice, and to ask whenever it happens. He wants to be part of everything too. It feels good to have my brother sharing it all. Even if he doesn’t notice and ask, I’ll tell him everything Angel says, after I figure out what’s going on.

I listen as Angel continues. “Timothy’s father had taken some medication last night which caused him to sleep so deeply that his breathing became too slow. His mother was at work, so Timothy was alone in the house with him. His father’s Guardian asked Timothy’s Guardian to help him. Guardian alerted Timothy that his father needed help, and Timothy was able to awaken him. He has revived and is apparently unharmed. However, Timothy very much wants to talk to you about this, so that I can explain to him more about what happened, and what Guardian experienced. He wishes that he could see you this afternoon, rather than having to wait until tomorrow morning at school.”

Oh.

I sit still, stunned. I wasn’t expecting this, that’s for sure. Poor Timothy! That must have been really scary for him, especially without being able to ask Angel what is going on.

As I expected, Gabe has stopped playing his game and is staring at me, waiting for me to finish listening to Angel. “Okay, what is it?” he asks me.

I tell him what Angel just said. His reaction is the same as mine.

“Oh,” he says. We look at each other. I’m trying to think of what to do next.

“You’ll have to go see Timothy today,” Gabe says quietly. “Think Mom and Dad will take you there when we get home?”

Brenda

Ron and I are each reading our own books, but I’m making sure that our arms are touching on the armrest. I can’t seem to stop wanting to touch him. You’d think I’d have gotten enough after the week we just spent at the hotel going at it like horny teenagers. I sputter out a laugh at that image.

Ron notices, and looks up from his book, meeting my eyes inquiringly. I’m about to tell him the phrase that my brain just cooked up to describe us, but suddenly Natalie’s head pops up over the seat back in front of us.

“Yeeeees?” Ron asks her.

“Will we have enough time to go see Timothy when we get home?”

He looks over at me. “Well, I wasn’t really planning on it,” I say. “It’ll be afternoon by the time we land and get our luggage and everything. Then we have to get home and unpack and get ready for the week to start.”

“But that’s not very late, is it?” she asks. “There’s still time for a visit, right?”

“Well, can’t you wait until tomorrow?” Ron asks her. “You’ll see him at school.”

“Please?” she asks, her little forehead wrinkling with adorable concern. “I really really really want to see Timothy. It’s been a whole week! I have so much to tell him. And I want to know all about what he’s been doing. And I have to give him back his watch! Please?”

There’s a moment of silence while Ron and I look at each other and try to decide whether it makes sense to try to add something else to our afternoon.

Gabe’s head pops up to join Natalie’s. “We can fit in a visit, can’t we?” he contributes to the conversation. “I’ll bet Timothy is dying to see Natalie too. He’s probably been awfully lonely this week without her.”

We have to laugh. We can’t fight both of them.

“Actually,” I add, “I wouldn’t mind seeing Laura, and catching her up on everything.”

“Ok, sure,” Ron says. “I’ll call over there after we land to see if it would be all right to have a short visit on our way back from the airport.”

The kids smile at each other, and Natalie plunks back down into her seat.

Gabe lingers a moment. Ron says, again, “Yeeeeees?”

“Do you have any snacks?”